--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Smith, Joseph F., Jr. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 16 number: 10 published: 1913-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Smith, Joseph F., Jr., "How and What to Read," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 10 (August 1913): 1000–1006.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera16010unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera16010unse start_page: 1000 end_page: 1006 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera16010unse publication_year: 1913 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1913, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # How and What to Read How and What to Read* BY JOSEPH F. SMITH, JR., OF THE QUORUM OF TWELVE APOSTLES AND MEMP.ER OF THE GENERAL POARD Y. M. M. I. A. "The very first thing to be remembered by him who would study the art of reading," wrote Mr. Charles F. Richardson, "is that nothing can take the place of personal enthusiasm and personal work. However wise may be the friendly adviser, and however full and perfect the chosen hand-book of reading, neither can do more than to stimulate and suggest. Nothing can take the place of a direct familiarity with books themselves. * * The taste for reading and the habit of reading must always be developed from within." It is, however, within our power to guide our youth in their reading and to cultivate in their hearts a desire for good books. It is most unfortunate where a person is not possessed with the desire for good reading. The reading habit, like charity, should begin at home. It is the duty of every parent to provide in his home a library of suitable books to be at the service of the family. The library need not be large, nor the books of the most expensive binding, but there should be a well chosen variety of the most select that can be obtained. Children should be encouraged in the home to read, and instructed in the value of good books and how to discriminate between the good and the bad in literature. It is far better for a home to be thus provided where the children can be entertained with a good, wholesome story than to more than waste their time playing cards — a habit that cannot too severely be condemned — or spending their time in pool-halls or upon the streets in company of evil associates. Said Henry Ward Beecher : "Give us a house furnished with books rather than furniture. Both, if you can, but books at any rate ! To spend several days in a friend's house and hunger for something to read, while you are treading on costly carpets and sitting on luxurious chairs^ and sleeping upon down, is as if one were bribing your body for the sake of cheating your mind. Is it not pitiable to see a man growing rich, augmenting the comfort of home, and lavishing money on ostentatious upholstery? We know of many and many a rich man's house where it would not be safe to ask for the commonest English classics. A few garish annuals on ♦Delivered at the Y. M. M. I. A. officers' meeting June 6, 1913, General Conference. HOW AND WHAT TO READ. 1001 the table, a few pictorial monstrosities, together with the stock of religious books of his 'persuasion,' and that is all. No poets, no essayists, no historians, no travel or biographies, no select fiction, no curious legendary lore. But the wall paper cost three dollars a roll, and the carpets cost four dollars a yard! Books are the windows through which the soul looks out. A home without books is like a room without windows. No man has a right to bring up his children without surrounding them with books if he has the means to buy them. It is a wrong to his family. He cheats them! Children learn to read by being in the presence of books. * * * A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life." Not one of us is so poor but that we are able to purchase a few good books for the home. A small library of the most worthy books in this day of cheap printing, may be had for a trifling sum. There is scarcely a family in the land that does not spend for amusement, or in pleasure that could be dispensed with, a sum each year that would purchase a suitable course of reading. I have been in the habitations of some of our people where even the standard works of the Church could not be found, and these are absolutely indispensable to a Latter-day Saint home. There may be some excuse for an absence of the "commonest English classics," but there is no excuse for an absence of the standard works of the Church and the writings of our ablest authors on the principles of the Gospel. We are trying to encourage the members of our associations in the reading of good books by recommending to them a suitable course of reading. In the past we have not met with the success our efforts merited, and just where the fault may lie, I am not prepared to say. It may be that we have failed to some extent in choosing books that were the most suitable for the requirements of our young men. Perhaps our books have not been advertised enough, or there may have been a lack of system in placing them within the reach of those for whom they were intended. The price of some may have been too high. In my opinion, other things being equal, we should choose books that are reasonable in price. If a book cost much above one dollar, our young people are not so apt to purchase it. The fault with most copyrighted books is that the publishers ask too much for them, and many feel that these books are beyond their reach. There is, however, a very large and wonderful collection of standard books from which we can make our choice. Books that have passed through the fire of criticism and time, and have been thoroughly tested, and while we are not limited to these, yet from this class of books we can make good selections. They can be obtained in popular editions at nominal expense. 1002 IMPROVEMENT ERA f believe one reason why our books have not been better and more extensively read, is that we have not formed to any great extent, the reading habit. True; we do read the newspapers, which are quite generally most inaccurate and misleading, and some cheaper varieties of literature that require little or no thought. This kind of reading docs not constitute the reading habit. If trashy books appeal to us and we reject that which requires reflection, we are injuring ourselves most seriously. "If you dislike Shakespeare's 'Hamlet,' and greatly enjoy a trashy story," said Mr. Richardson, "say so with sincerity and sorrow, if occasion requires, ami hope and work for a reversal of your taste." In choosing books for our young men, we should consider more than merely supplying them with entertainment. The books they read should also furnish food for thought. It is hard work for some of us to think, and books that require thought are ofttimes considered dull and fail to stimulate the reader. The advice of Brother Howard R. Driggs should be followed in the selection of a book. Will the boys read it? Will it do them any good if they do? Books for our juniors should not be too complex for their understanding, yet should carry home a lesson that will impress the soid. Many books have been spoiled because of too much padding. Most novels are padded with matter that does not pertain directly to the theme, and clouds the thought and destroys the efficacy of the story. Many of our present day story-writers also spoil what they write by the frequent interjection of profanity. The common use of the name of Deity in nearly every exclamation seems to them to be an essential feature to give the proper emphasis and vigor. Many books written by capable and distinguished authors have been marred in this manner. If authors were more familiar with the commandment : "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain," it would greatly improve their works and help their readers in keeping this commandment. Books of this class merit censure, and where this difficulty is very marked should utterly be condemned. Other books contain problem stories, are sensational, or deal with immoral themes. These should always be condemned. Among a certain class such books are very ' popular, but they corrupt the morals and appeal to the baser passions of mankind. There are other books that are perhaps free from immoral thought, as we understand that term, but are filled with vulgar slang. One prominent writer has said: "Slang is to a people's language wdiat an epidemic disease is to their bodily constitution ; just as catching and just as inevitable in its course. Like a disease, HOW AND WHAT TO READ. 1003 too, it is severest where the sanitary conditions arc most neglected, .where there is least culture and thought to counteract it." A book may not be classed as bad, but we should ask ourselves if it contains any thought that will benefit us intellectually, morally, or spiritually, if we read it. I do not mean to say that a bookwritten solely to amuse is necessarily bad and to be condemned, for some of our most worthy authors have given to the world good books of this kind, that can safely be recommended. But if the aim of a book is not uplifting or helpful to the reader it should be avoided. There are so many books that have been tried and proved to be good, that we need not waste our time with those we may consider doubtful. "He who writes for fools," it has been said, ''finds an enormous audience." The "six best sellers," advertised at times among the popular books, are not always the best. Among them we may find the sensational, vicious, and immoral, which poison the mind and destroy the soul. Many of these books are written by contract made between publisher and author at so much per word for the purpose of getting gain. To be sure, they are made attractive and filled with catchy sayings that appeal to the simple minded of that enormous class to which reference has been made. These books are like spiders' webs, built to inveigle silly flies who know no better than to be insnared within their meshes. They are sold largely on the strength of the extensive advertising they receive, and while they may pass through several editions while the craze is on, seldom live but a few short years, and are soon dead and forgotten. Not so, however, with the mischief they can do, for the impressions on the mind for evil may endure. Arthur Schopenhauer, a German philosopher, speaking of trashy and bad books, remarked: "Such books rob the public of time, money and attention, which ought properly to belong to good literature and noble aims ; and they are written with a view merely to make money or occupation. They are, therefore, not merely useless, but injurious. Nine-tenths of our current literature has no other end but to inveigle a thaler or two out of the public pocket, for which purpose author, publisher and printer, are leagued together. Of bad books we can never read too little ; of the good, never too much. The bad are intellectual poison and undermine the understanding." Dr. James Baldwin said : "There would be fewer bad books in the world if readers were properly informed and warned of their character. And we may believe that the really vicious books would soon cease to exit if their makers and publishers were popularly regarded with the same detestation as oilier corrupters of the public morals." It should be distinctly understood that perfection in a novel 1004 IMPROVEMENT ERA can hardly be expected. Even in the best, there may appear expressions, even chapters, that we cannot recommend and the book would be greatly improved if these features were eliminated. Nevertheless the story may be one that all may read with profit, for in the main it may express the noblest sentiments and stimulate the mind with virtuous thoughts that may be turned to action. Because the hero of a story may be a tobacco fiend, and this habit spoken of with favor, as in Wright's story, The Winning of Barbara Worth, it does not follow that we, in recommending the book, endorse the use of that filthy weed by our young men. We should understand that the view-point of the Latter-day Saint is higher than that of one not educated in the truth as we have been. And what one may consider a virtue, or unsinful, in the world, to us may be a serious error. We must, therefore, make due allowance for the opinions and expressions of others not of our faith. In recommending books the General Board does not, and cannot, endorse all that they contain, and yet we may declare the book is good. When we read we should use our good judgment and learn to discriminate, accepting the good and casting away that which is evil. Coleridge has said : "Some readers are like the hourglass — their reading is as the sand. It runs out, but leaves no vestige behind. Some, like a sponge, which imbibes everything and returns it in the same state, only a little dirtier. Some like a jelly-bag, which allows all that is pure to pass away, and retains only the refuse and dregs. The fourth class may be compared to the slave of Golconda, who, casting away all that is worthless, preserved only the pure gems." Let us then, preserve the gems of thought as we may obtain them. Desultory reading as a habit is not good. Such reading impairs the power of thought and is enervating to the mind. Reading should be done systematically. Reading that requires study and reflection should not be done in haste. It is better to read a little and understand it than to read a great deal without getting the thought. We sometimes hear the complaint : "I haven't time." But we all have time to read and study which is our solemn duty. Can we not arrange to find at least fifteen minutes in each day to devote to systematic reading and reflection ? This would be but a trifling amount of time, yet it would be one hour and forty-five minutes in a week ; seven and one-half hours in a month of thirty days, and ninety-one hours and a quarter in the year. This is equal to eleven and one-half days of eight hours each during the entire year. I am sure we can all find more time than that to read, yet this amount is all Dr. Eliot felt was necessary for a man to spend to receive the "essentials of a liberal education" from his recommended five-foot shelf of books. HOW AND WHAT TO READ. 1005 t lla^e presented here a few of the many reasons why the JVl. I. A. General Board is recommending-, each season, a reading course for the benefit of our youth. It is with the desire to em courage them in good reading, to increase their knowledge, faith and perseverance, in that which is good and true. Very few among us read too much ; most of us read too little. The Lord has said : "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom ; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith." What system we shall adopt to get our books read is an important question. We must, of course, reach the hearts of our boys and interest them, or we shall fail. Public readings, if they a e presented by capable persons, and well done, will help to stimulate our boys to action. Book reviews in our open night programs, or in some public gathering will help. The presentation — if capably done — of some interesting portion of the book, may create an interest in their minds. In our story-telling the subjects might be taken from the books of our reading course. Reading clubs might be organized with profit. The young men could meet at some selected time and place and one could read while the others listen. There is virtue in reading aloud ; let each boy take a turn. It will teach them to read well, to think more clearly, and to properly pronounce their words. It trains the ear as well as the eye, and then, there is the social intercourse and exchange of ideas, which is a benefit to them. This, of course, must be done under the direction of some responsible person connected with the Mutual work. When a book is read, all who were present at the reading should have credit as having read the book. There is a verse in the 8th chapter of Nehemiah that has a bearing on this subject. When the Jews returned from the Captivity we read that the people were called together and Ezra and the Priests stood before them to instruct them. This is the passage : "So they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." This verse is a perfect treatise in a sentence of the art of reading aloud. Let our young men remember the passage in their reading. See that the books of the reading course are placed in your public libraries and reading rooms. A number of young men forming a reading club, may purchase the entire set among them, and the expense will not be very great. It would be well for each home to secure the reading course, and that each association also be pro- ' vided with a set. The General Board invites the officers and members of the Associations to recommend good books for our reading course. Send the name of the author and the title of the book, with such 1006 I M PRl >VEMENT EB \ oth r remarks as may be necessary to ^Secretary Snow at the Era office. The reading course work should be placed under the supervision of one or more capable persons in the stake and in the wards. They should devise means to get the hooks read by the members of the associations and should keep a record of the work that is being done. Reports from the associations to the officers of the stake should he regularly made. Tt would not be amiss if the work of the reading course were placed in the hands of a committee of two or three, instead of one. If this work lags in any particular ward, special efforts by the committee should he made in that direction. Officers of the associations should use their initiative and think out schemes and devise ways and means hy which the hooks of the reading course may be placed in the hands of the members of the associations and then see that they are read. Myself Today I fight with a wily foe, And he has the strength of ten; He's conquered me a thousand times, But I'll wage the fight again. His blade is keen, his thrust is true. His way is cunning stealth; The chances are he'll run me through — I am that foe, myself. Today I walk with a genial friend. Our souls will sweet commune; I'll tell him all my secret hopes From morn till highest noon; Then we'll move on till eventide; A boon, my dearest wealth, To have him ever at my side — I am that friend, myself. Louis W. Larsen. RICHMOND, .TAH.