Books in the Queue
January 8, 2009 8 Comments
On the corner of my desk here at home I have a stack of books waiting to be read. I am a perpetual “book-stacker,” and am always looking forward to the next book to be digested. I just finished Phyllis Tickle’s The Great Emergence and Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages (audio), and am in the middle of George Barna’s Revolution and will be finished with that in a few days.
Everyone has a sort of “filter” for what books we read (if we even read very much at all; some people rarely complete a book). I have a couple of operating principles when choosing books:
1. One of my commitments this year is to try and read a book a week — a goal I’m sure I won’t reach, but is worth shooting for anyway. I’m not a very fast reader, so it sometimes takes me a little longer.
2. I try to read widely, as you can see from the list below. Reading in various genres gives me creative ideas I would never have otherwise. I’m really looking forward to reading about Teddy Roosevelt because I don’t know much about his life.
3. I get some really good recommendations from other people, and also just by browsing around a bookstore. I picked up the history book by Zinn and the biography of Lincoln at Barnes & Noble last week, courtesy of agift card for Christmas. You never know what kinds of interesting things you’ll find just by browsing around. But also, I always get good ideas from others. My brother recommended at least 2-3 books on this list.
4. I also try to read material from people with points of view different than my own — hence the books by George Barna and Frank Viola. Their books listed here by them have sparked a lot of discussion and I want to read the material myself before coming to a conclusion. I’m amazed at how many people reach conclusions about books or concepts they’ve never read themselves.
5. I read for fun also — hence the Stephen King book. I also read graphic novels and comic books on occasion, just because you need something fun sometimes.
So just for kicks, here are some books that are in my queue for the next few months. None of this is set in stone; any book can be on the chopping block if something more pressing comes along!
THE LIST:
StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath (personal strengths assessment)
The Didache trans. and commentary by Aaron Milavec (1st century manual on worship and teaching)
Beyond Smells and Bells by Mark Galli (Christian liturgy)
Simplify by Paul Borthwick (how to simplify your life)
Reimagining Church by Frank Viola (a controversial book I’m curious about)
The Kid Who Climbed Everest by Bear Grylls (the guy from “Man vs. Wild”)
The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight (on reading the Bible)
Abraham Lincoln by James McPherson (a short biography)
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, and A Short History of the United States by Robert Remini
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt and Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris (long biographies)
Just After Sunset by Stephen King (borrowed from my Mom; the man is a great storyteller)
The Parent You Want to Be by Les & Leslie Parrot
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (a study of success)
What the Bible Says About Worship by Dinelle Frankland (she was my major prof. in seminary)
Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin (a book on worship leading)
What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker (the title speaks for itself)
And my very favorite new book… The ESV Study Bible. Simply fantastic!
If you have any good books you’re currently reading or planning to read this year, please share!
About kentsanders
I don’t like reading books.
Don’t get me wrong… I read a lot. Most of it is text on screens, because I am a big nerd. When it comes to informational things that I want to learn, I typically don’t even think about looking for a book. Google is my go to source for finding information, just as it is for many my age and younger.
I have become a very enthusiastic fan of audio books, however. I have an Audible.com account, and it is one of my favorite investments. I am also blessed to have a job where I am allowed to listen to my headphones all day, so I have eight+ hours available to me every day for (if not conversing with my coworkers, which I rarely do, and should probably make a point of more often) listening to music, podcasts, and audio books.
I have never liked books. I don’t like to hold them. I don’t like the smell of the paper. I don’t like the strain on my eyes. I am a slow reader. I would always rather be doing something else.
With my current situation, I am basically getting paid to listen to a book (at least after the first hour or two of listening, when my wage is doing more than simply covering the cost of the book).
My current listening wish list includes:
The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow
The God Delusion – Richard Dawkins
Legacy of Ashes (The History of the CIA) – Tim Weiner
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln – Doris Goodwin
The entire Ender’s Game series – Orson Scott Card
I also want to read “From Good to Great” by Jim Collins. It is not available on Audible.com, currently. I have one new paperback book that I plan to read someday before I get married. It’s called “Real Sex – The Naked Truth about Chastity” by Lauren F. Winner.
My favorites of my most recently listened to books are:
Captivating – John Eldredge and Stasi Eldredge
The 4 Hour Work Week – Timothy Ferriss
Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
Sacred Marriage – Gary Thomas
I Am Legend – Richard Matheson
Out of the Silent Planet – C.S. Lewis
Perelandra – C.S. Lewis
(That Hideous Strength (Clive Staples Lewis), I listened to, but did not enjoy)
World War Z – Max Brooks
Arthur – good to see you today. Thanks for dropping off a CD.
Audio books are wonderful – I listen to a lot of them also. I can’t think of one I’ve actually bought; we have a really good library system around here and they have about anything you want available. The thing I like about audio books is that many times you can get abridged versions of long books. So I can get the jist of a good book without having to read the whole thing. Plus, I spend an hour in car (at least) each day, so there’s an hour I can be learning something. (I don’t always listen to teaching or books in the car; sometimes I just want to veg out with music.)
Your list is really interesting. I’d love to hear what you think about “Team of Rivals” when you’re done.
I remember getting halfway through the first book in Lewis’ space trilogy as a kid and getting bored with it. I should give it another shot.
I am completely ashamed to admit I have never read all of the Chronicles of Narnia books, nor Lord of the Rings.
Great post, my friend! I especially appreciated your fourth principle. We limit ourselves if we never read anything from points of view that are different from our own.
It seems like I’m always reading a couple of books at the same time. People say it’s because they think I have ADD, but they just don’t understan… hey look, a chicken!
Just kidding. Here’s a couple of interesting reads that I’ve either completed recently, or am in the process of finishing:
-i am not, but i know I AM, by Louie Giglio
-Crazy Love by Francis Chan (with video intros to each
chapter at http://www.crazylovebook.com)
-The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell
-The Tangible Kingdom, by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
-The God Who Smokes, by Timothy Stoner (I know, ironic
name)
-Under the Overpass, by Mike Yankoski
I might have to check out the Teddy Roosevelt book- tell me what you think.
Oh, and Arthur- I like audio books too, but I have to say that I prefer a real, tangible page. I like the smell, too.
Blessings!
Jeff – glad to have you “visiting”! I think I’ve heard of “Under the Overpass” – is that the one where a guy is intentionally homeless for a year?
Tell me about “Crazy Love” – our bookstore manager recommended it and I’ve seen it a lot of places.
I really like Giglio – his stuff is always good.
Tipping Point is really interesting. I enjoy studies in sociology and that type of thing.
What is “The God Who Smokes” about?
I’m sure I could look up all this info on amazon, but it will be much more interesting coming from you!
Has anyone figured out why library books have a distinct smell that is different from regular books?
Noticed you’re reading a book on Lincoln. Have you ever read Mary Todd Lincoln’s letters? (I hear they’re available in several different bound sets under different titles.) I keep reading ABOUT them in other works, but I’ve never read the letters themselves. I’m trying to find someone I know who has read them to see if they’re any good before buying an edition. Sounds like my cup of tea, but I’m afraid I’ll start reading them and get bogged down in olde-tyme-worde speech or something.
Derek – No, I haven’t read anything by Mary Lincoln, though I bet it would be very interesting. My general understanding is that she was kind of a hard woman to live with. In any pictures you see of her you get kind of a dour impression. (Of course, everybody looked that way in their pictures back in those days.)
Sorry I haven’t replied- it’s been a crazy couple of weeks.
“Under the Overpass” is indeed about a couple of guys who give up their comfortable lives as college students to live on the streets. The time frame was actually just under 6 mos., and they traveled to five different cities in the U.S., buying bus tickets from the money they made panhandling. It was a great read.
“The God Who Smokes” is harder to sum up. It is a collection of devotional thoughts from a guy who, without being overly “fire and brimstone,” is definitely interested in reminding people that God is, well, God. While grace is in no way ignored, there is an emphasis on God’s sovereignty that reminds us that the Creator and King of the Universe is still very much on His throne.
I don’t know all the ins and outs of what Francis Chan believes. And “Crazy Love” is a book that I can’t sum up quickly. But I will say that there are parts of this book in which he describes the church that he ministers with, and some of them stir in me images of a 21st Century Restoration Movement. If you read this book, I’d love to discuss it more with you.
Jeff – I have been hearing about “Crazy Love” from other people. Sounds like I need to check it out. Thanks for the info.
I only have one problem with reading – It seems I never have enough time to do it!