The Best Books I Read in 2010
2010 is coming to a close, so it is time for the best of lists. In case you were wondering, here are the best books I read this year:
5. Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony- by Stanley Hauerwas and William H. Willmon. This book urges Christians to see the church as a colony whose purpose is to live out the gospel instead of seeking to change the world through politics or other means. It was a challenging book that has me wrestling with this idea as I prepare myself for ministry.
4. A People’s History of the United States- by Howard Zinn. My dad sent me this book and suggested that I read it. I have always enjoyed history, and Zinn explores the history of the U.S. from the view of people who were not in power. I had not heard many of the stories relayed in this book. I would suggest this book not only for any history buff, but for any American.
3. Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context- by Glen H. Stassen and David P. Gushee. I read this book for a class on Christian ethics taught by Glen Stassen, one of the authors of this book. I had no idea that an ethics book could be so engaging. I read this book in a matter of days and enjoyed it immensely. The authors focus on the Sermon on the Mount and what it shows us about Christian ethics. This is an important book that more Christians need to read.
2. Evolving in Monkeytown: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions- by Rachel Held Evans. As I read through this book I was constantly amazed at how similar my story is to the author’s story. We have had many of the same experiences and thoughts, but she writes about them much better than I ever could. Evans went through a faith crisis and this book is the story of her struggle. The conclusion that she comes to is that Christians need to be free to ask questions and wrestle with them, instead of just being fed answers that they are just expected to believe and not challenge. Any person wrestling with matters of faith and doubt would benefit from reading this book.
1. A Million Miles in a Thousand Days: What I Learned While Editing My Life- by Donald Miller. I already wrote a reflection on the themes of this book here, so go ahead and check it out. This book motivated me to want to live a better story and I am still striving to do just that.
Well, there you have it. Those are the five best books I read this year. What are the best books you read this year?
