Of all the books out there, why did you choose the ones you do? Maybe you liked the cover or the title. Maybe you read the blurb on the back and thought it sounded interesting. Maybe someone recommended it to you. There are so many choices and happenstances when it comes to reading. That’s the charm and frustration of the literary life.

There’s a used book store I visit every couple years about an hour from home. It has floor to ceiling shelves of used books, many not in English, some falling apart, many obscure titles. They are roughly organized into children’s, fiction and nonfiction. I have to let the excitement of the hunt take over and purposely squelch the overwhelm when I step into the store. But I can do it. It’s the same when searching for your next good book anywhere you look. Stay positive. Stay strong. The right book is just around the corner.

Choosing Fiction

1. Clarify what you love. List a few topics you always find interesting. List genres you have loved in the past. Reading what you know you like is a no-brainer, but sometimes we don’t know what we like until we give it some thought.
2. Find some bookish friends. Start a book club. Or ask someone what she’s been reading lately. Try putting a question about book suggestions on your status. Random strangers in your phone have good taste. This will push you to read more than your usual topics and genres and you might find a new favorite. In my club, each gal takes a turn choosing the book of the month. After reading, we get together to discuss it. And I have other friends not in the book club who give me titles to check out. A bonus with a book club: you get to know the other members so well. Books are a tool to connect with people.
3. Find a blog to follow. You can sign up below! It is interesting to hear what someone else has to say about a book you have read. Then pick and choose what strikes your fancy.
4. Expose yourself to books. Go to the library. Read to your children. Skim the titles at Walmart and Target. Take a pass through the book section at your favorite thrift store. Go to book sales. Stop at Little Free Libraries.
5. Read short books of many different styles. Explore your options in this way to learn more about what you like.
6. Reread old favorites. You always know what you are getting and you are never disappointed. Identify what you like about it so you can be on the lookout for another book with similar characteristics.
7. Choose a favorite word and make a to-be-read list. If your word is cozy – look for books with cozy in the title, try cozy mysteries. Like the sea? Look for books that take place by the water. A quick google search will likely yield dozens of options to consider.
8. Try an audio book. Maybe you prefer listening so you can keep your hands busy at the same time.
9. Read something you know you won’t like. Give the author and the book a chance. Give yourself a chance to broaden your horizons. You might have a pleasant surprise.

Accept the trial and error method of finding books you love. It’s really the only way I know, and as you go along, you’ll find out more about what you love and get better and better at it. It’s okay to try a chapter and then decide you don’t want to commit to the whole thing. It’s okay to abandon a book half-way through. There’s no right or wrong way.

Selecting Non-fiction

1. What are you curious about? Choose a book on that topic. No matter how obscure, some author was sure to be curious about it to.
2. Where is your struggle? Do you run up against clutter all the time? Or always wondering what to make for supper? Whatever your struggle, someone has likely taken the time to offer solutions in a book, and save you time in solving it.
3. Pick a country. Be an armchair world traveler, no vaccinations required and the price of a book is your passport and plane ticket.
4. Consider your season. What are you going through now? From babies to retirement, health challenges to financial challenges, somebody else has been there before and written about it.
5. Take a friend’s recommendation. Sometimes it’s easier to read a book when someone we know has read it too. Then you can discuss it and learn even more.

A Word About Self-Help Books

My bookish friends know I love a good self-help book. They promise so much! If I follow the experts advice, I will have the same testimonial: This book changed my life! But there’s always a let down when the book is over. In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s hard work to change yourself, maybe the hardest work there is. And it takes a lot longer than the time it takes to read about somebody else’s transformation.

Although I’ve become somewhat skeptical, I haven’t given up all hope. Often I will find a little nugget that does change my life in a tiny way. I might read a whole book and have one phrase stick in my mind and continue to inform my decisions or thoughts. By the way, this can happen while reading fiction books, too.

You will want to be more careful with books that make a spiritual statement.

So ask the book a few questions.

1. Who wrote it? Have I read other books by this author? I google the author’s name and check his other book titles, marital status, church. What’s this person’s world view?
2. What do others say? The blurbs are often on the first couple pages in the book. Do I recognize any women preachers endorsing this book? Any charismatic people with mega churches? Both are cautions. Read a few reviews to add more information to sort.
3. Who published it? Some publishing houses don’t have a lot of scruples about what they call Christian. Some are more selective.
4. What does the book say about itself? Read the back cover and the chapter titles.
5. Read a random page or two. This might settle any remaining questions.

After asking these questions, go with your impression. Honestly, most books don’t pass this scrutiny. Before picking up random self-help books, check with Gospel Publishers and the Resource Team. Even in your judgement of a book, don’t think you have to have the end-all, know-all answer. Walk in faith, following the Holy Spirit in these decisions. I feel like I’m making this a little too heavy, not all self-help books are bad. Some have helped me very much. Just be on guard.

Share the Love

I think it’s so awesome that we like different books. I think it’s so great when my friend likes a book I like. What criteria do you use for finding your next great book? Click the comment button to share your wisdom.

More to read:

Reading Dilemmas

Why Everyone Needs a Book Club