From “World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading” by Jeff Crosby
I believe in the power of books to transform lives, to open windows on the world, to fire our imaginations, and to help us be more faithful Christ followers. I believe in the power of books to bridge differences, foster understanding, and offer hope and healing. I have seen it in the lives of others and witnessed it in my own life. But if we are honest, we are increasingly pulled in other directions: technology, work demands, recreational interests, scrolling and swiping on our phones and tablets, and more. According to a Pew Research study released in 2022, 75 percent of the American population had read at least one book the prior year and the average person (the median) had read just four. As a writer and a former publisher, I wish those numbers were higher than they are, and in some countries (France, Spain, Canada, and South Korea), the numbers are, indeed, much higher.