Learning to Love Books

I think I love books like my mom loves soup.

"I love prepping soup. I love cooking soup. I love the way soup smells. I love eating soup. I love the way soup makes me feel. I LOVE SOUP!" My mom's "Ode to Soup" has become a mantra that has made Craig family folklore. For me it's books.

"I love reading books. I love the ways books smell. I love the feel of books. I love listening to books. I love reading E-books. I love learning from books. I LOVE BOOKS!"

It was fun to color code the books that brought us joy.

It wasn't always this way. When I had to read books for school I endured them reluctantly, not understanding why some people loved these different stories and what made them "classics." Even at the start of college, I would attempt to read as little as possible of the assigned books so I could maximize my trombone practice time (A bizarre trade, I know!).

Book plugs I heard as a student from people like Greg Jao and Jason Gaboury helped me start exploring the world of books. There was so much passion and life in their description of books. It was as if there was something living inside the covers waiting to be discovered. So I started reading little by little to grow and learn and explore.

My love affair with books took off the same time I started to explore leadership as a vocational pathway. I was studying jazz trombone and music education at The Eastman School of Music and had planned to either pursue performance or teaching. However, after an encounter with Jesus during my time playing trombone at Disneyland, that plan changed. I felt a call to full time ministry and started to re-order my life. Part of this meant more reading.

Once I purchased the books I needed for my classes, I used my bookstore scholarship to order different books I wanted. At every conference I attended, I stalked the bookstore, making sure to grab the books I wanted before they sold out. And when I came on staff with InterVarsity, I learned that they sent you new books twice a year. AMEN! Now I was excited to receive book assignments and have other people to talk to about all these ideas.

The Cross of Christ and My Name is Asher Lev both make my top ten books I've ever read!

"Do you read fiction?" Jaime asked me intensely. I love Jaime for his intensity, and this was just one of the moments this intensity impacted me for good.

"No!" I looked at him like he had just asked me if I liked the New York Yankees. Outreageous! What good would reading fiction do when there was so much to learn?

"You have to read fiction. Just start somewhere. Don't read only non-fiction." Jaime didn't pressure me, but made it very clear that serious learners also read fiction. I trusted Jaime, so I thought I would try it, but I didn't really believe him.

Jaime was right. I slowly fell in love with fiction and make sure I have a steady diet in my reading consumption. I found it a joy to be lost in the world of the book or the relationships of a character. I quickly learned that I could come to understand how people have different points of view from reading fiction. How does a game warden in Wyoming differ from a cop in LA? (In case you're looking for a good story, Joe Pickett and Harry Bosch are two amazing characters developed by two great authors!) Now I will often reach for the novel I'm currently reading first, which is evidence of growth!

Jaime is one of many people who have influenced how and who I read. I am grateful to the many who have influenced my love of books!

IVP Bible Background Commentary are my two favorite reference books

Greg Jao taught me to read books from different subjects and see how they connect.

Charlie Drew taught me to read systematic theology and not just books addressing a single topic.

Paul Tokunaga taught me to batch my reading around a certain topic to dive deep into it.

Lindsey Olesberg taught me to love the Bible even more. (Seriously, The Bible Study Handbook is one of the top 5 books I've ever read.)

Jonathan Walton taught me to read books by women and people of color.

Jason Gaboury taught me that leaders are readers.

Sophia Gaboury taught me that you can't learn everything from books.

Emily Craig taught me that I can (and should) read books about parenting too!

My dad taught me that reading was something worthwhile to do on vacation. And at the beach. And at amusement parks. And in the car!

What are some of your favorite books? What fiction series should I check out next? I would love to hear from you!