2021 was quite an eventful year for me. Somehow between buying and moving into a new house, adjusting to being a dad of newborn baby girl, and all the madness that came from helping to pastor a church through the second year of a pandemic, I still managed to get some reading done. I read over 80 books this year, and instead of making at top ten list I decided just to briefly write about the books that had an impact on me as a person. So without further adieu, here are books I read in 2021 that I would recommend for just about anyone.
A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit
In A Paradise Built in Hell, Rebecca Solnit takes an in-depth look at major calamities from the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco to 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Specifically she examines how disasters tend to bring out the best in humanity, in spite of the popular myths of social collapse and violence when our institutions fail us. Solnit makes a compelling argument that, in times of tragedy, our neighbors and local communities are not our enemy.
2020 and 2021 have both been high-stress years for most people (myself included). For quite a while it felt like tragedy was always around the corner and unfortunately much of the discourse I saw on the news, social media, and even in person to person conversations seemed to presume that there were enemies within and that we simply shouldn’t trust your neighbors. As a self-identified optimistic realist, I found this book to be a breath of fresh air during what seemed to be an endless barrage of negativity. It is a reminder that human beings are actually capable of goodness and, if the need arises, more of us are willing to step up and help than we might expect. This was a book that helped reaffirm my faith in humanity, at a time when I certainly needed it.
A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller
A Praying Life is a surprisingly intimate journey into prayer by author Paul Miller. In these pages Paul shares his insights and conclusions about how to live an imperfectly intimate life of prayer that leaves you feeling more connected with God and the world around you. As a person who struggled for years with feeling inadequate in my private prayer life, Miller’s practical advice, biblical insights, and honesty about his own prayer life and struggles makes this possibly the greatest book on prayer I have ever read. I cannot think of any other book that takes the power of biblical prayer and makes it accessible to every believer, regardless of their past experiences with prayer.
Similar Books I Recommend:
- “Why We Pray” by William J.U. Philip
- “How to Pray” by R.A. Torrey
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
All Creatures Great and Small is a memoir of James Herriot (the pen-name of James Wright) as he takes on a veterinary practice in rural Yorkshire England. The book is a very lighthearted and humorous read that still manages to connect with me on an emotional level. At its core though, All Creatures Great and Small is a book about care and compassion. Through his various adventures and mishaps, Herriot learns that caring for creatures also means caring for the people who love them. The book feels pastoral in every meaning of the word, and if you are like me, it will remind you that serving others is more than just doing a task well. There is an emotional and human element to service that cannot be overlooked if we are to perform our callings well in this world.
Come and See by Todd Wagner
In Come and See, Todd Wagner gives us a glimpse of what the Christian life could be if we were willing to take the Bible at it’s word. It is a book that will try to shame you into being a better Christian, but rather will simply show you the amazing, adventurous, and full life you may be missing out on. In a world of nominal Christianity and shame based rebukes, it is nice to see a compassionate plea to take Christ seriously, not because you aren’t living up, but be cause you are missing out on the good things God has intended for each of us.
Similar Books I Recommend:
- “Liturgy of the Ordinary” by Tish Harrison Warren
- “The Good Life in the Last Days” by Mikey Lynch
- “Recovering Eden” by Zack Eswine
CSB Life Connections Study Bible by Lyman Coleman and The Holman Bible Staff
The CSB Life Connections Study Bible is the main Bible I used in 2021, and for good reason. The Christian Standard Bible is a wonderful translation that, in my opinion, balances accuracy with readability better than most modern translations. But the real thing that makes this Bible shine is the way it’s notes makes every chapter accessible for group, family, or individual study. Every chapter includes a brief summary, commentary about key events, places, and people, as well as a series of discussion or reflection questions that help to connect the text to our day to day lives. As a dad and a pastor I highly recommend this Bible for anyone wanting to go deeper in their Bible reading for 2022, or anyone who occasionally struggles to connect God’s Word to their life.
Grant by Ron Chernow
Ulysses S. Grant is one of the most unfairly maligned and misunderstood presidents in all of U.S. History. Thankfully, Ron Chernow finally gives a biography of Grant that presents the man as he was. Grant was a man who valued honor and loyalty to a fault and who sought to lead the U.S. Army and, later the nation itself, through one of the most difficult moments in history. Chernow does not gloss over Grant’s faults, but he also does a phenomenal job of correcting many of the ways in which Grant’s critics unjustly painted Grant as a drunk and a buffoon. While Grant was a flawed man, he was also a man of principle who was at times shockingly progressive and forward thinking for a man of his time. As I continue to read through biographies of U.S. Presidents, I can say that “Grant” by Ron Chernow is one of the best. I highly recommend it.
Similar Books I Recommend:
- “The Civil War” by Shelby Foote
Home by Marilynne Robinson
Why is it so difficult to love others well? Perhaps it is the fact that we never can fully understand ourselves, much less the people around us. No matter how well we think we know someone, we inevitably must confront the truth that they will always find ways, both good and bad, to surprise us. Our loved ones sometimes act in ways that cause us to question whether we ever truly knew them at all. Home is an extraordinary work of fiction in it’s own right, but it would be a disservice not to read it paired with Gilead. Both novels tell essentially the same story, but from a different character’s perspective. Reading them back to back is an experience unlike anything I have ever experienced in fiction. It is hard not to leave these novels without a greater sense of empathy and compassion for your fellow man.
Similar Books I Recommend:
- “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson
The Humane Vision of Wendell Berry
The Humane Vision of Wendell Berry brings together a wide ranger of writers and authors to engage with the ideas and worldview of Wendell Berry. More than any other author, Berry has shaped my worldview through his essays, poetry, and fiction. This collection of essays is an attempt to take writings of Berry and present them in a cohesive philosophy of life. It succeeds as well as any attempt to systematize a mad farmer from Kentucky can possibly succeed, and I feel it will prove to be an interesting read regardless of whether you are a lifelong fan of Wendell Berry or merely someone who wants to get a taste of why so many people speak so highly of him.
Similar Books I Recommend:
- Anything Written by Wendell Berry
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl R. Trueman
The Rise and Triumph of The Modern Self is not an easy book to read, but it may be the most important book on this list (excluding the Bible). In this dense text, Trueman seeks to understand how the culture shifted so quickly in the last few decades so that the phrase “I am a man trapped in a woman’s body” is more readily accepted than the traditional understanding of marriage being limited to one man and one woman. Trueman masterfully traces the development of the modern concept of self-hood and how the sexual-revolution not only came into being, but also fundamentally rewired the western worldview. From Augustine to Marx, Trueman traces the rise of the modern self as well as it’s impact on the culture at large. If you find yourself trying to navigate this brave new world we find ourselves in, this book may be the map you need.
Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtues by Mark Eddy Smith
While the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings were never intended to be Christian allegories, the medieval Catholic worldview of J.R.R. Tolkien certainly played a role in shaping the world and tales of Middle Earth. In this short book, Mark Eddy Smith explores some of the Catholic virtues that Tolkien held dear, and highlights the ways we see these virtues at play in the fictional world of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It is a light, but insightful read that I would recommend for any Tolkien fan. It will not only expand your appreciation for the Tolkien legedarium, but may also challenge you to seek a more virtuous life.
Similar Books I Recommend:
- The Wisdom of the Shire by Nobel Smith
- The Proverbs of Middle Earth by David Rowe
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