“An Editor's Theory of Reading: I'll Teach You How to Find Interesting Books”

When you hear the phrase "theory of reading," you might think it sounds somewhat difficult. Many people might hesitate to pick up a book, imagining it to be stiff or formal. The reason I wrote this book is that I felt there should be a work in the world of reading theories written from the same perspective as the reader, by an editor.

I cover episodes related to books from various angles, but in Chapter 1, I discuss the reading theories of editors from around the world. I believe this is quite rare. This is a chapter I was able to write because my involvement in translation publishing blessed me with opportunities to contact foreign editors and be inspired by them. In particular, I really wanted to introduce the story of Ivan Sytin, an outstanding Russian publisher. Sytin's activities, which involved very close relationships with Tolstoy and Chekhov, offer much for an editor to learn.

In Chapter 2, "Fascinating Reading Theories of the World," you will likely be surprised by the revolutionary Mao Zedong's intensity as a reader. I also believe Somerset Maugham's incredibly frank theory of reading is worth a read. His advice to prioritize enjoyable reading is extremely beneficial for those of us who often feel intimidated by world literature. Furthermore, his recommendation to skim through works like "The Brothers Karamazov" and "War and Peace" is a unique and valuable perspective that only the relaxed Maugham could provide. I believe the proposal to read world literature in a relaxed manner is exactly what is needed now.

The chapters on bookstores and libraries around the world are partly based on my own experiences, so I think they will be an interesting read. I would also like you to try out my suggestions in the chapter explaining the importance of starting with "short stories" to eventually read long-form novelists, the chapter on enjoying the fascination of "autobiographical literature," and the final chapter suggesting that we should reread "children's literature" as adults. Some children's literature leaves a completely different impression when read as an adult in an unabridged version. I hope you will pick up this book and read the various works introduced within.

“An Editor's Theory of Reading: I'll Teach You How to Find Interesting Books”

Minoru Komai

Kobunsha Shinsho

344 pages, 1,034 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are those at the time of publication.