Well, summer is officially over. I finished up teacher orientation last week, so school is basically back in session. As you can see, I still managed to do a good bit of reading, making a bit of progress on Tim Challies Reading Challenge. That will slow down considerably this month, and probably for the fall as a whole. As I’ve though about it, I’ll probably need to write a post or two about the different approaches to reading I take in different seasons of life. I don’t want to spoil that here though. Also, if you missed it, check out my theological add-on to Challies Challenge.
Here’s what I read in July, that I won’t write on elsewhere:
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- This was alright
- The Circle by Dave Eggers
- Really enjoyed this, might write on it, and am looking forward to the movie this fall
- Which Trinity? Whose Monotheism? Philosophical and Systematic Theologians on the Metaphysics of Trinitarian Theology by Thomas S. McCall
- I’m actually gonna post some stuff from this, just not an actual review. Stay tuned.
- Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer
- This was a great story and interesting look at how to improve your memory using memory palaces
- Every Good Thing: An Introduction to the Material World and the Common Good for Christians by David Jones
- Every Waking Hour: An Introduction to Work and Vocation for Christians by Benjamin Quinn
- The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #1) by Rick Riordan
- The tone was oft putting here and there (the characters can sound like annoying teenagers, so maybe that’s a win?) but I’m looking forward to the next one this fall
- A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers
- Picked this up after reading The Circle, and enjoyed it enough to probably get the Tom Hanks movie in a few weeks
- How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking by Jordan Ellenberg
- This was almost too much math for me, but helpful in many places, especially with an election season coming up
- Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers by Nick Offerman
- I fudged a bit on this and counted it as a bio of a world leader, because Offerman (Ron Swanson) does offer several bios of world leaders. But, he gets very ideological in criticizing people who are ideological and he makes some idiosyncratic choices for his sample of Americans. He did make me want to start reading Wendell Berry so I guess Russell Moore would be proud
- The Road to Character by David Brooks
- Still processing this one since I just finished it, but it seems like an important book about character formation from a not strictly Christian perspective
And here’s what I’ll end up posting a review on sooner or later:
- Unashamed: Healing Our Brokenness and Finding Freedom from Shame by Heather Davis Nelson
- You can read my write up of this over at Christ and Pop Culture
- A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness by John Piper
- Delivered from the Elements of the World: Atonement, Justification, Mission by Peter J. Leithart
- Taking Pascal’s Wager: Faith, Evidence and the Abundant Life by Michael Rota
- Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk and True Flourishing by Andy Crouch
- God the Trinity: Biblical Portraits by Malcolm Yarnell
- Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power by Andy Crouch
- Reading for the Common Good: How Books Help Our Churches and Neighborhoods Flourish by Christopher C. Smith
- Theologians You Should Know: An Introduction: From the Apostolic Fathers to the 21st Century by Michael Reeves
- Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom by Peter J. Leithart
- Reading the Word of God in the Presence of God: A Handbook for Biblical Interpretation by Vern Poythress
- Hostile Environment: Understanding and Responding to Anti-Christian Bias by George Yancey
- The Lordship of Christ: Serving Our Savior All of the Time, in All of Life, with All of Our Heart by Vern Poythress
- God Has Spoken in His Son by Peter T. O’Brien
Lastly, if you’re keeping score at home, I’m up to 66 books in the lists below, but I’ve read 104 new books total this year.
Here’s the whole list, in case you’re curious (and even if you’re not):
THE LIGHT READER (9 BOOKS)
- ☒ A book about Christian living (Sanctified by Grace)
- ☐ A biography
- ☐ A classic novel
- ☒ A book someone tells you “changed my life” (You Are What You Love)
- ☒ A commentary on a book of the Bible (The Promise of His Appearing:)
- ☒ A book about theology (Theology as Discipleship)
- ☒ A book with the word “gospel” in the title or subtitle (The Gospel according to Heretics)
- ☐ A book your pastor recommends
- ☒ A book more than 100 years old (The Bruised Reed)
- ☒ A book for children (The Sword of Summer)
- ☐ A mystery or detective novel
- ☒ A book published in 2016 (From Topic to Thesis)
- ☒ A book about a current issue (Five Views on The Church and Politics)
THE AVID READER (10 BOOKS)
- ☐ A book written by a Puritan
- ☒ A book recommended by a family member (Batman: The Killing Joke)
- ☒ A book by or about a missionary (Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians)
- ☒ A novel that won the Pulitzer Prize (The Grapes of Wrath)
- ☒ A book written by an Anglican (Paul and The Trinity)
- ☒ A book with at least 400 pages (Reading The Word of God in The Presence of God)
- ☐ A book by C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien
- ☒ A book that has a fruit of the Spirit in the title (Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World)
- ☒ A book with a great cover (Of Orcas and Men)
- ☒ A book on the current New York Times list of bestsellers (But What If We’re Wrong)
- ☒ A book about church history (Theologians You Should Know)
- ☒ A graphic novel (Watchmen)
- ☐ A book of poetry
THE COMMITTED READER (14 BOOKS)
- ☒ A book from a theological viewpoint you disagree with (How I Changed My Mind About Evolution)
- ☒ A book written by an author with initials in their name (Discipleship in The Present Tense: Reflections on Faith and Culture)
- ☐ A book that won a ECPA Christian Book Award
- ☒ A book about worldview (The Experience of God)
- ☐ A play by William Shakespeare
- ☒ A humorous book (This is Awkward)
- ☒ A book based on a true story (Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game)
- ☐ A book written by Jane Austen
- ☐ A book by or about Martin Luther
- ☐ A book with 100 pages or less
- ☐ A book with a one-word title
- ☒ A book about money or finance (The God Ask)
- ☒ A novel set in a country that is not your own (A Hologram for a King)
- ☐ A book about music
- ☒ A memoir (The Pastor: A Memoir)
- ☒ A book about joy or happiness (Happiness)
- ☐ A book by a female author
- ☒ A book whose title comes from a Bible verse (Eat This Book)
- ☐ A book you have started but never finished
- ☒ A self-improvement book (Nudge)
- ☐ A book by David McCullough
- ☒ A book you own but have never read (The Work of Christ (Contours in Christian Theology))
- ☐ A book about abortion
- ☐ A book targeted at the other gender
- ☒ A book by a speaker at a conference you have attended (Living in The Light: Money, Sex, & Power)
- ☒ A book written by someone of a different ethnicity than you (Between The World and Me)
THE OBSESSED READER (33 BOOKS)
- ☒ A book published by The Banner of Truth (Silent Witnesses)
- ☐ A book about the Reformation
- ☒ A book written by a first-time author (Through Painted Deserts)
- ☒ A biography of a world leader (Gumption)
- ☒ A book used as a seminary textbook (The Birth of The Trinity)
- ☒ A book about food (Food: A Love Story)
- ☒ A book about productivity (Smarter, Faster, Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business)
- ☐ A book about relationships or friendship
- ☐ A book about parenting
- ☒ A book about philosophy (Philosophy in Seven Sentences)
- ☐ A book about art
- ☒ A book with magic (The Alchemist)
- ☒ A book about prayer (Calling on The Name of The Lord)
- ☒ A book about marriage (The Dude’s Guide to Marriage)
- ☒ A book about a hobby (Moonwalking with Einstein)
- ☐ A book of comics
- ☐ A book about the Second World War
- ☒ A book about sports (From Season to Season)
- ☒ A book by or about a pastor’s wife (Black and White Bible, Black and Blue Wife)
- ☐ A book about suffering
- ☒ A book by your favorite author (Theology and The Mirror of Scripture: A Mere Evangelical Account)
- ☒ A book you have read before (The Lost Continent, Neither Here nor There, A Walk in The Woods)
- ☒ A book about homosexuality (People To Be Loved: Why Homosexuality Is Not Just An Issue)
- ☐ A Christian novel
- ☒ A book about psychology (Wholeheartedness)
- ☒ A book about the natural world (On Animals Volume 1: Systematic Theology)
- ☐ A book by or about Charles Dickens
- ☒ A novel longer than 400 pages (East of Eden)
- ☒ A historical book (American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion)
- ☒ A book about the Bible (The Miracles of Jesus)
- ☒ A book about a country or city (California: A History)
- ☒ A book about astronomy (The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy)
- ☒ A book with an ugly cover (Life’s Too Short to Pretend You’re Not Religious)
- ☐ A book by or about a martyr
- ☐ A book by a woman conference speaker
- ☒ A book by or about the church fathers (Augustine on The Christian Life)
- ☐ A book about language
- ☐ A book by or about a Russian
- ☒ A book about leadership (Zeal Without Burnout)
- ☐ A book about public speaking
- ☐ A book by Francis Schaeffer
- ☒ A book by a Presbyterian (Hidden Agendas)
- ☒ A book about science (How to Be an Atheist)
- ☐ A book about revival (Habits of Grace)
- ☐ A book about writing
- ☐ A book about evangelism
- ☒ A book about ancient history (Defending Constantine)
- ☒ A book about preaching (Preaching the Whole Counsel of God)
- ☒ A book about the church (The Scandal of The Evangelical Mind)
- ☐ A book about adoption
- ☐ A photo essay book
- ☐ A book written in the twentieth century (Studies in Dogmatics The Work of Christ)