Here are a list of books that I have completed so far in 2015:
- The Space Between: A Christian Engagement with the Built Environment by Eric Jacobsen – A seasoned pastor’s take on how our faith should shape the design of our cities
- Preacher and Prayer by E. M. Bounds – classic work on prayer. Beginning and end are better than the middle
- Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship by N. T. Wright – I am still a fan of Wright’s work, but I wouldn’t call this a book on discipleship. There’s some good stuff in it, but not one of his stronger works.
- Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala – I am having my every few years retread of this book that has taught me over and over again the power of prayer.
- Transforming Prayer by Daniel Henderson. Friend of Jim Cymbala. Cymbala’s book is a good motivator and this book is a good how to for how to take your prayer life from a laundry list of “give me this” to a true transformational experience that seeks to make you more like God.
- Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer by Maureen Ogle. Some interesting stuff here, but she needs a better editor. Probably wouldn’t read another book by the author. Interesting though to see how many of the popular legends about American brewing aren’t based in fact.
- Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton. A Christian classic. Also has a great theology of the city in it.
- Europe through the Back Door by Rick Steves. I love his philosophy of travel and have had some of my best experiences in “back door” places.
- Creating Cohousing by Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett. This book profiles cohousing communities in Denmark, Canada, and the US and what makes them successful. I love the cohousing approach to living – making a community and support network right where you live. I am 100% sold on the cohousing model now.
Currently reading:
- How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stewart. Well written – I pick up something new every time I read it.
- Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. A modern classic.
Non-book reading:
- Rereading my entire archives of Invention & Technology magazine. The only magazine I’ve ever subscribed to where I saved every issue. It’s that good. Even the second or third time through. I am hoping that plans to resurrect it come through. I do have to admit that the first run (up until ~2007) was better than the revived magazine of its last few years.