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World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading
World of The Transformative Power of Reading as a Spiritual Discipline
Why should we read? It's a question Jeff Crosby both poses and beautifully answers through engaging personal stories, literary reflections, and spiritual insights, within this rich, thought-provoking book.
World of Wonders is a heartfelt tribute to the power of books and reading's ability to unfurl the glory of God, transform our lives, open windows to the world, inspire our imaginations, and help us be more faithful Christ followers.
Crosby explores how reading bridges differences, fosters understanding, and brings healing in a fractured world. Whether you're a lifelong reader or just beginning to explore the joy of books, this compelling work reveals reading as a sacred practice—a means to encounter God, navigate life's seasons, and cultivate a more meaningful faith.
How reading shapes our spiritual journey—with wisdom from C.S. Lewis, Dostoyevsky, Maya Angelou, and other great thinkersCurated book recommendations at the end of each chapter to expand your literary and faith horizonsStories that inspire, challenge, and uplift—reminding us that books are not just entertainment but a form of divine companionship
Perfect for book lovers, spiritual seekers, and anyone looking to rediscover the joy of reading, World of Wonders is an essential companion for those who long to see God's presence revealed through the written word.
Why should we read? It's a question Jeff Crosby both poses and beautifully answers through engaging personal stories, literary reflections, and spiritual insights, within this rich, thought-provoking book.
World of Wonders is a heartfelt tribute to the power of books and reading's ability to unfurl the glory of God, transform our lives, open windows to the world, inspire our imaginations, and help us be more faithful Christ followers.
Crosby explores how reading bridges differences, fosters understanding, and brings healing in a fractured world. Whether you're a lifelong reader or just beginning to explore the joy of books, this compelling work reveals reading as a sacred practice—a means to encounter God, navigate life's seasons, and cultivate a more meaningful faith.
How reading shapes our spiritual journey—with wisdom from C.S. Lewis, Dostoyevsky, Maya Angelou, and other great thinkersCurated book recommendations at the end of each chapter to expand your literary and faith horizonsStories that inspire, challenge, and uplift—reminding us that books are not just entertainment but a form of divine companionship
Perfect for book lovers, spiritual seekers, and anyone looking to rediscover the joy of reading, World of Wonders is an essential companion for those who long to see God's presence revealed through the written word.
- GenresNonfictionChristian
176 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2025
9 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 6, 2026
What better way to start your year off than reading about reading? If you need inspiration to read, great book recs, and/or more reasons to love reading this is it fam.
December 15, 2025
This is one of a few books I have read about reading, and it is easily my favorite. It is about how reading shapes us, how it can shape our spiritual journey, and guidance for allowing it to have this impact.
The core of the book is arranged with each chapter devoted to a genre (fiction, poetry, diverse voices, and memoir) or season of life and faith (family life, grief and loss, doubt and fear, liturgical seasons). Each chapter is closed with a reflection by a writer within the genre (including Luci Shaw, among others), and then a list of recommended books within the genre.
Before reading straight through the book, I flipped through and read through all of the book recommendations. My most beloved books within each genre were often listed, which I took as a strong recommendation of the others on each list which I haven't yet read.
I found each chapter full of wisdom on spiritual formation and written from the persepctive of a devoted lover of books. I now have many more books that I want to read, and when I'm reading within these genres, I will be glad for the reader's guide to approaching them well. I just wish the release has been in hardcover, as I know my copy will see a lot of use as I contiue to consult it!
The core of the book is arranged with each chapter devoted to a genre (fiction, poetry, diverse voices, and memoir) or season of life and faith (family life, grief and loss, doubt and fear, liturgical seasons). Each chapter is closed with a reflection by a writer within the genre (including Luci Shaw, among others), and then a list of recommended books within the genre.
Before reading straight through the book, I flipped through and read through all of the book recommendations. My most beloved books within each genre were often listed, which I took as a strong recommendation of the others on each list which I haven't yet read.
I found each chapter full of wisdom on spiritual formation and written from the persepctive of a devoted lover of books. I now have many more books that I want to read, and when I'm reading within these genres, I will be glad for the reader's guide to approaching them well. I just wish the release has been in hardcover, as I know my copy will see a lot of use as I contiue to consult it!
September 18, 2025
Summary: On reading as a spiritual practice and how books may transform our lives.
I love books on books. And I think many of you will especially love this book, World of Wonders. That was how I felt the first time I walked through the doors of the Reuben McMillan Library in Youngstown. It’s how I felt the first time I visited a Borders store when we were house hunting in the city where I now live. And its how I felt the first time I read Lord of the Rings.
The author, Jeff Crosby, is writing about all this and more. He believes in reading as a spiritual practice, a means by which we position ourselves to receive the grace of God. And in this book, he writes about how we may cultivate this practice and the various genres and types of books we may read along the way. After each chapter he includes a short statement from another reader on the chapter topic. And then he offers a list of recommended readings on that topic or theme.
Part One of the book lays foundations. Crosby explores why we read and tells his personal story of how reading Calvin Miller’s The Singer transformed him as a reader. He then elaborates his ideas on reading as a spiritual discipline through a “liturgy of reading” consisting of a number of practices, including building a list of books to read (in which he generously recommends this blog as a resource!). Finally, Crosby discusses the reading of scripture as a discipline. I appreciated his challenge to those of us who read many books to not allow this to supplant our reading of scripture! The temptation is real.
Part Two considers “The Wide, Wide, Wonderful World of Reading.” Four chapters consider the genres of fiction, poetry, diverse voices, and memoirs. Quoting Christine Seifert, he argues that “Research suggests that reading literary fiction is an effective way to enhance the brain’s ability to keep an open mind while processing information, a necessary skill for effective decision-making.” Likewise, poetry enhances our power of paying attention as we slow down and ponder. Diverse voices broaden our perspective and help build bridges of understanding. Finally, reading memoir deepens our capacity for reflection. He offers the example of Carolyn Weber’s Surprised by Oxford, the account of her intellectual and spiritual conversion to Christianity.
In Part Three, Crosby explores reading as a spiritual practice through the seasons of life. He recounts reading with children, reading as they left home, and reading while caring for aging parents. Crosby discusses reading as part of dealing with grief and loss. He speaks of reading in seasons of doubt. Daniel Taylor’s The Myth of Certainty was an important book for him. Reading can also be an important adjunct through the liturgical year. Lastly, he returns to his theme of wonder in how books may be our companions through all the seasons of wonder in our lives.
World of Wonders is a great book for readers who always are looking for a book recommendation. In addition, Crosby gives words to what is often our inarticulate sense of the spiritual importance of our reading. And it is good for Christians who realize that they’d like to read more but wonder where to begin. Crosby’s stories of his own reading journey are not from elite literary circles but from daily life. One thinks “that could be me.” And indeed it could. Welcome to the world of wonders!
_______________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
I love books on books. And I think many of you will especially love this book, World of Wonders. That was how I felt the first time I walked through the doors of the Reuben McMillan Library in Youngstown. It’s how I felt the first time I visited a Borders store when we were house hunting in the city where I now live. And its how I felt the first time I read Lord of the Rings.
The author, Jeff Crosby, is writing about all this and more. He believes in reading as a spiritual practice, a means by which we position ourselves to receive the grace of God. And in this book, he writes about how we may cultivate this practice and the various genres and types of books we may read along the way. After each chapter he includes a short statement from another reader on the chapter topic. And then he offers a list of recommended readings on that topic or theme.
Part One of the book lays foundations. Crosby explores why we read and tells his personal story of how reading Calvin Miller’s The Singer transformed him as a reader. He then elaborates his ideas on reading as a spiritual discipline through a “liturgy of reading” consisting of a number of practices, including building a list of books to read (in which he generously recommends this blog as a resource!). Finally, Crosby discusses the reading of scripture as a discipline. I appreciated his challenge to those of us who read many books to not allow this to supplant our reading of scripture! The temptation is real.
Part Two considers “The Wide, Wide, Wonderful World of Reading.” Four chapters consider the genres of fiction, poetry, diverse voices, and memoirs. Quoting Christine Seifert, he argues that “Research suggests that reading literary fiction is an effective way to enhance the brain’s ability to keep an open mind while processing information, a necessary skill for effective decision-making.” Likewise, poetry enhances our power of paying attention as we slow down and ponder. Diverse voices broaden our perspective and help build bridges of understanding. Finally, reading memoir deepens our capacity for reflection. He offers the example of Carolyn Weber’s Surprised by Oxford, the account of her intellectual and spiritual conversion to Christianity.
In Part Three, Crosby explores reading as a spiritual practice through the seasons of life. He recounts reading with children, reading as they left home, and reading while caring for aging parents. Crosby discusses reading as part of dealing with grief and loss. He speaks of reading in seasons of doubt. Daniel Taylor’s The Myth of Certainty was an important book for him. Reading can also be an important adjunct through the liturgical year. Lastly, he returns to his theme of wonder in how books may be our companions through all the seasons of wonder in our lives.
World of Wonders is a great book for readers who always are looking for a book recommendation. In addition, Crosby gives words to what is often our inarticulate sense of the spiritual importance of our reading. And it is good for Christians who realize that they’d like to read more but wonder where to begin. Crosby’s stories of his own reading journey are not from elite literary circles but from daily life. One thinks “that could be me.” And indeed it could. Welcome to the world of wonders!
_______________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
December 18, 2025
In World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading, Jeff Crosby offers a timely and compelling invitation into the formative power of books. More than half a century ago, futurist Alvin Toffler observed that “the illiterate of the future will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” That insight feels even more urgent today, and Crosby’s work stands as a gentle but insistent affirmation that reading is one of the most essential practices for cultivating precisely that adaptive, resilient literacy.
Crosby does not treat reading as a hobby or a pastime. Instead, he frames it as a spiritual discipline, one capable of shaping our inner lives, enlarging our moral imagination, and forming us into wiser, more grounded human beings. In his hands, books become companions in spiritual, ethical, character, and communal formation. They are not merely sources of information or entertainment; they are catalysts for transformation.
One of the great strengths of World of Wonders is how Crosby shows that reading helps us navigate the complexities and vagaries of life. In a world marked by noise, fragmentation, and relentless change, reading becomes a stabilizing practice, an anchor that orients us toward depth rather than distraction. Crosby convincingly argues that the right books at the right time can steer us toward lives marked by wisdom, attentiveness, and compassion. Through stories, poetry, theology, and narrative nonfiction, we learn to see more clearly, feel more deeply, and live more faithfully.
Crosby’s prose is warm, approachable, and quietly luminous. He writes as a seasoned guide who has spent a lifetime among books and knows their power from the inside out. Yet his tone never drifts into abstraction. The book is practical and hands-on, offering readers a roadmap for cultivating intelligent, intentional reading practices across all seasons and circumstances of life. Whether one is seeking spiritual renewal, vocational clarity, emotional grounding, or simply a more profound sense of connection with others, Crosby provides pathways for reading that nourish the whole person.
World of Wonders ultimately reminds us that reading is not an escape from the world but a way of entering it more fully. Crosby invites us to read in ways that shape us into people capable of living good lives, lives marked by God’s wisdom in a chaotic age. His book is both a celebration of the written word and a call to recover reading as a transformative, life-giving practice. For anyone longing to grow in depth, discernment, and spiritual maturity, Crosby has given us a gift.
Crosby does not treat reading as a hobby or a pastime. Instead, he frames it as a spiritual discipline, one capable of shaping our inner lives, enlarging our moral imagination, and forming us into wiser, more grounded human beings. In his hands, books become companions in spiritual, ethical, character, and communal formation. They are not merely sources of information or entertainment; they are catalysts for transformation.
One of the great strengths of World of Wonders is how Crosby shows that reading helps us navigate the complexities and vagaries of life. In a world marked by noise, fragmentation, and relentless change, reading becomes a stabilizing practice, an anchor that orients us toward depth rather than distraction. Crosby convincingly argues that the right books at the right time can steer us toward lives marked by wisdom, attentiveness, and compassion. Through stories, poetry, theology, and narrative nonfiction, we learn to see more clearly, feel more deeply, and live more faithfully.
Crosby’s prose is warm, approachable, and quietly luminous. He writes as a seasoned guide who has spent a lifetime among books and knows their power from the inside out. Yet his tone never drifts into abstraction. The book is practical and hands-on, offering readers a roadmap for cultivating intelligent, intentional reading practices across all seasons and circumstances of life. Whether one is seeking spiritual renewal, vocational clarity, emotional grounding, or simply a more profound sense of connection with others, Crosby provides pathways for reading that nourish the whole person.
World of Wonders ultimately reminds us that reading is not an escape from the world but a way of entering it more fully. Crosby invites us to read in ways that shape us into people capable of living good lives, lives marked by God’s wisdom in a chaotic age. His book is both a celebration of the written word and a call to recover reading as a transformative, life-giving practice. For anyone longing to grow in depth, discernment, and spiritual maturity, Crosby has given us a gift.
September 29, 2025
I love books. And if a novel is about readers and book stores, I am always drawn to it. This is not a novel, but it is about reading and books - the joy, the benefits, the love. I am someone who writes down a quote or a passage from a book that I find meaningful, especially well written, or worth reading again. Then there are the books that I end up reading with Post-It flags or a highlighter in hand. This is one of those books. I found many such sections that I read and said, "yeah" or "that's so good" and had to be able to find them again. The problem will be that I have to root through a bunch of the flags to find a certain one. Love this book and will return to it.
As you can see, I don't so much review the book as a formal review. I give my thoughts and reactions. Bob Trube wrote a very nice review of the content if you'd like to see more.
As you can see, I don't so much review the book as a formal review. I give my thoughts and reactions. Bob Trube wrote a very nice review of the content if you'd like to see more.
October 24, 2025
This book is fabulous. You should really get a copy and read it without delay. If you love to read, there's much to savor. If you want to love to read but just haven't caught the bug, there's much to inspire. And no matter who you are, you'll be in the earnest care of an author whose warmth, wisdom, and insight emanates from every page. Read it. Seriously.
November 15, 2025
I have personally appreciated Jeff Crosby's love of books for over twenty-five years. I am delighted to see him provide this doorway into his lifetime of spiritual reading through various genres, stages of life, and more. You'll find more than one book, lovingly presented, to add to your own reading list. I did.
November 27, 2025
Decent book on why you should read books and why reading is a spiritual discipline. I loved all the different seasons being explained with suggestions for each season of reading. I didn't always agree with everything that was said and I was expecting more philosophy/general info vs. it being a reflection of his personal reading. But overall it was good.
January 3, 2026
An interesting book no doubt. I wasn’t looking at the spiritual side of it but more on the reading in general. Very interesting. Well written. Definitely have some new books to check into based on lists provided in the book.
Definitely a very religious undertone.
Definitely a very religious undertone.
January 19, 2026
Crosby has lots of good things to say, but as I'm already an avid reader I didn't find much that was helpful except for his book suggestions, several of which I jotted down.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews