The Pleasures of Reading: A Very Fine Guide to Reading from Professor Jacobs

     Readers of all levels and types all need help at some point in the adventures of readings. Sometimes the assistance comes in the form of encouragement and sometimes in the guise of insightful instruction. The book by Dr. Alan Jacobs is a book that is both a running encouragement and is rich with instructional insights on how to be a better reader.
     Of all the motivations given, Jacobs places one above all others and that is “read at whim,” (15, 33, 41) and related to this makes the case for reading for pleasure and delight (10, 23). Additionally, Jacobs notes the real value of marking books well (61, 64) and rereading books (16, 128-129).
     There are treats throughout this book, especially for the bibliovore. A fine tip is what Jacobs calls “reading upstream” (43-50). This is akin to the ad fonts call of the Renaissance Humanists. It is a call to read what the authors read and the works that influenced them. In a few places Jacobs gives different admonitions, such as the need for “deep attention” (105) with some works and the value of “skimming well” (111) with others. Numerous insights into the nature of reading the Great Books or classics are throughout (23) and most important is that these are more demanding works that both require more patience and may assist in the cultivation of more patience. Anecdotes and illustrations from brain research (29, 103) to the indescribable “magic” of reading (34) abound in this fine little volume.
     My only minor disagreement with Jacobs is his read of Adler’s How to Read a Book (3, 43, 97-103). It struck me that more than once Jacobs even sounds like Adler, especially when he describes what reading difficult books can do for us (50). Like Adler and Kreeft, Jacobs calls us to be an active reader who respectfully questions what is being read (55, 56, 65). Jacobs is a superlative guide because it is clear that he loves reading and is passionate about assisting others with reading. This passion translates well into ongoing enabling encouragement. Alan Jacobs manifests a marvelous blend of being gracious, wise, humble, (54) and highly competent as a helper. Whether he is talking about reading on a Kindle, (63-67) discussing his favorite books, or showing his own indebtedness to Hugh of St. Victor, (90-97) Jacobs is Virgilian in his faithfulness to all of us who journey in the bookish worlds we inhabit and inhabit us.

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