2019 Reading List

2019 One-Word Reviews

January:

1. Metaphysics: Constructing a World View (Contours of Christian Philosophy) / William Hasker / Helpful
2. Fear: Trump in the White House / Bob Woodward / Insane
3. Final Fantasy VII: On the Way to a Smile / Kazushige Nojima / Good
4. Miracles / C. S. Lewis / Thought-Provoking
5. The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ / Brant Pitre / Must Read
6. William Booth: Soup, Soap, and Salvation (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) / Janet Benge & Geoff Benge / Inspiring
7. Misery: A Novel / Stephen King / Brutal

February:

1. Homiletics / Karl Barth / Thought-Provoking
2. Undeniable: How Biology Confirms Our Intuition That Life Is Designed / Douglas Axe / Enlightening
3. The Cure: What if God isn’t who you think He is and neither are you? / John Lynch, Bruce McNicol & Bill Thrall / Powerful

March:

1. Grace to Lead: Practicing Leadership in the Wesleyan Tradition, Revised Edition / Kenneth Carder & Laceye Warner / Practical
2. Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story / K.M. Weiland / Practical
3. Designing the Sermon: Order and Movement in Preaching / James Earl Massey / Excellent
4. Cross-Cultural Connections: Stepping Out and Fitting In Around the World / Duane Elmer / So-So
5. The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World / Alan J. Roxburgh & Fred Romanuk / Practical & Innovative

April:

1. Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design / Stephen Meyer / Fascinating
2. The Modern Scholar: The Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas / Peter Kreeft / Educational
3. Aquinas for Armchair Theologians / Timothy M. Renick / Educational
4. The Homiletical Plot, Expanded Edition: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form / Eugene Lowry / Eye-Opening
5. Choosing to Preach: A Comprehensive Introduction to Sermon Options and Structures / Kenton C. Anderson / Practical-and-Inspiring

May:

1. C. S. Lewis — A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet / Alister McGrath / Fascinating
2. Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions / Rachel Held Evans / Grief-Inducing
3. Darwin Devolves: The New Science About DNA That Challenges Evolution / Michael Behe / Excellent
4. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard / Chip & Dan Heath / Powerful
5. Aquinas (A Beginner’s Guide) / Edward Feser / Deep
6. Never Go Back: 10 Things You’ll Never Do Again / Dr. Henry Cloud / Highly-Practical
7. Birth of a Reformation: The Life and Labors of Daniel Sidney Warner / A.L. Byers / Lacking
8. A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir / Thomas C. Oden / Inspiring

June:

1. Modern Revivalism: From Charles Grandison Finney to Billy Graham / William G. McLoughlin / Eye-Opening
2. A Practical Guide to Culture / John Stonestreet & Brett Kunkle / Indispensable
3. Preparing for Change Reaction: How to Introduce Change in Your Church / Bob Whitesel / Practical

July:

1. The Odyssey / Homer, Trans. by Emily Wilson / Fanastic!
2. The Pillars of the Earth: A Novel (Kingsbridge) / Ken Follett / Epic

August:

1. The Dragons of Babel / Michael Swanwick / A Hodge-Podge
2. Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire / Scot McKnight / Powerful
3. The Morals of the Story: Good News About a Good God / David Baggett & Marybeth Baggett / Meandering
4. The Epic of Eden / Sandra Richter / Excellent
5. Ultralearning / Scott Young / Inspiring-and-Practical
6. Beginning Biblical Hebrew / John Cook & Robert Holmstedt / So-So
7. Koine Greek Grammar / Frederick Long / Comprehensive
8. Exporting the Rapture / Donald Akenson / Fascinating
9. Is God a Moral Monster? / Paul Copan / A-Needed-Apologetic

September:

1. The Drawing of the Three / Stephen King / Strange
2. The Iron Dragon’s Daughter / Michael Swanwick / Weird
3. How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity / Thomas Oden / Repetitive
4. On Moral Fiction / John Gardner / Deep-and-Thought-Provoking
5. Belief in God in an Age of Science / John Polkinghorne / …Meh…

October:

1. How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines / Thomas C Foster / Eclectic
2. Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies / David Bentley Hart / Thought-Provoking
3. The Wesleyan Quadrilateral: An Introduction / Don Thorsen / Informative

December:

1. The Miracle Equation: The Two Decisions That Move Your Biggest Goals from Possible, to Probable, to Inevitable / Hal Elrod / Inspiring
2. The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) / Hal Elrod / Inspiring
3. Aftermath: Star Wars / Chuck Wendig / Exciting
4. Copy Logic! The New Science of Producing Breakthrough Copy (Without Criticism) / Mike Palmer & Michael Masterson / Practical