My 2024 Q1 Reading List
Below are the books that I read during the first three months of this year -
¾ of them are books that I would label as must-reads and/or that I will personally read again.
5 out of the 12 were recommended to me by some of you! Thank you!
2024 Book 1: Undone by Michele Cushatt
Michele’s vulnerability and transparency about her experiences with fear, doubt, insecurity, and anger in some of the biggest areas of life: marriage, parenting, and health, is something we need more of. Her stories help me to know I’m not the only one who experiences disappointment with life and my relationships. I’ve read and listened to Undone and highly recommend the audio version so that you can hear her beautiful singing voice.
2024 Book 2: Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation by Collin Hansen
A fantastic biography that I will re-read. Since it came out just a couple of months before Keller passed away, I’m really hoping for an updated/expanded version that will include more about his personal life as husband, father, grandfather, etc. ICYMI: Last year I shared about the books of his that I had read up to the point of his passing.
2024 Book 3: The Critical Journey by Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich
Corey’s counselor recommended this book to us several times before I finally purchased it and started reading it. And for the first 113 pages I kept wondering why he spoke so highly of it, and then on page 114 it all became clear! The authors do a thorough and insightful job of defining and describing the journey of spiritual formation, which they say is “deceptively simple and at the same time highly complex.” For those who are experiencing something akin to the “dark night of the soul”, an existential crisis or a mid-life crisis, this book will be helpful and enlightening.
2024 Book 4: Cultural Counterfeits by Jen Oshman
Jen confronts promises that our society has made to us that have left us exhausted and lost. I appreciated her analysis of the promises, but I really appreciated her guidance of what we do in the face of those promises – her guidance deserves further attention. I read her book Enough About Me, last year – it is a must-read for women who find themselves exhausted, burnt out, and struggling.
2024 Book 5: Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey
Wow! I could not put this one down! Philip shares stories from the lives of 13 people (many of whom we would label as well-known) and how they impacted his journey of faith. I was inspired and encouraged and will certainly re-read this one again.
2024 Book 6: The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan
This is one of the dozen or so books that I re-read every year or two. Mark’s stories and metaphors are rich and meaningful, and his prose is poetic and moving. The wisdom he shares re-centers my heart and soul, each and every time.
2024 Book 7: Soul Keeping by John Ortberg
A wonderful primer and guide for those who think they may be out of touch with their true nature. I loved his re-telling of his conversations with Dallas Willard and the lessons learned through them.
2024 Book 8: Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller
One of the top reasons that more people either don’t believe in God or turn their back on God is because of pain and suffering. Keller does not shy away from this very difficult conversation and wades in deeply to the philosophical and theological underpinnings, as well as the ‘rubber meets the road’ pragmatic elements. This is one of those books that I label as transformational and life changing, and is one that I will re-read.
2024 Book 9: Culture Making by Andy Crouch
I read this over 10 years ago and wanted to read it again because of how significantly our culture has shifted over the last 8 years. Andy’s words spoke to the disappointment that I have about our broader culture, and helped me to regain hopefulness, especially when thinking about how each of us can greatly impact our local cultures.
2024 Book 10: Strings Attached by Joanne Lipman and Melanie Kupchynsky
A wonderful biography about a music teacher in New Jersey. I was moved to tears several times as I was reminded what a lasting impact some of my teachers have had on my life.
2024 Book 11: A Non-Anxious Presence by Mark Sayers
I have read dozens, if not a couple hundred books on leadership - most of which would have been better off as brief articles. But occasionally, there is one that is truly visionary, thought-provoking, and challenging – one that causes me to question my assumptions and ideologies – Mark’s book fits in this category. Though it was written for a Christian leadership audience, its applicability is far broader, and its assertions could change leadership philosophy and methodology for the remainder of the 21st century. This is a must-read for everyone in a leadership role, including small business owners.
2024 Book 12: Jesus the King by Timothy Keller
You may have heard the name Jesus, but do you actually know who he was and is, and why his life and death are important to over 3 billion people? Keller does a masterful job of helping us to get to know The King of the Jews, and to understand why it matters that we know him. A must-read for anyone who considers themselves to be a Christian and for any who are searching for meaning in life.
You can always find my reading lists from previous years here.
Each year I publish this list with the hope that you’ll find a couple that are helpful to you and that you’ll commit to personal development through reading.
What biography/memoir, spiritual development, soul care, or cultural thought-leadership book do I need to add to my must-read list?
