I'm always theology and non-fiction heavy in this list. I actually read more fiction this year, but a lot of those barely missed making the list. Hard to narrow it down.
He's my list. That's all it is. My list of what I found most interesting, entertaining, edifying, enlightening, challenging, and/or simply enjoyable. Not everything in these would be something I would endorse, but all have some impact on me this year. Take that for what you will.
Theology
All That Is In God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism - James Dolezal
- Some really helpful definition and clarification on the doctrine of God and some equally helpful push back against some modern articulations of that doctrine. God's immutability, his self-existence...these doctrines matter immensely, and I found this book to be a gentle but needed rebuke of my own deficiencies of understanding in these areas.
- My favorite teacher/scholar doing what he does best. Discussing complicated, controversial matters in a clarifying, irenic, charitable way. Tom is what he calls a "nuanced cessationist," so that's the perspective he's coming from, but I think he is incredibly fair to different perspectives in this. So helpful when I had to teach 1 Corinthians 12-14.
God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth - G.K. Beale and Mitchell Kim
- This is a shortened and simplified version of Beale's longer work, Temple and the Church's Mission. From the Garden of Eden through the New Jerusalem, the idea of God's dwelling place, his temple, is a huge theme. This book traces that theme wonderfully if you don't want to try to slog through Beale's longer academic work.
Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality - Nancy Pearcey
- This book is a crucial voice of clarity in the midst of a lot of cultural chaos. Pearcey works through many of the social issues so prominent in our culture today (transgenderism, homosexuality, marriage, abortion, euthanasia, etc.) and applies biblical wisdom beautifully. Philosophically rich yet easy to track with.
The Heart of the Church: The Gospel's History, Message, and Meaning - Joe Thorn
The Character of the Church: The Marks of God's Obedient People - Joe Thorn
The Life of the Church: The Table, Pulpit, and Square - Joe Thorn
- This trilogy is a great introduction to discipleship and ecclesiology. These short books are great tools for new believers to show them what the life of a believer looks like, tethered to the local church. Actually, many not-so-new believers need to learn the same things.
The Bible and the Future - Anthony Hoekema
- This book was recommended to me years ago by a professor in seminary, and I finally read it this year. He didn't recommend it for nothing. Beautiful and biblical vision of the future and where all of this going.
Greek for Life: Strategies for Learning, Retaining, and Reviving New Testament Greek - Ben Merkle and Rob Plummer
- This won't appeal to many, but this has really rekindled my desire to keep up my biblical Greek that I had mostly let atrophy after seminary. Some great strategies and practical encouragement to keep at it...and so far I have.
Echoes of Exodus: Tracing a Biblical Motif - Bryan Estelle; Echoes of Eden: Tracing Themes of Redemption Through Scripture - Alastair Roberts and Andrew Wilson
How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age - Jonathan Leeman
- 2 books with the same name that came out the same year, and yet pretty different. The Estelle book is very academic as he traces the exodus theme out, while the Roberts/Wilson book is definitely written at a popular and accessible level. Both are worth reading. The Estelle book is a little more careful in its use of typology and more grounded in the biblical texts, while the Roberts/Wilson book makes use of a musical metaphor to speak of the movements of Scripture and picking up themes and variations on melodies. I enjoyed both.
How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age - Jonathan Leeman
- I have yet to read something by Jonathan Leeman that I didn't find helpful. Here, he applies his knowledge of political science, theology, and cultural analysis to ponder where we are in our culture right now. How should we think about political interaction in an ever more divided society, especially as Christians?
- Short little book that made a pretty big impact on me. Through the lens of the great Charles Spurgeon, Eswine looks at the issue of depression and seeks to shed light on its causes and ways to hold on to hope in the midst of it. This really helped me understand depression more and created a lot more empathy for those struggling with it.
Other Non-Fiction
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride - Cary Elwes
Them: Why We Hate Each Other - and How to Heal - Ben Sasse
Fiction
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
The Hobbit (Or There and Back Again) - J.R.R. Tolkien
- If you love the movie (which I do), you will love this book. It is filled with great stories from the making of the movie, with lots of humor and interesting tidbits. What I enjoyed most was how much the people who made the movie still love it today. They are proud of what they made, the way it has connected through multiple generations. I actually listened to the audio book version (which is kind of cheating for this list), but if you can do that, it's so worth it to hear Cary Elwes and the other cast members read it.
Them: Why We Hate Each Other - and How to Heal - Ben Sasse
- I really enjoy Ben Sasse's perspective, so I really enjoyed his take on the divided nature of our country right now and some ways we might address that. It's basically a look at what we've lost with being disconnected from everyone right around us, and how we might regain some of that.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable - Patrick Lencioni
- If you want to understand the underlying causes why teams fail to reach their potential and suffer from chronic dysfunction, this book is really helpful. It's half fictional narrative and half didactic teaching. The narrative paints all-too-familiar pictures of poor leadership and poor team dynamics, as well as how one leader attempts to correct things. The rest fleshes out how to overcome the 5 main dysfunctions.
Fiction
- This was a wonderful conclusion to one of my favorite series of novels I've read. There are just so many amazing themes explored through these books and so many virtues given flesh in these characters. J.K. Rowling might not be a believer, but she can't seem to help writing stories that have been shaped by The Story.
The Hobbit (Or There and Back Again) - J.R.R. Tolkien
- Seth and I both read this during the year and both enjoyed it. Definitely not written the same as Lord of the Rings, but I loved the tone throughout. A great adventure tale with some dry wit throughout.
