10 Books for 2023
“Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My piles of books are a mile high.
How I love them!
How I need them!
I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them.”Arnold Lobel
About three or four years ago, I made a resolution that I would read twelve books every year, one for every month. 2022 was a good year, but unfortunately I didn’t hit my goal this year. Which is okay, we’re all human. I have to even admit that most of these books were read in the second half of the year, not so much in my first half. Opa.
But as with all things, I want to “celebrate the small victories” as a friend of mine used to say, and today I present to you the ten books I read in 2023. Some were good, some were okay, and a few of them were genuinely mind-blowingly excellent.
I’ve ranked the books in a random order, and shopping links are attached in the titles for those who are interested in reading them for yourselves.
And before you’re like “wow that list of books is impressive!” please note that the key to reading a lot of things is to pick short books! I’ve noticed that with long non-fiction books, I fizzle out around the midway point. And with my attention span being the way it is nowadays, baby steps are necessary to get me back into reading.
This will also be the last newsletter for 2023, can’t wait to see you all again next year! God bless you all. <3
Chasing the Dragon
I’ve always had this urge in me to just one day pick up all of my stuff, move, and go do something crazy for Jesus. Jackie is someone who actually did this, and her life is just one wild ride as a result. I was so moved reading her testimonies and how she worked in the worst of the worst situations to bring light and salvation to those that others shunned. And let’s not get started on how the power of the Holy Spirit was truly at work within her and those in her ministry. 11/10
The Toxic War on Masculinity
Honestly this book was such an eye-opener on how we’ve gotten to this point in our culture in regards to gender and masculinity. I read it and then bought copies for all of the men at my church involved in male discipleship. Pearcy does a great job of bringing us the good news of Christ-like masculinity, as well as explaining the history of how the Industrial Revolution got us to where we are today. I cannot stop gushing about this book.
The Abolition of Sex
Different perspectives, same conclusions…
I always like to get different perspectives on subjects from a variety of people. Kara Dansky is a card-carrying feminist Democrat who’s seen what the effects & consequences the transgender movement has had, and how it actually hurts female rights. Although I don’t agree with her on everything, I see how at the end of the day, truth is truth. Would highly recommend for a more out-of-the-box view on transgender rights.
The Bomber Mafia
I’m a history buff, but military history is not usually in my wheelhouse. I do like Malcolm Gladwell’s work in how it makes one think, and I gave this book a shot when I saw it on sale. I finished it in three nights flat. Definitely a testament to Gladwell’s unique writing style. I came out of it really pondering the morality of war and the role that American played in all of this too.
The Prophetic Warrior
I wouldn’t recommend this book to just anyone, but I am putting it on this list because I know my readers and your level of spiritual maturity. Emma Stark wouldn’t necessarily be the person I would go to for good exegesis and Bible study. Her encounters with the supernatural (both angelic and demonic) are also so wild that I just put it in the category of “wow that’s crazy, not sure what I’m going to do with that, I’ll just put it in the box here and leave it be”. But what I did like about the book was her everyday prophetic and her exhortations to be the salt and light for people especially when we’re used to putting the prophetic in the “prayer meetings only” category.
Sugar: The World Corrupted
Dunno if you’ve all heard, but sugar is bad for you. And for the land. And for people groups. And just in general, bad. Absolutely a fascinating read on the history of this white powder that made empires and took down others.
Angels
He passed away earlier this year from cancer, but was a great theologian and general Christian thinker (he’s got lots of stuff on his blog with aliens too!). I like to sit down with his books in my Bible and just get little nuggets from the Scriptures that blow my mind. This one is a short and easy read on angels, and sticks close to the Scripture.
Why Revival Tarries
Ravenhill sure knows how to convict.
I read the first chapter of this book an went “WOW this is amazing!” and I will definitely say the first few pages are. Really a call to prayer and holy consecration if we want to see a move of the Spirit. I did find the rest of the book difficult to get through because he does repeat himself a lot, and his writing style isn’t my favorite, but I know others really love him!
Jane Eyre
Does a book count when it’s a repeat that you re-read every year? <3
Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Rochester’s secrets are highly problematic, but I just love Jane and her fire. And I think in the end both Jane & Mr. Rochester end up on equal footing and a marriage that’s borne out of sacrificial friendship.
Discerning the Voice of God
I was looking for a devotional to guide along my Bible reading earlier this fall, and Priscilla does a phenomenal job in this book. I had days where I felt like the Lord was speaking directly into my moment through it.
Buy it with video access here!
Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says about the Environment and why it Matters
And an honorary mention to this book, I am halfway through it but will likely not finish in time for the close of 2023. It’s a short treatise on why Christians can and should support environmental conservation. I’m actually a big proponent of this, though I have my own thoughts on what can be done and what is feasible, but I do see God giving man a mandate to steward the resources we’ve been given—whether it’s land, livestock, or even our own time.
