How to Read a Book

This is from one of my seminary professors, Dr. Doug Groothuis. (Side note: he attends my mom's church back in Denver, and when I see him, it feels really weird to call him Doug with everyone else instead of Dr. Groothuis.) One Doug's important contributions to my life is his continual (and incessant) reminders to turn off the television and pick up a book. I would say that I read more as a result of his teaching. By the way, one book that is on my list to finally get to one day is of the same name, How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren.

As an owner of thousands of books and a reader of many of them, I offer a few pieces of advise on the art of reading a book. This is a lost art for many, given the dominance of image-oriented media today.

1. Read worthwhile books. These come in two categories: (A) Books that are in themselves worthwhile. (B) Books that are substandard but influential, nevertheless. I know nothing of "killing time" by reading. As Thoreau said, "You cannot kill time without wounding eternity." Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as to what books you should read and when. I cannot separate my professional reading from my pleasure reading. However, I will not read books I profoundly disagree with on Sundays, since that is a day of rest (not torment).

2. Always read with a pen or pencil in your hand. Annotation is part of the art of reading. The book should become your own. I underline, make comments, and put notes in the front of the book pointing out important points. I also cross reference important points.

3. Write in the front of the book when you started reading it and when you finished it. This gives you a sense of intellectual history. (Don't ask how many books I have not finished. Some do not deserve to be finished, though.)

4. Recommend books to others on as many topics as you can. Be a walking and talking annotated bibliography.

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