Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books
Tony Reinke
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In Lit!, Tony Reinke explains the benefits for Christians of reading a wide variety of books and how to read in a way that yields the most benefit.
You are probably wondering why we need a book on reading books. I was pleasantly surprised by how much there was to say on the topic. He covers a diversity of reading related topics varying from how the gospel shapes how we think about reading to how to pick what to read to how to helpfully write and highlight in books.
I’d never really thought that much about how a Christian world view might shape how and what we read so his discussion on this was useful. I appreciate the emphasis on the benefits of reading fiction and books that aren’t “Christian”. He does a good job of explaining the benefits of both, why Christians should not feel confined to literature written by Christians and how to read discerningly. Also particularly worth pondering is the chapter on the impact of the internet and technology on how we read, although I’m not sure I agree with his conclusions on e-readers.
The book should be helpful for people ranging from those who barely read to dedicated book worms. The chapters are quite short so it shouldn’t be too intimating for those who don’t read much. Not everything in this book will be useful for everyone. For example, those who love reading could probably skip some of the earlier chapters on the benefits of reading. The chapters are structured in such a way that you probably wouldn’t lose too much by not reading them in order.
I recommend this book. Reading it is worth your time because it will likely help make the rest of the reading you do more fruitful.
Review copy courtesy of Crossway and NetGalley
