A wide gap separates a reader who simply consumes books from a reader who diligently seeks wisdom. Book consumers view books as “things to get read.” Wisdom seekers view books as fuel for slow and deliberate meditation. The differences between the two can be seen in how they treat books. A book consumer will read a great book and then treat it like “a burnt-out match, an old railway ticket, or yesterday’s paper,” wrote C. S. Lewis.2 On the other hand, a wisdom seeker will read a great book, savor it, and reread it in the future. Readers who cherish wisdom will reread great books five or ten or
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