The best new books I’ve read in the last month are Baptizing America I've read more than my fair share of material on Christian Nationalism. I've even reviewed and/or rated a number of book length considerations of the topic here on So What Faith, including The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming the Faith, and Refounding Democracy by Jim Wallis (2024), The Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People are Drawn In and How to Talk Across the Read More …
Books
Great New Books for May 2024 (#2121)
The best new books I’ve read in the last month are Trash "Poor whites are the largest group of poor people in the United States. 33 percent of white people are poor. That is roughly 20 percent of the US population . . . The system of capitalism unique to the United States has been wildly effective, both at creating wealth for those in power and keeping poor people fighting among themselves in the process" (p.14). Cedar Monroe was raised in this culture and has served in ministry as Read More …
So What Faith’s Top Authors: 2009-2024 (#2117)
Over the last 15 years I've shared reviews or ratings of more than 1,000 recently published books I've read. Each year, the best of the best are featured on a top 10 books of the year list. Five years ago this month, I wrote Top 12 Authors: 2009-2019 sharing the dozen authors who had appeared on more than one top 10 list. This group has since grown to 16. The links for each year mentioned take you to that year's top 10 list. Best of the Best Only five of the top 16 authors have Read More …
Great New Books – April 2024 (#2115)
The best books I’ve read in the last month are Everything Good About God is True Everything Good About God is True: Choosing Faith is the first book to receive 5+ rating (only 3 books received this special rating in 2023) There is more than one way to be Christian. In opposition to the loud voices of Christian nationalism and any number of exclusive approaches, Bruce Reyes Chow offers a liberative, inclusive, life-giving. hope-filled, justice-oriented approach. This "better Read More …
Great New Books – March 2024 (#2110)
The best books I've read in the last month are Welcome Back Three authors on this month’s list have appeared on So What Faith in the past: Read More …
Great New Books – February 2024 (#2106)
The best books I've read recently that were published in either 2023 or 2024 are Gone for Good and Picking Up the Pieces There are more than enough books about what is wrong with American church. Countless volumes describe what once was through near endless statistical considerations of the decline or through in-depth exploration of one of the many elements of the decline or of factors that have contributed to decline. A much smaller body of literature begins by stating the Read More …
14th Annual Top 10 Books of the Year (#2096)
Welcome to the 14th annual So What Faith’s Top 10 Books of the Year. This year I read 90 books published in 2023. The top ten are listed below in alphabetical order by author’s last name: Top Two The two books on this year’s top ten that had the greatest impact on me are Both of these books were not only well written, but also intersect with my current ministry. As the CEO of White Rock Center of Hope poverty alleviation is central to my work. And, I've spent more than Read More …
5 Star Books Published in 2023 (#2094)
Welcome to the fifth annual edition of So What Faith’s 5 Star Books of the Year! This list is comprised of books rated 5 or 5+ on a scale of 1 to 5. To be eligible the book must have been published in 2023 and I must have read it during the year. This year, just 15.5% of all books rated received a rating of 5 or 5+ to earn this honor (in prior years the percentage has ranged from 15% to 17%). Past Years Be sure to check out prior lists Best of the Best Stay tuned! So Read More …
Great New Books – December 2023 (#2092)
The best new books I’ve read in the last 30 days are listed below. Unicorns William Vanderbloemen is the Founder & CEO of Vanderbloemen - an executive search firm that has provided comprehensive search services for over 2,500 roles in ministry and non-profit leadership. Leveraging data from more than 30,000 long form interviews that comprised those searches, Vanderbloemen explores the 12 habits he and his team have discovered sets the best leaders apart from all others. Read More …
Great New Books – November 2023 (#2086)
The best new books I’ve read in the last 30 days are listed below. (5+) Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other by Amy Butler (The Dial Press, 2023)(4.5) Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God Into a Hopeful Future by Dwight Zscheile, Michael Binder, and Tessa Pinkstaff (Fortress Press, 2023)(4.5) Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen (Penguin Books, 3rd edition, Read More …