Sharing my top ten books of the year is becoming a bit of a tradition, here are a few which inspired, intrigued or informed me in 2021. (Excluding some excellent cricket books, which I’m happy to recommend privately – Hitting against the Spin is excellent)
Rutger Bregman – Humankind.
I loved Bregman’s central premise, pushing back against a culture of cynicism, criticism and conspiracy, by celebrating human kindness and the benefits of building healthy relationships. The consequences of kindness are of course less less news-worthy and dramatic than those of anger, betrayal and greed. Our emotional response to day-to-day generosity and hospitality is far milder than to betrayal, deceit of injustice. But in much of the world through much of history, kindness has been very prevalent and Bergman is persuasive that it benefits all.
Whilst I enjoyed Bregman’s sweep through human history highlighting the evolutionary benefits of being nice, as the book went on I became increasingly frustrated by his polemic. His underlying subtle invective against his perception of a Christian anthropology was gradually exposed. The vast gaps between his evolutionary secularism and my biblical worldview started to grate. It was helpful to really think about the question: ‘Are humans fundamentally good or bad?’
But as a disciple of Jesus, I answer that with the story of the gospel, rather than a rather binary approach based on a very selective view of evolution.
Worth reading to make you think and to strengthen resolve against the cultural ills of cynicism and blame, but I’d go to the Bible not Bregman to define what it is to be human.
Hannah Steele – Living God’s story
I loved this gem of a book so much that we studied it together as a church through Lent, alongside exploring 40 Bible passages which linked with those Hannah draws on. Evangelism is a challenging task in our post-Christian culture, but one we are called to and need to give attention to. In a disarming, humble, generous hearted way, with scripture and story, Hannah takes the Elastoplast off some of our fears about sharing the gospel and gives some great insights into using story to build cultural bridges and starting healthy conversations. I particularly enjoyed her approach, which wasn’t gung-ho or triumphalist, but faithful, honest and utterly committed to our call, with down-to-earth illustrations that encouraged without intimidating.
Haruki Murakami – Killing Commendatore
I mostly enjoy fiction as entertainment and rest, but occasionally read books which make my brain work a bit harder, of the fifteen novels I read/listened to this year, two have made this list.
The first is a Murakami, one of my favourite novelists, who I was delighted to rediscover this year. His minimalist style meanders playfully in the gap between realism and psychological allegory. I know far too little about Japanese culture or consciousness, but what I love about Murakami’s novels is the way his sedate minimalism and subtle characterisation hook you in with intrigue.
I find it hard to describe the beauty of his writing, but would simply encourage you to try it out for yourself.
Matthew Walker – Why we sleep
When I finished this book I tweeted, ‘I don’t know if I will read a more important book this year’ (spoiler alert: I did, see the last book on my list!) In a very readable explanation of the science, Walker explores so much about sleep and its value. It has helped me to sleep better, parent better, rest better, work better and live more healthily. It doesn’t take much life experience to realise how good sleep is for us, but learning more about it and the reality that there is no way around it or substitute for it, is a piece of wisdom we need to grasp in our accelerated culture.
Matt Haig – the Midnight Library
My wife Nells finds most of the novels I listen to on audiobook help her to sleep! This one we listened to together and I was in trouble if I got out of sync with her. Just such a lovely, intelligent, witty and moving book. Exploring relationships, past pain, depression, love, loneliness and hope, with some very likeable characters, clever plots and engaging pace. We listened on Audible and Carey Mulligan’s narration is superb.
Michael Card – Hesed
In researching a book I’m planning to one day write on intercession in the Psalms, I asked Paul Gooder for recommended reading on the Hebrew word ‘Hesed. (Love, loving kindness, mercy, faithfulness, commitment…) I was slightly surprised when she recommended a book by Michael Card, who I had last encountered as a Christian song-writer, from can I say tactfully, ‘a different generation’.
I loved his book on Hesed: it is creative, academically rigorous, tender, joyful, and linked together parts of the Bible in a wonderfully informative way. It is a book which drew me closer to God and fuelled my desire to read the Bible.
Winn Collier – A Burning in my Bones
The impact of an infamous podcast from Christianity Today, has led us to what I describe as the: ‘post-Rise-and-Fall-of-Mars-Hill church’. I am are increasingly aware of the huge value of integrity and humility for church leaders and our vigilance in not fuelling narcissism in the church. Winn Collier’s beautiful biography of Eugene Peterson is therefore timely and to be treasured, (Both Andy Byers and Johnny Douglas start their lists with this one). The translation work he did in putting together the Message and his other writing has made Peterson (Eugene not Jordan!) one of the most influential Christian leaders of the twentieth Century.
Collier’s biography introduces us to the man behind the books. Warm, humble, wise, hugely gifted but unassuming, reading about Peterson has impacted me hugely and for reframed ‘success’ in ministry. He neither sought status, nor shunned service, and lived in the tension between the dual vocation of teaching and pastoring. His life lived steadily and wisely preoccupied with serving God, had far more lasting healthy influence than any brash, loud-mouthed narcissist celebrity Christians will ever have.
Eugene Peterson – Run with the horses
As I finished Collier’s biography of Eugene Peterson, I also reached Jeremiah in my annual Bible reading plan, so the timing for reading this book was perfect. This book is pure gold, beautifully written with deep spiritual truth. The book of Jeremiah is a long exploration of the prophetic narrative explaining the exile to a nation which had turned its back on God. Peterson’s insights into Jeremiah’s call and character, and into the context of the book helped bring Jeremiah alive for me.
Roy Baumeister & John Tierney – Willpower
This one sat on my ‘to-read’ pile for way too long, I finally took it on retreat with me in November. Drawing on a range of fascinating psychological experiments, Baumeister & Tierney explore the benefits of and barriers to self control. I’m a fan of anything which rediscovers biblical wisdom in modern psychology and very often these insights help challenge the prevailing culture we are living in. I found the insights into the physiological drain of decision making and the contrast of self-esteem with self control so helpful. This is one of the books which just makes sense, drawing on science to confirm what life has already taught us, and pointing us to Biblical truth.
We live in a famine of self control, it is a commodity to be valued and propagated.
Book of the Year
Jonathan Sacks – Morality
Having finished his Covenant and Conversation and mourned his death in late 2020, this was the only on my Christmas list last year. It was even better than I hoped.
Jonathan Sacks has become one of my heroes, his writing is so rich, from being rooted so deeply in faith and scripture. His vast scholarship, generous heart and shrewd wisdom from many years of both reading and leading gave him authority to reflect on our world. Having rubbed shoulders with world leaders, pastored local communities and lived as a resident alien as a Jewish Rabbi, Sacks has a lot to say to our world and an authentic voice to listen to. He uses this so well in Morality, waking us up to some of the frailties of the Twenty First Century technologically developed world and the loneliness created by the pursuit of self-actualisation.
Sacks understands power and people, truth and temperaments. His examination of how blame and victimhood, grow into an unhealthy individualism is so significant for the mess that the world is in. His core message is how damaging our move from “We to I” has been on society and how damaging our immature handling of disagreement has become.
If you want to help bring unity and community, read this, buy it for your friends and live it out.
Seasoned with Grace 