How to Read a Book

by Andrew Naselli

Imagine a well-read man. Do you see a machine dressed in tweed gorging on information?

This book is not about becoming that kind of reader.

The well-read man wakes up and consults with Moses on the way to work.

He sips his coffee and ponders the wisdom of Hannibal's elephants crossing the Alps.

He turns furrowed-browed philosophers upside down and takes their lunch money.

He changes his oil and deliberates with Peter Drucker about effective management practices.

He regales his wife with the tale of Monet's water lilies in the Gardens at Giverny.

He sings with Sandra Boynton as his toddlers' eyes grow heavy.

This book is about becoming that man. Be as human as you can be. Learn how to read a book.

Genres: Christian

216 pages, Hardcover

Published April 30, 2024

Reviews

[Jordan Litts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much easier to read than Mortimer J. Adler's "How to Read a Book". I highly recommend everyone read this!

[Garrett Rupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book both interesting and easy to read. My one little complaint is that it was like 30% CS Lewis quotes, but there are obviously worse people to quote.

[Bryan Rohde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written and engaging from start to finish. Highly recommend!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. I always recommended Adler’s “How to Read a Book” as the best resource on reading and now I believe this book is even better. It will be my new recommendation.

First, it’s written from a Christian perspective to Christians so it makes clear that the end goal of reading is to glorify God by enjoying His word, good literature, and His creation through story.

Second, it’s immensely practical. It contains a detailed table of contents, it cites plenty of other books on a variety of topics, and it contains numerous ideas for readers of all ages. As a parent, I love to know what other parents do for reading and encouraging their kids to read; this book gave me some great tips.

Third, it’s accessible to readers of every level. Whether you’re just starting to enjoy reading or you have spent a lifetime turning pages, you will find this book to be a fun, easy read. It’s not overly academic or stuffy but rather a fun yet helpful book that aims to stir you to think about why reading is good and important.

Finally, a book about how to read might seem silly or unnecessary but with a limited amount of time and so many books out in the world, we ought to be careful and deliberate with what we consume and how we consume it. Naselli’s “How to Read a Book” teaches you to get the most out of your reading experience and read good books along with the Great Book, the Bible.

[Benaiah Neetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy Naselli has become one of my favorite authors lately, his book on predestination last year was incredible and this book is no different. He takes complex subjects and topics and translates them masterfully into ways that you can understand them. Andy Naselli has written a helpful book for all of us - both readers and nonreaders. As a reader who is looking to read more and read more efficiently; this book couldn't have been more timely. His chapter on three levels of reading, the value of reading, and what to read were invaluable. His end chapters and appendixes on organizing your library and using social media are worth their weight in gold.
I'm looking forward to returning to this and giving this to people beginning their first journey in the reading adventure!

[Caleb Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great and helpful read! Some people are skeptical of Canon Press, but this book was a hit. It is much more accessible and God-centered than other books on how to read, and that is a welcome addition. He gives very practical advice for readers of every level, and I have begun to implement this into how I read!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

He gives many reasons and helpful tips on why and how we should read.

[Parker Goforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource. Is it the best book for everyone to read? No. But for a resource for Christians desiring to think about reading wisely and grow as a reader, it’s wonderful.

[Debbie Channell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more accessible than Adler’s book by the same title, and I think I would generally more highly recommend it to people.

[Ryan Cable · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know how to read a book now.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, Naselli's book was a good work for me to nod to and recommend. I read it quickly and he gave me "terms" for practices I'm already utilizing. I was surprised to find that really - I know how to read a book. His recommendations for "what" to read gave me language for the diverse books I read. Some of his reasons FOR reading were eye-openers. His advice on setting up a personal library was a bit myopic. He uses Zotero. I use LibraryThing. I might take a look at Zotero because I've not known what to do with my ebooks and articles. So thank you for that. One stunner: the man has about 60,000 items in his personal library... but the only authors he recommends in his 40 favorite books are C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Arthur Conan Doyle for fiction and 15 guys and God for exegesis and theology. He grants he is a C.S. Lewis and Piper fan. He also grants that the world is larger than his list, but his fiction list was 4 authors and their series. Can I just say, hey! Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Hugo, Austen, Sayers, Conrad, London, Steinbeck, Hardy, T.H. White, George MacDonald, Defoe, Stevenson, Wodehouse, Twain, Carroll, Dahl, Wells, Dickens, Cather, Maugham, and Barrie. That's just the tip of the berg. I think people might need a nudge and he missed the chance to give it to them. Also I would add a tip to his advice on reading what people you respect and trust recommend. I highly recommend reading footnotes. Footnotes have changed my life. When I read an author that I truly love, I look to see what they read in their bibliographies and footnotes. If someone is particularly scholarly or witty, I check their websites to see what they read. These are filled with hidden treasures. Bottom line: READ. And then REREAD.

[Marcus Muresan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good/enjoyable - 7.5/10