Today it’s not uncommon to see products released with the label, “New and Improved.” The assumption is that new is better than old. And although this is sometimes true, there are plenty of times where it’s just not the case.
This is especially true when we turn to books. There are new books coming out every day, but just because they’re newer doesn’t mean they’re better than those that have come before. C.S. Lewis, in his, “On the Reading of Old Books,” writes about the advantages that old books bring to the table.
First, they’ve already been proven. How many of the current books will survive the test of time? Very few. But old books—the classics— have passed this test. That’s why they’re classics. People have found them useful from generation to generation, which is why they’ve survived.
Second, they help provide context. Often books will be based on, or will interact with, the writings and ideas of others. It’s like a conversation between the authors that continues on through the ages. Going back to older books is like joining that conversation at the beginning instead of jumping in towards the end. Missing most of a conversation can make things harder to understand because we don’t have the proper of context of what’s already been discussed. The same is true of books. Older books can give us a better understanding of how thoughts and ideas have evolved over time so we can better understand the discussions that takes place today.
Finally, they can make us aware of our own blindspots. Each age has its own outlook on the world. There are certain truths it will see, and other errors it will be blind to. If we only read what’s new, we’ll only see the world from our modern vantage point. By reading books from previous ages, though, we’ll be exposed to different perspectives, which will help us be more aware of our own presuppositions in the modern world.
Because of these benefits, Lewis’ advice is read old books regularly—ideally one old one for every new one. If that’s not doable, he says that we should at least shoot for one in four.
Of course, old books can be intimidating. What if we don’t understand them? What if they’re over our head? Lewis’ response is that often the greats of old are actually easier to understand than their modern counterparts, especially when it comes to areas such as philosophy or theology. In fact, this ability of the writers to communicate in a way that is understandable and that resonates with the reader is one reason why their writings have survived.
Yes, there are good books that are being released today. But it’s important to not overlook the value that older books provide. Because newer is not necessarily better, especially when it comes to books.