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My Favorite Reads from 2021-2023

On June 24, 2024 by Chad Stuart With 0 Comments - Books and Reading

“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” – J.K. Rowling

The last blog I posted was on December 20, 2020. I’m unsure if the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 ended my writing, or if the extreme issues we were facing—issues I was writing and preaching about (and taking hits for) in 2020—took the incentive to write out of my heart. Maybe it was because I was writing my doctorate, or perhaps the simplest reason is that I was just lazy. But after that 2020 post, I stopped writing.

Well, hopefully, I’m back. I won’t make any guarantees or extreme commitments like I have done in the past (which I failed to complete), but I want to write more. Thus, I’ll state the obvious: starting is necessary to accomplish the goal of writing more.

Today, I want to pick up where I left off by giving you a list of books I have read since my last list—and last blog in 2020. So without further ado…

My Favorite Books from 2021-23 (In no particular order)

Secular Non-Fiction

Deep Work by Cal Newport
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
These two books by Cal Newport have had a profound impact on how I live and work.
Running to the Edge by Matthew Futterman
Romney: A Reckoning by McKay Coppins
I was very surprised at how much I liked this biography. Biographies of the living are usually lacking, but Romney was so cooperative and willing to be judged and critiqued by Coppins that the book has an honesty that is almost always missing in biographies of living people.
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
I waited many years to read this amazing book, but I finally did, and it is in my top five presidential biographies.
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
Also one of my top five presidential biographies. This book is amazing, with a conciseness that is often lacking in many history books!

Secular Fiction

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
This book is a novel, not a Christian book, and not one I am necessarily recommending for everyone. My blog is about my favorite books, not recommended books, and this Pulitzer Prize winner is great writing!
New York by Edward Rutherfurd
London by Edward Rutherfurd
In 2022, I started reading Rutherfurd. I started with New York and London. I’ve yet to enjoy his subsequent books as much as these, but New York and London are both excellent works of historical fiction. Part of my enjoyment of these books comes from my love for these cities, and watching the streets I’ve walked many times develop under Rutherfurd’s descriptive words and storytelling is a delight.
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
A disturbing novel written amazingly!
Plainsong
Eventide
Benediction (all) by Kent Haruf
I love this series, but the best of the three is Plainsong.

Christian Fiction

Project Sunlight by June Strong
I read this book when I was a kid, and I read it again recently. I still like it. Even though it is fiction, I believe that the beliefs I hold from the Bible will result in similar events as described in this book at the end of time.

Christian Non-Fiction

Paul: A Biography by N.T. Wright
Fan the Flame by Jim Cymbala
Cymbala’s writing on prayer and the Holy Spirit is worth every word read.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Live No Lies (both) by John Mark Comer
Powerful books!
A Non-Anxious Presence by Mark Sayers
I discovered Mark Sayers through reading John Mark Comer. Both Comer and Sayers are brilliant and gifted writers!

Some Books from 2020

On December 20, 2020 by Chad Stuart With 0 Comments - Books and Reading, Uncategorized

I don’t want to label this a top ten list and make it sound like I read enough books to have a realistic top ten list. So these are just some books that I read in the past twelve months that I enjoyed, I learned from, or I was challenged by.

Letters to the Church by Francis Chan –I marked this book’s pages more than any other I’ve read this year or in a long time. His critique of what has become “church” for most of us was a jolt to my convictions that I needed to read.
The Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax –I’m a parent, so I try to learn about being a better parent. This book was challenging. It confronts the friend approach that many parents take in our modern-day and age. It spoke to that truth I know in my heart: that my job is not to entitle my children but to train them to be adults that can survive and be successful in this world.
Born Again This Way by Rachel Gilson –Rachel Gilson talks about Rachel’s journey of being a same-sex attracted woman while living by the Bible’s principles. This is one of the clearest treatises on this topic I have ever read. But this book went beyond addressing just one group’s “sin” I was confronted in my sin also and encouraged by the hope we can all have through the power of Jesus!
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates –This book is one that many could argue with as they read. I chose to set cultural and racial defensiveness aside and learn from another’s perspective. I’m glad I did. (*language).
Creating Community by Andy Stanley –During COVID, I became convicted that, as Ellen White said, small groups are a method that “cannot fail.” So I did some small group reading. Of the small group “method” books out there, this is one of the better ones I’ve read.
Re:Vision by Aubrey Malphurs and Gordon Penfold –I’m about two years in and two chapters into my doctoral degree, and this was one of the books assigned to me in my core curriculum. I loved it. But you should know almost everyone else in my class hated it. I can’t tell you why; it just rubbed them wrong. It smacked me and encouraged me to take more ownership of where and how I’m leading the people God has called me to lead. By the way, my doctorate is examining leadership in relationship to church revitalization, so this book is about church revitalization.
Running the Dream by Matt Fitzgerald –I just love reading about distance running! (*language)

And here are a few titles I’ve started in 2020 and will hopefully finish in 2021:

James Madison: A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney
Paul: A Biography by N.T. Wright
Myth of Christian Nation by Gregory Boyd
Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon
Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands

What have you read in 2020 and what are you reading in 2021?

Build Your Library Part 1

On April 9, 2020 by Chad Stuart With 0 Comments - Books and Reading

So over the last two+ years, I have been pursuing my Doctor of Ministry degree with an emphasis on church revitalization at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Inevitably such a pursuit requires a lot of reading, and because I have a moment of quiet and it is better than Netflix and Chill, I decided to share with you the books I have enjoyed reading for my DMin thus far. There are numerous books I have not appreciated, so I won’t recommend those to you. Now please note most of these are not casual reading books, so unless reading church and theology books are your jam, don’t run out and buy all of these.

Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church, by Gregg Allison

The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love, by Jonathan Leeman

Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches, by Mark Clifton

Our Iceberg is Melting, by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber

There’s Hope for Your Church, by Gary McIntosh

Repentance: The First Word of the Gospel, by Richard Owen Roberts

Comeback Churches, by Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson

Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches, by John Hammett

Can These Bones Live? A Practice Guide to Church Revitalization, by Bill Henard

Prayer: Experiencing the Awe and Intimacy with God, by Timothy Keller

Re:Vision: The Key to Transforming Your Church, by Aubrey Malphurs and Gordon Penfold

On Being a Pastor: Understanding Our Call and Work, by Derek Prime and Alistair Begg