Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I should have bought years ago. Very helpful in pulling down some barriers I had erected. Smashed some mindsets, but gave excellent advise to help us engage with books in a thoughtful and God honouring way. Being wise stewards of time it helped focus on what we should be reading together with what we could be reading. Very helpful....I will enjoy reading this book again. Some amazing insights....into the world of words on the page. God spoke....so we need to read....K D Jones

Reading is believed-in but rarely done! Here you'll feel yourself to be in the company of an accomplished reader in Tony Reinke. Reinke's book articulates how Christians can and why they should read books of every sort. If you've ever struggled with explaining this, get a copy of Lit!. He gives very solid reasons, going all the way back to our early church fathers and the Reformers. Truly mature Christian readers treasure wisdom and the pursue Jesus in all things and this is a remarkable, accessible and unique titile this vital quest. Furthermore, Reinke offers the very foundation for reading itself. God chose the written word to reveal Himself and made strict prohibitions against the making of images. Today's culture, with its emphasis on television, advertising and internet, is one of images. Reading, which has always been difficult mental work, becomes more challenging as we feed ourselves a mental diet of bits of information delivered in fast moving images. Reinke navigates this cultural reality powerfully.I appreciated the body of research and the scale of the engagement from Reinke, here from Camus: "A novel is never anything but a philosophy put into images". I did find value, more than I even expected, and I found it through a very rare combination of encouragement, creativity, depth, theological penetration, and even playful accessibility. Beautifully and attractively delivered in font and format. Reading is truly duty and delight and in this title you have a world class guide!

I didn't enjoy the first part (a theology of reading) as much as the second (some practical advice), because although I was glad that Reinke did the theology, I felt he could have worn it a little lighter. The theology is certainly foundational, but it's normally best if you don't see too much of the foundations. That said, it was a helpful read, and should help to make me a better reader.

Point: Every Christian can and should read books…wisely.Path: Reinke helps the reader to select, read, and evaluate books of all types. Explaining his background and movement toward selecting and reading books more wisely, the author helps the reader to improve in his own selection and reading. For the non-reader, Reinke provides good answers to common questions, and a good kick in the pants for common excuses. For the reader, Reinke helps hone the skill he/she is developing and gives further encouragement to read more widely and thoughtfully.Sources: Using his own journey as a template, the author explains how his mentors helped him to grow, how certain authors have challenged him, and how currently he is passing this on to his family. Common names found throughout these pages are Neil Postman, C. S. Lewis, John Calvin, Leland Ryken, and Martin Luther.Agreement: I greatly appreciated Reinke’s work and plan on recommending it to many people. I appreciated his thoughtfulness and the practical nature of the book as well. His constant repetition of the Bible as THE BOOK was a good reminder and necessary basis. I was challenged to read more widely and more wisely and plan on using some of his suggestions for me and my family.Personal App: I was specifically challenged in the area of book consumption. Am I merely reading to get through another book, or am I reading to be challenged, to be changed?Favorite Quote: “Scripture is the ultimate grid by which we read every book. Scripture is perfect, sufficient, and eternal. All other books, to some degree, are imperfect, deficient, and temporary. That means that when we pick books from the bookstore shelves, we read those imperfect books in light of the perfect Book, the deficient books in light of the sufficient Book, and the temporary books in light of the eternal Book."It would be worth another read and I would recommend it to someone who says:“I’m not a reader.”“I would like to read, but I don’t have enough time.”“I enjoy reading.”“I read a lot.”

I like the fact that in writing this book, personal anecdotes and the importance of reading with a worldview especially the biblical worldview were emphasized and utilized.The is a lesson that this review is violating, which is allowing the information and wisdom gained from the book to settle a few days before reviewing and making comments about it. I guess it is a part of the culture of reading on a kindle.This is a book I have had for sometime and I have finally read. It is a book I will recommend to those that want to know how to read and those I want to encourage to read.It is a book the reader will enjoy. The 20 tips and tricks section is value added!

'Lit: A Christian Guide to Reading Books' is a worthwhile read.Whether one is an avid reader or one who rarely cracks a book, this is a book that is worthwhile. Christians are historically a 'people of the book' and need to be readers. It is very difficult to have a grasp of the world in general or Christianity in particular if one is not a reader.In this volume, author Tony Reinke underscores the importance of reading as well as the need for discernment about reading. He does not take the approach that Christians should only read the Bible or 'Christian books'. In fact, he makes a great case for reading a wide variety of genres. He also gives wise advise on how to do that in a discerning manner.The author quotes T. S. Eliot in making the point that we are much more likely to be led astray by those with whom we have much agreement in general. He talks about how 'the most treacherous spiritual dangers arise from theologically twisted books written by wolves in sheepskin.' Clearly, heretical books are much more likely to be found coming from 'Christian books' or 'Christian writers', as books written by non-Christians are much more likely to be viewed cautiously by Christ followers.He cautions readers that in our modern world, 'it's too easy to waste our lives watching mindless television and squandering our free time away with entertainment.'There is much good food for thought in this short book. It is well worth reading and pondering.