My Favorite Books of the Year
One thing I love about December are all the “Best of the Year” lists. In the past week, a lot people have been blogging about their favorite books of this year.
Here’s 3 books that are not only my favorites, but are shaping the way I think about faith, church, and the like:
1. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (Donald Miller) – It’d be easy to write this book off as cliff notes for Robert McKee’s Story, or as a really good self-help book … if it weren’t for the fact that what Miller is talking about is a wholesale change in one’s worldview. After reading the book, I found it almost impossible not to view my life as a story, and wonder how it could be a better one.
2. Always Looking Up (Michael J. Fox) – In Fox’s second book, he not only tells the story of his recent efforts to find a cure for Parkinson’s, but how his family and faith have balanced and infused that work. I’m always inspired by people doing work that matters, and even more so when they’re trying to live a life that matters, too.
3.The Great Emergence (Phyllis Tickle) – I’m only half done with this book, but she’d have to screw up the second half pretty bad for it to come back off this list. I think Phyllis Tickle is one of the voices who can speak to the broad spectrum of the Church, re-assuring us all that recent changes and upheaval within the Church are nothing new, but something to be welcomed.
What are the best books you’ve read this year?
12/08/2009 at 8:52 am
Interesting I’ll have to check them out; particularly the one by Michael J. Fox. I’ve always liked his work.
12/08/2009 at 9:07 am
I LOVE hearing about good books. Thank you, thank you!
http://www.theprettyproject.com
12/08/2009 at 10:35 am
I also love to hear some book suggestions. I’m not usually a non-fiction girl but would love to hear more about Michael J Fox, will have to look out for his books thank you.
One of my favourite books of the year was The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale which is both fiction/fact as its based on a real murder case.
12/08/2009 at 11:25 am
My favorite bookis RE-configuration by Olga Altstatt.
The author is promoting idea that the YOUNG GENERATION should be in the government.
12/08/2009 at 3:53 pm
It’s time of the year for me too! “The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher” has to be up there on my favourite non-fiction read this year.
12/08/2009 at 6:21 pm
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12/08/2009 at 6:23 pm
OK – thanks for your quick 3. Here’s mine:
1. The Accidental Guerrilla, Fighting Small Wars in the Middle of a Big One – by David Kilcullen: Excellent & readable front line experience and strategy about counter insurgency in Iraq, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Thailand. He’s an Australian, but advises the Pentagon, so an insight into new US military thinking. More on it here http://wp.me/pDjed-1u
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest – Stieg Larsson: It’s a trilogy, and I admit I have only read the first two. But they’re great thrillers. Set in Sweden, with a distinctive heroine Lisbeth Salander.
(The personal story behind the ongoing row over who gets the money from these bestsellers is fascinating too.)
3. The Last Days of Newgate – Andrew Pepper: I’m halfway through this and loving it. A thriller set in 1829 in London and Ireland. The Newgate in the title is the notorious Newgate prison. The anti-hero is a compelling villain with occasional bursts of conscience – or should that be the other way round?
Great historical interest also in the low life and geopolitics of this period of history for England and Ireland.
12/08/2009 at 9:03 pm
hi, im dila..
well, unlike u, i read Indonesian books, of course coz im indonesian. frankly, i’ve been reading for good English novel entitled THE JAVA MAN, but it’s difficult to me understanding much words in english.. or just say, im lazy to read english book, unless it’s forced.
12/09/2009 at 12:56 am
I have been meaning to read Michael J. Fox’s book. Now that you have given it such a good review I shall have to read it soon. Maybe during my winter break I will give it a try (I’m in college
)
12/09/2009 at 4:33 am
Good idea. My favorite was Letters to a young poet by Reine Maria Rilke. Try it, I think you would enjoy it. Its a very inspiring book for young artists.
12/09/2009 at 5:57 am
I’ll have to look at the “The Great Emergence”–thanks for the post.
12/09/2009 at 6:25 am
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years is a great book
thanks for the post
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