A few people asked which is my favorite book of the year. The easy answer to that is, “I don’t know.” I like different books for different reasons. Here are a few of the winners in my mind:
Top Five
1. The Shallows by Nicholas Carr This was the book that affected me the most this year, mainly by pointing out how much time I spend/waste on the computer. After reading this book, I made some drastic changes, ones that I continue to put into practice today to limit my Internet use. It DOES affect us in how we think and focus. There are some critics (including one on this very site) who quickly scoff at Carr’s premise, and foolishly blame it on Carr’s aging process. Silly. In the words of Shakespeare, thou “protesth too much.” [read my review]
2. Adopted for Life by Russell Moore I cannot understand the impact this book had on my view of adoption, and on us beginning the pursuit. It is not only about protecting to orphans and widows, but also how we are those orphans and widows that need protecting. Whether or not you are a Christian, this is a good look at what Christianity teaches about what the gospel is. [read my review]
3. Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey This is easily one of the best books that I’ve read in how to develop a Christian mind. Pearcey is direct, demanding, and entertaining. This is a must-read for every Christian. Her follow-up, Saving Leonardo, will certainly be on my 2011 list. [read my review]
4. Radical by David Platt I see that Mark picked this as one of his best as well. I liked this best out of the other like-minded books on this subject. This book made me examine what I am doing and/or what I could do to live out the gospel. I hope that reading this continues to yield much fruit in the years to come. Thanks, Buddy, for recommending this. [read my review]
5. Columbine by Dave Cullen I still find myself thinking about how well this book filled in so many gaps of the event in 1999. Some say that they would rather not have the gaps filled in, but I thought that this account is an important addition to a pivotal day in modern American history. It shows the darkness that lies in men’s hearts, and the light that shines around them. [read my review]
Top Reviewed
While they may not be on my list of top books, I did like writing about these.
1. Candide by Voltaire As I prepared to teach this book to students, I wanted to think on the problem of pain that Voltaire satirizes in the book. Writing this helped me to see the worldview clearer. [read my review]
2. Home Sweet Rome by Scott and Kimberly Hahn I enjoyed addressing the concerns about Catholic theology in this lengthy review. I posted this on Amazon, and I have received many critical attacks (some from non-native English speakers) on my faulty knowledge of “The Church.” Go to the book an Amazon to see the fun. [read my review]
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