--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ideally, we should like to define a good…" description: "\"Ideally, we should like to define a good book as one which 'permits, invites, or compels' good reading\" — C. S. Lewis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/c-s-lewis-2-132_book_ideally-we-should-like-to-define-a-good_1507267.png" --- # Ideally, we should like to define a good book as one which… ![“Ideally, we should like to define a good book as one which 'permits, invites, or compels' good reading” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/c-s-lewis-2-132_book_ideally-we-should-like-to-define-a-good_1507267.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/c-s-lewis-2-132_book_ideally-we-should-like-to-define-a-good_1507267.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/c-s-lewis-2-132_book_ideally-we-should-like-to-define-a-good_1507267.png) > “Ideally, we should like to define a good book as one which 'permits, invites, or compels' good reading” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A good book encourages readers to engage actively, think critically, and be transformed by the experience. **In simple terms:** A good book invites active, thoughtful reading. Key Takeaway Seek books that challenge and inspire you. Themes literature education personal growth Mood thoughtful inquisitive reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic study - personal development - book clubs - teaching - self‑education Key Concepts critical thinking engagement transformation Questions to Reflect On - What books have changed your perspective? - How do you know a book is worth the effort? 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It should be spent in as much peace and good eating and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-am-a-practical-girl-and-a-life-is-only-so-long-it-should-be-spent/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [A lot of religious texts make for good reading. That's why they hold up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/a-lot-of-religious-texts-make-for-good-reading-that-s-why-they-hold-up/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I'm good at reading people. If I wasn't an actor, I would be a psychologist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-m-good-at-reading-people-if-i-wasn-t-an-actor-i-would-be-a/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [Most of what makes a book 'good' is that we are reading it at the right moment for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/most-of-what-makes-a-book-good-is-that-we-are-reading-it-at-the-right/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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