“On Reading Well” is a delight. While I expected it to be well-written and filled with things to learn, Prior’s approach pleasantly surprised me. She states in her introduction that some of what she writes comes from class lectures, so I expected the book to be more cerebral and less engaging. That is far from true. The entire book is enchanting. She uses classic and modern literature as examples to explain virtues like temperance, love, and patience from a literary and biblical perspective. The way she weaves Christianity through the virtues is expertly done—not heavy-handed or preachy. One does not have to be a Christian to read and understand this book. Her synopses of the books she uses as examples of each virtue are lovely and reveal her passion for literature. It is good work.Prior is a teacher to her core. She demonstrates this well throughout the book by defining words and ideas and bringing them to life—this is her superpower. Often, I’d have questions while reading, which would subsequently be answered in the next paragraph. This desire for her audience to understand the material allows the reader to settle in and enjoy the book while simultaneously learning. I walked away with a richer understanding of what I should pay attention to when I read. This is a gift to my thirsty mind.