You may say that the business of marking books is going to slow down your reading.{{U}} (31) {{/U}}probably will. That's one of the{{U}} (32) {{/U}}for doing it. Most of us have been taken in by the notion that speed of{{U}} (33) {{/U}}is a measure of our intelligence. There is{{U}} (34) {{/U}}such thing as the right{{U}} (35) {{/U}}for intelligent reading. Some things should be{{U}} (36) {{/U}}quickly and effortlessly, and some should be read{{U}} (37) {{/U}}and even laboriously. The sign of intelligence{{U}} (38) {{/U}}reading is the ability to read{{U}} (39) {{/U}}thing differently according to their worth. In the{{U}} (40) {{/U}}of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through,{{U}} (41) {{/U}}how many can you get through--how many you can{{U}} (42) {{/U}}your own. A few friends are{{U}} (43) {{/U}}than a thousand acquaintances. If this be your goal,{{U}} (44) {{/U}}it should be, you will not be impatient if it takes more time and effort to read a great book than it{{U}} (45) {{/U}}a newspaper.
You may have another objection to{{U}} (46) {{/U}}books. You can't lend them to your friends{{U}} (47) {{/U}}nobody else can read them{{U}} (48) {{/U}}being distracted by your notes. What's more, you won't want to lend them because a{{U}} (49) {{/U}}copy is a kind of intellectual diary, and{{U}} (50) {{/U}}it is almost like giving your mind away.
If your friend hopes to read your "Shakespeare", or "The Federalist Papers", tell him, gently but firmly, to buy a copy. You will lend him your car or your coat--but your books are as much a part of you as your head or your heart.