How Do You Read a Book So Quickly?

Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

The count — and why reading is valuable

• The question posed (in the host's frame): anybody who follows you on social media knows — and you've said it in previous episodes — that one of your favorite hobbies is reading. And you regularly share posts, and outline the books that you've been reading. So, with that in mind, we want to devote this particular episode to a discussion of what you've been reading, so far, this year. In transparency: we're recording this podcast episode where there's still about eight weeks left in the year, so we know you don't have a final count on how many books you've read. But how many books have you read, so far, this year? The answer: well, as of this recording, it's almost 100. So I would expect, by the end of the year, it'll be well over 100 — probably 110, maybe even more. Depends on how much time I took off, during Christmas. I like to read. I've liked to read, from a small child. And I think reading is valuable, in many ways. Because it can be enjoyment, recreation, getting your mind off of things — so it's a matter of rest. But unlike internet, and video: when you're watching something — when you're watching, say, a video — you're just passively receiving what the creator of that video has designed. But when you read, your mind is forced to create your own images. So even when you read fiction, your mind is much more engaged, in learning, and creating, and imagining. And that's why, when people read a book, and then watch the associated movie, usually they're disappointed. Because, first of all, the book is much more comprehensive. But their imagination has created all these characters, and all these ideas. And then, when you watch the associated movie — while it may be enjoyable — you're substituting your thoughts, for whatever the person that directed that film — their interpretation. Which invariably is going to be different, but also much more abbreviated, and narrow, than the richness of your own imagination. So, and of course, reading will enhance your critical thinking. It enhances your language skills, your ability to read, and write, and speak. And of course, it can potentially — obviously, depends on what you read — but it can enhance your knowledge. And so I think reading is a very valuable exercise — especially for leaders.

What he reads

• Now, most of the year, I focus on reading Bible and theology. Of course, I read the Bible through, every year. Usually I will choose a different translation. I've read about 10 translations — so obviously I have to come back to previous translations, as well. But — and reading books about the Bible, about theology, that help me understand the Bible better, or give me new insight, or new ideas. Even if I don't agree with them, they may stimulate my thinking. I also try to read contemporary books, on our culture, maybe a few on politics, but more about cultural trends, events. I like to read biography, science, psychology — especially some of the new research, or new findings, or new books. So, and then, for recreation, I do some fiction. Usually I like to read some classics. So I've read all the books of Mark Twain. I've read all the works of Shakespeare. I've read the books of Jane Austin (as the name is heard). I've read about half the books of Dickens. And then I've read, you know, Russian, German, French, British — you know, in English translation, of course. But I find those classic books of fiction: they deal with timeless themes; they deal with human nature; and usually the manner of expression is eloquent. It helps expand your thinking, your vocabulary, your own expression. And I do like to read a few science fiction, mystery, suspense, that are just casual.

How he reads so fast — and where the time comes from

• Now, talking about how fast I read: when I'm reading fiction, I'm just reading for enjoyment. Now, if it's a classic book, I may slow down, enjoy the richness of the language. But if I'm reading contemporary fiction, like suspense, I'm just trying to get to the bottom line — so I just read fast. Now, I don't skim. I do read everything. But I can read very fast, if it's either something — a topic I'm familiar with, I'm just trying to get the author's insight, on something I already know about. I can read very fast, because I already know 90% of the content. I'm just trying to catch what he's got to say, that's new. I'm not having to struggle to understand it. So a lot of Bible and theology, I can read pretty fast. I'm not skipping things, but I'm reading fast. And I suppose, with a lifetime of reading, and also college, and law school, I've learned to read for the key points. So I can — take, I can go with you to a library, or bookstore, just pick out a book, and skim through it. Give me five minutes, and I can pretty well have a conversation about that book, where you wouldn't know that I hadn't read the whole book — because I picked the main points. So that's a skill. But when I actually read the book, I'm going to read it. Now, so if I do want to just get some information, I might scan a book. But if I'm going to read — when I tell you I've read 100 books, 110 books, I've actually read through them. But fiction, often very fast. Bible, theology: if it's something I know, I'm reading fast, just to get the new content. But if it's a subject I'm interested in, a new book, yes, I'll take time to read through it. But I suppose that I do read fast, because I have a lot of practice. But also, I block off time. So typically, you know, I probably read 100 to 120 magazines, journals, a year. I read a newspaper weekly — actually, probably two a week. But I block off — I have a lot of time of traveling, particularly on airplanes. So usually I block off that time, to read. I don't do other stuff; I mainly read. Now, if I was doing a lot of driving, I would probably use audiobooks. And I do, when I do drive, a lot of times I'll listen to the Bible. And then, I like to read late at night. That I — my haveit (habit, as heard) is to stay up late. So, after the kids have gone to bed; after it's too late to make phone calls, for ministry; then I've got two or three hours, and that would be my time for study, reading, writing. So it's a matter of blocking off quality time. And I think that's — I suppose I read a lot. But I don't consider it extraordinary. Because I'm probably spending less time reading, than most people spend on media. So I'm designating those hours of intern (internet, as heard), movies, TV, that a lot of other people use — of hours per day. And I'm taking a fraction of that, and investing in reading. And I think I come out ahead.

Standouts, sharing the reading — and the 2024 projects

• The host's follow-up (in the frame): what books have you read this year, that really stand out to you? The answer: well, first of all, I try to read all the books that are produced by the Pentecostal Publishing House — the Pentecostal Resources Group. Maybe not all the children, or books for women (the phrase stands garbled in the text), or devotionals. But basically, most of the books. And recently I've read Eugene Wilson's book on — I don't remember the exact title, but it's talking about the five characteristics of a healthy church. I think that actually might have been the title, yes. So I find that very helpful. So that's one that comes to mind, that I just finished reading. But there's so many that I've read, I'd have to look over my list, to see. But every year, I try to pick up some classics, that I've never read before. So I'll go back, and try to fill out my reading agenda, of books that are good to read. But I do like what's coming out of the Pentecostal Publishing House. There's some really good books, by our own United Pentecostal authors, that I highly recommend. (The host notes, in the frame, that people can scroll through his Facebook page to see what he's written, or read.) The reply: yes — on Facebook, and Twitter, now known as X, if you scroll back through that: I usually — whenever I read a book, I'll usually mention it, and I'll usually mention some brief synopsis. For those of you — another book, probably most people wouldn't like, but: mathematics for human flourishing (as the title is heard) — I really enjoyed that. It's a non-technical approach, but for someone that has a little bit of a mathematics background, that was a lot of fun.
• The host's last question (in the frame): is there anything you're looking forward to reading, in the coming year? The answer: well, I do have some things I want to read. Craig Keener, who's one of — an outstanding theologian; he's Spirit-filled. He's written an exhaustive commentary, on the book of Acts: 2,000 pages, four volumes. And I got them on sale, a couple years ago, for I think it was $99. So I read the first volume. When I talked to Craig, he said — you know, I said: I'm going to read all of them. He said: well, you, and me, and my editor, are probably the only ones that could read the whole thing through — and maybe a few other people. I said: well — so I'm going to at least read one more of those volumes, hopefully the other three volumes, this coming year. So that's one thing, I am looking forward to. Reading the Bible: I think what I'm going to do, at least for the Epistles, is try to read them in the original Greek — with an interlinear translation, to help me out a little bit. I think that's going to be fun, to dig into those. So I've read some of the Epistles, in Greek, but not all of them. So those are a couple of projects that I have in mind. And then, I look forward to whatever the new books are, from the publishing house. And I look at various lists — um, of book reviews: Christianity Today, The Week Magazine. I look at half a dozen sources, to see what are the new books coming out. And then I try to pick, and choose, from among those.