Encouragement
How many books did you read last year?
There are two benefits to reading books according to the late philosopher Mortimer Adler in his classic
"How To Read A Book."
1. Reading for understanding (wisdom)
2. Reading for knowledge
It is estimated that there are between 500,000 to one million books published each year.
In addition there are several million self-published books each year.
Thus, if you do not read any books, you are falling drastically behind every year in your effort to understand the world and to acquire information.
I think you'll agree that this is not a good thing.
Perhaps we all need to become speed readers.
Isaiah the prophet asks the question: "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." Isaiah 28:9,10
Apply Isaiah's wisdom to reading books.
Ofcourse when it comes to reading books the Bible must be the first choice because it is the holy scriptures, the very word of God which is most profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16
One of my favorite quotes is by the English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon who said: "Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man and writing an exact man."
Bacon also said: "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested."
Last year I believe I read more books in one year than ever before and the only reason is because I purposed in my heart to become a more fuller man.
My list of 53 books that I read last year, not counting the New Testament, has been posted.
You can see some of the material that I've tasted, swallowed and digested.
Not all the books I read are Christian books nor should they be.
A person should read books outside their area of specialty and interest so that they can expand their knowledge and thinking.
NOTE: If you could please send me three to five books you read last year that would be great so that I can consider them for my own reading in the future.
If you haven't read at least five good books last year then perhaps you need to read up on the importance of reading.
Five books is easy.
I 'm setting a goal of reading one hundred (that is 100) books this year and some of them may even be repeated because good books should be read more than once.
I've included the N. T. as part of last year's reading program so if we add that to my list of 53 that would be about 60 books since the N. T. has about 184,600 words and the average book has about 275 words per page.
This means the New Testament is the equivalent of about seven short books of about 94 pages.
Most of the books I read are much longer than 94 pages.
There are a few that might only be 50 pages or 60 pages but some of them are several hundred.
I really don't like to read long books.
My preference is reading books that are about 150 to 200 pages.
My preference is reading books that are about 150 to 200 pages.
There are exceptions.
I hope to write several books in the coming years and a lot of these books will probably only be about 80-100 pages because I think people can read that in a few hours or in one sitting.
From my perspective it is easier to write shorter books rather than longer books.
In addition I've found people's attention spans are short today and they are full of distractions which is one reason I prefer reading and writing shorter books.
According to Peter Thomson, England's most prolific information marketing expert, writing shorter books can also be more profitable than writing longer books.
I hope this inspires you to read more books this year and if you do a lot of reading please let me know how many pages, on average, are the books you read.
Brother Carlton ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and junk removal expert, he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns, and poems, and doing street preaching. See all his videos on YouTube brother Carlton.
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