Comments on: How To Read 500 Books a Year http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:57:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Michael http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-50242 Michael Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:57:54 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-50242 I've actually been doing some study on speed reading, and Carson came across as a person of interest, since he says he reads a ton of books. I've also been listening to his sermons and lectures for a while, and I remember him mentioning that when he read "The Da Vinci Code" after it had just come out, he didn't think very highly of it (because it was too preachy). He said it was "one of those books you read on a four hour flight from Chicago to LA and then toss when you land." Because he said "it's one of those books," that doesn't necessarily mean that he did read it in that amount of time. But if he did, then that's about 100 pages an hour, or roughly 800 words-per-minute, if he doesn't take time to eat the complimentary peanuts or chat with the person sitting next to him. That, coupled with the fact that he enjoys reading mystery novels (and therefore might not skim through it), makes it reasonable to believe that he does read pretty fast, and would skim much faster. So he could probably get a pretty reasonable understanding of a book, even if he only spends half an hour skimming through it. All this to say, he probably has more than a "superficial reading of 500 books a year," as one poster jeered, though to be certain, Carson himself said that his reading was "broad but skin thin." Anyway, all this speculation on my part is rather superficial itself, especially on a blog discussion that hasn't had a post in over a year. Consider it all a minor footnote. I’ve actually been doing some study on speed reading, and Carson came across as a person of interest, since he says he reads a ton of books. I’ve also been listening to his sermons and lectures for a while, and I remember him mentioning that when he read “The Da Vinci Code” after it had just come out, he didn’t think very highly of it (because it was too preachy). He said it was “one of those books you read on a four hour flight from Chicago to LA and then toss when you land.” Because he said “it’s one of those books,” that doesn’t necessarily mean that he did read it in that amount of time. But if he did, then that’s about 100 pages an hour, or roughly 800 words-per-minute, if he doesn’t take time to eat the complimentary peanuts or chat with the person sitting next to him. That, coupled with the fact that he enjoys reading mystery novels (and therefore might not skim through it), makes it reasonable to believe that he does read pretty fast, and would skim much faster. So he could probably get a pretty reasonable understanding of a book, even if he only spends half an hour skimming through it. All this to say, he probably has more than a “superficial reading of 500 books a year,” as one poster jeered, though to be certain, Carson himself said that his reading was “broad but skin thin.” Anyway, all this speculation on my part is rather superficial itself, especially on a blog discussion that hasn’t had a post in over a year. Consider it all a minor footnote.

]]> By: Mark http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-37944 Mark Thu, 29 May 2008 22:28:52 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-37944 Cool post! I think it is great he reads that much and is honest about how much time he spends on each. Gim (#12): it really doesn't seem like anyone is boasting, does it? Cool post!

I think it is great he reads that much and is honest about how much time he spends on each.

Gim (#12): it really doesn’t seem like anyone is boasting, does it?

]]> By: Glenn http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-37831 Glenn Thu, 29 May 2008 15:45:55 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-37831 I have an Uncle who heads up a large non-profit and oversees 25 churches in the US. Publishers send him books every week because they see him as someone who can influence a large group of people who can influence even larger groups of people to purchase specific books if he deems them "essential reading". They also know he'll pass books on to the right people. I imagine DA Carson is at the top of many a publisher's list as a person of influence. And if you love books it ends up being an ideal situation to find one's self in! I have an Uncle who heads up a large non-profit and oversees 25 churches in the US. Publishers send him books every week because they see him as someone who can influence a large group of people who can influence even larger groups of people to purchase specific books if he deems them “essential reading”. They also know he’ll pass books on to the right people. I imagine DA Carson is at the top of many a publisher’s list as a person of influence. And if you love books it ends up being an ideal situation to find one’s self in!

]]> By: David Reimer http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-37824 David Reimer Thu, 29 May 2008 15:11:15 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-37824 It might be worth balancing this advice with <a href="http://unashamedworkman.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/how-to-preach-first-hand-truths/" rel="nofollow">this advice</a> from a wise Christian pastor. ;) It might be worth balancing this advice with this advice from a wise Christian pastor.

;)

]]> By: Denny Burk http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-37801 Denny Burk Thu, 29 May 2008 13:25:47 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-37801 Jerry, Agreed. I thought Carson's message on Romans 3:21-26 was wonderful. Thanks, Denny Jerry,

Agreed. I thought Carson’s message on Romans 3:21-26 was wonderful.

Thanks,
Denny

]]> By: Jerry http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-37798 Jerry Thu, 29 May 2008 13:15:32 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-37798 I had the privilege of attending Clarus, and hearing Doctors Carson and Horton in person. I recommend that folks listen to the audio of the sessions, and concentrate more on the topic of "Galatians and the Problem os Self-Justification" than Dr. Carson's comments on his reading regime. I had the privilege of attending Clarus, and hearing Doctors Carson and Horton in person. I recommend that folks listen to the audio of the sessions, and concentrate more on the topic of “Galatians and the Problem os Self-Justification” than Dr. Carson’s comments on his reading regime.

]]> By: Michael Metts http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-37759 Michael Metts Wed, 28 May 2008 12:56:22 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-37759 When D A Carson skim reads a book in half an hour (I believe that's the time frame he mentioned), it is likely the same as if one of us were to read it cover to cover. In agreement with comment #1, the man is indeed "a freak of nature", ha. When D A Carson skim reads a book in half an hour (I believe that’s the time frame he mentioned), it is likely the same as if one of us were to read it cover to cover. In agreement with comment #1, the man is indeed “a freak of nature”, ha.

]]> By: Gim Anderson http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-37755 Gim Anderson Wed, 28 May 2008 12:13:05 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-37755 A fairly pointless boast. So why isn't the heading: 'how not actually to read 500 books a year'? Or 'how to skim read 500 books a year'? Or 'how to gain a superficial acquaintance with 500 books a year'? A fairly pointless boast.

So why isn’t the heading: ‘how not actually to read 500 books a year’? Or ‘how to skim read 500 books a year’? Or ‘how to gain a superficial acquaintance with 500 books a year’?

]]> By: mason beecroft http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-37754 mason beecroft Wed, 28 May 2008 04:45:12 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-37754 Wow! The evangelical pope?!?!?!?!? The Man?!??!?!?! Well, he is white. Reading books and offering criticism does not make a bishop. It only produces an academic. This is not necessarily bad, but it reflects a certain ecclesiology. Ask Rev. Dr. Jim Samra about the pope... I still giggle. +Mason Wow! The evangelical pope?!?!?!?!? The Man?!??!?!?! Well, he is white. Reading books and offering criticism does not make a bishop. It only produces an academic. This is not necessarily bad, but it reflects a certain ecclesiology. Ask Rev. Dr. Jim Samra about the pope…
I still giggle.
+Mason

]]> By: Barry http://www.dennyburk.com/how-to-read-500-books-a-year/comment-page-1/#comment-37753 Barry Wed, 28 May 2008 04:24:59 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=2027#comment-37753 I assure you that once you reach the stature of D. A. Carson, you don't have to pay for many books. Publisher's know you by name and put you on their mailing list. Call it a pretty sweet perk, and I don't begrudge him one bit for it. He's the man. Someone once called him the "evangelical pope." I assure you that once you reach the stature of D. A. Carson, you don’t have to pay for many books. Publisher’s know you by name and put you on their mailing list. Call it a pretty sweet perk, and I don’t begrudge him one bit for it. He’s the man. Someone once called him the “evangelical pope.”

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