Lit: A Review

It seems strange to read a book about reading. But it's a good strange, like when you taste a new food and find it unexpectedly tasty. That's what I discovered in Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke. Except my enjoyment wasn't unexpected. I had heard much good about Lit! and I wasn't at all disappointed.

In the Introduction, Reinke writes:

"Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books is for any Christian who wants to read books, and read them well. This book covers a wide range of topics: why we should read books in the first place, how to choose the best books, how to find time to read books, and how to find joy - not drudgery - in the pages of books."

Reinke divides the book into two parts:

1. A Theology of Books and Reading
2. Some Practical Advice on Book Reading

The first part includes chapters like, "Reading is Believing: Savoring Books in an Eye-Candy Culture," "Reading from across the Canyon: How a Biblical Worldview Equips Us to Benefit from Books," and "The God Who Slays Dragons: The Purifying Power of Christian Imagination." Though all of Lit! is about fostering a love of reading and a desire to read, Reinke is always quick to emphasize the supremacy of Scripture. The literature of the Bible is more important, beautiful, liberating, life-giving, and good than any other book.

Part 2 is just as good, but more practical (as the title suggests). Reinke covers topics like the priorities of what books to read, tips for reading nonfiction books, how to combat the crippling influence of the internet to our book reading, and the marks of a healthy book reader. He encourages and exhorts readers all across the spectrum, from encouraging those who are adverse, to warning those who perhaps read books too much or for the wrong reasons. I recognize my own temptations to fall into the latter category, and I love what he says in Chapter 15: Happily Ever After,

"Books are great tools, but they are disappointing gods."

Reinke loves books and he loves reading, and he enthuses that love into the reader. So though I would recommend this book to an apprehensive reader faster than an avid reader, I would be happy to recommend it to pretty much anyone. Definitely pick up a copy of this book, and become a better reader!

Buy Lit! now. 

*I received a copy of this book from Crossway through their Beyond the Page review system. I was not required to give a positive review.