First off, I want you to know that I am not one of those natural readers. You know, the people who seem to find the physical habit of reading effortless and even pleasurable. Frankly, if there was an easier way to reap the same benefits, I would probably not read like I do. But I have experienced the value of reading books and have developed certain skills that make the process easier. I would be pleased now to share them with you.
Motivation Makes a Difference
The number of non-fiction books which the average American reads each year rounds to zero. The reason is simple. Reading seems dull and difficult compared to other pastimes, especially in the age of Internet entertainment. The tragedy, however, is that neglecting the habit of reading means foregoing significant personal growth. Why is that? Simply put, books are supremely suited to condensing the vast knowledge and experience of others in a format that you can receive and profit by. From this perspective, becoming a reader has little to do with whether or not you enjoy reading as a hobby. The question is whether you want to receive the treasures of the ages stored up in text. Moreover, reading improves critical thinking, vocabulary, and communication skills, all of which are useful in both personal and professional life. It can be a source of inspiration and new ideas. Beyond satisfying our curiosity, books are vital tools which can further our relational and career goals, as well as enrich our spiritual lives. Practically, this means we must all strive to become better readers. Not because we love reading in itself, but in order to become better versions of ourselves for the glory of God and good of our neighbors.
How to Develop Stamina
We’ve all been there—planning to begin a book but just five minutes in, we feel agitated and set the book aside (usually in favor of a phone). Many people report extreme difficulty reading more than fifteen minutes at a time and seldom read more than once or twice a week. Sadly, such a pace hardly encourages progress in your understanding of the Christian faith (or much else). But what can we do?
When I first attempted to become an avid reader, I failed repeatedly. Focusing on a book for thirty minutes was hard going, especially as I began reading more challenging non-fiction works. But then God granted me to make a discovery that transformed my abilities almost overnight. Previously, I was happy to read two or three books a year. Now, I finish two or three every month!
The 15/15 Rule
What changed? IT started by observing how a friend of mine would watch several hours of television every day. Why didn’t she get bored? The answer is that she did; but instead of turning off the TV, she would change the channel until she found something that interested her. Suddenly, she was good to sit for another thirty or sixty minutes. Whatever you think of her habit, she had stumbled onto the secret to overcoming boredom—introduce diversity.
Soon, I began applying this idea to how I approach reading. Instead of working my way through one book at a time, cover to cover, I decided to have between five and ten books “in progress” at any given time. I positioned them strategically around the house so that whenever I had some downtime, I might make a selection from the “channels.” To this day, I keep stacks of two or three books in various places. One by my bedside. Another next to the couch. Another near my desk. The key is to have different “channels” to choose from; that is, books of very different categories. So, I’ll have something historical, something theological, as well as general knowledge or perhaps fiction. In all, I want to cover the bases of a rounded learning diet.
Here’s where it comes into picture. When I sit down to read, instead of being faced with one book (that I probably dread or loath, depending on my mood) I am free to pick from the pile whichever interests me the most. But here’s my 15/15 rule that makes it work: I commit to reading for at least fifteen minutes (I set a timer) or to complete fifteen pages before “changing the channel” to another book. Then I repeat the commitment to fifteen minutes or 15 pages. Of course, I can read longer if I wish. But just knowing that in a few minutes I can “change the channel” helps me persevere through less interesting portions of reading. In fact, I have often observed the book itself was not boring. The real obstacle was that I needed a bit of time to change gears. The first 15 minutes can feel like a slog. By the time I get to the second or third chunk of reading, however, my mind has relaxed and I might be able to focus on one book for an hour or more.
It is More Important that You Learn than How You Learn
Another obstacle to reading is the attitude that reading doesn’t “count” if it’s not in print form. Somehow, audio books and ebooks are viewed by some people as not really reading. Thankfully, this prejudice is dying out as more people are raised with electronic devices. To be clear, I’m not asserting that all formats are equally effective (studies show that reading print can be more effective than reading off of screens for many people). Simply that receiving long-form information by any means is better than not receiving it at all.
Don’t Bite Off Too Much
If you want to master a subject, it might seem efficient to start at the biggest, most “authoritative” work on the matter that you can find. For instance, plenty of novice theologians have attempted John’s Calvin’s 1500-page Institutes of the Christian Religion before they ever read one of the brief summaries (e.g., Belgic Confession of Faith) based on it. For most readers, however, this approach is a recipe for failure. The reader is likely to become overwhelmed by the sheer length, if not by the material (larger works often assume readers are already familiar with the basic issues). Finally, this approach presents the added danger of becoming imbalanced in your views since you don’t have a framework to sense if that author is idiosyncratic in his views.
Use the “spiral method” to avoid burnout and imbalance.
Start by read a few brief articles or pamphlet-length books on the matter. This completes the first ring of the “spiral”. Follow that by reading several shorter, related books that deepen your understanding. Once complete, you’re ready to take on one or more large, respected works. Selecting works from various centuries can help you avoid what C. S. Lewis called “chronological snobbery” which means being blind to the prejudices of our own time. At that point, you will probably need to move on to academic articles to learn much that is substantially deeper or more nuanced than what you have already encountered.
EXAMPLE: Systematic Summaries of the Christian Faith
Brief (1-50 pages)
Belgic Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
Short (150-250 pages)
Knowing God by J. I. Packer
The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction by Sinclair Ferguson
What is Reformed Theology by R. C. Sproul
Long (250-1500 pages):
The Wonderful Works of God by Herman Bavinck
Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin (trans. Robert White)
Systematic Theology by Douglas Kelly
