The Books I Read in 2019
I like to wait to publish my book list for the year on the last day of the year. That’s because I need all the time I can get to finish off my books. I didn’t read as much this year as I normally do. I realize I still read a lot, but it just wasn’t a normal year. We moved in January. We welcomed our fourth child into the family in April (this time an amazing little girl). I preached and taught and wrote more than ever. So it was a busy year.
But no matter how busy I get, I can’t not read. Books are the lifeblood that keep pushing me. They help me see new things, think new thoughts, experience buried feelings, and reveal hidden aspects of life. As always, I like to read a large variety of things from fiction to nonfiction, from poetry to prose, from sports memoirs to theological treatises. The sheer variety of books in the world is one of the things that draws me in. There’s just so much to learn!
So here is my book list for 2019. I’ve listed them in the order I read them, so the ordering is not a reflection of ranking. I’ve categorized them into two large buckets—first, the best books I read this year and, second, the rest of the books I read this year. Just because they fall in the “rest” category does not mean they aren’t good and certainly doesn’t mean they might not find their way onto your best list. The best are just those I enjoyed the most throughout the year.
I hope you find something to read here in 2020!
The Best
At the beginning of the year, one of my best friends gave me a first edition copy of Vanauken’s book. Somehow, I’d never even heard of it. I soon found out it was far more popular than I realized. As I began to read, I could tell it was going to be one of the best books I read all year. It certainly lived up to the hype.
It’s a well-written love story, written as a memoir. Full of insight and wisdom, you can tell the man writing understands the gospel knows how to apply it to life.
I think I have one of Jared’s books on this list every year. That’s a testament to two things. First, Jared writes a lot. Second, all of his books are very good.
I’ve known Jared a long time—before he had a book published! As one of my best friends, it’s easy to include him on the list of my favorite reads of the year. But it’s not just because I love him. It’s because his writing deserves every top book list.
The Gospel-Driven Church is Jared’s attempt at helping others move their church from one of pragmatism to gospel-centeredness. It’s an important work. If you’re a leader in a church, it’s a must have. if you’re a part of a church, it’s a must have. If you love the church, it’s a must have.
I had heard of this book. I had been told to read this book. I had let this book sit on my shelf for years. This year, I finally picked it up and read. Why did I wait so long?
I’ve never heard a bad word about this novel. I’ve never heard anyway say, “You know, I read it and it was just okay.” I’ve never heard anything but praise. I now see why. It’s perhaps the perfect novel. The story is captivating, but it’s the way it’s told that makes it great. It’s full of intrigue and hope and suspense and surprise. It has everything a great novel must without anything it doesn’t need.
If you haven’t read it, make it a priority in 2020.
While I was reading Peace Like A River, Enger’s latest book showed up in the mailbox. I picked it up as soon as I could. To my surprise, I liked it just as much as Peace Like A River. I didn’t think I would. I was wrong.
Virgil Wander is of a different sort from Peace Like a River. It’s a character study, but not a boring one. The same excellent writing style is present here, and it gives the same feeling as you read it—as if you’re reading something that will outlast these times and reach into the next.
I was first introduced to Whitehead last year with his successful The Underground Railroad. Here, he moves ahead about 50 years in America and finds the same kind of racism alive and well. While the characters are fictional, the story is based on true events. What Whitehead does for us—especially white readers like me—is take us back in time to show us how things really were in the racist South. He does it in such a way that it’s mark is lasting. I was so enthralled in the story that I finished it as my kids rode rides at our county fair. I couldn’t put it down.
Beware. This isn’t an easy read. But it’s a necessary one.
I had bookmarked this book in 2018 when I saw it make some top book lists for novels. It intrigued me but the library copy was checked out and the wait list was long. Then i forgot about it. When I remembered it, I found several others I knew had recently read it and recommended it. So I picked it up and blazed through it. The writing is superb but it’s the story in this one that grips. It’s not an easy read (it’s about the rape of a teenage girl), so beware entering into it. But in our moment, it does a good job (I think) of showing the systems and powers that keep a story of rape under wraps for so long and the difficulty of being believed in a world that would rather protect the abuser than the victim.
Randy Alcorn is one of those writers who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. Therefore, what he says holds immense weight. His case for giving freely of your money and possessions is compelling because it comes from the Bible. He’s not trying to trick you into giving money to his ministry. He’s not trying to guilt you into giving more than you should away. He’s trying to help you see that the path to joy in Christ includes sacrificial giving, and that’s not a new secret; it’s an ancient one. My wife and I have talked about this book often throughout the year and are re-working our lifestyle to see what changes we can make.
As a freshman in college, I would take long drives. In Lexington, Kentucky, there is a lot of open space. Where was I going all those nights? Nowhere, really. I wasn’t trying to arrive; I was going because I couldn’t stay where I was. I was looking for a place to be, knowing the place I was wasn’t it.
Have you been there? The 4th century Bishop of Hippo, Saint Augustine, has. He didn’t have a car, but that didn’t stop him from going, and he has something to say to all who wander.
That is what James K.A. Smith wants us to see in his latest book, On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts. He wants to hop in the car with us, but he’s bringing a friend along for the ride. And he’s not just any friend. He’s “a prodigal who’s already been where you think you need to go” (xi).
Read the rest of my review of this book at For the Church here.
I’ve loved Andrew Peterson’s music for a long time. His ability for writing a song is second to none. And he’s no newbie to writing books either. But this one is something different for him because it’s an exploration of the ins and outs of creativity rather than a creative result. His humility shines through it all. He’s a man whose career proves he knows what he’s talking about, but even if it didn’t, this is the kind of book anyone would want on their shelf. I found in him a friend—someone i could resonate with, someone with whom I felt could spend many good hours with me talking around the coffee table.
This is one of those books I’ll re-visit, and with as many books as there are to read in the world, onyl a few rise to the level of re-visit-worthy.
It took me some time to get through this book. Not because it wasn’t well written—it is. Not because it was boring—it’s not. It took me a while because it’s so heavy. If you’re not familiar with Rachael’s story, read a bit about it here. This is a book for our times, one that should be required reading. It’s honest without being sensational. It’s saturated with the gospel and its implications for survivors of sexual abuse and the call to bring justice into the world.
Here’s a book you’ll want on your shelves if for no other reason than to remind you that our current moment isn’t the only important one. As an Evangelical, this book helped me reach back in time to church history to find common friends who wrestled with many of the same things we wrestle with today. It’s so easy to disconnect ourselves from the past thinkers, but that is to distant ourselves from the blessings of God that they were. We need retrieval. And we need it more today than perhaps ever before. Gavin gives us a road map here.
I’ve been working on creating and cultivating good habits in my life for a long time. And I’ve come a long way. Of course, there is still room to grow, and that’s why this book is here. James Clear understands the power of habits. What he gives here is a sound set of reasons to change your life by changing your habits. At this time of year, when we’re all setting resolutions and thinking about what we want to do and accomplish next year, the key to getting from here to there is habits. Change small things—atomic things—and make a big impact. I’ve found that to be true in my life, but when it comes time for goal-setting, i rarely think about the little things that need to change for the big thing to come to pass. Well, this book helps me see how foolish that is and gives me a new hope to accomplishing all that I desire.
It’s hard to find many people today who aren’t affected by anxiety and/or depression. For the past five years or so, I have been afflicted with anxiety. It’s better now, because I’ve been working on it, but it wasn’t always so. I’ve been paralyzed by it. I’ve not wanted to get out of bed or go to bed because of it. I’ve been worried over and fixated on small things that in the end don’t matter at all but in the moment feel like the only thing in the world. J.P. Moreland has been there too. This book is a gift to all who struggle. It’s not self-help. It’s God-help. His insights are based on the Bible and where he brings in so-called “secular” insights, he shows how they’re a gift we can gladly accept. If you struggle with anxiety or depression or someone you know does, here’s the book to buy.
I was too young to watch Larry and Magic play. Their classic NCAA finals game happened before I was born. They both won an NBA Finals before I was born. By the time of the Dream Team in 1992, both were on the back-end of their careers. So I grew up a Jordan kid. Forever, the epitome of basketball greatness is the image of His Airness. But I also knew Larry and Magic were great players. I just didn’t ever really know their stories until this book. Since then, I’ve been teaching my two basketball-playing boys about them. We’ve watched YouTube videos of highlights. I’ve stopped clicking through the TV channels as I see Larry or Magic on NBA TV talking about the glory days. If you don’t know much about how great they were, this book seems to do it justice. It’s enjoyable to read and one of those rare sports memoirs that are worth your time.
I saw one of my friends post something about this book a while ago, so I picked it up and started reading. What I found inside was sooooo good. I was amazed I hadn’t heard anyone else talking about it. Then all the book lists for 2019 hit the internet and suddenly I realized this book was like the best-kept secret of the year. It’s filled with practical wisdom about pastoring. Never having gone to seminary and having only on-the-job training, as it were, I found this book to be both an affirmation of the duty and an encouragement to go deeper into the job. Shepherding God’s people is not easy; it is glorious.
The Rest
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