Everyone reads, but does everyone really read? Andrew Naselli believes reading and reading well is worth one’s time. He offers How to Read a Book: Advice for Christian Readers to help Christians become better readers. The book’s aim is simple: Naselli wants to aid readers in taking their reading to the next level (p. 1). To accomplish his purpose, he lays out four goals: inform readers to understand what they read better, advise them with detailed and practical tips, motivate them to read better, and encourage them to have more joy, enthusiasm, and confidence in reading (p. 3). Influenced by his favorite authors, C. S. Lewis, D. A. Carson, and John Piper, Naselli challenges his audience, “Don’t waste your reading. Read for life; read the right way; read the right stuff; and keep reading” (p. 12).

Naselli offers his advice by presenting four vital questions about reading. In the first chapter, he asks, “Why Should You Read?” and submits three motivations for reading: to live, to grow, and to enjoy. Applying the first motivation to the Bible, Naselli points to the need for Christians to feed on God’s Word, and this nourishment comes from reading Scripture. Readers grow not by remembering every detail they read but by the continual practice of reading, resulting in intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and even vocational maturity. When done well, Naselli argues that reading can be an act of worship for God’s glory and the reader’s joy.

In chapter 2, Naselli asks, “How Should You Read?” and submits seven guidelines for skillful reading. The second guideline, reading at different levels, bears more attention, as the author puts forward three reading levels and provides an enlightening chart to illustrate the differences in each level (p. 48). The first level, survey, is like a helicopter tour over a city where the reader samples the book to size it up efficiently without much time. The second level, macro-reading, is more like a bus tour where the reader reads far more of the book but still looks for the overall big picture. The final level, micro-reading, is more of a slow, detailed tour, where the reader intentionally observes, seeks to understand, and then evaluates the entire book.

Chapter 3, “What Should You Read?,” pushes readers to read the right kind of books. The author in no way recommends only reading Christian literature. Specifically, he encourages reading notable classics, stories about history, and fiction to provide a more holistic and tethered connection to reality (pp. 110–25).

Naselli’s final question in chapter 4, “When Should You Read?,” first examines two excuses why people do not read: not having enough time and not feeling like reading. Naselli challenges readers to be good stewards of their time and to fight for joy when feelings of doing what is needed are absent. He then provides eight tips for building reading into their regular life routine. To begin a regular reading practice, he encourages beginning small, even if only five minutes today, along with a feasible reading plan. He offers six different suggestions on when to read during the day, pushes for accountability with others, and presents a caution against reading too much, arguing for reading as an “escape” rather than “escapism” (pp. 155–57).

Naselli concludes the book by offering four appendices full of personal and practical help. He provides the reader with a list of forty of his favorite books, tips for cultivating reading in children, responsible ways to use social media, and strategies for organizing a personal library. These additions serve those who know what they ought to do but have no idea where to start.

The above summary highlights the obvious and overwhelming positives of Naselli’s book. The book’s tone is direct but not blunt, instructive but not excessive, and forgiving but not lenient. Naselli gifts his readers a vast amount of information in a very accessible way. His practical instruction, personal style, and many examples all support and supplement his aim.

Naselli’s comprehensive reading advice could overwhelm novice or inconsistent readers. However, this book is a how-to manual, and this potential drawback may be the book’s greatest strength, as Naselli gives the reader what they need to sharpen their reading skills. A second minor critique might be the apparent fuzziness of what constitutes reading a book. While Naselli’s different reading levels are helpful, can someone assert they have read a book if they have not read all or at least most of it? Therefore, what does it truly mean to read a book?

Overall, Naselli laudably accomplishes his purpose in How to Read a Book. He provides needed, practical help to readers everywhere, regardless of their background and reading level. Readers can gain insight and then directly put that instruction into practice. Anyone looking to improve their reading should grab this book and keep it close for years to come.