Picture yourself as a literature professor and a writer, often required to discuss books you haven't fully read. This situation, while seemingly contradictory to the social expectation of thoroughly reading important books before discussing them, is more common than you might think.

It's entirely possible to have insightful conversations about books you haven't fully read. However, there's a certain level of dishonesty in society when it comes to admitting this. To alleviate the guilt associated with not reading, consider using a system of abbreviations to indicate your level of familiarity with each book discussed. This way, you can freely express your opinion on books, regardless of whether you've read them or not.

Let's first explore the different types of non-reading. Then, we'll delve into real-life situations where discussions about unread books occur. Finally, we'll offer advice on how to gain from these situations and reflect deeply on them. The goal here is to develop a new theory of reading that acknowledges its complexities and approximations, rather than viewing it as a straightforward process.

The use of these notations serves as a reminder that our relationship with books is multifaceted. It's not just about whether we've fully read them or not. It's about understanding that our interactions with books are nuanced and complex, and that's perfectly okay.