Reformed Readers discussion

Hi. This question has bugged me for years. I haven't reached a conclusion. So am posting here to solicit wisdom from the community.

What do you do with books that are impactful old favorites from authors who later disappoint?

It's no surprise that authors (like the rest of us) demonstrate they are still dealing with sin. I get that and rejoice in a God who continues to lavish grace on a messy family.

But do you continue to recommend their books from that season of authorship?

Do you recommend to those more mature in faith who have grown in discernment but avoid recommending to spiritually young ones?

Do you downgrade your rating?

Do you approach it like we do local pastors - not surprised by imperfection but inviting others to travel along based on trajectory of character and wisdom? Is it different with authors because they aren't local and our judgement is limited?

A recent example for me is Humility by Mahaney. This book in particular due to the topic. But similar scenario to other favorites as well.

This doesn't really answer your question, but it is for this very reason (later disappointments) that I have a strong preference for reading old dead dudes over living authors. "The book has been written" on them, and there are fewer nasty surprises. Since a tree is ultimately known by its fruit, it worries me to think I may be willingly and unknowingly slurping up the sap from a tree that is later proved to be poisonous. For me, at 60, life is too short to have to waste any of it disentangling myself from from ideas, even in seed form, that will eventually flower into unorthdoxy or even heresy.