The joy of reading: A Guide to Becoming a Better Reader

by James W. Sire

Is a good reader someone who reads a lot, reads fast, reads with comprehension? James Sire asserts that we are good readers only when we can read "between the lines" of whatever we read. Whether we read because we have to or because we want to, reading without understanding makes reading less enjoyable as well as less profitable. Every article, every poem, every book not only contains information but also projects a way of looking at life. Through practical chapters on reading fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, James Sire helps readers detect not only what writers say but what lies behind what they say. He concludes with practical and sensible counsel on how to choose what to read and when.

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

James W. Sire was a Christian author, speaker, and former editor for InterVarsity Press.

Sire was an officer in the Army, a college professor of English literature, philosophy and theology, the chief editor of InterVarsity Press, a lecturer at over two hundred universities around the world and the author of twenty books on literature, philosophy and the Christian faith. His book The Universe Next Door, published in 1976 has sold over 350,000 copies. He held a B.A. in chemistry and English from the University of Nebraska, an M.A. in English from Washington State and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Missouri.

Reviews

[Taiye O. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apart from Mortimer Adler's book, How to Read A Book, The Joy of Reading taught me to be a more discerning reader, who easily unravels any writer's worldview.