How I read a book

Since I was in high school I've had the same routine, which goes as follows:

1) Read the flaps and dust jacket, then remove it from the book and put it aside until I'm done.

2) Go to the back of the book and read each section, starting with "A note about the type"; then, the note about the author; I browse the index; then the glossary, taking my time to read each term and its definition; then a slow, careful study of the bibliography; a perusal (not all that intense) of the notes; finally, a studied reading of the acknowledgments.

3) Now it's time to have a look at the front of the book.

4) A browse through the reviews; careful reading of the agate type page with the ISBN number and details of publication, dates, other editions, etc.; the list of the author's previous books; the dedication; the quotations that oftimes precede the book proper; the table of contents; the introduction.

5) Now it's time to start the book.

I must say that steps 1–4 are very pleasant and the equivalent of a warm-up or batting practice: I wouldn't dream of starting a race, game or book without them.