[Scott] SIMON: How much do you read a year?
[Alan] CHEUSE: Well, I read maybe four or five books a week, but some books take three hours; some books take four days. I love Woody Allen’s little joke about taking speed-reading course. And he said, just taking a speed-reading course and finished “War and Peace.” It pertains to Russia.
[Scott] SIMON: How does all that reading affect your writing, or do you have to careful that it don’t?
{Alan] CHEUSE: I think being careful is the worst thing you can possibly do to yourself as a writer. You need to read as much as you possibly can and live as much as you possibly can and write as much as you possibly can. But, you know, reading is as much a part of life as any part and it’s life itself. And it allows us to live other lives that we might not have lived if we hadn’t picked up those books. So it seems to me to be a good human being you must read as much as you can and certainly, if you want to be a good writer, you’ve got to read all the good stuff that you can get your hands on.
—Writer Alan Cheuse on this past Saturday’s Weekend Edition on NPR
Speaking of books. . . As you know, a common argument against Episcopalianism is, “that kind of Church government is not found in the Bible”. Well, Episcopalian Bishop Ray Sutton wrote a book, Captains and Courts, which seems to answer the question well. And he finally released it online for general availability:
http://www.biblelighthouse.com/govt/captains_and_courts.htm
Good book!
Kendall,
I have a good friend that says—the only theology books one should read should be at least 30 years old. That way you learn tested theology that has endured ( examples: +++Michael Ramsey, +++ William Temple, John Macquairre+,C S Lewis), rather than the religious speculation and fad/popular theology that many of our bishops espouse.
I feel the absolute need to point out that the Rt. Rev. Dr. Ray Sutton is not an “Episcopalian Bishop” he is the Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Mid America in the REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH. He is NOT simply “Episcopalian” he is REC. There is a difference.
He is also a great man of God and a very Godly leader.
Also, the point could be made that “Episcopalian” church government is mentioned in the Bible. Certainly congregationalism is NOT mentioned AT ALL. A case could be made for Presbyterianism in the term Presbyter but Episcopos is used interchangibly. The fact that the Book of Revelation was written by St. John who was the Bishop of Ephesus to seven churches “in his diocese” is pretty good evidence for the Episcopal form of government.
I am more struck by someone reading four to five books a week. Awesome. I get through 12-15 a year, although I consult and dip into far more than that. I would love to read more but the day job takes priority …
#4, I know. I occasionally reached that sort of pace as a student with plenty of time on my hands, but now? Two a month leaves me tickled, and that’s only if I make sure they’re little things. Though maybe if I spent less time on blogs. . . ha!