What Are You Reading?
It’s almost here, fellow nerds: summer book season, where we load up our Kindles or stuff our beach bags full of the latest, the greatest, or just those that are in the pile we need to catch up on.
I have a woeful amount in that last category, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t be convinced to add one more to the pile.
So my question for you today: what’s the best book you’ve read in the past year? As I’m assembling my list for the summer, I’d like to know what’s been on yours.
Comment below, or send me an email, or let me know on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
My 2nd favorite Danny Franks post I look forward to every year! Here we go: I’ve been on quite a Tolkien kick for several months (actually since junior high, a looong time ago!), with an ambitious year-long goal: completing the “History of Middle-earth” – 12 volumes plus index. Easily sidetracked when diving into Tolkien because of the depth and breadth of his work, and have uncovered a bunch of new works by other authors commenting on Tolkien; from that list “ The Making of Middle-earth” by Christopher Snyder.
Of note in recent months: “Subversive Sabbath,” Swododa; “Liberty’s Grid,” Alexander; Learning to Love the Midlife,” Conley; “The Art & Science of Connection,” Killam; “Finding Your Third Place,” Kyte; and finally, the requisite Disney book – a very tough choice as there are so many good ones out there (with more coming) – “Before the Birds Sang Words,” Bruce.
My first favorite Bob Adams comment every year! These look great!
Hi Danny. The best book I’ve read in the past year was The Democratization of American Christianity by Nathan Hatch. It’s a classic of American religious history during the period 1790-1860. It focused on five movements and their leaders which rose to prominence in the period. If you want an in-depth theological companion piece, check out Mark Noll’s America’s God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln.
The best book I’ve read since Christmas was There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” and the End of the Heartland by Steven Hyden. But I’m a huge Springsteen fan and that love began with this album when I was in elementary and middle school, so this book really spoke to me. It backs up some to cover how Bruce came to the make the album, how it’s been received over time, and its impact on Bruce’s career and American rock music.
Now those are two interesting titles. Thanks Ken!