Books add light and color and sound to a black and white world. I wrote two full books in 2024, which will appear over the next year or two, and worked on a couple of others. Reading good books fuels my writing.
According to GoodReads I'm currently reading 23 books at once. That's not exactly true, of course. Some of them I've abandoned, with no plans to finish. Others are waiting for the topic to resurface or for space in my schedule. Piles of 3 or 4 books sit patiently on my bedside table, the table by the couch, the table by my favorite chair, or on my desk.
I finished reading 41 books this year. The fact that I finished them meant each one held my attention until the end. I'm giving you my top 20 of the year here, loosely categorized. The six starred and bolded books below occupied my thoughts long after I finished reading them. These came up again and again in conversation or in the classroom as the things I learned from these authors worked their way into my way of seeing the world.
I'm not making any money telling you about these books, and I haven't included sales links to any big box stores or online stores. I would encourage you to reach out to an independent bookseller (such as Hearts and Minds Books in the USA or Regent Bookstore or Three Hills Books in Canada) or buy directly from the publishers whenever possible. Not only do authors benefit more that way, but you also contribute to real human-to-human interaction.
Biography
I attempted to go to Mt. Sinai this year multiple times. Each attempt ended unsuccessfully, but I haven't given up yet! In the meantime, Soskice's gripping story of twin sisters who traveled to Sinai in the 1800s multiple times put my troubles in perspective.
A Burning in my Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson, by Winn Collier (Waterbrook)
Collier's biography of Eugene Peterson got me reading more in the vein of pastoral ministry, which was refreshing. I loved hearing more of Eugene's story! He was the translator of The Message, as well as a pastor and professor.
Fiction
According to Austin Carty (in The Pastor's Bookshelf--another great read this year!), fiction is important for those who speak and teach and write. I read 11 books in this category. Here are my top two:
**Andy Catlett: Early Travels, by Wendell Berry (Counterpoint)
This year I dove headlong into Wendell Berry's fiction. My favorite by far was Andy Catlett, which I found so endearing that I began working on my own memoir. Berry's fictional narrator is a man in his 70s who is looking back on his first solo trip to see both sets of grandparents. He reminisces about their way of life. The older we become, the more our memories capture an era that no longer exists.
Love Big, Be Well: Letters to a Small-Town Church, by Winn Collier (Eerdmans)
Collier's fictional letters from a pastor to his small-town congregation was similarly endearing. It reshaped my vision of what pastoral ministry ought to be.
Non-Fiction (Based on Sociological Research)
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness, by Jonathan Haidt (Penguin)
Neither Davis and Graham nor Haidt was fun to read. Both books are sobering, but both also offer hope for a way forward. I'm thankful for their careful research and analysis of our current moment.
Theological Reflection on Social Issues
Subversive Witness: Scripture's Call to Leverage Privilege, by Dominique DuBois Gilliard (Zondervan)
Both Campbell and Gilliard offer perceptive social commentary from a Christian perspective. Both seek to empower us to love our neighbors well, moving beyond stereotypes to loving action for the sake of others. Campbell shares practical strategies for bridging the divide in families and churches between those who consider themselves to be Christian nationalists and those who do not. Gilliard offers insightful readings of biblical texts to encourage readers to consider how we can work on behalf of others.
Old Testament Studies
Hogue's approach to the Ten Commandments differs from mine, but he made me think about them in new ways, which is saying something! I've spent over 10 years studying these texts, and now I'm looking at them from a new angle. While I don't buy his entire approach to the origins of the biblical text, I am eager to apply what I learned from him to new passages. Hogue sees Exodus 20 and its context functioning as a literary equivalent to a stone monument. His approach explains some of the anomalies of the biblical text.
**Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors, by Michelle K. Keener (IVP)
Michelle Keener has a previous career as a novelist, but here makes her debut into the world of biblical studies. Having recently completed a PhD in Old Testament, Keener offers fresh perspective for those who have experienced trauma or who walk with those who have. Her book taught me much about trauma and helped me to see Job in a new light. I'm grateful for her work!
New Testament Studies
For those who want to learn more from the global church, this is a good place to start. Wu offers thoughtful reflections on Romans interwoven with his own stories of suffering.
Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire, by Scot McKnight (Baylor)
McKnight's thesis is simple, but profound. He argues that the apostle Paul's exposition in his letter to the Romans should be understood in light of his exhortation in the second half of the book. To pay attention to the actions and attitudes he wants to see on display in the church (via chapters 12-16 of Romans) is the key to unlocking his message in the first eleven chapters of the book. Brilliant!
McNutt unveils baseless rumors about Mary Magdalene and examines more closely what the Bible actually says about her. The book is engaging and illuminating.
**Misreading Scripture through Individualist Eyes: Patronage, Honor, and Shame in the Biblical World, by E. Randolph Richards and Richard James (IVP)
This illuminating look at culture in the first century would be great as a textbook for undergraduate students (or even high school students), but I would recommend it for laypeople as well who want to understand the Bible better. I plan to assign it to my Biola students next year for a class on Bible Backgrounds. It's a shorter and more accessible introduction to the same concepts treated in deSilva (below). In my view, it's stronger than Richards' previous volume, Misreading Scripture through Western Eyes.
Textbooks
This is a solid introduction to four central pillars of first-century culture. I read it with my students earlier this year and found it very helpful. The length is a bit daunting for undergraduates, so I plan to assign Richards next year (above), but deSilva would work well for graduate students. He's a well-respected scholar and great communicator.
How to Study the Bible's Use of the Bible: Seven Hermeneutical Choices for the Old and New Testaments, by Matthew S. Harmon and Gary Edward Schnittjer (Zondervan)
Harmon and Schnittjer advance the study of quotations and allusions in the Bible by identifying key hermeneutical choices an interpreter must make as they wrestle with the text. This is not an introductory textbook, but will be a wonderful resource for advanced students.
Theology
My biggest surprise this year were these captivating works of theology. I often find it hard to vibe with theology books because I'm prefer to study particular biblical texts. However, each of these were truly illuminating and have stayed with me since I read them.
Whitaker explores the possibility of diverse embodiment in the new creation. Her thesis is intriguing and she does an admirable job of considering all the angles.
***Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship, by John Swinton (Baylor)
Swinton helped me to see how our society values speed, and how our obsession with efficiency prevents us from walking well with those who are aging or disabled. Slowing down to walk with those who cannot keep up the pace is an essential discipleship practice.
Root was an absolute delight to read. I couldn't put the book down and finished it in a single weekend. He offers a profound vision for the church as a community of those who gather to wait for the transcendent God to break into our world and do what none of us can do for ourselves. So many churches try to grow by employing market-savvy business strategies, but our true purpose is to bear witness to a God who stands outside of our systems. You'll see echoes of his work throughout my new book, which comes out in 2025 (Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters).
Christmas: The Season of Life and Light, by Emily Hunter McGowin (IVP)
McGowin's work on Christmas is deep but engaging. She avoids syrupy sentimentalism on the one hand and a war-on-Christmas on the other hand, helping readers to appreciate the significance behind our beloved traditions. She stares into the darkness of our world and illuminates it with the good news of the incarnation. Highly recommended!
When I'm not reading, I'm usually writing. If you'd like to see a list of the books I've written, check out the home page of my blog here. If you've read this far, you are likely a reader, too. What's the best book you read in 2024? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
