More than 1,000 books are printed every day in the world, and several thousand new religious titles come out each year. So how can you recognize jewels from junk when you’re looking for a book?
Here are a few tips:
Know the author. This is the most important tool you have. I’ll buy anything published by certain authors. But there are other authors I won’t read Learn from experience who’s good and who’s not. If you read something that’s bad, think twice before you read something else from that author. When you read something good, check out that author’s next book.
Read the cover and the jacket. Pay attention to the author’s credentials when you look at the jacket. It matters. Too many books have great titles, but nothing else. The author just felt like writing a book. Check out the author on the jacket cover. Try to discern if he or she has any experience concerning the book’s topic. Of course, sometimes you have to take the jacket copy with a grain a salt. Often it’s just hype and sales copy. But you need to at least review it.
Look at the table of contents. Pay attention to the chapter titles. Usually they’ll tell you quite a bit about the book’s contents. Take a look at the forward, too. It should give you a feel for not only the contents of the book but also the style – whether it’s a light or heavy read.
Check out the bibliography and the footnotes. Always check and see who is referenced in a book. You can tell a lot about a book just by who is quoted. If an author isn’t quoting anyone I care about, it tells me that the book will probably go in an unhelpful direction. If they’re quoting those I respect, I’ll pay attention to what the author is saying even if I’ve never heard of him or her.
About Rick Warren
I want to share my best ideas with you each week, along with a ton of great content, fresh ideas, downloadable resources, and more... all for FREE!
Christianity books are very special. Even a famous author can be wrong in his/her book. We need to pray to God to lead us to pick up the right book. That’s God way to pick up a book, rather than our way.
Solid advise for hose of us who are in the pursuit of knowledge,
I am a huge reader—if I ever go to the bookstore, you can count on me coming out with four or five books in big bag. But I hate to admit that I don’t always pick the most amazing books. Your blog post gave me some great pointers that I’d never even though of before (checking out the bibliography and footnotes never occurred to me). I can’t wait for my next visit to the bookstore!
Feels like that just because the author is known or has put out stuff before doesn’t make the following a guaranteed good read. Other than that great tips!
Hi Rick, thanks for the great list and tips. I especially love the idea of checking who is being quoted. It’s so true. If they quote people who’s opinions and ideas I don’t respect or desire to learn, the book probably doesn’t fit my needs.
Rick Warren has a really good private library: http://ink361.com/#/photos/264539458201848128_10083201
Great checklist for checking out my next book. I would also add, “Recommendations from other readers.” Always great to ask other pastors and church members what they are reading and the impact of those books on their lives.
These are all good tips. Depending on the subject matter, I also check for footnotes and/or an index. Books with these two features tend to be better written and well researched.
“You can’t grow a church overnight. You can’t – or shouldn’t – drop 60 pounds in two months.” That’s hilarious and so true! Our library really can say a lot about us. Thanks for the article!