How To Read Now

by Elaine Castillo
How To Read Now cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Essays / Essay Collections
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Format • £10.44
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Technical
  • ID: 3189
  • Added: 2025-10-17
  • Updated: 2025-10-17
  • ISBN: 9781838954949
  • Publisher: Atlantic Books
  • Published: 2022-08-04
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 3

How to Read Now is a collection of linked essays that redefine the act of reading, moving beyond the clichés of empathy and escapism. Award-winning novelist Elaine Castillo argues for a more complex, politically aware, and personally transformative relationship with books. She critiques popular narratives about reading, from the settler colonialism of celebrated authors to the moral implications of our literary choices, and celebrates diverse voices in art and media. Castillo's work is both deeply personal and broadly urgent, blending humor, sharp analysis, and a call to action. She invites readers to embrace a more daring, embodied form of reading that acknowledges difficult truths, fosters surprising connections, and builds solidarity. Whether discussing classic literature, contemporary TV, or indie films, How to Read Now empowers readers to engage with texts—and each other—in a more meaningful way.

Reviews
DeeDi Reads · 2025-02-28
refreshing 4.20

The book is written with spunk, personality, and sarcasm, offering whip-smart essays on the current state of politics and culture.

The reviewer at DeeDi Reads highlights the book's lively and engaging writing style, which they find both entertaining and thought-provoking. They appreciate the book's ability to tackle serious topics with a sense of humor and irreverence, making it a refreshing read. The essays are described as whip-smart and insightful, offering a unique perspective on contemporary issues.

Quick quotes

    Written with more than a dash of spunk, personality, and sarcasm, How to Read Now is a collection of whip-smart essays on the current state of the politics of ...

    The essays are described as whip-smart and insightful, offering a unique perspective on contemporary issues.

    The book's ability to tackle serious topics with a sense of humor and irreverence, making it a refreshing read.

Los Angeles Review of Books · 2022-08-09
thought-provoking 4.50

The book is praised as a masterclass in cultural criticism that uniquely blends highbrow and lowbrow elements. It is seen as a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary culture.

The reviewer at the Los Angeles Review of Books highlights this book as a standout in cultural criticism, appreciating its ability to juxtapose high and low culture in a way that feels fresh and engaging. They find the book to be a treasure trove of insights, particularly in how it challenges readers to think differently about the world around them. The essays are described as both intellectually stimulating and accessible, making complex ideas feel relevant and exciting.

Quick quotes

    A masterclass in cultural criticism, How to Read Now feeds my aesthetic proclivity for unusual juxtapositions of the highbrow and the lowbrow.

    The essays are both intellectually stimulating and accessible, making complex ideas feel relevant and exciting.

    Castillo's writing is a treasure trove of insights, particularly in how it challenges readers to think differently about the world around them.

The New York Times · 2022-07-25
insightful 4.00

The essays pose earnest questions about interpretation, inheritance, and human understanding, offering a deep dive into contemporary issues.

The New York Times reviewer delves into the book's exploration of interpretation and human understanding, noting the earnestness with which Castillo approaches these topics. They appreciate the book's ability to tackle complex issues with a combination of scholarly rigor and personal reflection. The essays are seen as a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation about how we engage with the world through literature and culture.

Quick quotes

    The essays in 'How to Read Now' pose earnest questions about interpretation, inheritance and human understanding.

    Castillo approaches these topics with a combination of scholarly rigor and personal reflection.

    The essays are seen as a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation about how we engage with the world through literature and culture.

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