For the second month in a row, I’m pleased to share a “bonus list” of recommended reads. All of the books on this list were published in 2019.
- (5.0) The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage
by Joan Chittister (Convergent Books, 2019) - (4.5) Can I Get a Witness?: Thirteen Peacemakers, Community-Builders, and Agitators for Faith and Justice edited by Charles Marsh, Shea Tuttle, and Daniel P. Rhodes (Eerdmans, 2019)
- (4.5) Platform: The Art and Science of Personal Branding by Cynthia Johnson (Lorena Jones Books, 2019)
- (4.5) The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe by Richard Rohr (Convergent Books, 2019)
- (4.0) Young Voices: Stepping Out of the Wilderness curated by Trayce Potter (UCC Resources, 2019)
- (4.0) The Manager’s Communication Toolkit: Tools and Techniques for Leading Difficult Personalities by Tina Kuhn (Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2019)
- (3.5) How to Quit Church Without Quitting God: Why Going to Church Today is Unbiblical, Un-Christlike, and Spiritually Risky by Martin Zender (Starke & Hartmann, Inc., 2019)
So What?
Joan Chittister is a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA, Executive Director of Benetvision, and founder of Monasteries of the Heart. For the last 40 years she has “passionately advocated on behalf of peace, human rights, women’s issues, and church renewal.” During these years she has written more than 50 books, including two that were recognized as top books of the year here on So What Faith (2011 – Happiness and 2017 – Radical Spirit: 12 Ways to Live a Free and Authentic Life).
In recent days the President of the United States has autographed Bibles penning his name on their covers and the United Methodist Church voted to adopt a largely unconstitutional plan designed to exclude LGBTQ persons. These are examples of a broader trend that can easily frustrate and discourage many progressive followers of the Way of Jesus. Into this challenging time, Chittister’s The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage speaks words of reorientation calling readers to recognize the prophet within and to live fully in what she calls prophetic spirituality – “an active spirituality that demands as much rock-hard commitment as it does heartfelt concern.” Chittister builds a case for the timeless relevance of the work of making the world a better place for all people by weaving together a wide range of biblical and contemporary examples. With gentle nudges and more direct calls to action, she ably invites modern day disciples to begin, continue, and/or shift their efforts to make real God’s realm of peace and justice on earth with intentionality, persistence and authenticity. And, importantly, she reminds those engaged in the work of justice not to try to it all but simply to be faithful in the work to which God has called them.
While The Time is Now tops this list with a rating of 5.0, two books earned ratings of 4.5.
- Can I Get a Witness?: Thirteen Peacemakers, Community-Builders, and Agitators for Faith and Justice edited by Charles Marsh, Shea Tuttle, and Daniel P. Rhodes tells the stories of people of faith who engaged in the work of social justice in America. A core strength of this volume is the intentional selection of exemplars that include both those who are well known and those not as well known, Catholic and Protestant, gay and straight.
- Platform: The Art and Science of Personal Branding by Cynthia Johnson is a guidebook for the current age. It is no longer possible to opt out of having a personal brand. Everyone has a brand. This book will help you better craft and actively manage your personal brand’s ongoing development.