[header] How to understand the book you are reading [title] Keep reading to see if you can figure it out. [step] It's easy to get hung up on confusing parts of books. Read the paragraphs immediately before and after the passage that you don't understand. 
If you're still confused, read a few more pages forward. [substeps] Sometimes, putting confusing passages into the wider context of the book will help you reach a sudden " ah-ha! " moment.