Awhile back I noticed on Doug Wilson’s blog that he keeps a book log of the books he’s read and makes a very brief comment on each one. I liked the concept so much that I’ve decided to copy it. The point of this log is not 1) to get you to read all these books, nor 2) to make you think I read a lot of books. Some months I read a lot, some months not as much. And even with the books I read, I don’t read them all the same way. Most I read carefully, but some I skim through more quickly. I believe strongly that growing Christians will be reading books, but there is no necessary correlation between the number of books one reads and how much that person is growing in Christlikeness.
The reasons for the log are: 1) to keep track of my reading for myself, 2) because people often ask me “what are your reading?”, 3) to highlight good books that can help us think more biblically and follow Christ more fruitfully, 4) to point to fun books, 5) to offer assessment on books that are not as helpful, and 6) to nurture the bibliophile in us all.
I’ll post the log at the end of each month.
May
1. F.A. Hayek. The Road to Serfdom. Dense reading at times, but brilliant in places. One of the most significant books of the last 65 years.
2. Mark Noll. God and Race in American Politics. Very good. Fair and balanced.
3. G.K. Chesterton. Orthodoxy. Genius, witty, classic. Everyone should read (and re-read) Chesterton (but please disregard the anti-Calvinist lines).
4. Scott McConnell. Multi-Site Churches: Guidance for the Movement’s Next Generation. Good practical advice, a little light on theological reflection.
5. Jay Richards. Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism is the Solution and Not the Problem. Accessible and informed. The most engaging, readable, and thoughtful Christian defense of Capitalism out there.
6. Paul Miller. A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World. One of the best books on prayer I’ve ever read. Read it and you’ll want to pray more.
7. P.G. Wodehouse. The Code of the Woosters. Funny as always, with a marvelously intricate plot.
8. Thomas Krannwitter. Vindicating Lincoln: Defending the Politics of our Greatest President. Thorough, learned, and persuasive. Would have been nice to have the book 50-100 pages shorter.
