Since writing my first blog post in the summer of 2009, I've shared book reviews, recommendations, and/or ratings on a regular basis. These efforts have focused on recently published books, and have allowed me to introduce my readers to more than 500 authors: Elias Aboujaoude, Mustafa Akyol, Jay Allison, Dianna E. Anderson, Keith Anderson, Christophe André, Michael J. Arena, Steve Argue, Sarah Arthur, Reza Aslan, Patty Azzarello, Cheryl Bachelder, Christopher Bader, Scott Bader-Saye, Alex Read More …
Books
Book Recommendations – April 2019 (#1789)
During the first quarter of the year, I was fortunate to spend time reading a considerable number of excellent books published in 2019. The list below captures the best volumes I've read over the last few weeks. (5+) Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown Taylor (HarperOne, 2019) (4.5) The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman (Little, Brown, and Company, 2019) (4.5) The Right It: Why So Many Ideas Fail Read More …
Christians Don’t Own Jesus (#1787)
Over the last 9 1/2 years, I've been rather active on Twitter. While the frequency of my tweeting has varied, I've never walked away from the platform for an extended period of time. After 14,200 tweets I was surprised to find that something I tweeted yesterday has been liked more than any of my other tweets. So What? The tweet is quote from page 157 of Barbara Brown Taylor's new book: Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others I'm pleased to know that more Read More …
Book Recommendations – Bonus List for March 2019 (#1784)
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 Read More …
Book Recommendations – March 2019 (#1782)
For March I'm sharing my traditional list of the best books I read over the last 30 days that were published this year alongside a bonus list of books I read recently that were published between 2015 and 2018. (5+) Outlandish: An Unlikely Messiah, a Messy Ministry, and the Call to Mobilize by Derek Penwell (Chalice Press, 2019) (5.0) Unsettling the Word: Biblical Experiments in Decolonization edited by Steve Heinrichs (ORBIS, 2019) (4.5) The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Read More …
Book Recommendations – Bonus List for February 2019 (#1777)
Over the last few years, I've typically shared a list of book recommendations on a monthly basis. Since I didn't read many books published in 2019 until January I didn't share my first list on the year until the first day of February. With so many wonderful books being published early in 2019, I've decided to share a second February list - a bonus list. Over the last two weeks, I read several new books worth recommending. The following volumes were all published in 2019. (5.0) Empty Read More …
Book Recommendations – February 2019 (#1775)
Reading new books is something I've done with regularity for the better part of a decade. This list features the best books I read during January that were published in 2019. (5.0) Losing My Religion: A Memoir of Faith and Finding by William C. Mills (Resource Publications, 2019) (4.5) The Right Story: A Brief Guide to Changing the World by Bernadette Jiwa (Perceptive Press, 2019) (4.0) Twelve Lies That Hold America Captive: And the Truth That Sets Us Read More …
Top 10 Books of 2018 (#1766)
My ninth annual listing of the top books of the year features the ten best books published in 2018. All books appearing on this year's list received a rating of 5 stars (or 5+ stars) on one of my monthly book recommendations lists. Author Title Diana Butler Bass Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks Elena L. Botelho and Kim R. Powell The CEO Next Door: The 4 Behaviors that Transform Ordinary People into World-Class Leaders Virginia Eubanks Automating Read More …
Book Recommendations – November 2018 (#1762)
My sharing of good books on this blog have evolved from traditional book reviews to book ratings. In recent months I've shared a list of 8-12 books I read the prior month that were published in the current year followed by some additional detail about the top 2 books. This month, 4 books share the top spot with ratings of 4.5. Rather than extending my commentary to this larger number, I'm simply providing a list. (4.5) How I Found God in Everyone and Everywhere: An Anthology Read More …
Book Recommendations – October 2018 (#1757)
This month's list of the best books I've read over the last 30 days that were published this year is among the most diverse. (5.0) Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life by Eric Klinenberg (Crown, 2018) (4.5) Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas (Knopf, 2018) (4.5) Healing Our Broken Humanity: Practices for Revitalizing the Church and Renewing the World by Grace Read More …