For the last several years, I have put together a list of my ten favorite books from that year. It must be a book I have not read before. This is important because, for example, I read the
Great Divorce by CS Lewis at least once a year and that would be on my list every year if I did not set this stipulation. By intention, I read substantially fewer books this year (87, so far) than I did last year (144) and there were several that I re-read. Despite my more restricted reading, I had no difficulty identifying ten.
A few observations looking back over the past 7 years of these lists:
- The authors who appear most frequently are Jared Wilson and Jerry Bridges, each three times. Several others including Larry Crabb, Dallas Willard, Eugene Peterson, Randy Alcorn, John Ortberg, Tullian Tchvidjian, and John Piper appear twice.
- In the first year I did a list (2010), my top 10 was strongly "Calvinistic" (indeed, everyone on my list could be considered at least a soft Calvinist). This year, it would be fewer than half.
- Until last year, there was very little fiction on my list. In 2010, Pilgrim's Progress was on the list, but I am not sure if that really counts. My reading is still primarily Christian nonfiction, though I have stretched to reading some fiction as well, thanks largely to my oldest daughter.
- Interestingly, when I first read The Great Divorce in 2010, it didn't even make my top 10. I wonder what changed?
10)
Letters to a Young Pastor (Calvin Miller). In this book, Miller shared a lifetime of gathered wisdom with those desiring to minister to others. Miller is an eloquent writer and gifted communicator. Even if you never intend to become a pastor, the wisdom in this book is worth absorbing.
9)
You are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit (James K.A. Smith). Smith offers a unique and informative exploration of why people develop the habits they do. He challenged the notion that what we do is driven primarily by our thoughts, suggesting instead that our desires are a primary motivation. As we think about what we love, it helps shed light on how we think and behave.
8)
The Cry of the Soul (Dan Allender and Tremper Longman III). Although previously familiar with Allender, I had never heard of The Cry of the Soul until I attended the
Men at the Cross event in February, where the book was mentioned. In the book, the authors help the reader to explore the language of emotion in Scripture and particularly the Psalms, looking at shame, fear, and sadness to help us know God and ourselves more deeply.
7)
The Voice Bible (Ecclesia Bible Society). When it comes to Bible reading, I tend to be an ESV guy. I personally have more ESV Bibles than there are members in my family. I recently started into the 6 volume reader's set, which is a joy to behold. Sometimes, though, I like to mix things up. Last year, I read through Eugene Peterson's paraphrase,
The Message, in my year of Peterson. This year, I decided to read through The Voice Bible after I heard my friend Ruth read a few passages from it.
The Voice aims to be a dynamic equivalent translation of scripture (thought for thought), but it is presented in a rather unique way, almost as a screenplay format. There are also places where ideas, set apart by italics, are added into the text to enhance the reading. In their desire to remain faithful to the Bible, the editors are clear that these words are not a part of the original text.
The Voice is one of the most beautiful translations I have read and it helped me to enter passages of Scripture in ways that haven't happened before. Or perhaps, it allowed Scripture to enter me.
6)
The Blessing of Humility (Jerry Bridges). The world lost an amazing author this year in Jerry Bridges. Well, I should clarify. His actual writing skills, while clear and engaging, are not especially remarkable. Perhaps what makes him amazing is the man who seemed to be behind the words. Bridges seemed to be a man full of biblical wisdom, but even more than that, a man of palpable humility. Therefore, to see a book about humility published posthumously by who has always struck me as quite humble was a welcome gift. We could all use more humility and this a great place to start.
5)
World Enough and Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down (Christian McEwen).
World Enough is the only book on my list this year that I would not classify as a "Christian" book. McEwen is a poet and professor who explored the topic of slowing down as a way of living a fuller life with specific attention to how a less hurried life can help the creative process. Drawing from a variety of traditions, she writes beautifully (you can tell this book was written by a poet) about noticing the world, something many of us fail to do adequately. A few of her essays were assigned in a class that my daughter and I took this summer, Writing from Your Roots, which prompted me to read the rest.
4)
Wholeheartedness: Busyness, Exhaustion, and Healing the Divided Self (Chuck DeGroat). In April, I wrote this about Wholeheartedness: "the best non-fiction book I have read this year by far." DeGroat has a special ability to draw together multiple streams of thought (neurobiology, theology, psychology) to help his readers think more deeply about what it means to be a whole person. He presents a wise way of thinking about living out a restored life, a life of shalom.
3)
A Different Kind of Happiness (Larry Crabb). This book holds a special place in my heart. I hold dear the man who wrote it, considering him a mentor and a friend. I also was privileged to write an endorsement for this book, which appears on the back cover. Yet those thing alone do not provide a place for this book on the list. Rather,
A Different Kind of Happiness is the clearest example of Crabb's current thinking about other-centeredness and the importance of sacrificial love. The second part of the book presents his seven questions of spiritual theology, which also help to formulate his thinking. This book provides an excellent, Christ-centered approach to relating.
2)
Living In Christ's Presence: Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God (Dallas Willard and John Ortberg). It seems that in each of the last few years, one writer has had a particularly significant place in my reading. Historically, it has been Eugene Peterson, Larry Crabb, and Francis Schaeffer to name a few. This year, it was probably Dallas Willard. Last year, his book
The Allure of Gentleness was also my number 2 book.
Living In Christ's Presence is a unique book. I first came to it as an audio book, which was actually a recording of a conference that Willard and Ortberg did together, Willard's final conference before his death. I found myself listening to it again and again. I also read the book that was based upon the conference. All told, I have probably consumed this book 10 or 12 times and I fail to tire of it. The sweetness of Jesus is so evident in Willard's words and demeanor one would be hard pressed to dislike this book.
1)
The Wingfeather Saga (Andrew Peterson). Technically, The Wingfeather Saga consists of four books:
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness,
North or be Eaten,
The Monster in the Hollows, and
The Warden and the Wolf King, but this quadrilogy (I may have just coined a new term, though I doubt it) traces a singular story line. In this series of books, Peterson traces the story of the Igiby children, Janner, Tink, and Leeli as they come to discover who they are together with their mother Nia, grandfather Podo Helmer, and friend Oskar N Reteep (a man to whom I bear an uncanny resemblance). This is a wonderfully engaging tale complete with dragons, whistleharps, and fangs. Though many would consider this a children's book, I wept at the end of the series. I am already finishing my second read through of the series in 2016 and anticipate that
The Wingfeather Saga will be a perennial favorite for me as I am undoubtedly a bit of a groupie already.
Here are my past lists:
2015
1)
Love Does by Bob Goff
2)
The Allure of Gentleness by Dallas Willard
3)
The Pastor by Eugene Peterson
4)
A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser
5)
A Loving Life by Paul Miller
6)
Relational Soul by Rich Plass and Jim Cofield
7)
Reversed Thunder by Eugene Peterson
8)
Prodigal Church by Jared Wilson
9)
The Solitary Tales by Travis Thrasher
10)
hand in Hand: The beauty of God's sovereignty and meaningful human choice by Randy Alcorn
2014
1)
Extravagant Grace by Barbara Duguid
2)
Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them by John Ortberg
3)
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi
4)
The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ by Ray Ortlund Jr.
5)
Joy for the World by Greg Forster
6)
Why Sin Matters by Mark McMinn
7)
What's Best Next? by Matt Perman
8)
Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli
9)
Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
10)
Jesus Continued... by JD Greear
2013*
1)
One Way Love by Tullian Tchvidjian
2)
Grace in Addiction by John Z
3)
Becoming a True Spiritual Community by Larry Crabb
4)
Tale of the Toboggans by Christian Schmidt
5)
Prodigal God by Tim Keller
*I only listed 5 in 2013 for some reason.
2012**
1)
Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson
2)
The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Jerry Bridges
3)
Not the Way Its Supposed to Be by Cornelius Plantinga
4)
Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey
5)
Think Christianly by Jonathan Morrow
6)
Gospel Wakenfulness by Jared Wilson
7)
Gospel Deeps by Jared Wilson
8)
The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
9)
Shame Interrupted by Ed Welch
**Nine? Why nine? What a weird number.
2011***
1)
Commentary on Galatians by Martin Luther
2)
Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints by John Piper and Justin Taylor
3)
Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson
4)
How People Change by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp
5)
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
***Apparently in 2011, I didn't actually put out a list. Why? I am not sure. However, I went back through my list and here are some I would have recommended from that year. Luther on Galatians is an absolute must read for Christians, in my opinion.
2010
1)
Chosen by God by RC Sproul
2)
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
3)
Ashamed of the Gospel by John McArthur
4)
Surprised by Grace by Tullian Tchvidjian
5)
Confessions by St Augustine
6)
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
7)
Spectacular Sins by John Piper
8)
If God is Good by Randy Alcorn
9)
Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl by ND Wilson
10)
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham
