I’m a book collector. I’m not a vintage book collector. I don’t collect first editions. There aren’t many valuable books (as most people value them) in my collection. But I do like gathering books, purchasing books, and accumulating books. I like hard backs, paperbacks, and digital books (Kindle, PDF, and audio). I collect books because books are tools for me; they are sources of information for studying Scripture and theology. They are tools for sharpening my ministry skills and for shaping my soul. And they are gifts of grace to enjoy some of God’s good gifts and wisdom for us (history, biography, sports, and even novels).
I collect more books than I can possibly read in a year. But I do also read books — quite a few books, actually. Here are some of the books I found most profitable and enjoyable in the past year:
Theological books:
- Last year I noted that I read everything I can that is written by Michael Reeves. In 2023 that was Right with God. It’s short, but it’s a helpful and articulate consideration of justification. And I have already purchased one of my next Reeves reads.
- In Redeeming Memory Matt Rehrer reveals biblical principles for dealing with issues from our past (the things that we remember that are hard) and how God provides liberty from those sorrows and trials. Listen to his interview about the book on ACBC’s “Truth in Love.”
- Crossway is publishing a number of shorter works, making big theological truths accessible in more concise forms. Sinclair Ferguson’s book, Worthy, was particularly helpful.
Spiritual life books:
- Grief is not a topic most of us gravitate towards, but the Puritan John Flavel continues to serve us well with his work Facing Grief.
- Around the Wicket Gate is a short evangelistic book by Charles Spurgeon. It is an encouraging for believers to consider their salvation as well.
- I am always slowly working through at least one book that I read when awakened in the middle of the night; if I am anxious, I use the book to stimulare rest by focusing my attention on the Lord and not my problem; if I am simply “awake,” I use it to give me delight in the Lord so that even if I don’t go back to sleep I am meditating on good (and godly) truths. This year, that book was Robert Elmer’s Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans. My heart was regularly encouraged as I prayed with these men who prayed godly desires.
- I also read a book devotionally each morning with my Bible reading. One of those books this year was Charles Spurgeon’s The Chequebook of the Bank of Faith. Each day has a brief meditation on one verse of Scripture and those writings are encouraging and memorable.
- Stuart Scott’s Wayward Children is hopeful not only because of the biblical truth it contains about children who are not in Christ, but it encourages parents by helping them deal with their own heart struggles about their wayward children through 31-daily devotionals.
- You Lift Me Up is written by a pastor to pastors. Albert Martin wisely and helpfully encourages pastors about avoiding pitfalls that can derail their spiritual lives and ministry.
Historical and biographical books:
- I have started and put down (without finishing) other works of Nathanel Philbrick, but I loved In the Heart of the Sea. It is the true story of the whaling ship Essex, which inspired the classic story, Moby Dick. Parts of the book are difficult to read because of the suffering and degradation of sailors stranded at sea, but it is a compelling read.
- Working by Charles Caro is a short work about his relationships with the men he profiled in his lengthy biographies, including insights about President Lydon B. Johnson.
- My daughter kept telling me about Rembrandt is in the Wind. Then my wife read it and she kept telling me that I needed to read it. So I did. It was excellent. It will help if you enjoy art, but even if not, you will be encouraged by the accounts of important works of art and God’s use of common grace (art and artists) to stimulate faith.
- My wife and I visited three presidential museums this year. So I’m revealing my nerdy side — but I also loved reading Peggy Noonan’s account of President Ronald Reagan in When Character was King. Her insight as his former speech writer is particularly helpful in recounting his the story of his life and character.
- I usually read one or more baseball books each year; by far the best this year was Joe Posnanski’s The Baseball 100 — his countdown of the 100 most important and influential baseball players. You won’t agree with all his rankings, but you will enjoy the brief stories of those (mostly) well-known players.
Fiction (because periodically, I just like a good story):
- Betty Smith wrote the classic A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Lesser known, but just as good (and delightful) is her story, Joy in the Morning. I kept waiting for the bad ending or a hard turn in the tale. It never came. It was just a refreshingly happy story.
- I read the first Harry Potter book when I first came out; I re-read that same book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, this year and found it engaging and entertaining.
- Another classic is Fred Gipson’s Old Yeller. It’s not just a children’s book. It’s good reading and a classic for a reason.
- Speaking of classics, if you haven’t read The Swiss Family Robinson, it’s worth the effort to read an older English. (And it’s better than the movie, though the old Disney movie is entertaining.)
So that’s the “best of” list. I read more books than these listed, but this the best of what I read. Maybe you will find something you also like and are helped by from this list.
Words of Grace 