Books
One Sentence Book Reviews
This year, I intended to read a great deal more books than I actually did. However, I think most of the books I interacted with were helpful. Since I’m not one for writing long book reviews, I decided to offer one sentence book reviews on some of the more enjoyable books I read. They are not listed in any particular order except that I hope everyone will read the first book I’ve listed from Tim Chaddick.
- Better: How Jesus Satisfies the Search for Meaning by Tim Chaddick – Insightful study of how Ecclesiastes is applied to a culture obsessed with self and satisfaction.
- Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman – A fascinating study of the mechanics of leadership from a statistically validated research project.
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – One of the more engaging novels that I have read over the last few years that reminded me that everyone is looking for meaning and few have found it.
- The Catalyst Leader: 8 Essentials for Becoming a Changer Maker by Brad Lomenick – A helpful look at the basics of leadership that move from the simple to the transformative.
- Spiritual Leadership: A Commitment to Excellence by Every Believer by J. Oswald Sanders – The one book on leadership that I need to read every year.
- Clear Winter Nights: A Journey into Truth, Doubt, and What Comes After by Trevin Wax – Creative story on how we help others use doubt as a tool on their journey toward faith.
- Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life by Eric Metaxas – Well-written case for the existence of miracles down to the level that our very life on Earth is an act only God could arrange.
- Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda by Henry Blackaby & Richard Blackaby – A study on how leadership and godly character are intrinsically linked.
- Transformational Groups: Creating a New Scorecard for Groups by Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger – Solid insights from trusted leaders about how small groups become more effective in your church.
- Church Zero: Raising 1st Century Church out of the Ashes of the 21st Century Church by Peyton Jones – Quick hit book that will spark you to think more critically about why our churches glom on to new ideas when the old ones might be the best.
- You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins – For the aspiring author, it is a great book to encourage your desire to pursue the work.
- I Am a Church Member by Thom Rainer – Enjoyable read about why being a part of the church is such a great life.
- Beat God to the Punch: Because Jesus Demands Your Life by Eric Mason – A quick read that will whet your appetite to let go of the useless stuff in your life.
- The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It by Peter Enns – Frustrating but necessary foray into how those from a different theological position understand the Bible to not be entirely true.
- Killing Floor by Lee Childs – The first novel with Childs’ character Jack Reacher left me somewhat curious to read more in the series but not interested enough to buy another book.
- The Strain Trilogy by Guillermo del Toro – A fun twist on the long-standing mythology around vampires and the hope that anyone can be the hero of a story.
- The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle – The stories of Holmes remind us that genius is generally accompanied with eccentricity.
- Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy – A masterful novel about the need to persist through the troubles of life in order to fulfill the destiny that we know lies ahead of us.
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