Read Me Like a Book

“Read Me Like a Book is based on the conviction that interpretive gifts developed in preaching and Bible study are profoundly relevant to pastoral counseling. Jason Cusick has done a wonderful job of making hermeneutics--the art of interpretation--understandable, accessible, and truly helpful. His five steps of interpretation take the mystery and panic out of pastoral counseling. Highly recommended for pastors who seek to be insightful readers of others and thereby enable them to deepen their reading of themselves.”

Donald Capps

“You cannot shepherd God's flock without tending to the sheep. Read Me Like a Book gives you a simple tool guaranteed to increase your effectiveness in helping hurting people. If you like stories, you will love Jason Cusick's approach to pastoral counseling!”

J. Kent Edwards

“This well-written book is a great resource for pastors who are skilled in biblical interpretation but who struggle when counseling members of their flock. Dr. Cusick makes an insightful connection between (a) principles of biblical hermeneutics taught in seminaries and (b) the 'hermeneutic' of reading people. Warmly recommended!”

Joseph Hellerman

“Author of When the Church Was a Family and Embracing Shared Ministry Dr. Cusick makes biblical counseling accessible to those who are not naturally gifted biblical counselors. When I began reading, Read Me Like a Book, Dr. Cusick answered my objections (I am not a gifted biblical counselor) and gave me hope that I could learn skills in order for me to be a better pastor. He certainly delivered on his promise and although I would not nominate myself for the Biblical Counselor of the Year Award, I do feel better equipped to have these critical ministry conversations.”

Mark McNees

“What do interpreting a book and counseling have in common? A lot according to Jason Cusick's Read Me Like a Book. With tons of practical advice, Cusick uses the metaphor of reading a book to think about counseling while helping a person understand what they are struggling with when they come for counseling. The result is a book filled with solid practical advice for pastors who counsel. Learning how to read people like a book will help you become a more sensitive counselor. So read on and become better equipped to shepherd others who are hurting.”

Darrell Bock

“Seminaries often do a good job teaching biblical interpretation, but they often inadequately prepare students for pastoral counseling, even thought that work is crucial to healthy churches and lives. Jason Cusick rightly points out that interpretation skills that have already learned find application as they bring the biblical narratives to bear on the narrative of hurting human lives. This book understands the importance of not only reading the text, but also the soul.”

Tremper Longman III

“"As a full-time pastor and part-time professor of pastoral counseling Jason Cusick's approach to counseling intrigued me. He draws on the language and skills of biblical hermeneutics to help us see fresh ways to approach counseling as pastors. My copy is dog-eared and well-marked. I quote Read Me Like a Book in my class. It is concise and insightful, and it has helped me care for God's people more effectively.”

Pastor Lee Eclov