Brain muscle groups

I've heard fitness experts recommend that we rotate through different muscle groups in our body so that our muscles have time to rest and also so that we have muscle everywhere, rather than just a few favored locations.

I think this applies to reading and brain activity as well. I've long disparaged myself that I tend to not finish books, and I commend my wife that she is a "finisher." I tend to read anywhere from 10-20 books at once, a few pages or a chapter at a time. She tends to read one book at a time and finish it in a few weeks.

But, I read this blog post today about How to read a non-fiction book, and the author made a point that intrigued me: "Don't feel that you need to finish." This prompted me to reconsider my It-Is-Foolish-To-Read-20-Books-At-Once policy.

Maybe it's normal for my brain. I have an active brain. Maybe for some people, it's suited to their mode of information digestion that they stay on topic for a long time. Maybe for me, it's not just a tendency but a necessity to switch contexts every so often.

Last night I wanted to read some more of The Meaning of the Pentateuch (to be diligent), but I just couldn't. My brain was screaming "NO!" So, I read a chapter of F.F. Bruce's New Testament History. That sat a lot better with me. Question: What is normal for you?

Use your brain

Quote by C.H. Spurgeon:

As the apostle says to Timothy, so also he says to everyone, 'Give yourself to reading.' He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains (inspired by the Holy Spirit) proves that he has no brains of his own. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers and expositions of the Bible. The best way for you to spend your leisure is to be either reading or praying.

Quote via NewDemonstration.com

My suggestions for profitable reading:

• In My Place Condemned He Stood by J.I. Packer
• The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
• Just Do Something: How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc. by Kevin DeYoung
• The Truth of the Cross by R.C. Sproul
• The Roots of Endurance: Invincible Perseverance in the Lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce by John Piper
• A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers by D.A. Carson

Alas, I haven't read Puritanical works yet. I'm going to read an anthology of sermons by Charles Simeon soon, and I really want to read The Death of Death in the Death of Christ: A Treatise in Which the Whole Controversy about Universal Redemption is Fully Discussed by John Owen.

The Works of Jonathan Edwards Series

Here is a list of pointers to all 26 published volumes of The Works of Jonathan Edwards Series. The ISBN points to the publisher's web site (Yale Press) and the ASIN points to Amazon. I've put it into an actual HTML table so that you can copy and paste, retaining data structure for whatever purpose you may desire.

Note that these works (and additional ones that are not published yet) are also available for free online: http://edwards.yale.edu/archive/.

Also, here is an Amazon.com wish list containing all 26 volumes.

Title	ISBN	ASIN
Volume 1: Freedom of the Will	978-0300008487	0300008481
Volume 2: Religious Affections	978-0300009668	0300009666
Volume 3: Original Sin	978-0300011982	0300011989
Volume 4: The Great Awakening	978-0300014372	0300014376
Volume 5: Apocalyptic Writings	978-0300019452	0300019459
Volume 6: Scientific and Philosophical Writings	978-0300022827	0300022824
Volume 7: The Life of David Brainerd	978-0300030044	0300030045
Volume 8: Ethical Writings	978-0300040203	0300040202
Volume 9: A History of the Work of Redemption	978-0300041552	0300041551
Volume 10: Sermons and Discourses, 1720-1723	978-0300051360	0300051360
Volume 11: Typological Writings	978-0300053524	0300053525
Volume 12: Ecclesiastical Writings	978-0300058970	0300058977
Volume 13: The "Miscellanies", Entry Nos. a-z, aa-zz, 1-500	978-0300060591	0300060599
Volume 14: Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729	978-0300068412	0300068417
Volume 15: Notes on Scripture	978-0300071986	0300071981
Volume 16: Letters and Personal Writings	978-0300072952	0300072953
Volume 17: Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733	978-0300078404	0300078404
Volume 18: The "Miscellanies," 501-832	978-0300083309	0300083300
Volume 19: Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738	978-0300087147	0300087144
Volume 20: The "Miscellanies," 833-1152	978-0300091748	0300091745
Volume 21: Writings on the Trinity, Grace, and Fait	978-0300095050	0300095058
Volume 22: Sermons and Discourses, 1739-1742	978-0300095722	0300095724
Volume 23: The "Miscellanies," 1153–1360	978-0300101027	0300101023
Volume 24: The Blank Bible	978-0300109313	0300109318
Volume 25: Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758	978-0300115390	0300115393
Volume 26: Catalogues of Books	978-0300133943	0300133944