Look Closer : How to Get More Out of Reading

A TIMES and SPECTATOR Book of the Year

'A love letter to the energising thrill of literature' SUNDAY TIMES

'A lively book that seeks to enthuse us to read more deeply, more thoughtfully' THE TIMES

'The best book about reading I have read for a very long time' STEPHEN FRY

A joyful and enlightening masterclass in how reading attentively can change our lives

For thirty years, Robert Douglas-Fairhurst has shared his passion for reading with students. In Look Closer , he brings fresh life to beloved books, from Wuthering Heights to Normal People, alongside poetry, plays and more.

With warmth, wit and clarity, he shows us how to slow down, notice more and enjoy reading on a deeper level. Engaging, illuminating and full of delight, this is a celebration of the simple pleasure of books – and a reminder of how reading can open doors, spark joy and transform the way we see the world.

'A glittering gem of a book' NATALIE HAYNES

' Look Closer is akin to wandering through an art gallery with an expert on painterly detail by your side' FINANCIAL TIMES

'A delightful and much-needed paean, in our attention-deficit era, to the pleasures of close and slow reading' SPECTATOR

Author: Robert Douglas-Fairhurst

Memoirs, Literature: history & criticism

Published on 10 Sep 2026 by Vintage Publishing.