Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books
by Tony Reinke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Lit! is divided into two parts: “Part 1: A Theology of Books and Reading,” and “Part 2: Some Practical Advice on Book Reading.”
Part 1 contained a lot of solid content but seemed a bit disjointed and came across more like a series of Christian-worldview blog posts retrofitted to apply specifically to literature. It addressed a lot of questions to which I already had answers without providing much new to consider. I was looking forward to Part 2 and considered skipping the rest of Part 1 after about fifty pages (ironically, this is exactly the approach to book reading that the author recommends in Part 2).
Part 2 was closer to what I expected from the book. Chapter 7 was an especially helpful discussion on the importance of prioritizing what you read in light of the fact that there just isn’t time to read everything. Chapters 8, and 12 were also especially beneficial.
Overall, Lit! was shorter on practical advice than what I had anticipated. If you are a Christian who already shares the author’s worldview, as I am, you may find that your time is best spend only on Part 2.
Why were chapters 8 and 12 beneficial? I am hooked, reel me in!