I enjoy books. I like bookstores — new bookstores, old bookstores, used book stores, and digital (online) bookstores. I spend a significant amount of time and money in bookstores each year. And I read, too (though not as much as I’d like, typically).
Several years ago, I began keeping track of what I read each year, and which books I particularly benefited from or enjoyed. Here are the books that were particularly beneficial last year:
Theological books:
- Several years ago Banner of Truth asked many of their writers to write about the books that influenced them; You Must Read was the result. It stimulated me to read both Banner’s authors, and some of the referenced works.
- Redemption: Accomplished and Applied by John Murray is a classic for a reason.
- Crossway is publishing a number of shorter works, making big theological truths accessible in more concise forms. This year I read and found Joe Rigney’s Courage helpful.
- No Shortcut to Success: a Manifesto for Modern Missions (Matt Rhodes) is an important and very helpful book on a biblical approach to missions.
Spiritual life books:
- I regularly read books of prayers and meditations by believers from long ago; this year I was especially helped by Tim Chester’s Into His Presence: Praying with the Puritans. Many nights it brought me comfort and peace.
- Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ Let Not Your Heart be Troubled is a short exposition of John 14, but helpful.
- And So to Bed (Adrian Reynolds) is one of the few books written on sleep from a biblical perspective; I found it very helpful and insightful.
- Randy Alcorn’s The Purity Principle is a clear and brief biblical discussion of sexual purity.
- Puritan works can be categorized under both theology and spiritual life; they provide biblical insight and knowledge while also addressing the heart. Some of particular benefit this year were George Swinnock’s The Incomparableness of God (a first foray into Swinnock, and I found him very readable and helpful), Thomas Watson’s The Duty of Self-Denial and Ten Other Sermons, and Jeremiah Burrough’s The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (a repeat read from several years ago).
Historical and biographical books:
- The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel is a fascinating new biography of the inventor of the diesel engine. It was in my top-five reads of the year.
- Raye Jeanne and I enjoy going to presidential museums and libraries; by extension, I also enjoy reading about our presidents. Two of my favorite books from this past year were Riding with Reagan (John Barletta) and Eisenhower: A Life (Paul Johnson).
- J. I. Packer’s story by Leland Ryken, An Evangelical Life was an enjoyable read.
- Under a Flaming Sky is a story about a raging fire in northern Minnesota at the end of the 19th century. It is well-written and researched by the excellent writer Daniel James Brown.
- Mike Sando and Dan Pompei combined to write The Football 100, ranking the top 100 football players of the NFL. Let the arguments begin.
- Every year gets some baseball reading. Some of my favorites from this year are Joe Posnanski’s Why We Love Baseball, The Tao of the Backup Catcher (Tim Brown and Erik Kratz), and two by Jonathan Eig, Opening Day and The Luckiest Man.
- David Grann has written several well-known historical works; I enjoyed The Wager this year.
Fiction (because periodically, I just like a good story):
- Every year needs a little Elmer Kelton. This year it was The Unlikely Lawman and The Cowboy Way (short stories).
- I also enjoyed a couple of Agatha Christie mysteries: The Mystery of the Blue Train and The Hollow.
- Goodby Mr. Chips is a short and sweet classic.
- Everyone talks about this book; this year I finally read The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
So that’s the “best of” list. I read more books than these listed, but these are among the best of what I read. Maybe you will find something you also like and are helped by from this list.
Words of Grace 