Reading External Books
Question
Is it permissible to read external books, and what are they?
Answer
Greetings and blessings
Included in the category of external books are heretical books and books of nonsense—such as parts of the book of Ben Sira.
Heretical books may not be read even casually.
Books of nonsense may be read casually.
Source
See Sanhedrin 90a, 100b; and Ritva on Bava Batra 98
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