Johnny Cash: Cash: The Autobiography
I finished this one on New Year's Day 2007, but I started it Christmas Day when I was shocked to find that Marti had slipped this in my stocking! Besides the book, she gave me a Johnny Cash DVD of a live performance from 1987.
Anyway, back to the book. This was an easy read, although the first 150 pages seemed to glamorize the life on the road when he first started - booze, pills, girls, etc. But, the meat of the book, when he talked about his faith and the redemption that he has received in Christ, was a great encouragement. He certainly was a rare man. (***)
Mark Twain: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Bantam Classic)
It has been over 20 years since I read a Mark Twain novel. This was a good one to pick up. His humor is still funny 100 years after it was originally written. It has some dark moments but this only brought out some of the issues of human nature that he was exploring. (***)
Walker Percy: The Moviegoer
I found the following review of this book on Amazon.com. An interesting but disturbing book.
""The Moviegoer" is a peculiarly American and belated expression of the existential novel that had been so brilliantly articulated in France by Albert Camus. Like "The Stranger", Percy's novel focuses on meaning-in this case, the obsession of Binx Bolling, the novel's narrator, on what he calls the "search". As Bolling says at one point, "the search is what anyone would undertake if he were not sunk in the everydayness of his own life." And exactly what does this mean? "To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair." An enigmatic definition, but one which makes the reader who spends time with "The Moviegoer", who reads the book carefully and reflectively, to think more deeply about his or her own life."
(**)
Rayne Kruger: All Under Heaven: A Complete History of China
I just finished this fascinating book. It is hard to cram over 4000 years of history into 400 pages but the author does it, and does it well. I include this introduction from the book cover.
"Rayne Kruger provides us with an engaging introduction to Chinese history, mythology and customs, which reveals the technological advances that left Europe in the shade for hundreds of years and the tyrants, philosophers, warriors, and femme fatales that have moulded her legacy over 4,000 years."
Good book - worth reading! (***)
Rudyard Kipling: Kim (Penguin Classics)
I've had this book on the shelf for quite a while and decided to read it during my recent visit to Mombasa. What a delightful book. Spending a lot of time around Indians and Pakistanis I could better relate to the characters in this book. And the food described in the book...I could smell it when I read about it. Great story. Check it out. (****)
Upton Sinclair: The Jungle (100th Anniversary Edition)
(Audio) Living in Nairobi and having worked some in the Kibera slums, I could totally relate to the gruesome pictures that the author was depicting in the Chicago slaughter houses and slums at the turn of the 20th century. The book was incredibly powerful. It showed the horrors of life in these packing yards and why Labor Unions were so needed at that time. It also showed the depths of depravity that is in every man. Unfortunately, the author believed Socialism was the cure for this illness of sin and he spends the last 4 chapters propagating this claim. All in all, a must read. (****)
Brennan Manning: The Importance of Being Foolish
Another very challenging book by Brennan Manning. He challenges the reader to stop seeking "security, pleasure, and power" and start pursuing the mind and heart of Jesus. This is a radical pursuit that has the power to transform individuals and cultures. But it is not the pursuit that transforms rather it is the power of what the cross really means - unselfish love poured out on people who desperately need forgiveness. I was challenged and convicted of my half-hearted pursuit of Jesus. (****)
C. H. Spurgeon: All of Grace
(Audio). Continuing my desire to use my commute time effectively, I finished another audio book this week. This little classic written specifically to non-believers, helps answer many of the questions of salvation, justification, sanctification, and glorification. It of course focuses on God's grace as the way of all these things. I would recommend this to a person who is seriously considering the claims of Christ. (****)
Ted C. Fishman: China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World
Outsourcing. Made in China. Piracy. Expanding economies. We have all heard these words connected with China's growing economic power over the past decade. This book was a fascinating tour on how that has taken place in such a short time. Kind of scary of what is going on there and how America is not really in a position to keep pace. However, rather than shake in our shoes, we should take time to figure out what Kingdom opportunities may be arising out of this dramatic economic challenge. Christians need to be at the center of the response to this situation. (*****)
Donald Miller: Blue Like Jazz
Nonconventional look at Christian spirituality. Provacative. Powerful. Piercing. Not for the legalist. I don't know that I would necessarily agree with his view of Christian liberty, but that is the point isn't. Thanks Donald for sharing your heart exactly as it is. (*****)
G. K. Chesterton: Orthodoxy
I listened to this unabridged audio version of the book. It was too deep to listen to but it still made an impact. It was very obvious that the truths of Christianity were believed by the author. Worth reading. (***)
Malcolm Gladwell: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
I have enjoyed reading my second book by this author. This neat little book points out how the little things make a difference. He documents a variety of stories and studies to show how this phenomenon works. Many people instinctively understand how the little things make a difference and this book shows why. (****)
Thomas L. Friedman: The World Is Flat
This is definitely one of the best books I have read in a couple of years. It helps explain the "my world" - living in two continents and feeling at home in both. It explains how and why the world really is becoming flat. Although I am usually not a fan of this New York Times columnist, he hits the nail on the head with this. Definitely worth the time and money to better understand why the world is getting smaller and smaller all the time. (*****)
Santo Cilauro: Molvania (Jetlag Travel Guide)
This book is a hilarious satire of the travel book genre. But having spent some significant time living abroad and traveling it also hits home with some real "truths." There are a ton of laugh out loud one-liners in the book. It is a must read for anyone who has ever travelled. (*****)
Andy Kessler: The End of Medicine: How Silicon Valley (and Naked Mice) Will Reboot Your Doctor
This book is an interesting "outsider's" look at the future of medicine. The author uses a lot of sarcastic humor (and at times harsh criticism of doctors) to explain the dilemmas in medicine today. He looks at some of the emerging technology that may change medicine as we know it. However, I am not too worried about unemployment just yet. (***)
Malcolm Gladwell: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
This was one of most fascinating books I have read in a long time. The book takes a look at the science behind "first impressions", "hunches", and "gut-feelings." It explores why we can trust those feelings. But more importantly the book explains what can happen if we don't learn to "train" our instincts and what happens if we rely ONLY on them. Great read. (*****)
Gordon Dalbey: Healing the Masculine Soul: God's Restoration of Men to Real Manhood
I was intrigued by the title and was excited to read it as it was recommended to me. However, I was disappointed in this book. There was a heavy emphasis on praying through dreams and visions to heal past hurts, especially those caused by dad. What about actually talking to dad about these hurts first? I know that some folks don't have or can't talk to dad, but the book seemed to make this a major theme. (*)
Neal Stephenson: Cryptonomicon
This book was very intriguing. Neal Stephenson is considered a "Sci-Fi" writer, but this book and the Baroque Cycle are much more in the lines of "Historical Fiction and Technology Adventure." I made that up. This tome is long but worth the read. (*****)
JRTolkein: Fellowship of the Rings
I listened to the unabridged version of Book 1 of Lord of the Rings. It was a great way to "read" it. I then watched the movie. I can see what all the "hoopla" was about. (*****)
Lee Strobel: The Case For a Creator
An interesting way to present the Intelligent Design argument. I enjoyed the book. (***)
Danyun: Lilies Amongst Thorns
This little book is a biography of the Chinese Church. The graphic persecution causes me to pause and repent of my grumbling. It also challenges me to pray for the Chinese Church. (***)
Paul David Tripp: Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, Second Edition (Resources for Changing Lives)
Very convicting. I realize that I fall short in my calling as a parent. I have an incredible God-given opportunity to disciple my own children. This book really helps me to understand this calling. (****)
- Dr. Archie Parrish: A Simple Way to Pray
A very straight forward book on prayer. Insightful and practical. (****)
Jeff Shaara: The Glorious Cause
A great continuation of The Rise to Rebellion. If you enjoy reading about the American Revolution, this is a must read. (*****)
Jeff Shaara: Rise to Rebellion
Excellent historical novel! The "thoughts" of the founders seem realistic and show the inner conflicts they must have faced. (*****)
Great book list as always!
Posted by: Jon B | April 08, 2008 at 10:11 PM