The Gospel Coalition

Today, January 1, is the first day of the 10MillionWords project. Over the next 365 days I am going to read all of the non-fiction bestsellers that show up in the New York Times list. As I thought about this project I had to figure out whether I would read all of the books that were on the list in 2010 (including the ones that were on the list to begin the year) or only the books that were added to the list during that calendar year. In the end I brokered a compromise of sorts. I read in advance the books that were going to be on the list as 2009 turned into 2010. This was relatively easy since many of the books had sat there for weeks or months. Then, during 2010, I’d only need to read the new books as they were added.

My plan for today was to look at this week’s list, which is always posted on Fridays, and begin from there. Unfortunately, with today being a holiday, it seems that the Times is running a bit late. So I’ve had to adapt.

What I am going to do is provide a brief overview of the books that are on last week’s list, most of which I’ve already read and most of which will undoubtedly still be on the forthcoming list. Today I will provide a look at the first seven and tomorrow, when (hopefully) the current list is available, I’ll write about the remaining eight.

Going Rogue by Sarah Palin. Since its release 6 weeks ago, Sarah Palin’s memoir has stood atop the list. There is always a kind of ironic joy in seeing a book by a conservative like Palin on top of the list at a publication like the Times (which certainly does not tend towards conservatism). This memoir is well-written and makes for an interesting read. Those who love her will likely love her more for reading the book; those who despise her will likely despise her more. There are few surprises in its pages. In my assessment Palin remains an interesting Presidential candidate but one who does little in this book to give confidence to those who feel she is underqualified for so lofty and important a position.

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom. The author of Tuesdays with Morrie returns with a second bestseller. In this one Albom spends time with a Jewish Rabbi and a Protestant minister and draws from each of them lessons about life and faith. As I wrote in an earlier review, “It is a defense of the kind of faith that is so popular today–a type of religious belief that de-emphasizes distinctives and plays up the importance of unity. It is a book about religion, about faith in general, more than it is a book about the Christian faith. Unfortunately but undoubtedly, it is a book that could easily comfort a person in a faith that excludes Jesus Christ. And in that way it is a book that misrepresents the Bible, for the Scriptures will not allow for such a faith. The Bible demands exclusivity, it demands that we understand that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.”

Arguing with Idiots by Glenn Beck. As with Palin’s book, Arguing with Idiots is one that is likely to appeal to fans and be hated by the dissenters. In his usual loud-mouthed way, Beck takes issue with small minds and big government. In my review I said, “Beck does a very good job of taking a wrecking ball to countless idiotic objections to common sense solutions. From beginning to end he relies on his trademark sarcastic humor and offers plenty of moments when the reader will laugh or roll his eyes or, more likely, both.”

Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson. Stones into Schools is Mortenson’s sequel to Three Cups of Tea, a book that has spent over a year on the list of bestsellers. He picks up where the previous book left off, describing how he has continued to build schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Easily the equal of the first book, Stones into Schools is an excellent and enjoyable read.

Open by Andre Agassi. Agassi’s memoir describes a life dedicated to a sport he hates. Tracing life from his childhood as a tennis prodigy to his life after leaving the game, Agassi opens up his life. Excellently written, Open could almost be the story of any of these sports stars whose lives are given over to fulfilling the dreams of their parents.

Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. The duo behind the mega-selling surprise hit Freakonomics return with the unimaginatively-titled sequel. But it is just as good as the original, drawing together all kinds of seemingly-unrelated facts into fascinating comparisons and conclusions. Those who liked the first book are going to like the second just as much.

True Compass by Edward Kennedy. Published just weeks after his death, Kennedy’s long-awaited memoir is rather a disappointment. Kennedy seemed to feel the need to place himself at the center of almost every pivotal event in modern American history. As I wrote in my review, “So what we have in True Compass is a sanitized version of his life, a Pollyanna life, a life as Kennedy would like it to be remembered. It is a life scrubbed of his own blame, his own sin. He portrays himself as a person who rarely, if ever, worked out of self-interest but rather as a great patriot who constantly sought always and only the best for his nation; he portrays himself as a great humanitarian who, even in his struggle against cancer, was less concerned with winning the battle for his own sake than he was with winning a battle that might lend hope to others. And he portrays his family–his parents and siblings and children and grandchildren–as patriots and humanitarians as motivated as himself for the good of others.”

And that takes us from book one to book seven. As I said, I’ll check in tomorrow with the conclusion of this list.