In , How to Read a Book Mortimer Adler defines inspectional reading as a quick, systematic skimming of a book to grasp its main ideas and structure aimed at determining what the book is about and whether it warrants closer study. It involves:

1. Pre-reading: Examining the title, table of contents, preface, and dust jacket to understand the book’s subject and purpose.
2. Skimming: Reading selectively—key chapters, introductions, conclusions, or index—to identify the main arguments or themes.
3. Superficial reading: Moving rapidly through the text, focusing on getting a general sense without getting bogged down by unfamiliar terms or concepts.

Despite Adler’s focus on reading books, inspectional reading may be applied to any form of written text, and the concept may generalize in some cases to other media as well.

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How to Read a Book