I grew up embedded in a faith tradition that valued deeply the study of scripture and other religious texts. We were encouraged to study these works daily, in addition to group religious studies. I often found myself frustrated when it came to taking notes and examining the texts thoroughly. My scriptures for example, while a proper and well-structured edition, were not actually the most suitable edition for deep study. The margins were small, quickly overcrowded by handwritten notes, especially on important sections. The pages bled overly, due to the thin pages helpful for portability, but poor for highlighting and pens. My notes mismatched with the feel of the work’s formatting. As my written notes scrawled sideways in every little space available, it felt almost like I was defacing the text as the haphazard notes clashed with the formatting I was provided. This discouraged me as a youth, adding one more unnecessary ounce of demotivation towards what I considered an essential religious task.

Later in life, as I worked in the ministry for several years, I dedicated myself more fully to study and collected a sizable library of works which I valued deeply. These editions however were typically poorly suited to careful study, often printed in a format that prioritized economic efficiency. Many would be indistinguishable from novel formats, with only the content itself begging a deeper review. During this time one of my teaching manuals stood out to me. It was pointedly formatted for study. There were wide margins, pages suitable for highlighting, sections for longer notes. Its formatting was a tool helping me to engage with the contents on a deeper level. I found it enthralling. It was no chore to take section by section and engage deeply. I kept returning to it, finding new meanings and thoughts as I parsed each line.

Later as I opted to continue further in my higher education in a secular direction, I saw a similar dichotomy played out in the textbooks for my courses. I found it enjoyable to study from a book, often written by my professor, which was formatted in every way to help the reader to study the material in depth. These allowed me to internalize and learn in a more fulfilling way. On the other hand, when a text was formatted without any care for study, I found I had to stop myself from simply reading through, and instead take the time to compose my thoughts and internalize each section.

Now, I have the chance to help others engage with the texts that may be important to them. I make a point of finding, reading, and publishing works which have meaning and importance to their audience. Regardless of their faith tradition or background, I want to ensure that when someone takes the time to study a work which is important to them, that the edition calls out to them to engage deeply. They should feel helped and encouraged to make notes, validated in their personal search for knowledge. They should never feel it wrong to add their thoughts, but instead feel right as the edition’s formatting is practically begging them to engage. My hope is that you will find yourself more enlightened by using one of my editions as your own personal study tool.