Marshall McLuhan, the guru of The Gutenberg Galaxy (1962), recommends that the browser turn to page 69 of any book and read it. If you like that page, buy the book. It works. Rule One, then: browse powerfully and read page 69.

The above is an extract from John Sutherland's How to Read a Novel: A User's Guide. I tested this recommendation while browsing at the bookstore and also on the books in my TBR (to be read) pile with interesting results. I thank Professor John Sutherland for highlighting the McLuhan test.