God After Deconstruction by Thomas Jay Oord and Tripp Fuller
This is a book that seeks to help those who have deconstructed and want to maintain some of their prior faith. The authors propose a concept I was unfamiliar with: “open and relational theology.” The book was not easy to follow, and the audio recording was even worse.
1984 by George Orwell
The book may be 75 years old, but its themes hit closer to home for Americans than at anytime in the past. Imagine if Orwell had known about our current technology when he wrote the book in the 1940’s.
Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Irrational Things by Dan Ariely
A very interesting book that delves into why some people are more prone to believing conspiracy theories. The author is a social scientist has studied what drives people down the path that causes them to believe false information. Well worth the read, especially if you want to continue relationships with those who have bought into conspiracy theories.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The 1940’s book that delves into how we can easily become those we despise, when power is in play.
The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone—Especially Ourselves by Dan Ariely
This entertaining and eye-opening book examines why people lie and how we justify our lies. I would highly recommend it for anyone who works in education or who is in leadership in a work environment.
Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies by N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird
There are no easy answers to how Christians should live out their lives in a sinful world. But, this book seeks to shed some light on how it can be done. The authors argue that Christians should seek to bring about free democratic societies and stand against autocracy and nationalism (Christian or otherwise).
Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland
This book is quite long, well over 600 pages. The theory is that much of the Western world’s values and beliefs are shaped by its Christian past, regardless of whether modern societies are made up of Christians. The author traces a progression of Christian thought and action from the time of the Apostle Paul to the modern day to promote his thesis. While I do see some validity in points along his historical framework, I wonder if he is giving too much credit at times that could just as easily be assigned elsewhere.
Night by Elie Wiesel
This is a firsthand account of a survivor of the concentration camps during the Holocaust. I first read this book back in 2007, while living in Japan. At the time, I wondered how people could just stand by while authoritarian leaders grabbed power. Unfortunately, I’m currently witnessing it happen in the U.S.
Dawn by Elie Wiesel
Wiesel’s first novel. In Dawn, he explores what causes humans to choose to hate each other.
Day by Elie Wiesel
In the final book in the series, this novel tells of a survivor trying to find his humanity after suffering much. In the end the question addressed is is life worth living.
The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein
This book explores more than two centuries of the struggle for teachers in the U.S. This book is quite applicable now, as our government continues to try and gut our education system.
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
African Americans were systematically and unconstitutionally denied access to the rights and means that allowed their white counterparts to move out of poverty and into the “middle class.” This book makes a compelling case that these racist actions were not just individuals, but were state-sponsored. This book shows problems, but is light on solutions (See Just Action below).
Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law by Richard Rothstein and Lea Rothstein
This book explores possible solutions to the problems laid out in “The Color of Law” (above). I would highly recommend reading both books, to get the full scope of the issues and reasons for suggested solutions.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Trauma cannot just be overcome with the mind. Trauma affects every part of a human. This book explains how trauma goes deeper than we often realize.
The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness by Ichiro Kishimi
Having lived in Japan, I found the style in this book to be … quite Japanese. The book is written as a dialogue between a (lost?) young man and a (wise?) old philosopher. The two discuss Adlerian psychology. I found some of the ideas presented to be cringeworthy. Others, such as the idea that freedom is being disliked by other people, because they see that they cannot control you, deserve more thought.
Work: A Deep History, from the Stone Age to the Age of Robots by James Suzman
An exploratory take on how work has moved from foraging all the way to working during the time of the AI revolution.
The Invention of Yesterday: A 50,000-Year History of Human Culture, Conflict and Connection by Tamim Ansary
An interesting take on the history of humanity, by exploring the intersectionality of world events across different civilizations. I found the book interesting, however, the author flows in and out of scholarly level writing to inject mind-boggling, random personal stories. Overall, I enjoyed the book.
The Kingdom, The Power, And The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta
I listened to this book (again) because my wife and I were going to see Alberta at a Holy Post event. This book was extremely discouraging the first time through. American Evangelical Christianity is voluntarily bowing down to politicians for a seat at the table. However, on my second listen, I found more nuggets of hope than I remember from my first listen.
Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven by James Bryan Smith
This book, written by a close friend of Mullins, explores how Rich was both an insider and an outsider in the American church. If you know any of Mullins' music, this book is worth a listen.
Everyone Who is Gone is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer
An in-depth book on how the “crisis” in the U.S. now (think MS-13, “illegal immigration”, etc.) is mostly a result of past decisions by the U.S. An eye-opening look at how the U.S. has created many of the problems that the current administration is blaming on others.
