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To work a book or not to work a book?

SaschaSascha
in Project: Zettelkasten.de

Hi Zettlers,

I am undecided and I can't trust my English intuition. Either I keep "working a book" as a phrase or I switch to "working with a book".

I heard the first phrase from a client and it stuck with me.

My fear is that this is too unenglish. :)

What do you think?

I am a Zettler

How to work a book
  1. What is the better phrase?2 votes
    1. Working a book
        0.00%
    2. Working with a book
      100.00%

Comments

  • harrharr

    Neither?

    I'd translate the first one back to German as "bedienen". For example: Sheldon doesn't know how to work a door. / Sheldon weiß nicht, wie man eine Tür bedient. https://www.reddit.com/r/EnglishLearning/comments/qz2sou/what_does_work_a_something_mean/?rdt=52538 Charlie works a machine. / Charlie bedient eine Maschine. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-work-a-machine-and-work-on-a-machine

    The second one is ambiguos. Is the book just a tool in your workflow? For example: As a cook I work with knives and pots.

    What kind of work do you have in mind? Is it the work of writing zettels that are based on the content of a book? Is it the work of thoroughly reading and understanding a book?

  • SaschaSascha
    edited 8:52AM

    Are you a German speaker?

    What kind of work do you have in mind? Is it the work of writing zettels that are based on the content of a book? Is it the work of thoroughly reading and understanding a book?

    All of it. Especially in history, we were taught to use a book and not read it. Working a book sounds like exactly what I mean.

    I am a Zettler

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