2024 Reading List (3 of 4)

The third reading list post of the year usually begins with me talking about how the brutal heat in Arizona has finally turned, and we are finally enjoying the weather. Except Arizona is acting like a jilted ex and decided to keep three-digit temperatures going way longer than it has any right to do. I don't even know what Fall means anymore.

Nonetheless, the calendar tells me we are indeed through 3/4 of the year, and thus, it is time for a check-in on the yearly reading list.

Below are the 76 books I have read so far this year. Click the link on any title to see the Amazon link for it. Books 49-76 are new since my last reading update.

1. Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes: I was stoked to read what is considered the first great novel, but ultimately, I couldn't fall in love with the story. It's humorous sometimes, but it felt far too redundant without ever going anywhere.
2. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom: My son read this for a class and I decided to read it after him. I found this book sadly beautiful and it offers a meaningful look at dying.
3. Where'd You Park Your Spaceship by Rob Bell: This book is weird and totally different from other Rob books and I'm here for it. The characters' conversations are even more profound than the unique story Rob puts them in.
4. Know My Name by Chanel Miller: It's not a fun read but incredibly moving and much-needed. I found myself tearing up numerous times. Chanel writes about her experience of being sexually assaulted on a college campus by a high-profile athlete. 
5. Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder: I read this book many years ago and decided to revisit it. It holds up. A great creative look at the history of philosophy.
6. The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann: This was my twelfth read through the book and the first for 2024.
7. Worst Ideas Ever by Daniel B. Kline: This was a fun read exploring cultural flops. The book is nine years old at this point and I would have loved more recent examples.
8. Wittgenstein's Poker by David Edmonds: This entire book is about a ten-minute conversation between two philosophers that doesn't even get seriously addressed until the last forty or so pages. Perhaps a bit too creative an approach.
9. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald J. Robertson: I've been getting more into Stoicism and this book is a great primer on Marcus Aurelius. 
10. Making Sense of Wine by Matt Kramer: Originally written in 1989, this updated version is a great overview on enjoying wine.
11. Don't Keep Your Day Job by Cathy Heller: This is a good shot in the arm for anyone looking to dive into their passion and take it to the next level.
12. Humility by Michael W. Austin: Mike is a philosophy professor and I had the chance to interview him on my podcast about his book. Dives into some of the practical aspects of following Jesus.
13. What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama: This had a creative approach but the story was ultimately too difficult too follow and the angle felt forced after a while.
14. Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon MacKenzie: I really enjoyed this book about letting your unique creativity out. It encourages people to be more of themselves regardless of how the world responds.
15. Permission to Screw Up by Kristen Hadeed: Kristen explores what she's learned about leading through sharing her mistakes. It's super relatable and encouraging.
16. Happy People are Annoying by Josh Peck: Josh is one heck of a writer and his humor makes this an enjoyable experience. He talks about his journey to Hollywood at a young age and then how he tried to mature in the years that followed.
17. Primed to Perform by Neel Doshi: This was a bit dry for me but I appreciated the breakdown on the different ways to motivate people and which ones work better than others. It often feels like a sales pitch for what he calls the Total Motivation (ToMo) Factor.
18. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: I wanted to like this book and was sad when I didn't. I felt like the characters were hollow and the plot was lifeless.
19. Kingpin by Kevin Poulsen: This was an interesting story of a hacker who took on the government as well as other hackers too. 
20. The Clockwork Universe by Edward Dolnick: I enjoyed how the author mixed the historical views of both theology and science. We've evolved a lot in our understanding of science but haven't moved much from old religious ideas.
21. Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg: Few would argue we don't need massive help communicating better with one another, especially when we disagree. This book is a great way to dive into the skills to do this better.
22. I Thought it was Just Me by Brené Brown: This is primarily written for women working through shame but I found these ideas helpful. We all deal with shame and it sucks. Brené's ideas help.
23. Ghost Town Living by Brent Underwood: The author bought an abandoned ghost town in California and brought it back to life. The story is fascinating and makes you bolder in approaching your dreams.
24. The Exvangelicals by Sarah McCammon: This is a powerful look at the changing landscape of the evangelical church in America and the way many of us are looking for something more.
25. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: This book is classic reading on Stoicism. I found so much of it to be incredibly thought-provoking and useful. If you've ever thought that philosophy was only theory, Marcus shows you how it can help you live a more intentioned life.
26. Slow Productivity by Cal Newport: Newport's ideas have been pivotal in organizing my time. In this book, he offers a better way of thinking about what we produce outside of the frenetic hustle culture.
27. Company of One by Paul Jarvis: This book challenges the idea that growth is always good. Instead, he helps you think through the things that mean the most to you and then build your life around that.
28. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman: I read this book for a marriage sermon, and it was a super practical guide to what to watch out for in marriage and what to build on.
29. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: This explores why children today are more anxious than previous generations. This book benefited me as a dad and changed how I strategically help my kids develop.
30. The Minimalist Entrepreneur by Sahil Lavingia: Trying to be an entrepreneur (or merely doing work outside of a traditional 9-5 job) is often daunting. This book breaks it down into practical steps and ideas to help you build something you are passionate about.

31. Knife by Salman Rushdie: This is such a unique and interesting read. Rushdie recounts his life after an attempted murder (by a knife) and the healing journey that followed.

32. Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Pérez: This should be required reading for dudes. It explores how much our systems and thinking are slanted toward men and against women. I repeatedly found myself realizing something for the first time.
33. Disarming Leviathan by Caleb Campbell: I was able to read an early copy of this and interview Caleb on my podcast. He takes a unique approach of being a missionary to Christian nationalists and invites you to try it too.
34. The Gatekeepers by Chris Whipple: This explores the role of the Chief of Staff to the President. It offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at various presidencies and how specific leadership roles affected decisions.
35. Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain: This is a meandering read that was sometimes hard to follow. Twain finds his voice as a writer and displays the charm in which he can recount often everyday actions.
36. Unblaming God by Deanna Young: I sat down with Deanna to discuss this book and explore its theology. It is a great introduction to open and relational theology (ORT).
37. Murder at the Mission by Blaine Harden: I absolutely loved this book. It does an amazing job of offering a perspective on American expansion, its cost to the Indian tribes, and many of the lies that Christianity has told in America's history.
38. An Immense World by Ed Yong: This is another book that blew me away. Yong explores the idea of umwelt and how different animals perceive different aspects of the world. It leaves you realizing how truly amazing our world is (and how we should be way more humble in what we think we know).
39. Real Artists Don't Starve by Jeff Goins: I appreciate the thinking behind this. Managing the balance between making art and getting paid is often a tricky dance. Goins offers practical ways to be better at both.

40. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler: A story of a seemingly normal family with a unique sister named Fern. Through her powerful storytelling, Fowler will have you pondering what it means to be human.

41. When I Was Your Age by Kenan Thompson: He has become the longest-running member of SNL, and many in my generation grew up watching him on our shows. This book explores his life and was a fun cultural connection to many of my older memories.
42. The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson: Larson continues to display his skill in bringing history to life. This book explores the lead-up to the Civil War and the tensions behind it. It was a good reminder that a resolution may come even though situations often feel hopeless.

43. The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta: Christian Nationalism is one of the significant threats of our time, and Alberta offers a powerful look into how we got here. This explores much of what has gone wrong with American evangelicalism. 

44. Ministers of Propaganda by Scott M. Coley: Similar to Alberta's book, this unpacks the theology behind American evangelicalism and how much of what we think is standard theology is actually political propaganda.
45. Ghosted by Nancy French: This is a powerful story from a Christian who rose in prominence in the ranks of the Republican party only to be completely shunned when she and her husband refused to support Trump.

46. Charlemagne, Father of Europe by Philip Daileader: Although Charlemagne is often referenced historically, I knew little about him. This was a good introduction to his life and why he was so significant.

47. The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann: This was my thirteenth reading of the book and the second of this year. These ideas are still as relevant as ever, and I continue to see new things each time I read it.

48. The Joy of Missing Out by Tanya Dalton: I expected this to be about thriving as an introvert but it was more of a guide to being productive with your life.

49. Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys by Richard Twiss: This is a great read to explore Christianity from a viewpoint you are likely not familiar with. Twiss shares the way Native Americans experience and follow Jesus and you realize how much we have to gain from learning from them.
50. Rising Sun by Michael Chrichton: I love the way Chrichton wrote stories and this one has a lot to offer. However, it is also a reminder that in the early 90s (when this came out), many Americans were fearful about Japan was affecting our econom, and this book reveals much of that.
51. Fire and Brimstone by Michael Punke: I've been learning more about mining this year (history is fascinating) and this book offers a gripping narrative of a Montana mining disaster and the race for survival with those involved.
52. All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker: A fictional thriller that explores love, loss, and redemption. Shows what life feels like when you have an ache for something that drives you forward.
53. Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller: This is a beautifully strange exploration of grit and learning how to keep going in the face of opposition. It shows how one person's story of perseverance leads to inspiration for others.
54. Get Honest or Die Lying by Charlamagne tha God: This was my first exposure to Charlamagne. He offers an irreverant and bluntly honest look at life and culture. It's all over the place and offers a lot to process.
55. Ride the Devil's Herd by Boessenecker: I'm a sucker for Wild West history, especially when it involves Tombstone. This book isn't the most gripping portrayal of Wyatt Earp's history but it does cover the subject well and helped me put a few things into perspective.
56. Build by Tony Fadell: Tony shares his journey of success in the tech industry and rising in leadership. Offers numerous insights into creativity and creating things that matter.
57. Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman: This was a fascinating story about an escape from East Germany. It helped me understand the context and history of the Berlin wall. 
58. On the Spectrum by Daniel Bowman Jr: As a parent of an autistic son, this was such a gift of a book. Written by an autistic author from a Christian perspective, it gives language to a conversation that is often elusive to people on the outside looking in.
59. Booth by Karen Joy Fowler: This is historical fiction about John Wilkes Boothe. While I'm very interested in this time of history, it was ultimately a bit difficult to follow as Fowler does a deep dive into all of the Booth kids.
60. Jungle of Stone by William Carlsen: I have been fascinated by the Mayan civilization, and this book explores the people who discovered much of it in 1839. It's a fun journey to discover alongside them.
61. Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: I had heard of this one for years and finally got around to it. The nerd in me loves thinking about how we think and I enjoyed it.
62. Inglorious Empire by Shashi Tharoor: This book does not hold back in detailing how the British Empire negatively affected the history of India. The majority of this history was new to me, and it was well worth the read.
63. Planet Narnia by Michael Ward: This book argues that the Chronicles of Narnia are based on medieval cosmology. The author makes a compelling case, but I'm still not sure if that's because his theory is true or if he's just smarter than most of us.
64. Suggestible You by Erik Vance: This was my second read, and I enjoyed it even more than the first time. It's another book that explores how we think and why we often respond the way we do.
65. How to Tell a Story by Meg Bowles: This is the essence of storytelling from the crew at The Moth. Which in case you don't know, means they have a ton of experience in helping people tell compelling stories and showing why it matters.
66. Superforecasting by Phillip Tetlock: This book explores a team of people who are better than most at anticipating the future. It breaks down the values of these superforecasters and how we can learn from them.
67. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins: Considered the first English detective novel, this book gets better as you spend more time with it. The complexity of multiple narrators and the fact that it was written in the 1800s take a little bit to get comfortable with.
68. The Space Between Us by Sarah Bauer Anderson: I had the chance to have Sarah on my podcast to discuss this book. She does an amazing job of encouraging us to better connect with people we love who think very differently from us.
69. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: This story continues to be read 300 years after being written. It felt a little slow compared to modern novels, but it's worthwhile to read the source material for so many other stories.
70. How to be Perfect by Michael Shur: Books that make you think deeply usually aren't funny, and books that crack you up usually aren't that deep. I was shocked at how much this book is both—such a great read.
71. Neurotribes by Steve Silverman: This book tackles the (depressing) history of autism and its implications for the future. It made me grateful for how far we've come but was also a reminder of the work yet to do.
72. A Well Trained Wife by Tia Levings: Tia shares her journey through abusive fundamentalist Christianity in a way that will get you emotionally involved. You cannot help but root for her and against the systems of abuse that continue to hurt people.
73. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty: This is the story of a retired pirate who gets sucked back into her old life for one more job. While that setup isn't unique, the world of this story has plenty of creative elements that make it stand out.
74. Do You Still Talk to Grandma by Brit Barron: I had Brit on the podcast to talk about her latest book. I love how she navigates the tensions of interacting with people we disagree with.
75. The Power of Strangers by Joe Keohane: This book blew me away and reminded me that there is beauty in the strangers around me each day. I loved the emphasis on how curiosity is the tool that enables us to grow.
76. The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates: This is a beautifully written book that expresses the feelings of oppression. Coates is especially bold and prophetic in his illumination of the Palestinians' plight.