This past year I read/listened to the most books I’ve ever recorded in a single year. Being granted an eight week sabbatical AND listening to a lot of fiction while biking helped boost the number of books.
I have found it helpful in the past to categorize books according to my level of recommendation. But instead, I will categorize these books according to genres, and then add my recommendations. The quantity of books requires me to leave some out or merely mention them in passing.
Out of 65 books that I read, only a few of them are worthy of whole-hearted commendation. And as a disclaimer, I would also say that even the books I recommend come with this caveat . . . The only book I read this year that comes with 100% endorsement is the English Standard Version of the Bible. All others need to be picked through for helpful nuggets.
While I have grown to enjoy listening to fiction in the past several years, I am discovering quickly that there is a wide variability in the quality of fiction.
The useless drivel I took into my brain this year includes the following titles:
The Way of Shadows
The Shadows Edge
Beyond the Shadows
all by Brent Weeks
I do NOT recommend these books. Beware that they grow increasingly prurient and violent. While Brent Weeks is great at world-building, he has also bought into a mindset that sex sells. Avoid them.
Seeking Safety
Seeking Refuge
Seeking Justice
Seeking Hope
all by T.L. Payne
I do not recommend these books. They are underdeveloped dystopian novels with plot holes big enough to park a wide load comfortably.
While I enjoyed the non-fiction book: The End of Your Life Book Club by Schwalbe, I tried to read a few of the novel mentioned in that book and struck out.
The novels that Schwalbe read with his dying mother are not anything I could imagine reading with my mom. Continental Drift by Banks was a well written story that includes graphic immorality. The thought of discussing that book with my mother makes me blush. Skip this one.
Schwalbe also read Big Machine by LaValle and this one read like a fever dream. A modern Lewis Carol without much redeeming value. You can thank me for reading it for you, so you don’t have to read it yourself. 😜
As far as more beneficial fiction the following titles were more worthwhile.
The Marsh King’s Daughter by Dionne is borderline between beneficial and drivel. While I struggle to recommend any fiction at all, this one is a take it or leave it for me. Similar to my opinion about Clive Cussler below. No deep thinking. It takes place in Michigan so there’s that!
I was late to the party but I read
Eragon by Paolini
The Way of Kings by Sanderson
Words of Radiance by Sanderson
While I enjoyed all three, Sanderson’s world-building and character development is phenomenal and he will be getting some of my time in 2025 since I have a lot of catching up to do. These two books are over 1,000 pages each, and he is very prolific writer. I’m excited to follow his story line in the next year.
Eragon wasn’t as riveting, and if I run out of fiction, I may return to the series, but I have a lot of Sanderson to keep me busy.
I also read Fire Ice by Cussler
I pick up a book by Cussler once in a while to get my action/spy fix. These books dissolve before me like cotton candy. Not much substance and even less nutrition. But fun once in a while.
I also read 1984 by Orwell. It seemed like a good year to read a dystopian novel. I’m still looking over my shoulder . . .
I have grown to love Anthony Doerr and I read About Grace this year. While it doesn’t come with any of the endorsement of Cloud Cuckoo Land or All the Light . . . I still enjoyed it. Despite it getting mixed reviews, I thought it was a novel with a deeper message about living for today and not fearing the future.
Suprisingly, the work of fiction that gets the highest recommend from me is a lesser known novel called Pirenesi by Clarke. I enjoyed this novel immensely. I recognize that it will not appeal to everyone, but I found the style of writing and the plot line to be deeper than many novels. This was a work of fiction that kept my brain engaged. Not merely an exercise in escape but an exercise in thinking and enjoying.
As for works of non-fiction, these are the bulk of my reading in any given year. For many years I never read a single work of fiction.
Since there are many, I will merely list these books with the briefest of comments . . .
Still Surprised by the Spirit by Deere – intentionally read this to get an opposing view on the subject of the sign gifts. Unchanged in my theological opinion.
Glorious Ruin and Carnage and Grace by Tchividjian – good to read as a pastor. Tullian tattles on himself. I personally find this refreshing despite the darkness.
The Toxic War On Masculinity by Pearcy – while potentially controversial, this book is a needed commentary on our cultural moment regarding the role of men in society. Pearcy has been a faithful social commentator and this book matches that style.
The Coddling of the American Mind by Haidt – Haidt has no Christian commitments, but he certainly conveys a lot of truth about this moment of increased ignorance in American society. I find it helpful from time to time to branch out from the Christian bubble and I am grateful for social commentary that identifies problems in the culture at large that also is clearly having an impact within the church.
Notes From the Tilt-A-Whirl by Wilson – a perennial read for me. I keep coming back to it, because I like it that much.
Gospel Primer by Vincent – an excellent but short reminder of the blessing the gospel brings to our lives.
Bad Therapy and Irreversible Damage by Shrier – both of these books are worthwhile reads, but if you have to choose one, read Bad Therapy. I have never once listened to an audiobook and immediately started it over again when I finished. This was a first for me. I listened to it back to back because it was so helpful in formulating things I’ve been wondering about for years. I highly RECOMMEND what is definitely a controversial book. Irrevirsible Damage is an excellent and challenging book from a non-Christian regarding the transgender epidemic, particularly among young women. Controversial to many, but refreshingly direct to me.
The Pastor by Peterson – a perennial read for me. I only pick this book up when I want to be reminded why I should remain a pastor. I read it annually.
The Lost Art of Dying by Dugdale – I highly recommend this book if you ever plan on dying or expect someone you love might die some day. Seriously. This was a much needed look at a subject nobody wants to talk about. I don’t want to die in a hospital. And even less after reading this book. Very few books come with a “you should read this” from me. But you should read this one. The author went to the same church as my wife when they were young. But my endorsement does NOT come from any loose association with her parents. It is an important book.
How to Read the Psalms by Longman – I actually thought this book would be more practical than it actually was. I found it to be overly technical for what I was hoping it would be. I was looking for something to recommend to the church as we went through the Psalms over the summer. Instead, it proved to be more academic than practical. Don’t let this review put you off from Longman. He brings lot of good things to the table regarding Old Testament scholarship.
Competing Spectacles by Reinke – a good book that we read as elders. Encouraging to think through the challneges of living in a very visual, spectacle driven culture. This book served to reinforce things I’ve already been thinking. Not much new to me, just good confirmation.
Reforming Marriage by Wilson – Wilson is a firebrand, and I mean that as a compliment. He has no problem stating truth even when it is challenging. This book was a refreshing reminder of my calling as a husband leading a wife and a family.
The Contemplative Pastor by Peterson – Eugene Peterson is fabulous when it comes to pastoral theology. He is probably the best author I’ve encountered when it comes to pulling pastors back from the edge of fads, worldly measurements of success, and a CEO mindset. I loved this book.
Pointing to the Pasturelands by Packer – excerpts from the late J.I.Packer who was a giant of evangelical theology. I found this book to be very helpful in placing this man’s thoughts into a cultural framework. So many theologians are not very down to earth. This book roots his other writings into real life.
Prayer by Onwuchekwa – really a good book for contemplating the role of prayer in the CORPORATE life of the church. Not a great book if you want to pick up a book to help you devotionally grow in prayer. This is book targeting church leaders.
How Does God Change Us? by Ortland – a few brief book on sanctification. A good book that is needed, simply because many Christians are not BIG book readers (see The Coddling of the American Mind above).
Swimming Against the Current by Gaines – this is an intriguing biographical book by a young lady who was directly impacted by a man swimming in women’s collegiate competition. A much needed insider perspective on a particular problem brought to us by a culture that is increasingly encouraging us to embrace lies.
Incomparable by Wilson – an excellent devotional book on the character of God. Like a contemporary Knowledge of the Holy, it is always encouraging to think more deeply about the character of God.
D. L. Moody on Spiritual Leadership by Miller – Full of complied quotations from Moody with the goal of encouraging leaders to lead with humility and care. This was very helpful to me in my role as a pastor.
Running with the Horses by Peterson – this was a reread for me. I had listened to this book a few years ago so I read a paper copy. Great devotional style commentary on Jeremiah. Not technical, but very encouraging to me during my sabbatical.
The Soul in Paraphrase by Ryken – This was a stretch for me as I don’t often read poetry. But Ryken’s commentary on each poem was very helpful. Linda and I read this together during my sabbatical and I thought the interaction with her over these poems was priceless.
The Unprotected Class by Carl – Talk about controversial. This book defines controversial in our current moment. But I found it helpful to hear Carl state things that many of us have felt.
Shepherds for Sale by Basham – I expected this book to be more explosive than it was. By the end, I felt like it had not measured up to the hype. Much of the book struck me as disagreement repackaged as controversy. Basham disagrees with the legitimate stance of many evangelical leaders, and then labels that as a vast conspicracy. Many of these leaders just disagree with her. And they disagree with me too.
Seeing Green by Dillehay – I’m glad you made it this far, because this was a very worthwhile read. Interestingly, I didn’t agree with her basic premise that all of us deeply relate to Envy. Being completely honest, my greater struggle is with pride. But I still find these types of books that take a deep dive into defining sin to be refreshing. I love the way they expose the darknesses of my own heart, and I find it refreshing to read the hope that is found in Christ.
More Than a Battle by Rigney – probably the best book I’ve read regarding the fight against pornography in over a decade. It is targeted toward two types of men. Those in the struggle AND those who want to help other men who are in the struggle. I want every single man at my church to read this book.
Note to Self by Thorn – we will be reading this book as a staff during staff meetings this coming year. So I gave it a read to preview it. I believe it will be beneficial devotionally. The format is snippets of reminders of the truth we need to preach to ourselves regularly.
Leadership and Emotional Sabotage by Rigney – great short book on leadership. I would recommend this for anyone leading, even husbands leading a family would benefit from reading this.
Authentic Ministry by Reeves – again, a great book for ministry leaders. I love the reminders to humble leadership.
Dawning of Indestructible Joy by Piper – this was an advent reading from John Piper. I enjoyed being led into deepening thinking about the wonderful of incarnation over this season. What incredible joy we have through Christ!
And for my preaching, I also read:
4 commentaries on 1 Corinthians
4 commentaries on Titus
and 4 Commentaries Nahum
Anyone interested in a review of these commentaries could message me for my thoughts, but my opinions on them are nuanced and would require a lot more than I prefer to write here.
