No book is really worth reading. J. R. Miller, Things That Endure. Avoid Every Kind of Evil. 1 Thessalonians 5.22. Much is said in commendation
of books, but, as in other matters, there is need for wise discrimination
in what one reads. Not all books are worth reading. there are many which are utterly
empty of anything that is noble or worthy. One might read them
continually all one's life, and yet be no wiser and no better. A hundred of them do not contain
a dozen sentences that it is worthwhile to keep in one's memory,
or that can be of any help or cheer or strength in one's life. Then there are books which are
most pernicious in their influence. There are all grades and degrees
of evil in this class. Some of them carry a subtle poison
in their atmosphere, which is noxious to those who breathe
it. We need to keep most careful watch over our heart, so that
nothing shall ever tarnish its purity. Any corrupt thought,
dallied with even for a moment, leaves a stain upon the mind,
which may never be effaced. If we would keep the tender joy
of our heart experiences unbroken, we must hold rigid watch over
our reading, conscientiously excluding not only whatever is
obviously impure, but all in which lurks even a suggestion
of evil. A writer says, never read a book
which is not worth reading, for some noble end beyond the short-lived
pleasure of a little excitement. When we think of the influence
which our reading has upon our lives, we see at once the importance
of selecting only books that are worthwhile. At the best,
none of us can read one book in a thousand of those which
are within our reach. Surely then, this one book ought
to be the best in all the thousand. Every year a flood of really
worthless publications is poured over the country. People go into
ecstasies over trivial works which please or excite them for
a day, and are then old and forgotten, while books, in every way admirable,
are passed by unnoticed. No book is really worth reading
which does not either impart valuable knowledge or set before
us some ideal of beauty, strength, or nobility of character. There
are enough great books to occupy us during all our short and busy
years. If we are wise, we will resolutely
avoid all but the richest and the best.