Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Such is the book lover’s dilemma. For every book I read, there are 100 more that I’ll never crack open. Yet, I’m thankful for the gift of books and below are some of the ones I have found helpful in the first half of 2024. Reminder of the usual caveats: I am an eclectic reader so every book won’t be to everyone’s liking and a recommendation does not mean I endorse everything written in the book.
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. The central thesis of this book is that everyone is being formed by something and if we want to be formed by Jesus, then we must become his apprentice. This means we must be with Jesus so that we become like him and then do what he did. This is Comer’s foundational work on spiritual formation. He relies on general revelation probably more than some will find comfortable, but this book is one which will challenge in its invitation to follow the way of Jesus.
How to Know a Person by David Brooks. Drawing from numerous fields of study, this work offers an approach to human connection that is creative and hopeful. In a world where loneliness is becoming a major issue (Britain has a cabinet member designated to address this), the key skill, according to Brooks, is to see someone deeply and make them feel seen. This is not necessarily a Christian book (though Brooks himself has converted in recent years) but it prompts one to be curious about other people and to take the risk to invest in relationships.
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Probably the most controversial book I have read this year and the one I think everyone, especially parents, needs to read. Haidt raises the alarm on the rising mental health crisis among young people and particularly the impact of smartphones and social media. He contends that we have been overprotecting children in the real world (helicopter parenting) and under protecting them in the virtual world. As a social psychologist, Haidt provides detailed information on what the move from a play-based to phone-based childhood has done as well as some very practical suggestions for parents, schools, companies, and other organizations. This book pairs well with Abigail Shrier’s newest book, Bad Therapy, which argues the mental health industry is harming, not helping, children.
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport. This was one of my practical living reads this year. Newport offers a redefinition of productivity centered around three principles: do fewer things, work at a natural pace, and obsess over quality. Drawing on the wisdom of folks throughout the ages, Newport not only explains these ideas but also gives practical tips on how to implement them. I also highly recommend his book, Digital Minimalism.
Two honorable mentions: Surrender by Bono (I have been on a U2 kick lately and this is the lead singer’s autobiography as told through the band’s songs). The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen (from Amazon webpage: Acclaimed author Jonathan Rosen’s haunting investigation of the forces that led his closest childhood friend, Michael Laudor, from the heights of brilliant promise to the forensic psychiatric hospital where he has lived since killing the woman he loved. A story about friendship, love, and the price of self-delusion, The Best Minds explores the ways in which we understand—and fail to understand—mental illness).
For fiction, I recommend the Father Brown mysteries by G.K. Chesterton as well as the works of William Kent Krueger. Krueger’s Cork O’Connor mysteries are great but his stand-alone novels are even better. Start with Ordinary Grace.
For the second half of 2024, I am looking forward to Rich Villodas’ newest offering, The Narrow Path, a new Inspector Gamache novel by Louise Penny, and hopefully some surprises along the way. I hope you find time this summer, saints, to make some new friends in the books you read.
