Editorial February 6, 2017 ISSUE

The power of a book—and one in particular

Barbara Vining

From manuscripts handwritten on clay tablets, on papyrus rolls, and on vellum pages sewn together, and then on pages printed on paper by printing presses—and now transmitted digitally onto computers, tablets, and smartphones—books have been engaging and connecting individual thinkers with worlds, ideas, and peoples beyond themselves for thousands of years.

An amazing article about the value of reading books appeared in The Wall Street Journal’s weekend edition, November 26–27, 2016. It was titled “The need to read.” In it Will Schwalbe spoke of the blessings coming from the connectivity the internet era provides, but also that we need some relief from the constant interruptions it has brought into our lives. “Reading,” he said, “is one of the few things you do alone that can make you feel less alone. It is a solitary activity that connects you to others” (p. C2).

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Bible Lens—February 6–12, 2017