Being a graduate student in a competitive program and trying to read 52 books in a year are two goals that exist almost in complete opposition of each other. But I made it! Without further ado, here are my Top 10 Books of 2019:
- The Kremlin Conspiracy (Rosenberg): Joel Rosenberg earns the title of the only author I mention twice on this list. His new series follows Secret Service agent Marcus Ryker who, after enduring a terrible personal tragedy, will stop at nothing to serve his country. Even if it means conspiring in assassination.
- Lit (Reinke): This is a reference book on how to read and everyone should read it. There really is not much more I can say on it. Whether you love to read or wish you did, this book explains how we should read as Christians.
- Outliers (Gladwell): My first Malcolm Gladwell book and it made the Top 10 list. What makes successful people successful? What makes the “outliers” of our world stand out? Gladwell takes a fascinating look into the nature versus nurture debate and explains why speaking English helps prevent plane crashes.
- The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment (Challies): Okay, I’ll admit it. I thought this book was going to be good… but slow. However, the writing was incredible. This is a book that you read, savor, and read again.
- Jeeves and the King of Clubs (Schott): I love P. G. Wodehouse – with his unique style of writing and imagery. So I was suspicious of a contemporary author trying to write in his style, but Schott wrote a book that lives up to Wodehouse’s legacy in a powerful way.
- The Right Thing (Waddle): The story of the USS Greeneville has been documented and told elsewhere. What you will not find on Wikipedia is CMDR. Waddle’s unwavering faith in God and His sovereignty over every detail. What you will not read in a history book is the unending integrity of one man and his family in the face of terrible tragedy. The Lord brought him through and continues to use his testimony today. I highly recommend this autobiography of the lesser-known faith of a well-known man.
- The Persian Gamble (Rosenberg): The powerful sequel to Kremlin Conspiracy follows Marcus Ryker, who is now on the run from two countries. True to form, Rosenberg started a little slowly, but by the end of the book I could not stop reading.
- Between Life and Death (Butler): Fabulous book that covered a topic very near to my heart and mind right now. Figuring out how we as Christians are called to a career of participating in end of life care and helping restore dignity to aging populations can be a tough and heartbreaking conversation. This book was a beautiful, Gospel centered read that turned you back to the Word again and again.
- The Story People (Kaufman): I bought a used, wrinkled copy of this book without knowing anything about it and was swept into one of the sweetest stories I have ever read. This slightly old-fashioned love story of a young bookstore owner, a town set on marrying him off, and a girl with a beautiful imagination is a book I could not put down.
- Adorning the Dark (Peterson): A book about life, art, worship, purpose, and living a life that brings glory to the Lord. Peterson is a musician and writer who writes about life when creating art is your daily work.