Ruskin advises that one should look intensely at words and assure oneself of the meaning, syllabus by syllable – nay, letter by letter. He feels that one must read between the lines to understand the core of the text of any good book. It can be painstaking and time-consuming but rewarding. It provides accuracy, which is the sign of a well-educated person. A person who is educated can read a few books, but only if one reads them word by word, syllable by syllable, he can gather wisdom, reap the fruit of his effort and transform his life.
Another view –
As reading between the lines is a time-consuming process, there is a possibility that a person may not get an idea of the various perspectives on different life issues. This is because one can read only a few books and develop an attitude which is aristocratic. One should know the perspectives of many authors in order to develop a viewpoint which is comprehensive. Though extensive reading is valuable, Ruskin talks about intensive reading only. Moreover, one may not find it easy to categorise books as bad or good. This categorisation is based on a subjective assessment, which is of relative nature. A good book might be good for some and not good for others.