Book List

If you want to know what I’ve been reading, here’s a list of the last 15 books I’ve read.  The Format is Title (author)  [score from 1-10]   synopsis

Dog on It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery (Chet and Bernie Mysteries)(Spencer Quinn) [8] If you like dogs and mysteries, then you’ll like this mystery narrated by the P.I.’s dog.  I liked it enough to want to read the next one in the series.

Fully Alive: Lighten Up and Live – A Journey that Will Change Your LIfe(Ken Davis) [7] Davis is one of the funniest Christian speakers I’ve heard.  There’s still humor in this book but it doesn’t translate as well as it does live and his topic is a little more serious.  If you’re looking to make some changes to your physical and spiritual life, then pick this one up.

The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature (Canto Classics)(C.S. Lewis) [9] What?!  A C.S. Lewis book I hadn’t read?  Yes.  A friend told me about this old classic that doesn’t get much reading today because of its niche topic.  I read this slow and digested it by discussing it with a friend which helped significantly because it wasn’t an “easy” read.  But then again, some books are meant to be “easy” but bear more fruit when taking time with them.

Start Something That Matters(Blake Mycoskie) [10]  I love the story of Mycoskie’s TOMS shoes and their buy one and we’ll also give one pair away to a third world country.  So I picked up this book with LOW expectations.  I mean, he’s a young entrepreneur with a good idea, but can he write a book that will be helpful?  YES!  The stories are inspirational and just about anyone can apply its principles.

Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends(Tim Sanders) [10] The Chief Solutions Officer of Yahoo! wonderfully presents the need for love in the bizworld AND how it will make you better at your job.  My favorite chapter was on knowledge (or how to read a book in order to share it with others).

Mindspeak(Heather Sunseri) [9]  See review here.

Kill You Twice: An Archie Sheridan / Gretchen Lowell Novel(Chelsea Cain) [8] Absolutely love every book with detective Archie Sheridan.  If you haven’t read any, start with book 1, Heartsick (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell).

Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War(Tony Horwitz) [7] Always been fascinated with John Brown and Harper’s Ferry.  Horwitz has done his homework and helps us understand the historical context of the raid along with the reaction towards it.  I only wish he could write the narrative in a more compelling fashion.

The Magnificent Obsession: Embracing the God-Filled Life(Anne Graham Lotz) [8] Lotz does a great job of breaking down the biblical story of Abraham and applying it the individual Christian life.  The only drawback were the occasional weak exegesis of particular passages.

Out of the Silent Planet (Cosmic Trilogy)(C.S. Lewis) [8] I thought I read this when I was younger but as I began it again, I couldn’t remember anything at all.  And I have to confess, the first 60 pages were extremely slow.  I only gave it this high of a ranking because it did pick up and in typical Lewis fashion the story was definitely illustrative of spiritual realities.

Gods at War: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Heart(Kyle Idleman) [8] Valuable book for Christians to understand and root out idols in our lives.

Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism Is the Solution and Not the Problem(Jay Richards) [9] A book every Christian should read, especially those who really thoughtfully care about American economic policy.

Downpour: He Will Come To You Like The Rain(James Macdonald) [6]

Church Turned Inside Out: A Guide for Designers, Refiners, and Re-Aligners(Linda Berquist and Allan Karr) [7]  Some helpful metaphors for pastors and church leaders to navigate the reality of church leadership and the goal of making disciples.

Outpost (Enclave)(Ann Aguirre) [10] Love the Enclave series more than a lot of other YA series’ out there right now.

What’s a good book you’ve read lately and can recommend?