Books

Have you ever been recommended by a friend to read a certain book? Over the years, I have had books shoved to my face literally. Many of them are spiritual books such as this Derek Prince book. I usually would try to refuse it first. If the person insisted, I'd then accept it. I'd give the book half an hour of my time. If within that half an hour, it failed to entice me to continue, I'd let it sit until the next time I saw the giver and returned it.

It is actually offensive, is it not, to tell a friend that one should read such and such spiritual book by actually shoving the book to one's hand? It reminds me of those tracts distributing Christians. Hey, you need this (because I don't think you have the holy spirit in you). Hey, read this to be saved (because I think you are on your way to hell). Hey, read this. It will make you a better person (which implies one is not good enough). Read it. You need it. It's good for your spiritual life which you have neglected. It also implies that the giver no longer need the book as he or she has already achieved whatever changes in one's life the book tries to accomplish.

It's how I felt when the book was given to me to bring home. It got me to wonder, whether distributing tracts directly to people is received negatively. Isn't it better to place the tract for people to find and peruse at the urging of the holy spirit?