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</a><font face="arial" size=3><b>QUESTION: </b>Is it permitted to read
secular books on Shabbos [and Yom Tov]? <br><br>
<b>DISCUSSION:</b> It depends on the type of book one wishes to read:(18)
<br><br>
Biographies of gedolei Yisrael or Orthodox community leaders, Jewish
story books that serve to strengthen one's yira'as shamayim, emunas
chachamim or middos tovos are permitted, including works of fiction
(novels and mysteries) which are authored by G-d fearing Jews and are
written for these purposes. <br><br>
Books [or encyclopedias] on science, math, medicine, geography, astronomy
and architecture are permitted,(19) except if one is reading them for the
sake of his business or profession,(20) or only because he needs to study
for a test. (21) <br><br>
Cookbooks should be avoided.(22) <br><br>
Secular books which do not contain halachically objectionable material,
but were not written by G-d fearing Jews for the purpose of strengthening
one's yira'as shamayim, emunas chachamim or middos tovos, should not be
read on Shabbos. (23) We do not, however, object to women, children or
those who are not engaged in the study of Torah reading books of this
nature on Shabbos.(24) Books about personal or public tragedies, or
holocaust stories that sadden a person and detract from his oneg Shabbos
- may not be read on Shabbos.(25) Any written work that may have a
bearing on the reader's finances is forbidden to be read on Shabbos.
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<i>18 Although this discussion follows the same basic principles quoted
earlier concerning newspapers, there are several reasons why there is
greater leniency regarding the reading of books than of newspapers: 1)
Books do not contain advertisements or financial news; 2) The Rabbinic
ban against reading non-business related items, which became necessary
due to the confusion between different type of documents, may not apply
to books since there is a clear distinction between unbound business
documents and bound books; see Pischei She'arim on Sha'arei Efrayim
10:33. <br><br>
19 Mishnah Berurah 307:65 and 308:164. <br><br>
20 Shulchan Shelomo 307:25. <br><br>
21 See Shemiras Shabbos K'hilchasah 28, note 206, where Harav S.Z.
Auerbach remains undecided on this issue. <br><br>
22 Harav M. Feinstein and Harav N. Karelitz quoted in Ayil Meshulash, pg.
41. Others are more leninet; see Shemiras Shabbos K'hilchasah 29, note
116 and Avnei Yashfei 1:76. <br><br>
23 O.C. 307:16. <br><br>
24 Ruling of Harav N. Karelitz (quoted in Ayil Meshulash on Shitrei
Hedyotos, pg. 209, and in Menuchah Shleimah, 2). <br><br>
25 Mishnah Berurah 307:3; Ketzos ha-Shulchan 107:43.</i> <br>
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