Book Review: Recovering the Lost Art of Reading by Leland Ryken & Glenda Faye Mathes

A book about reading is an intriguing idea to me so I jumped at the chance to read and review Recovering the Lost Art of Reading.  This work was a bit of an eye opener for me as I normally read for informational purposes. Authors Leland Ryken and Glenda Faye Mathes enlighten the reader to the benefits and indeed the necessity of reading literary works, including the Bible, for the beauty and enjoyment of reading.

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.