I always enjoy reading end-of-year book lists. As in past years, I’ve broken my list up into two categories, “Christian Theology and Ministry” and “Other,” with ten books in each, ranked in descending order.
These books left an imprint on me, causing me to think, feel, laugh, and hope while I read them and after completing them. Good books are like good friends; they challenge and shape us, making us better people. I share this list, hoping that they do the same for you.
Christian Theology and Ministry Books
(10) Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age, Rosaria Butterfield.
In this book, Butterfield provides a diagnostic of our current times and shows how some foundational frameworks are false and anti-Christian. Most of this relates to the sexual revolution and the LGBTQ+ agenda. When thinking through the difficult issues of our day, readers will be helped by engaging this book and prayerfully considering how to honor the Lord and love their neighbors.
(9) How to Read a Book: Advice for Christian Readers, Andrew Naselli.
Presenting the tension between (seemingly) unlimited books and limited time, the author attempts to help Christians think about reading in light of Christ’s Lordship and provide some tools to steward their time to read more effectively. The book offers many practical tips from Naselli’s life, including what counts as reading a book, when to put the book down, and how to read well. If you want to start reading or develop a deeper joy when reading, I think this book will serve you well.
(8) Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation, Collin Hansen.
Like many other Christians, Tim Keller significantly impacted my life. Whether through sermons, books, or talks at the TGC conferences, I’m grateful for Keller’s influence. But I didn’t really know where he came from. Apart from what personal information I might glean from a book or sermon, I really didn’t know much about him. Collin Hansen chronicles Keller’s early life and influences, education, key relationships, and conversion. I enjoyed how Collin highlighted Tim’s special bond with his wife, Kathy. These stories were so encouraging to read. Reflecting on his life and ministry, I’m reminded of the line from the poem by Charles Studd, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Reading of Keller’s life reminds me again of this truth. And as it does, it compels me to do something that will last.
(7) C. S. Lewis — A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet, Alister McGrath.
I picked up a copy of McGrath’s biography of Lewis at my local library because I was not quite ready for the commitment a purchase might bring. I couldn’t put the book down. I found Lewis to be intriguing and instructive. McGrath helped me to understand his persistent wrestling and how God brought him over from atheism to theism and finally to Christianity. Along these lines, the author helped provide the historical context of Lewis’s relationships (with family, friends, faculty, and fans) and the historical setting he found himself in (early 20th Century in Ireland & England). As I read, I felt I got to know Lewis a bit, even if I was beginning to understand him. I’m convinced his voice is one I need to hear. His blend of apologetics and fiction writing gives me an on-ramp to enjoying and learning from him. I only wish I would’ve started sooner.
(6) To the Judicious and Impartial Reader: Baptist Symbolics Volume 2: A Contextual-Historical Exposition of the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith, James Renihan.
What a great title! This new book contributes to an older history of Baptist theological study. Weighing in at a hefty 688 pages, this exposition of the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith is worth its weight in gold. When one takes up the study of older, dense theological works, there are many cultural, historical, and theological hurdles to overcome. James Renihan, a leading voice on 17th-century Baptist theology, has distinguished himself as a trustworthy guide to navigate these challenges. Along with his love for Baptist history and doctrinal precision, I’m grateful for his pastoral heart. If you want to understand the 2LCF better, I highly recommend this resource. (Hard copy Kindle)
(5) Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life: Doctrine and Life as Fuel and Fire, Jason Meyer.
Jason Meyer provides a short biography of the well-known Dr and then takes readers on an in-depth tour of Lloyd-Jones teaching. The treasure here is the thoroughness of the citations and thoughtfulness of the interactions. If you want to be discipled by Lloyd-Jones, get this book. If you’re looking for help arranging lessons for classes at your church, ideas for sermon series, or want to grow, pick up this book. You’ll be encouraged.
(4) The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart, Harold L. Senkbeil.
Reading Senkbeil felt a little bit like reading Wendell Berry. Combining pastoral ministry with the writing cadence and flavor of Berry is a delight. Senkbeil, a veteran pastor, helps readers understand the minister’s noble work. He focuses on establishing the rhythm or habit of the Word and Prayer. He writes with many antidotes to flesh out his instruction. Drawing upon decades of ministry, his stories combine the teaching with natural texture. Also, he comes from a Lutheran background, which is slightly different from my own. This nuance helped some of his points to land a bit differently. He surprises me and instructs me in the work. I don’t see how a pastor would not be helped by reading this book.
(3) The Weight of Glory, C. S. Lewis.
This year, a friend challenged me to read Lewis and stick with it. Per his advice, I started with The Weight of Glory. The book is a collection of 9 sermons delivered during World War Two. Right away, I was intrigued. Lewis was developing a defense for the Christian faith by deploying word pictures and a precision of logic that drew me in. I was hooked when I got to the chapter on Pacificism. I found Lewis thoughtful, careful, fair, and inviting while rigorously maintaining his position. He invited the pacifist in to evaluate the basis of their reasoning. Pastors today could benefit from his triad of facts, intuition, and proofs.
(2) Conversion, Michael Lawrence.
This book is a concise, clear, and faithful explanation of an important doctrine. Often assumed, sometimes neglected, the doctrine of conversion is vital for the church. After all, if we’re fuzzy on how someone is saved, how can we help others to know and grow in Jesus? Lawrence is detailed but also accessible. This is an ideal book to read with someone investigating Christianity, new to the faith, or someone who has been walking with Christ for years.
(1) Rejoice and Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord (Union), Michael Reeves.
You don’t have to be in a church to hear the phrase “the fear of God.” But while the expression is frequently tossed around, it’s far less often understood–or appreciated. Enter Michael Reeves. He provides a biblical pathway to explore this vital concept. In addition to learning about the fear of God, I was instructed by Reeves about this topic’s apologetic value. With one foot in the church and the other in the world around us, Reeves explains and applies this regrettably overlooked subject with clarity and accessibility. If you want to learn more about the fear of the Lord, then you should pick up this helpful resource from Michael Reeves. I’m happy to give this book my #1 vote for Christian Books I enjoyed this year.
Other Books
(10) Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl.
One of the blessings of reading is the opportunity to travel to different times and enter into the experiences of others. Viktor Frankl takes his readers to a most unpleasant place–a Nazi concentration camp. But in bringing us there, we enter into his experiences and, more importantly, his psyche when dealing with the horrors of the Holocaust. Through his narrative, he shows that if someone has the proper why, they can endure any what. Finding a purpose in such great suffering is inspiring and encouraging. This was a helpful, sobering, and important read for me.
(9) The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, Bessel van der Kolk.
In this book, a New York Times bestseller, the author, a world-renowned expert on trauma, explores the effect of trauma on the body and mind. Beginning with his treatment of Vietnam vets and continuing through dozens of different types of suffering, he catalogs the enduring psychological and physical effects. What’s interesting (surprising even) is his treatment for trauma. Instead of prescribing a pill right away, he incorporates a more holistic approach, including psychotherapy, somatic therapies, mindfulness, and then, if needed, medication. From a pastoral perspective, the book helped show me the far-reaching effects of sin (things we do and things that people do to us). When someone has endured traumatic events, they don’t simply “get over it” with time or some medicine. These events change us, and our body carries the scars. We carry the scars. The stories and examples might become overwhelming, and the worldview starting point differs from a Christian’s. However, the book is informative and, I believe, helpful, especially for those who provide counseling or care.
(8) Holly, Stephen King.
Sometimes, people outside of the church can make profound theological points. This is especially true with fiction writers. In a newer book, Stephen King shows his readers that people are surprisingly evil. And sometimes, people who appear to have it all together are brimming with astonishing anger, hatred, and selfishness. Holly is a mystery that brings its readers to face depravity, a thirst for justice, and the pain of death. In addition to what you might expect from a King novel, you will also encounter political and COVID-related themes. If you’re fine with these, the book does not disappoint. And his epilogue helps show his hand in writing the story (I don’t want to give anything away). Fascinating.
(7) Ordinary Grace, William Kent Krueger.
This is a mystery novel, set in 1950’s small-town Minnesota. The main character and narrator is Frank Drum, looking back in his old age to the events when he was 13. Reflecting on several tragic deaths in the summer (including his sister), he brings readers through the themes of forgiveness and grief. Readers are led to contemplate spirituality, purpose, and meaning through the lens of a powerful and gripping story. Frank’s father is a Methodist minister, providing attractive moral consistency and compassion–especially amid tragedy.
(6) The Hunter, Tana French.
A well-written detective mystery set in Ireland? I’m in. But, add to that a main character with an interesting story and strong moral code, and I’m excited. Cal Hooper is a recently retired Chicago cop who, after his divorce, moved to rural Ireland to get away and try something new. He meets and befriends a young girl with lots of grit and family trouble. French is a terrific writer who can inject suspense into mundane scenes. Another page-turning book that makes you think and feel, I plowed through this one in short order. (Note: The Hunter is the sequel to The Searcher, which is also an outstanding addition to this genre).
(5) The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, David Grann.
I was looking for an adventure on the high seas, and I got it. David Grann writes a captivating historical fiction narrative that brings us to the mid-18th Century. He takes us aboard a British ship dispatched to capture a treasure-filled Spanish ship. Things didn’t go precisely as planned. As the subtitle states, the book has shipwreck, mutiny, and murder. I couldn’t put the book down. The author comically reminds us in the introduction that he was not there to eye-witness the events. But, reading it, you really couldn’t tell. Grann is a terrific writer, bringing the reader through the cresting waves of history and making us feel as though our shoes are waterlogged. Pick this one up if you’re looking for a fun, informative, historical page-turner.
(4) Cahokia Jazz, Francis Spufford.
Imagine if a mild strain of smallpox had given the indigenous people in America immunity and, instead of being decimated, thrived. That’s the premise for the book set in the 1920’s. In a town near St. Louis, Spufford creates a place where the native people are the majority culture. But there’s more. The book opens with a murder that sets off simmering racial unrest. Spanning the course of a week, the lead character, Joe Barrow, investigates the murder and finds out a lot about the crime, his town, and himself. There are points when the author seems to get bogged down in some excessive detail, but I pushed through since he has created an alternate world (and new language) that depends upon intricate details. I think, in the end, persevering readers will be rewarded. He holds you until the last page.
(3) The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, Jonathan Haidt.
As a dad and pastor, I’m thankful for Haidt’s work. Through careful and extensive research, the author demonstrates the problem of increased anxiety experienced by younger people today. The twin sources involve the youth’s open access to the internet and social media and the over-parenting that has emerged during the same time. Ironically, one provides excessive oversight, and the other, far less. The diagnosis seems clear, if even a bit surprising at first. However, I was intrigued further by his suggestions for how to move forward. Most of these are common sense, but it seems easier to turn the Queen Mary around in a closet than to reshape how parents and youth interact with their screens. But, with books like this, at least the conversation is happening.
(2) The Demon of Unrest, Erik Larson.
The events surrounding Lincoln’s presidency seem like an evergreen subject. I am never tired of reading about it and always learning something new. In Erik Larson’s latest book, he considers the events leading up to the Civil War. Beginning at the time of Lincoln’s surprising election and subsequent secession of several states, Larson zeroes in on Fort Sumter. Like his other books, Larson focuses on individuals to tell the story of history in narrative form. With hindsight, readers can see how seemingly small decisions and errors can quickly compound and bring unexpected results. I learned a ton and couldn’t put it down.
(1) Act of Oblivion, Robert Harris.
Set in the aftermath of the English Civil War, Harris provides a gripping historical fiction. Following the execution of King Charles I, the monarchy issued the Act of Oblivion to hunt down and punish those who signed the king’s death warrant. The search spans across Europe and into New England. I couldn’t put the book down. The author maintained the suspenseful tension the story deserves while weaving interactions with history, justice, and the human condition. The characters in the story were real people who struggled with real issues–familiar to us all–such as fear, guilt, and the long-term effects of our choices. As you read, you’ll no doubt be affected by the consequences of war, revolution, and the sins of one’s past. This is my favorite fiction book of the year.
