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Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books
Summary
I love to read.
I hate to read.
I don’t have time to read.
I only read Christian books.
I’m not good at reading.
There’s too much to read.
Chances are, you’ve thought or said one of these exact phrases before because reading is important and in many ways unavoidable.
Learn how to better read, what to read, when to read, and why you should read with this helpful guide from accomplished reader Tony Reinke. Offered here is a theology for reading and practical suggestions for reading widely, reading well, and for making it all worthwhile.
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Reviews
Have you ever read a book that wasn't quite what you expected, but which was quite good nonetheless? This is such a book. I expected that the author would employ a reader's advisory tone in his writing; however, he approached the subject from the perspective of learning to love books and literature. He demonstrated the value of reading both Christian and non-Christian books to one's spiritual growth. He also offered tips on how parents could inspire children to love books and to pastors on how to get church members appreciate and read books. There are many quotes from the Bible and from other writers throughout the book on the value of reading. He encourages readers to create marginalia, but only in books which are their own. Even though this book was not what I expected, I found it to be extremely valuable. I received an advanced electronic galley from the publisher through NetGalley for review, but I intend to purchase my own print copy of the book. I found myself highlighting many passages as I read through the galley on my Kindle which will be valuable to me as a librarian who enjoys promoting reading and literature.
If this doesn't change how you read or look at books, you have missed the point. the first part seems almost too obvious. The second part is new and excellent. I will probably plan to read this annually.
Lit! by Tony Reinke is a book about books, actually, it is a book about reading. And it is a good one. Reinke takes the opportunity with this book to encourage Christians to read, and then give practical advice on how to adhere to his admonition.
The first part of the book (A Theology of Books and Reading) is a defense of reading: why we should read, why we should desire to read and what deters us from reading. Some of this section for me was superfluous simply because I already agreed that reading was essential and already had a true desire to read more and to read better. While it is a great series of chapters, for me, I was more interested in the "how-to" aspects of the book than I was the "why".
So, I was extremely interested in the second section (Some Practical Advice on Book Reading). Reinke cites extensively from Adler's classic, How to Read a Book, especially in chapter 8 (How to Read a Book). The difference however, and it is a significant difference, is that Reinke writes from an explicitly Christian perspective and encourages the reader throughout to engage whatever text they are reading with the lens of Biblical Christianity coloring all that they intake. This is why the first section of Lit! is necessary in the text, and also why the material he covers is necessary if we are reading Calvin, Tolkien, Clancy or Seuss.
One chapter in particular resonated with me more than all the rest. Chapter 14, Raising Readers, deals with how to raise up children who love to read. This chapter is quite practical and immediately applicable. Things like reading to your children, reading with your children, guarding overexposure to visual media like TV and Wii all seems like simple tasks, but their is a new urgency placed upon them when you consider the Bible rich arguments Reinke presents for the worshipful act of reading.
This book covers great material. At times, I felt it dragged and got a bit wordy. I felt the arguments presented in the first half could have been more succinct, but I am glad that they were there. Without them, this would have been all "how-to" and not nearly as effective. It is well worth the effort of mining to enjoy the flakes of gold that litter these pages.
The first part of the book (A Theology of Books and Reading) is a defense of reading: why we should read, why we should desire to read and what deters us from reading. Some of this section for me was superfluous simply because I already agreed that reading was essential and already had a true desire to read more and to read better. While it is a great series of chapters, for me, I was more interested in the "how-to" aspects of the book than I was the "why".
So, I was extremely interested in the second section (Some Practical Advice on Book Reading). Reinke cites extensively from Adler's classic, How to Read a Book, especially in chapter 8 (How to Read a Book). The difference however, and it is a significant difference, is that Reinke writes from an explicitly Christian perspective and encourages the reader throughout to engage whatever text they are reading with the lens of Biblical Christianity coloring all that they intake. This is why the first section of Lit! is necessary in the text, and also why the material he covers is necessary if we are reading Calvin, Tolkien, Clancy or Seuss.
One chapter in particular resonated with me more than all the rest. Chapter 14, Raising Readers, deals with how to raise up children who love to read. This chapter is quite practical and immediately applicable. Things like reading to your children, reading with your children, guarding overexposure to visual media like TV and Wii all seems like simple tasks, but their is a new urgency placed upon them when you consider the Bible rich arguments Reinke presents for the worshipful act of reading.
This book covers great material. At times, I felt it dragged and got a bit wordy. I felt the arguments presented in the first half could have been more succinct, but I am glad that they were there. Without them, this would have been all "how-to" and not nearly as effective. It is well worth the effort of mining to enjoy the flakes of gold that litter these pages.
I really enjoyed Lit! Tony Reinke presents an excellent Christian theology on books and some practical helps for becoming a better reader. His writing style is very easy to follow and very rich. A Christian view of non-Christian books can sometimes be controversial, but Tony handles the topic with grace. He is very balanced between liberty and discernment.
The book does lose a star on a couple items. Early on in the book he bits words against images. I don't think it was his intention, but the chapter gives the feeling that for Christians words are the only thing that are beneficial and any sort of visual art is detrimental. Also, a chapter deals with how much the internet has changed our reading habits for the worse. While he does conclude that its not the internet's fault that our reading habits have changed, its our own responsibility, it does come off as a bit technophobic. I do understand that many people have an internet addiction/idol and that issue needs to be addressed swiftly and strongly, but at the same time we can't overreact and call technology evil. We need to be aware of the problems that technology can create and prayerfully consider how we can adjust our personal lives to most glorify God in our actions.
The book does lose a star on a couple items. Early on in the book he bits words against images. I don't think it was his intention, but the chapter gives the feeling that for Christians words are the only thing that are beneficial and any sort of visual art is detrimental. Also, a chapter deals with how much the internet has changed our reading habits for the worse. While he does conclude that its not the internet's fault that our reading habits have changed, its our own responsibility, it does come off as a bit technophobic. I do understand that many people have an internet addiction/idol and that issue needs to be addressed swiftly and strongly, but at the same time we can't overreact and call technology evil. We need to be aware of the problems that technology can create and prayerfully consider how we can adjust our personal lives to most glorify God in our actions.
Highly recommend this book... about developing a love for books and reading! A must read...
A helpful into to book-reading. I'd find this most useful to give to high schoolers just embarking on a mature reading life. Where Veith (Reading Between the Lines) focuses more on what gets read, Reinke focuses more on the activity of reading. Both are good; a book that combined their strengths, included a reading list, and avoided the imagophobia and internet-bashing would quickly displace both of them as my go to book. But for now, Reinke's book is quite serviceable.Reading Notes: Chapter 2: Not at all happy with the cliched "word vs. image" battle. God gives us both, and they shed light on each other. Word became flesh. But Reinke is far from alone in his characterization.Page 73: point 6 - non-christian literature does not "beg" questions; it raises them, or asks them, or prompts them. I'll take anything other than beg. Pet peeve.Random specification: Specific tangents that eat up several paragraphs abound - women should read theology, pastors shouldn't abuse business books, etc. While often helpful, these applications are very random - who is the book written for? Why was this specific group chosen to receive pointed application at this time, while dozens of other groups are left to make their own applications? I have no idea.Page 122: "Don't read fiction with the hope that it will shape your worldview." What? How can it not? Reinke rightly points out you shouldn't look for a thesis or propositions in fiction, but a thesis and propositions are hardly the only shapers of worldview. I'm tempted to argue that good fiction has a stronger shaping influence on the heart and emotions than non-fiction. I think what Reinke means to argue is that you shouldn't allow the emotive elements of fiction to cause you overthrow the cognitive truths more propositionally presented in non-fiction. But fiction cannot be reduced to a giant fallacious appeal to emotion. Fiction has the ability to highlight and poke holes in bad propositional beliefs, and following Reinke on this point would handcuff us for no good reason. Arguing as Reinke does that "Scripture alone should inform our worldview" is an abuse of sola scriptura, not a well-informed use of it. Scripture is the supreme written norm for our worldview, but hardly the only source that influences or shapes it. This pgh. meant well, but was very poorly articulated.Chapter 12: Marginalia - I'm one of those people who doesn't write in books, and I don't plan to start. I do keep commonplaces, and I do engage with books in other places, I just don't mark up my books. I find marginalia to be a hindrance in re-reading and in borrowing; maybe I treat my own library like a library. Underline or highlight me unconvinced.Chapter 13: Reading Together - Really, really liked this chapter. What Reinke describes is more than a book club, because it is more about the people than about the books. People growing together around good books. I want that to describe most of my life.
In Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books, former journalist Tony Reinke offers a theology for reading as well as practical suggestions for reading. Using scripture and a great deal of additional research, Reinke provides Christians with a deep, multifaceted look at the topic of reading.Pastor C. J. Mahaney’s foreword does a thorough job at setting up the book by describing the important part that reading has played in his life and Christian walk. Reinke then begins the book by explaining what the title of the book (Lit!) represents: while short for “literature,” it also reminds us that “the glow of God’s creative power is all around us” (pg. 16) and, most importantly, emphasizes the fact that Christian readers are illuminated by the light of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4). Therefore, says Reinke, we see God’s truth in all literature. The author then dives into the topic, covering everything from the biblical foundation for reading, to the benefits of reading non-Christian books, to Reinke’s own formula for determining what he reads, to finding time to read. He ends the book with a look at the five marks of a healthy reader.If you’ve read my blog before, you probably have already determined that this book covers a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I love to read, although I go through periods where I fail to set aside proper time to do so. I found the theological portion of the book enlightening. Reinke makes many excellent points for why to read a wide variety of literature and how our faith relates to our reading. I also found the practical portion of the book incredibly helpful. His tips on reading fiction, reading non-fiction, choosing books, setting aside time to read, taking notes, and many other topics are very useful.I urge you to read this book whether you enjoy reading or not. If you don’t enjoy reading, perhaps it will help you to find enjoyment in the practice and to grow in your faith as a result of it. If you already enjoy reading, I think you’ll walk away from the experience ready to grow your love of reading and with a new appreciation for the importance of it. I know I did.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advance reading copy of this book free from Crossway via netGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”