As each chapter unfolds the authors take the reader deeper into the beauty, wonder, necessity, and appreciation of literary books and they return to their theme, found in the title, Recovering the Lost art of Reading often. As the volume suggests, and where I would agree, reading is an art and it is dying art. As can be seen from the table of contents below, Recovering the Lost art of Reading is comprehensive.
Introduction: Welcome to the Conversation
Part 1 Reading Is a Lost Art
1 Is Reading Lost?
2 What Have We Lost?
3 Why Consider Reading an Art?
Part 2 Reading Literature
4 What Is Literature?
5 Why Does Literature Matter?
6 What Does Literature Offer?
7 Reading Stories: Tell Me a Story
8 Reading Poems: Songs of the Soul
9 Reading Novels: Come Away with Me
10 Reading Fantasy: A Far Journey
11 Reading Children’s Books: Once Upon a Time
12 Reading Creative Nonfiction: To Tell the Truth
13 Reading the Bible as Literature: Words of Delight
Part 3 Recovering the Art of Reading
14 Recovery through Discovery
15 Truth in Literature
16 The Moral Vision in Literature 17
Beauty in Literature
18 Discovering Literary Excellence
19 Freedom to Read
20 Reading Good Books
21 Calling and Creativity
22 Literature and the Spiritual Life: Over and Above
(Leland Ryken; Glenda Faye Mathes. Recovering the Lost Art of Reading (Kindle Location 86). Crossway.)
I benefited most from the authors take on reading the Bible as literature (chapter 13). Something where I am often amiss. I didn't agree with everything but found it most helpful.
I found this book enlightening and useful as I'm primarily an informational reader and usually leave my fiction intake to quality movies and TV programs. Nevertheless, I found this a quality read and recommend to all, especially those oriented to fiction.
Crossway has provided a complimentary copy of this book through Beyond the Page. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
