One of my goals for my 3-month renewal leave was to commit significant time to substantive reading. Though I didn’t have a specific goal for how many books I intended to read, I did have a large stack I thought I “might” read, which grew throughout my leave. In the end, I finished 25 books! Admittedly, I started several before my leave began. But, there are also several I’ve started but haven’t yet finished – so I consider that variance a draw.
In case you’re interested, here’s what I read…
1.Maria Bowler’s Making Time: A New Vision for Crafting a Life Beyond Productivity
Maria Bowler is Kate Bowler’s sister, for those know Kate’s work. Making Time was good, worth reading, but not exceptional.
2. Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette’s King, Warrior, Magician, Love: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine ― A Classic Jungian Psychology Guide to Shadow Work
This has been on my shelf for a while. Moore and Gillette dig into the Jungian male psychological shadow types. It is dated and VERY specifically Jungian, and male-centered. But, I learned a few things and reflected even more.
3. Joshua Becker’s The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Love
My wife and I read and discuss books when we go on cruises, and this was one of two we read together. Admittedly, my wife was more interested in the topic of “simplifying” than I was. And, admittedly, the book provided good fodder for discussions about our (my) “stuff”, especially was we look to our future. But, the book isn’t great.
4. Martin Shaw’s Liturgies of the Wild: Myths That Make Us
I found this book exceptionally well written, engaging and challenging. Shaw combines the power of traditional storytelling, the power of myth, and his personal life and faith. I highly recommend this one!
5. Allen Hunt and Matthew Kelly’s The Fourth Quarter: Embracing What Matters Most
This is the second book my wife and I read on the cruise, and our favorite of the two. It is a combination book/workbook, giving us lots to think about and discuss. The premise of the book is that our lifetimes can be understood in two-decade-long quarters, the “fourth quarter” being between our 60th and 80th years. They suggest every year we live beyond 80 is a bonus. My wife and I became grandparents this year, and turn 59 this month, so the next “quarter” is very much on our mind. This was excellent for us!
6. Maj Djikic’s The Possible Self: A Leader’s Guide to Personal Development
Djikic leads the reader through a deep dive into a personal understanding of what drives the choices we make, personally and as leaders, and the true wants we are seeking to fulfill. This one was highly recommended to me – now I highly recommend it to you.
7. Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library
I enjoy fiction, but tend to only read fiction before bedtime. For the last year, that’s meant I’ve only read a few pages per night, which makes for the slow reading of a novel. Though not a classic, and probably intended for a younger audience, I enjoyed The Midnight Library’s thoughtful exploration of the choices we make in life, for good or ill, and their outcomes.
8. Thomas Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation
This is at least my second reading of New Seeds, from cover to cover. It was already one of the top favorite, most influential books I’ve read, and continues to be.
9. Rachel Naomi Remen’s My Grandfather’s Blessing: Stories of Strength, Refuge and Belonging
Remen was deeply impacted by her Hassidic Jewish Rabbi grandfather, who died when she was only seven years old. The book shares many of the lessons she learned from him, as well as many she has learned since. A kind friend gave me this book shortly after I became a grandfather, and it has certainly made me think about who I want to be for my grandchildren, as well as many other great spiritual lessons.
10. James K.A. Smith’s Make Your Home In This Luminous Dark: Mysticism, Art, and the Path of Unknowing
The title captured me. Spiritually, few things entice me more than mysticism, art and “unknowing.” The book is theologically deep, academically written and thought provoking. Some of the specific references to “art” were not familiar to me, too long, and – frankly – a little boring. But, overall, a worthy read for my fellow mystics.
11. Jon Kabit-Zinn’s Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment and Your Life
For those interested in mindfulness and looking for a basic introduction, this is an easy read. The book is a series of one or two page chapters on a variety of mindfulness-related topics – more like short devotions. I think I would have appreciated the book more if the ideas were grouped as longer, more complete thoughts.
12. Ronald Rolheiser’s Insane for the Light: A Spirituality for Our Wisdom Years
Insane for the Light is about the spirituality of aging. As I’ve already said, this is a topic I’m thinking about at this moment of my life. I’m also increasing intrigued by the topic of wisdom, and sincerely hope I am growing in wisdom.
13. The Cloud of Unknowing
This is probably the second time I have read this spiritual classic. I suspect I understand it better now than the last time I read it. But, the spiritual/theological concepts are complex, and the 14th Century English is difficult to decipher.
14. Tom Kelley’s The Ten Faces of Innovation: Strategies for Heightening Creativity
For many years, Kelley led a design firm called IDEO. As I think about re-imagining Church for the 21st Century, Kelley’s books have been helpful instruction.
15. Debra Rienstra’s Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth
Rienstra is a Presbyterian theologian who advocates for Christian efforts to address our environmental crisis. Paraphrasing, Rienstra basically wonders how worshippers of the “Creator” can demonstrate so little concern for the state of creation. Though the crisis is too big for any one person, or family, or congregation, Reinstra advocates for the cumulative value of many smaller environmentally protected “refugias” – in our yards, churches, communities. I’m in!
16. Huston Smith’s The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great Tradition
Smith is a respected academic researcher of Christianity. In The Soul of Christianity, Smith summarizes the fundamentals of the Christian traditions of Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism. I found it fairly basic.
17. Peter Gomes’ The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus
I first became aware of Gomes – a long-time Harvard Chaplain and professor – when he preached at Duke Divinity School when I was a student. He may have spent part of a sabbatical with us. I found this book at a used bookstore during my leave, and knew I was reading too many white, male authors. I’m glad Gomes became one of the influential voices of my renewal leave studies.
18. Sue Monk Kidd’s First Light: The Early Inspirational Writings
This too was an unexpected used book store find. First Light is a compilation of Kidd’s early writings – many of them are short-ish submissions to various magazines and journals. They are mostly good, but I favor Kidd’s later writings.
19. Vik Muniz’s Reflex: A Vik Muniz Primer
I bought this at the Orlando Public Library book sale, with absolutely no idea who Muniz was/is. Admittedly, I judged a book by it’s cover and the discount price! From time to time, I pick up interesting-looking books, just to explore new topics and ideas. Muniz is Brazilian and a modern artist/photography. It was… interesting.
20. William Meninger’s The Process of Forgiveness
Meninger was Trappist Catholic monk and a widely respected spiritual teacher/author. This book was recommended to me and a timely read. For anyone struggling with forgiving, this is a helpful guide.
21. John Mark Comer’s The Garden City: Work, Rest and the Art of Being Human
Comer is an effective young Christian author, in the style of a young Rob Bell, for a young Christian audience. Though our ministries are very different and our theology differs on some points, I appreciated the book and appreciate that young Christians have someone like Comer writing for them.
22. Matt Miofsky and Jason Byassee’s 8 Virtues of Rapidly Growing Churches
Obviously, this book is about institutional Church growth, which is a topic I used to read more, but haven’t spent much time with recently. As this is a book I will be discussing with the leaders of my church, I will refrain from saying more here.
23. Maggie Jackson’s Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure
I chose this book based on the title, and my belief in the spiritual value of wisdom, wonder, and uncertainty. Though not spiritual, and a dense academically, it still spoke to some of my personal spiritual/theological convictions, and more.
24. Avery Brookes’ Hidden in Plain Sight: The Practice of Christian Meditation
Ok. I confess. As I approached the last week of my leave, I realized I was close to reading 25 books. So, I found two on my shelves that were a bit shorter. Hidden in Plain Sight is a solid introduction to Christian Meditation. Brookes offers a good summary of the history of Christian meditation, some basic instruction, and the influence of Eastern religious practices on Western religion.
25. Sydney Bank’s The Enlightened Gardener Revisited
I literally found this in a dumpster. As a gardener who hopes to be “enlightened,” I thought it might be a good read. It was ok. It has zero to do with gardening. It espouses a pseudo-psychological-spiritual philosophy of life from the fictional mouth a wise, retired gardener to a pair of modern psychologists.
That’s it. That’s my 25. I’m also currently reading, but have not finished…
- John LeCarre’s The Night Manager
- Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s Think Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can Change the World One Smart Innovation at a Time
- Pema Chodron’s Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World
- Elliot Stein’s Custodian’s of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping The Alive
ADDENDUM: After writing and publishing this post, I discovered another book I forgot to record. So, I actually read 26 books! I also read and enjoyed Makoto Fujimura’s Art is: A Journey Into the Light. Fujimura is a Japanese-American artist, author, theologian and devoted follower of Jesus. I recommend all of his books!
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