Here are the titles of the books I have read in the last decade (not to be confused with my podcast list, film list or series to watch and avoid list). My books are my mentors. They congregate all over the house and overflow into the garage. I read actively with a pen or pencil in hand to underline key thoughts or highlight on my Kindle. If I am really inspired I will summarize the contents of the chapter on the table of contents page (see photo below from 2020). Here is my list starting with the most recent year and working back in time. They are listed in the order in which I read them in that year. This does not count the 140+ books I’ve “read” (15 minute audio summaries) through Blinkist in the last two years.
2023
Old Man and the Sea (Hemingway). A one-sitting Hemingway novel of a man, his love and knowledge of the sea, and his most amazing catch.
St. Paul’s History A brief history of the Lutheran church (Missouri Synod) in which I grew up in Kingsville, Maryland. I discovered this while cleaning out my mother’s basement. It illustrates the power one congregation can have in a community over 150 years.
Liberation of One (Spasowski). This has been a prominent book on our dining room display shelf all 33 years of our marriage. I first read it when it was published in 1988 thanks to my then-roommate Rick Schneider. I read it again after learning of his passing from ALS. This is the autobiography of the highest ranking communist defector to the United States, Romuald Spasowski. This is an epic and true story of 20th century Poland and communism through the lens of one man who came to shed his devout communist upbringing. Along with Gulag Archipelago, a must-read for anyone who believes in the utopia of communism (HINT: when you’re taught to strive for utopia, expect the opposite).
10 Minutes & 38 Seconds (Elif Shafak). Fascinating fiction about the “undesirables” living in the margins of Istanbul. One of those books our daughters left laying around.
History Of Chorus of the Chesapeake. A 50-year summary of the barbershop chorus that shaped my dad’s life from the age of 17 until his death at the age of 64. My dad was referenced on every fourth page. I love and miss you Dad.
Gulag Archipelago, Vol 2 (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn). It took me five years to read volume one and five weeks to read volume two. As Time magazine states, “the best non-fiction of the 20th century.” It is sad to me that so few people of my generation, and certainly fewer of later generations even know about this work. It exposes humanity’s worst, systematic oppression. Tyranny in any form is to be opposed.
An Island Hell: A Soviet Prison in the Far North (S.A. Malsagoff). One of the first books about one of the first prison camps in the Soviet Gulag system. The author describes the systemic brutalization of those sent there. Malsagoff tells of his rare escape (the Soviets soon learned to move these camps away from Western borders).
Stalin: New Biography of a Dictator (Oleg Khlevniuk). A 2015 biography of one of the most oppressive leaders in human history. The author is a senior researcher of the state archive in Russia. He brings new insight into the despotic nature of the regime that lasted for decades.
A Gentleman in Moscow (Towles). My friend Chris said this is the best Towles’ book. A fascinating story set in post-revolution Russia about a man who manages to make the best of his great losses.
Faith Tech Redemptive Playbook. A booklet describing about how to think about using technology in a redemptive way before you get started.
The Power of One (Billy Wilson). This was a gift from the conference in the Netherlands, hosted by Empowered21. A clear and compelling call to have everyone be involved in reaching someone. Two thumbs way up.
Turkish Alevis Today (Shindeldecker). A short book that appeared in my office mailbox. These people are not far from the kingdom.
The Complete Prose Tales of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (Pushkin). Pushkin references kept coming up in my Soviet readings. I remembered we had this book on our shelves from my wife’s university days. Considered one of Russia’s great writers, this gave great insight into Pushkin’s style. The only problem is that a number of these short works were never completed. So it’s really the “Complete (Incomplete) Prose Tales.”
Generations 2 (Sargent). Kenny Sargent did a great job following up on his 2018 novel. The story follows the adventures of several young adults who find themselves in the midst of high-stakes political intrigue. Their faith keeps them pointed in the right direction.
The OC Cure (Santora, Butkus). A program to detect heart disease and prevent heart attacks.
Intermittent Fasting (Fellous). Even though it is for women, it is a great guide for healthy eating and living for all. Well written, practical, insightful and encouraging.
And Then the End Will Come (Cobb). An attempt to make the case that Christ will return between 2021 and 2033. The penultimate chapter is the most helpful because it describes what our attitude should be, even if we don’t know the time of Christ’s return. I respect Doug’s commitment to the Great Commission. I found myself putting a number of “?’s” next to some of his interpretations because they felt very speculative. In the end, he gets it right that we are to be diligent about how we live our lives. He reminded me that the Scriptures teach us to “look for his coming” even though we don’t know when that will be.
My God, My Rock (Nordman). A pleasant, detailed look at the lives of our friends Vance and Carol Nordman who served with Cru for decades.
The Loneliest Revolution: A Memoir of Solidarity and Struggle in Iran, (Ali Mirsepassi). A readable, first-person account of a young Iranian activist and his ideological formation leading up to the revolution of 1979. A front row seat to the winner-take-all competition between the autocratic Pahlavi regime, leftists and Islamists.
Guns, Germs, Steel (Jared Dimond). A Pulitzer prize-winning treatise from 1999 on geographic determinism. It offers a broad brushstroke of the continents and how people migrated and developed based upon the influence of geography on crop development, animal domestication and more.
Pebbles of Wisdom, Vol II (Sadhguru). When my New York flight out of Santa Ana was cancelled I met Suman as we shared a ride to LAX for a new flight. She asked about my faith awakening as a young man. She is beginning to investigate the teachings of the guru Sadhguru. She let me read this on the flight.
Inner Engineering (Sadhguru). I read this on the same flight. This is a modern apologetic for Hinduism. The first half offers some practical wisdom from a Hindu perspective (“if you master your life energies, 100% of your destiny will be in your hands”). The second half got more philosophical and niche as he talked about the mind’s 16 dimensions and his “kriya” that allows him to shape the outer world.
A Dream of a Woman, (Plett). Written by a trans woman, it is a collection of short fictional stories that describe, in sometimes too graphic detail, the painful journey people undertake to address their gender dysphoria. There is a fascinating story about how I was introduced to this book. Ask me about it when you see me.
But God: Why We Can’t Say It Enough (Morin). My good friend Bill was inspired to write this book during a fast we did together. It is a brief, devotional – style book that invites us to expect God to reveal himself.
Life of George Washington: Volume I (Washington Irving). This five volume series was the definitive Washington biography in 1863. Volume I traces George’s ancestry and early years. It covers the French and Indian war, and ends with his selection as commander-in-chief just before the battle of Bunker Hill. I loved reading a 160-year-old book, even with all of its overt platitudes.
Beginning of Infinity (Deutsch). An Oxford quantum physicist explains why we should be optimistic about the increasing breadth of knowledge and constant problem-solving of our species. He says faith and dogma are pessimistic and limiting. He makes a case for the multiverse and a scientific explanation for everything. He’s down on Dimond’s geographic determinism in Guns, Germs, Steel.
Frank C. Laubach: Man of Faith (Lawson). A short biography of the guy who inspired me to talk with Jesus like he is here because he is. He had a profound impact in the 20th century and is the only American missionary to have a US postage stamp commemorating his life. He was the founder of perhaps the most significant literacy program in history.
The Process (van der Steen). This was the other book, gifted to us at the Empowered 21 conference in the Netherlands. It’s filled with many solid exhortations to persist in faithfulness when we find ourselves in the midst of storms. I did not agree with the premise of the book that everyone receives a special promise from God, usually through prophecy that they must cling to, until it becomes true. I did have a prophecy which came true in my life (“the Lord will use you to reach millions through media”) but I didn’t cling to it as a God-guaranteed thing. I just kept following Jesus where he led, and as it turns out, the prophecy was true. There is a whole lot less stress when you just follow where Jesus leads.
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Magic Mountain (Mann). This is considered by some to be one of the greatest works of German literature from Germany from the 20th century. In a narrative fashion, Mann explores the dominant philosophies of pre-World War I, European thought. He offers fascinating insights into faith, time, illness and more. The story revolves around Hans Castorp, a young German man, trying to recuperate in a tuberculosis sanatorium.
Wrestling With the Violence of God (Carroll, Wilgus). A series of academic, evangelical articles addressing the violent texts of Scripture.
2022
Sergeant Larson’s Private War (Larson) A brief memoir written by the father of a friend of ours. Bruce Larson was a well-known pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle and author of 16 books. Before that however, he experienced the horror of World War II and came out a hero. But few people knew about it. A bronze star recipient by the age of 22, he went on to lead a life of tremendous influence. I can’t imagine volunteering for a surveillance operation shoulder to shoulder with another volunteer in a window sill when the other volunteer was shot through the head by a sniper.
The Epiphanies Project (Legere et al). This short book tells a dozen stories of how people encounter life-changing surprises through a variety of circumstances. My friend Barbara Legere is one of the contributing authors.
Keven’s Choice (Barbara Legere). My friend Barbara Legere tells the story of her son Keven’s tragic journey with Substance Use Disorder. Though a very personal story, it tells the story of tens of thousands of others who suffered and lost through the opioid epidemic in America. Eye-opening because there is a lot of brokenness within the systems created to help people like Keven (e.g. I never knew you could become addicted in the prison system).
Francis of Assisi: the Essential Writings In His Own Words (translation John Sweeney). A short book of the undisputed writings of St. Francis. I picked this up at a retreat center and used it devotionally.
A Prayer for Orion (Catherine James). The addiction story of the son of former full-time ministry colleagues of ours.
Goodbye Antoura (Karnig Panian). A painful but important book about the Armenian genocide that began in 1915. The first-hand account of one boy who suffered greatly and somehow survived Turkish attempts to Turkify him and a number of other young orphans.
Turkey Under Erdoğan: How a Country Turned from Democracy and the West (Dimitri Bechev). A detailed and compelling portrait of Turkey’s (Türkiye) twenty-year transition from a secular European orientation to an eastward Islamic one. It is the rise of an autocratic leader who reversed 80 years of Kemalism. A very important book for anyone interested in Turkish and Middle Eastern history. It is unique among books written about this transition because it’s written from a Balkan author.
The Lincoln Highway (Amor Towles). A coming of age story that is surprisingly compelling. My friend Chris told me that it was one of the best books of the year. With an amazing cast of characters and an interesting story device, you’re compelled to find out where the story ends. It did not end where I expected.
Practicing the Presence of Jesus (Armstrong). Another short devotional read. Former professional US golfer Wally Armstrong writes about his personal transformation through practicing the presence of Jesus.
The Master and Margarita (Victor Bulgakov). My friend Nate said this is one of the national favorites of Russian literature. This is the story that apparently inspired the Rolling Stones song, “Sympathy for the Devil.” A complex story of interchanges between the devil and a cast of characters in 1930’s Moscow. The devil essentially calls people to account for their misdeeds.
All Quiet on the Western Front (Eric Maria Remarque). The classic often considered the best war novel of all time. Follow the young German soldier Paul Bäumer as he and his friends lose their idealism in the face of the brutality of WWI trench warfare.
Cult Classics (Sloane Crossley). One of our daughter Elena’s books. A feminist narrative on how a cult personality attracts adherents.
Üç Silahşörler / 3 Musketeers (Alexander Dumas). I listened to this three hour, fifteen minute audiobook in Turkish on my round-trip flight to Istanbul. I would say I understood around 60% of it.
1984 (Orwell). After 10 months and 200 hours I completed the entire book (and appendix)…in Turkish! A massive undertaking given my Turkish level at the beginning. I looked up 4,790 definitions according the LingQ app I used. A stark portrayal of totalitarianism inspired by Stalinist Russia.
Emilie Taber’s Storyworth (Taber/Anthony). My sister Elaine created an account in the Storyworth app. We created a series of questions for my mother to answer. Once it was all finished, Storyworth printed copies in a book form. I learned a surprising number of things about my family heritage (e.g. my aunts were live-in nannies for wealthy Baltimore families in their late teens to help support the family).
Transforming Friendship (Leslie Weatherhead). This was the book that was transformational for the author Wally Armstrong (see above). A short book from 1931; this British minister writes about the simple practices of walking in faith with Jesus. Here I read one of my favorite sections on a three-word definition of faith.
AI 2041 (Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan). Fascinating if not alarming “scientific fiction” of 10 ways Artificial Intelligence could transform human existence by 2041. A must-read for anyone wondering how technology will radically alter our lives (and your kids and grandkids and so on).
Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion (McLaughlin): A 2019 apologetics book from a female author with a PhD in Renaissance literature. The author brings a fresh voice to the classic difficult questions people ask about Christianity.
The Silent Patient (Michaelides). One of my rare fictions. During the holidays I give myself some grace. A compelling psychological whodunit. Another case of a daughter leaving a book out that I end up reading.
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Interpretation of Dreams (Freud). I started to pay attention to my dreams. So I thought I would learn from the guy who really brought global attention to this unique aspect of our minds.
Complete Mystical Works of Meister Eckhart (tr. Walshe)
The Ungrateful Refugee (Nayeri). The authors story of her flight with her mother and brother from Iran because of her mother’s faith in Christ. The author reveals the pain and hardship associated with leaving everything and trying to start anew. Nayeri intersperses other stories of people who were forced to leave their country. We recently watched the movie “The Swimmer” which also reveals the pain of fleeing.
2021
Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky) A classic. Complex, compelling. Considering one of the great novels of all time. Deals with sin, consequences and surprising grace.
Transformed by Love: The Vernon Grounds Story (Shelley) 2/27, Inspirational bio of seminary president who mentors me from beyond the grave. Here are 10 things I learned from Vernon’s life.
The Emotionally Destructive Marriage (Vernick). There are three kinds of “D” marriages. Disappointing, difficult and destructive. When things become destructive, different rules apply and Leslie Fernick tells you what they are. Hint: Couples counseling doesn’t work until the offender gets help.
Pure (Kline). Both our daughters read this so I did as well. Kline argues that the evangelical purity culture of the 1990s in America became commercial and toxic. It felt outside the realm of our experience (our daughters did not feel like it was descriptive of their upbringing). It was painful to read how in some contexts purity was elevated above other values like grace, compassion and forgiveness.
Sacrament of the Present Moment (de Caussade). GAME.CHANGER.FOR.ME! The best book I have read other than Scripture on Spirit-filled living. Father Jean-Pierre de Caussade speaks relevantly from early 18th century France. In the introduction, Richard Foster says this is a companion volume to Brother Lawrence’s book Practicing the Presence of God. The major themes for me… This moment is sacred, God speaks constantly in the present, His Spirit speaks to our spirit revealed through intuition. Downside: nothing about resisting when evil is to be resisted. Here is my narration of a 104 second extract from chapter 4.
Language Acquisition (Krashen). I wish I would’ve read this 30 years ago before I started studying languages. It’s brief with several really important points. It’s readable until he gets into analyzing the research of others (this is where you fast-forward). He makes the case that one certain style of learning is better than the others. Unfortunately, formal education is based upon the least effective approaches.
After Doubt (Swoboda), 191 pages. A 2021 response to the deconstruction trend in North America. Swoboda is an evangelical Portland pastor-turned-professor. He writes broadly and biblically about dealing with doubts. We all deconstruct (or should) at certain levels. Downside: the title is misleading. Doubt never goes away, but it can be navigated in a healthy way.
Enemy at the Gates (Craig). Wow! The battle of Stalingrad in late 1942 is perhaps the most important battle in human history. It marked the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany as well as the rise of Stalinist Russia as a global military power. The human losses were staggering. There is a movie with Joseph Fiennes and Jude Law inspired by the book.
The Natives of Hemsö (August Strindberg). One of the most beloved novels in Sweden. A highly visual tale of life on the rugged coast of Sweden in the late 1800s. It’s a story about ambition, relationships and the struggle against nature. The wedding day chapter is one of my all-time favorite pieces of literature. Had me cackling out loud.
The TB12 Method (Brady) Inspired by Tom Brady’s seventh Super Bowl ring I bought the book that talks about how he stays fit. He gave me a new word for my fitness vocabulary… pliability. Muscles are less prone to injury when they are long, soft and pliable. It has changing the way I condition. I use more bands and I use a vibrating roller (really).
Letters from a Modern Mystic (Laubach). A huge shout out to Andrew Cardy who recommended this. Laubach was a missionary in the Philippines in the 1930s and 40s who a experienced a spiritual breakthrough through several simple practices. The Game With Minutes did not work for me, but talking out loud with Jesus and then letting him speak back has been revolutionary. I’ve invited at least 100 people in the last six weeks to “talk with Jesus like he is here… because he is.” It is a companion to The Practice of the Presence of God and The Sacrament of the Present Moment.
Pursuit to Appomattox (Time/Life). The Time/Life edition focused on the end of the Civil War.
Antietam (Time/Life). The Time/Life edition about the bloodiest day of the US Civil War. It was 100 years before my birth, September 17, 1862.
Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality Disorder (Mason, Kreger). The best-selling book on dealing with someone who has this complicated disorder.
2017 Audi Q5 Manual. Approaching the end of my sixth decade, we splurged and bought our first (and most likely only) luxury car. We buy our cars 3-4 years old and then drive them for 8-10 years. The only way you will know about 30-40 cool features engineered into your vehicle is by reading the manual.
The Cyprus Problem: What Everyone Needs to Know (Ker-Lindsay). A 140-page primer on the complex geopolitical issues that have left this beautiful island divided since 1974. I’ve been on both sides of the demilitarized zone. Our daughter had just applied to be a Fulbright Scholar in Cyprus so my interest was piqued.
The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships (Lerner). Okay, I read it because my wife read it. Forget that it’s a woman’s guide. This applies to you, guys. How we deal with our hidden or not-so hidden anger is huge. Lerner gives the secret sauce on how to manage your anger in difficult relationships.
Grant (Chernow). Matt, the same guy who got me to read Washington and Alexander Hamilton said I had to read this. This is an amazing read about a pivotal time in United States history about one of our most unlikely heroes (before the Civil War he was selling firewood on the street to feed his family). As a two-term president I didn’t know how much he was behind supporting freed slaves in the spirit of Lincoln.
Searching for Sunday (Rachel Held Evans). A brilliantly written journey of one woman’s crisis of faith and finding faith and the church again. While many people raised in an evangelical context jump off the train altogether, Rachel got back on the train but in a more progressive car. I think that’s much better than jumping off the train altogether.
The Mulligan (Blanchard, Armstrong). Very brief golf parable about walking with Jesus. And that’s Blanchard as in Ken Blanchard).
Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out (Jim Burns). The subtitle seems to say at all but it is still worth your time. I wish I would’ve read this six months earlier.
Sons of Conquerors (Hugh Pope, 2005). A revealing snapshot of the Turkic world circa 2005. Pope tells compelling stories and provides insights on why the six Turkic countries are the way they are.
Red Badge of Courage (Crane, 1895) I didn’t read this in high school, but I have the copy my dad read in high school. A classic, footsoldier view of war…in this case the American Civil War. Though Crane never fought, he interviewed veterans and somehow carries you through the wild range of emotion and experience of war.
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Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty (Acemoglu, Robinson). Fascinating insights on why nations like China won’t succeed in the long run.
2020
God’s Hostage: A True Story of Persecution, Imprisonment, and Perseverance (Brunson, Borlase) Andrew Brunson’s account of his 735 days as a political pawn in a Turkish prison. Brunson is surprisingly candid about the spiritual struggles he faced.
Fundraising Dinner (Mission Increase) THE manual for putting together a large-scale dinner for fund development.
The Bridge on the Drina (Ivo Andric) I first read this Nobel Prize winner 20 years ago and was haunted by some of the images. A vivid account of the Bosnian people from the late 16th century to the beginning of World War I under Ottoman rule.
Science and Human Origins (Gauger, Axe, Luskin) A Discovery Institute publication challenging evolutionary claims of common descent.
Telling the Old Testament Story (Brad Kelle) My daughter’s Old Testament introduction text that I decided to read. Very helpful in capturing the broad strokes of the narrative.
The Good Shepherd (CS Forester). My friend Chris said this was a compelling read about WWII sea warfare. I kept waiting for it to become compelling…still waiting. Sorry Chris. It does have interesting spiritual themes.
Show Them No Mercy (CS Cowles, Merrill, Gard, Longman) A re-read from 2015. I love the Four Views series. Four views of continuity between the testaments (radical discontinuity, moderate continuity, eschatological continuity, spiritual continuity).
Just Mercy (Bryan Stevenson). This is my suggested read for anyone trying wanting to understand the depth of emotion behind the Black Lives Matter movement. A compelling case by an Eastern University alum regarding the debilitating, historical narrative of the African-American. Stevenson sealed the deal for me when he described the four institutions that have been against the African-American…slavery, the terror (4000 males lynched over 80 years in 12 states), Jim Crow laws and mass incarceration. The movie by the same name is a half-substitute for the book. The documentary, “The 13th” features Stevenson prominently.
A Confession (Leo Tolstoy). A short book describing Tolstoy’s mid-life spiritual crisis and his journey to a mystical, Christ-oriented faith.
The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Leo Tolstoy). Written during Tolstoy’s spiritual crisis, it vividly portrays the vanities of life and inevitability of death. This is considered as one of his great works (though a fraction of the length of his novels).
12 Strong: The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers (Doug Stanton) The story of US Special Forces deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11 to fight the Taliban.
Man’s Search for Meaning (Victor Frankl) The classic from Nazi concentration camp survivor Frankl who observed why some managed to survive the unsurvivable. He highlights the need for a greater purpose to make sense out of life and its suffering.
The Purgatorio (Dante, translation by John Ciardi) The middle of the three books of the classic “Divine Comedy.” A fascinating look at the cost of sin (with the idea of purging it in purgatory).
Where the Crawdad Sings (Delia Owens) A #1 New York Times bestseller. A profoundly well-written story of a girl who must survive alone in the swamps of North Carolina in the 1960s. A compelling story that also reveals what happens if you only believe in natural selection.
Language of God (Francis Collins) This New York Times bestseller is both the faith awakening story of the head of the Human Genome Project and the case for theistic evolution. The faith deconstruction of Rhett and Link led me to try to understand how they moved from Cru staff to “hopeful agnostics.” This book was one of the titles mentioned by Rhett.
Did Adam and Eve Really Exist? (John Collins) A re-read from 2012. An Old Testament scholar makes his case for why we shouldn’t dismiss Adam and Eve as historical persons.
Doing Good Better (Steve Kaloper) Steve leads Development Services Group and has helped VSN navigate the world of COVID and funding our vision. A short, helpful read.
Dune (Frank Herbert) I’m not a big sci-fi-guy. My friend Chris said it is one of the most important sci-fi works written. I’m always up for moving outside my lines as long as it doesn’t compromise my convictions. Written in 1965, this shaped everything that came after it (including Star Wars). A bit long for me, thought I’m glad I’m familiar with this seminal work. BTW, Chris re-read it because of the upcoming Timothé Chalumet film.
The Beatles (Bob Spitz) The definitive Beatles biography. At 894 pages, not for the faint of heart. Tons of fascinating backstory to the band that changed music as much as any band. They were very much a part of the soundtrack of my life until I hit high school. It ends up being quite the morality tale. A meteoric rise and slow, cringy fall.
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The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians (NT Wright). An NT Wright reader. Awesome. But the heaviest non-coffee table book in my library coming in at 4.5 pounds (2.04 kilos).
Writing Without BS: Boost Your Career by Saying What You Mean (Josh Bernoff). Ok, he likes to use the unedited version of BS. Apart from overkill on that point, he nails lots of other points that have changed the way I write emails, blog posts, presentations, etc. It is amazing how much writing that is out there is just not clear. Too much BS. If you are offended by the title, take it up with Ted Nessler from Missio Nexus! He’s the one who recommended it to me.
The Epistle to the Romans (Karl Barth). This 1921 commentary on Romans “exploded like a bombshell” on post-enlightenment liberal protestant thinkers. I’ve heard over the years how important this work was in 20th Century protestant thought so I finally decided to give it go. Whew. Slow going. Still not sure I get his big ideas.
2019
Messy Grace (Caleb Kaltenbach) A compelling account of a pastor who was raised by two gay parents.
Alexander Hamilton (Ron Chernow) This was the book that inspired the Broadway musical. After I read the George Washington biography by Chernow, my friend Matt said I wasn’t finished until I read this one. I needed a three year rest between these 700 page heavies.
Creativity, Inc (Edward Catmull) A business-advice book filled with the insider stories of Pixar. Catmull is the Pixar cofounder you never heard of.
War Under the Pacific (Time Life) The story of submarines during the Pacific campaign World War II.
Furieux Désire (Fethi Benslamah) An Algerian-French psychologist analyzes the tendency of young Muslims to sacrifice themselves in the age of ISIS. Available only in French I believe.
Two Views on Homosexuality, the Bible and Church (Sprinkle, Loader, DeFranza, Hill, Holmes) A theological and pastoral look at the “traditional” and “affirming” views of homosexuality by authors who take the text of Scripture seriously.
Life Together (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) A classic, short read about how Christians are to live in community.
Gulag Archipelago, Vol 1 (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn). Volume I_took_me_ten_years! (I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to start Volume II). I finally finished it. One of the most important works of the 20th Century. A stark revelation about how totalitarianism worked in the Soviet Communist meat grinder.
A Testament to Bonhoeffer: The Essential Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Kelly, Nelson) I sampled a variety of his readings. He published two doctoral theses by the age of 24…and we still read them today. He was just getting started. Amazing insights only made stronger by his intentionality in living (and dying) them out.
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics (Daniel James Brown) The dramatic true story of a group of rowers from the University of Washington who amazed the world.
Ready Player One (Ernest Kline) Dave, a robotics professor-friend, said I had to read this in the age of invasive media. The movie worked much better for me.
Paris Architect (Charles Balfour) A gift from my new daughter-in-law who knew of my fascination with World War II history. It is a one thumb up story about an architect who outwits the Nazi occupiers of World War II Paris.
Paris Under the Occupation (Jean-Paul Sartre). The French philosopher gives his take on France’s experience under the Nazi occupation.
The Future of the Global Church (Patrick Johnstone) I have sent copies of this to a dozen friends. A must-have for the person serious about the historical mega trends in the global church. It is more reference book so you’ll take it in short doses. I’ll pick it up from time to time during my devotions. I got this at EMDC when Johnstone was a plenary speaker.
2018
Islam & Modernity (Fuzlar Rahman) A Muslim scholar describes the challenges of relating the Quran to the modern era.
Monk of Mohka (Dave Eggers) Everyone in our book group loved this one. The recent story of Yemeni-American who seeks to rekindle the Yemeni coffee trade in the midst of a civil war. Also a great primer on the history of coffee!
Guadalcanal Diary (Richard Tregaskis) Every year around memorial day I end up reading a number of works related to American war history. The author was a Harvard alum who was a war correspondent in on the first wave of the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Battle of Midway (Craig Symonds). I did not know anything about this pivotal naval battle in World War II. This was my introduction. War seems to be defined by foolishness, bravery, tragedy and the unexpected.
The Fall of Japan: The Final Weeks of World War II in the Pacific (William Craig) This well-documented book moves back and forth from the perspectives on either side towards the end of the war in the Pacific.
Aftermath of Japan’s Fall (Time Life) My father subscribed to all of the time life World War II volumes. They are a legacy that has been handed onto me. Only a three hour read with lots of photos.
Brave New World (Aldous Huxley) My daughter had to read it for high school English so I thought I would join her. The dystopian classic about technology and authoritarian rule.
Les Chatiments (Victor Hugo) We did a home exchange in France and revisited Victor’s house. This inspired me to read more of his work. I got this 1856 1st edition online for $30. It’s a series of protest poems he wrote in exile from the Island of Guernsey.
Les Miserable (Hugo), Only the first 150 pages, but still worth it.
Napoleon: Rise of an Empire (William Kennedy) I wanted to have more backstory on Napoleon after our stay in France.
Sharp Objects (Gillian Flynn) This was one of our book discussion group titles. Too dark for my taste.
Citizen Soldier: The U. S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany (Stephen Ambrose) This was a re-read. A profound, on-the-ground account of the U.S. foot soldiers in Western Europe.
Generations (Kenny Sargent) A strong first novel by VSNer Kenny Sargent. A story of intrigue set in Colorado with spiritual themes.
God & the Gay Christian (Albert Mohler) My first book on the topic of homosexuality trying to get a deeper understanding of the biblical, cultural and pastoral issues surrounding the topic.
2017
All the Light You Cannot See (Anthony Doerr). A compelling story set in World War II France.
House of Many Mansions (Kamal Salibi) A history of Lebanon from a Lebanese author. Insightful. I read it while our son was living in Beirut.
After the Prophet (Lesley Hazleton) A well-regarded account of the Shia-Sunni struggle for power after the death of Mohammed.
Life of Mohammed (Ibn Ishak, A. Guillaume). This is considered the best English translation of the earliest account (700’s) of Mohammed’s life. I read 300 pages in 2016 and the final 390 pages in 2017. This is a must for anyone interested in understanding Islam at more than a surface level.
Gilead (Marilynn Robinson) A Pulitzer Prize-winner for fiction that journeys through three generations of American men. Powerful.
Four Days: The Historical Record of the Death of President. Kennedy (UPI) The first book while rehabbing from hernia surgery. This coffee table book has been in my library for 20 years and I finally got around to reading it.
Five Days in November (Hill/McCubbin) Inspired by the book above, I found this highly rated story of the death of President Kennedy. It is written by the Secret Service agent who clung to the back of the limousine as it raced to the hospital. This is a very close-up telling of the story an insider.
Sketches of a Black Cat (Ron Miner) The personal account of one of seven American PBY seaplane pilots who did much more than sea rescues. Historical curiosity: One of the pilots in the squadron was the father of “Pistol Pete” Maravich.
The Final Storm (Jeff Shaara) A repeat performance…I read this in 2013. This historical fiction puts you on the ground during the horrific Battle of Okinawa.
Beyond the Band of Brothers (Dick Winters) The autobiographical account of the commanding officer of the HBO-famous Easy Company “Band of Brothers.” He landed behind enemy lines on D-Day and was in every campaign until the surrender of Nazi Germany.
Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth (Gabriel Weinberg) This provided the template for the marketing strategy we still use for Mission Media U.
2016
Skeletons in God’s Closet (Josh Butler). Book of the year for me! Maybe the best theology book for me in the last decade. Butler is a pastor at Imago Dei in Portland. He writes with depth, insight and as far as I can tell orthodoxy. Very CS Lewis-esque on the Mercy of Hell, the Surprise of Judgment and the Hope of Holy War.
With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa (Eugene Sledge). This is one of the books that informs the HBO series The Pacific. Sledge wrote the book 35 years after the war for his grandkids and had no idea he would write what is considered one of the best infantry accounts of war ever written.
Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific, A Marine Tells His Story (Robert Leckie). The other book that informed the HBO series The Pacific.
The Morning They Came For Us (Janine di Giovanni). This is the tragic telling of the unfolding Syrian civil war between 2011-2015.
ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror (Weiss, Hassan). Our daughter Elena read this after spending a month doing ministry in Lebanon (alongside our son Quinn). I try to read what my kids are reading as a touch point with them. This traces the genesis of ISIS through Zarqawi et al.
An Abridged Koran (Bill Warner). Our son Quinn encouraged me to read this. He is in his third year of living in the Middle East. I took a class on Islam nearly 30 years ago under J. Christy Wilson and read the Koran then. This was a very different reading experience because it arranges the Koran in chronological order and supplements with references from Mohammed’s biography and from the Hadith. it is a surprisingly quick read (5-6 hours). It allowed me to capture a sense of the story arc of the Koran and of the days of Mohammed that I did not get from reading the Koran.
Islam (A. Guillaume). A brief, well-respected introduction to Islam.
Secrets of the Koran (Don Richardson). Richardson, the author of Peace Child, provides a critical look at the “war verses” in the Quran.
A Moveable Feast (Hemingway). Another book left laying around by Elena. This short memoir of Hemingway’s experiences in France in the 1920s is considered one of his best works. It was a good thing Hemingway waited until F. Scott Fitzgerald was dead before publishing this portrayal of F. Scott (“with friends like that…”).
Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury). When I compare my required high school reading to that of my kids, I think my education was deficient. So I’ve been catching up on some classics like this. This dystopian novel is insightful on how media (television) can be detrimental. It was inspired by the show trials of Stalin. It has fascinating references to Scripture and powerful thoughts on memory.
Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness and Reconciliation (M. Volf). I got through Part I (page 190) before stalling out. It is considered a theological classic on dealing with conflict among groups of different identities.
Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes (Tamim Ansary). A readable overview of the Islamic centuries through a modern Muslim’s eyes.
Washington: A Life (Ron Chernow). Our Mobile Ministry Forum team met for several days in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania near Valley Forge in August. Visiting those fields and seeing his residence inspired me to learn more. This recent biography is considered one of the best ever. It somehow kept me engaged through all 800 pages. George is the man.
We Were Once Soldiers…and Young (Moore, Galloway). Rick Warren had all of the US military veterans come on stage during service at Saddleback Church the day before Veterans Day. There were a number of veterans from the Vietnam War so I was inspired to reread the book Vietnam (Karnow). That led to reading this book that inspired the Mel Gibson film “We Were Soldiers.” This is the stunning true story of the first part of the battle of the Ia Drang Valley in 1965 in Vietnam. It was the first major confrontation between US and Vietnamese forces and defined the way the US would eventually fight (and lose) the war.
Life of Mohammed (Ibn Ishak, A. Guillaume). This is considered the best English translation of the earliest account (700’s) of Mohammed’s life. So far I’m 300 pages in. if you are into origin stories like me, this is a must for anyone interested in Islam.
Keto Clarity (Jimmy Moore). In November, a friend used a word I did not know. When a guest used the same word in December I figured I had to learn more. “Ketosis” is the metabolic state in which fat provides most of the fuel for the body. Since I’m always curious to learn more about how the body functions I read this book and followed this nutrition plan for a month. Fascinating. If you have any issues with weight control, I recommend this. I’m no longer following the diet since I have the problem of maintaining weight.
Vietnam (Stanley Karnow). I started reading this classic on the history of the US involvement in Vietnam war. I got sidetracked and read “We Were Once Soldiers” (see above) and then came back to finish this.
2015
Che (Anderson). A stunning biography on the controversial figure. This was the second time I’ve read this one.
Beirut to Jerusalem. Anyone interested in the Middle East has to read this. I was motivated because our son Quinn moved to Beirut for several years.
American Sniper. I liked the movie, but did not care for the book. I was disturbed by the number of times he used the word “savages” to describe the Iraqis he killed. It reminded me of how the Hutu’s used the term “cockroaches” against the Tutsis in Rwanda.
Story Wars (Sachs). Great read on your brand as story. Especially helpful insights on your brand as mentor and the client as the hero.
1775, West Cambridge. I lived in Boston in the mid 80’s. This is an old book I picked up then about the battle of Lexington and Concord.
The Generosity Bet (High). Readable stories about people who took risks of generosity.
The Glass Castle. Our daughter Sage’s favorite book. A woman tells her story of growing up with parents who eventually choose homelessness (and stayed together to the end).
Show Them No Mercy: Four Views of God and Canaanite Genocide (Gundry). I love the Four Views series. Four views of continuity between the testaments (radical discontinuity, moderate continuity, eschatological continuity, spiritual continuity).
He Inclined His Ear Unto Me. Steve Keel’s autobiography self-published by his family after his death. Steve lived a beautiful life of faith.
Middlesex (Eugenides). Curiosity got the best of me when our daughter Elena was reading it. A fascinating fiction about a hermophrodite. Eugenides writes one book per decade and they become best-sellers.
The Book of Leviticus (Wenham) The NICOT commentary on Leviticus. I’ve been in the Pentateuch for 10 months and keep scratching more deeply. Readable commentary, not too technical.
Contagious Disciple Making (Watson & Watson). I got this for free at EMDC this year. A compelling guide on how to launch disciple-making movements.
Difference (Jiwa). A business monograph about the “difference map” to help differentiate your product idea.
Storiented Bible (Paauw). Chapter 4 of a not-yet-published book. Paauw is the genius behind the Community Bible Experience developed at Biblica. I love how he challenges me to read the Scripture in larger chunks to better understand the overall story arc.
Keep in Step with the Spirit (Packer). I pseudo-read this 20 years ago. This is JI Packer’s take on how to understand the role of the Spirit in our lives. Useful, but a bit dry. This is my 2015 theme.
Soviet Juggernaut A Time-Life book about the rise of the Red Army in 1944-45. My dad subcribed to this series and I have at least 40 pounds of these coffee table style books.
2014
Ready, Set, Go. A fitness guidebook.
The Fault in Out Stars (Green). Very good book and movie! YA lit (young-adult literature) that I recommend for adults. Especially parents of teenage girls because there is a good chance your daughter already read it.
With the Beatles. Bob Whitaker photos in coffee table book format.
Robert Capa. Great coffee table book.
iGods: How Technology Shapes Our Spiritual and Social Lives (Detweiler). Thought provoking read with a needed call to unplug regularly.
Hitler’s Willing Executioners. This took me two months to read. It changed two generations of scholarly thought about the willingness of the average German to support Hitler’s extermination policy of the Jewish people.
The Prophets (Heschel). Brilliant insight on the prophets from a Jewish professor.
Night (Wiesel). The tragic classic.
Odd Apocalypse (Koontz). I’d seen this author many times in airport bookstores. I finally read one. That was plenty for me.
Spider & Starfish. Eric Celerier talks about this whenever he speaks. Is your organization too centralized?
The Chief (Nasaw). Biography of William Randolph Hearst. Meaty. Fascinating character who saw his newspapers as world changers, not just reporting outlets.
The Non-Profit Narrative (Portnoy). Short, helpful read for non-profit leaders.
Pulse (Carmen). Young adult fantasy. I wanted to read one of the books our youngest daughter was reading by this author.
The Lost Hero (Riordan). A Percy Jackson book. Same as Pulse. I wanted to read one of the authors that Sage was reading.
Transformed: A New Way of Being Christian (Kalinowski). A very practical book about a Jesus-centered life. More about being than doing.
East of Eden (Steinbeck). Wow! Classic. Timshel. Amazing characters. Got to love Lee.
Book Thief. My daughter Sage’s other favorite book.
2013
(I ran out of steam here providing an explanation).
Before We Kill and Eat You.
Mission San Luis Ray.
The Monkey and the Fish (Gibbons)
What On Earth Am I Here For? (Warren).
In Cold Blood (Capote).
Final Storm (Shaara). Okinawa campaign
WWII: Island Fighting (Time/Life).
Brains on Fire.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Capote).
A Christmas Memory (Capote).
Catcher in the Rye.
Tropic of Cancer (Miller). This book was banned in the US back in the day. I read it because a new friend said it was the book that most gave meaning to his life.
The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris (McCollough).
Divergent.
Insurgent.
A Chain of Thunder (Shaara). Vicksburg campaign
Steve Jobs (Isaacson).
2012
Hunger Games. Catching Fire. Mocking Jay.
Killing Lincoln.
Honeymoon in Tehran.
The Lion, the Professor, and the Movies (Joseph).
The Steel Wave (Shaara).
Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?
12th Imam, Tehran Initiative (Rosenburg).
2011
A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
For Your Freedom and Ours.
Gone For Soldiers (Shaara). Mexican American war.
Malibu Miracle. Story about building Pepperdine’s Malibu campus.
Day of War. David’s Fighting Men.
2010
They Must be Stopped.
The Looming Tower.
Branding Faith (Cooke).
On Beyond Leatherback: Cass Mountain.
Great Gatsby.
What French Women Know.
Parveen.
The Terminal Man (Crighton).
The Innocent Man (Grisham).
Four Blind Mice (Patterson)
Infidel.
Gods and Legion (Curtis Ford)
Across the Rhine (Time-Life)
Germany (Time-Life)
Red Army Resurgent (Time-Life)
Gulag Archipelago.
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