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Reading with Purpose
Beginning with a simple explanation of reading from a Christian worldview, Nancy Wilson examines and explains significant American literary movements: Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism and Postmodernism. Each section has a suggested reading list for further study. This booklet can be used as a handbook by students or simply as reference material for teachers.
"One of the ways I tested my students in literature class was to give them a final exam in which they had to identify the worldview from an unfamiliar piece of literature. I did not disclose the author or the name of the piece, but I asked them to identify and refute the worldview. This was always a great delight to me when the students found and dismantled the false worldview. And this really is the goal: to enable them, by the grace of God, to distinguish good from evil and to be able to completely answer all the objections. Of course we want them to become great writers themselves, showing the unbelievers all the wonders of creation. But before they can do that, they must immerse themselves in all kinds of literature and learn to think about what they read. It is my hope that this little booklet will help inspire you and your students to do this."
"One of the ways I tested my students in literature class was to give them a final exam in which they had to identify the worldview from an unfamiliar piece of literature. I did not disclose the author or the name of the piece, but I asked them to identify and refute the worldview. This was always a great delight to me when the students found and dismantled the false worldview. And this really is the goal: to enable them, by the grace of God, to distinguish good from evil and to be able to completely answer all the objections. Of course we want them to become great writers themselves, showing the unbelievers all the wonders of creation. But before they can do that, they must immerse themselves in all kinds of literature and learn to think about what they read. It is my hope that this little booklet will help inspire you and your students to do this."
41 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2003
5 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Wilson
20books282followersNancy Wilson (née Greensides) is the wife of Pastor Douglas Wilson, mother of N.D. Wilson, Rebekah Merkle, and Rachel Jankovic, and grandmother of seventeen who are (as yet) unpublished. She lives in northern Idaho.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 8, 2023
I have loved reading for fifty-one years (and I'm sure I loved being read to the four years before that), but I always struggled with literature classes because a) my teachers never really taught me how to read and talk about books as literature, and b) my teachers taught me even less about looking at books through a worldview lens. Nancy Wilson fills the latter gap nicely with this short booklet. She makes me feel a little better about my tendency to get angry with authors who lie to me beautifully.
I do wish someone had given this an extra copyediting once-over before it was republished. I winced a few times at blatant grammatical errors and out-of-date statements that could easily have been updated.
I would compliment the narrator if I knew who she was. Pretty please with sugar on top...if you are an audiobook publisher a) put the narrator's name on the cover of the book, and b) have the narrator give his or her name in the recording. (Or, of course, "read by the author" where appropriate.)
I do wish someone had given this an extra copyediting once-over before it was republished. I winced a few times at blatant grammatical errors and out-of-date statements that could easily have been updated.
I would compliment the narrator if I knew who she was. Pretty please with sugar on top...if you are an audiobook publisher a) put the narrator's name on the cover of the book, and b) have the narrator give his or her name in the recording. (Or, of course, "read by the author" where appropriate.)
June 10, 2023
As a Christian, I am beholden by desire and conviction to see all things through the lens of a Christian worldview. Literature is one of those important things where an internal and external look will not only benefit to glean the most out of a book but also see which parts are true or not. It is not to say that unbelievers cannot write good books. Part of looking at the internal critique is whether the author "sits" well in his/her viewpoint and see how far it takes them. When they run out of road, so to speak, is where the external critique comes into play. All that to say that this book might be of some help in reminding one how to get the most out of any book they come into contact with. A child's storybook, a historical biography, a science fiction space opera, or a medical drama - all are written out via a worldview and then taken in via a possible opposing worldview.
Wilson does a good job showing the different epochs of time in general. What faulters is not adding to the length to go into more detail how those periods are characterized by the books that were popular and not just knowing the periods of history and pointing to the books that show those worldviews in action. There is a section at the beginning of talking about looking at what a story/book says about God, man, life, etc. and seeing if it's true. Some time should have been taken to show in what ways those various stages in history have shown some true as a way to point to the common imago dei shared that these periods still show. There is also some commentary about poor writing in regards to books like "Left Behind". Sure, call for the theology to be in disagreement with the author's. However, the call of the writing as being poor needed to show some proof. This part early in the book treads too much on the common ground probably shared by most of the readers. But causing one to ask, and not just with this collection of books, well where does poor writing come into play and where does bad theology/anthropology/biology/ethics start?
The trade off of brevity for further help is felt. However, as a first exposure piece to literature critique from a worldview perspective and the importance of parents/educators/Christians to do their due diligence it does offer a good first stepping stone. Final Grade - C
Wilson does a good job showing the different epochs of time in general. What faulters is not adding to the length to go into more detail how those periods are characterized by the books that were popular and not just knowing the periods of history and pointing to the books that show those worldviews in action. There is a section at the beginning of talking about looking at what a story/book says about God, man, life, etc. and seeing if it's true. Some time should have been taken to show in what ways those various stages in history have shown some true as a way to point to the common imago dei shared that these periods still show. There is also some commentary about poor writing in regards to books like "Left Behind". Sure, call for the theology to be in disagreement with the author's. However, the call of the writing as being poor needed to show some proof. This part early in the book treads too much on the common ground probably shared by most of the readers. But causing one to ask, and not just with this collection of books, well where does poor writing come into play and where does bad theology/anthropology/biology/ethics start?
The trade off of brevity for further help is felt. However, as a first exposure piece to literature critique from a worldview perspective and the importance of parents/educators/Christians to do their due diligence it does offer a good first stepping stone. Final Grade - C
May 8, 2023
Great little booklet on studying literature as a Christian! Not the point of the book but it does further illustrate why Christian children NEED Christian education.
April 26, 2023
Fun little booklet on American literature.
June 30, 2023
Very helpful little booklet on reading literature like a Christian. Nancy makes it clear that consuming art is no neutral thing and Christians must be actively examining what they consume to determine whether or not it is true, good, and beautiful. She went through each of the American periods of literature and examined the worldview of them in a very helpful way.
May 1, 2023
Good and helpful. I listened to it on Canon+ but I think it would be more useful as a physical reference book.
May 21, 2023
I was really helped by listening to this right after reading “How Should We Then Live” by Francis Schaeffer. Nancy Wilson outlines the worldview changes in literature, and the need of Christian parents and teachers to teach their children to see and refute false worldviews. Excellent short resource.
January 13, 2024
Excellent overview without delving into the trenches too deep. I'll be having my high-schooler and rising high-schooler read this over the summer (maybe one of them will read it over Spring Break). It's a super short read, and is probably referred to most commonly as a pamphlet. Still, it had much useful information and will likely send me down a road of reading other things similar.
March 3, 2024
This little booklet was recommended to me by a dear friend in my congregation.
Though I’m not a fan of the Wilson family- this book was helpful in providing a perspective of why Christians should be particularly discerning in the context of literature. It’s a quick read, truly finished it in 30 minutes.
Though I’m not a fan of the Wilson family- this book was helpful in providing a perspective of why Christians should be particularly discerning in the context of literature. It’s a quick read, truly finished it in 30 minutes.
August 22, 2022
4.5 stars for giving me what I was expecting when I purchased the book.
The half star lost was due to:
A) physical book quality (why are Canon’s books always so cheaply made? I’d very likely buy more of them if they weren’t.)
B) a few typos…in a book about reading/writing. 🫠
Good nuggets in this small book.
The half star lost was due to:
A) physical book quality (why are Canon’s books always so cheaply made? I’d very likely buy more of them if they weren’t.)
B) a few typos…in a book about reading/writing. 🫠
Good nuggets in this small book.
June 28, 2023
Nancy Wilson has written an excellent resource for teachers. I'd been taught several reasons why reading is so important, but she's brought out a couple more. I also applaud her for encouraging variety in reading, as well as applying caution and discretion where it's obviously needed. If you teach literature to children of any age, I highly recommend this book to you.
May 13, 2023
Paraphrase (listened on audio and jotted this down when able to): “When reading anything, ask ‘what is the author saying about God, man, and nature?’ and ‘Is it true?’” Again reminded in this book that we can do all things to the glory of God, or we can not. It’s all of Christ for all of life.
March 9, 2024
Pretty good. Theology applies to everything and that includes what we read. Wilson does a short rundown of what it looks like to apply our theological presuppositions to read American Literature - but it could just as easily be applied to any other genre.
May 10, 2023
Nice book by Nancy. Something I would share with my wife and daughter.
December 9, 2023
This is an excellent and concise resource for anyone handing children books, teaching literature, or just learning to read Christianly themselves. Ten stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
December 29, 2023
I really enjoyed the audiobook and I will be purchasing the hard copy.
October 25, 2024
Helpful little booklet discussing the predominant worldviews in different periods of American literature.
November 5, 2024
A four-star because it's short.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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