Books that Got Me Out of My Reading Slump

When the internet becomes more interesting than books, you know you're in a reading slump.

Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? by Tim Keller

This book made me realize how hesitant I am to talk about forgiveness. I almost have doubts that it is possible and necessary, and Keller pointed out all the cultural undercurrents that have led to such a negative view of forgiveness.

He wrote it during the 2020 riots and movement for racial justice which, in their anger over inequity, often rejected the idea of forgiveness. He also reflected on the “me too” movement and all the abuse in churches that has come out recently. How can we talk about forgiveness in those cases? And yet, it is a fundamental part of the Christian life and taught throughout Scripture. I appreciated his grappling with the hardest cases of forgiveness, what that doesn’t mean, and what it does look like.

Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew Wilson

In this book of history, Wilson writes as a good storyteller and is good at putting a lot of pieces together. I had never thought about how many intellectual movements were all happening at the same time in 1776, and he put the pieces together in a fascinating way. Of course, there was the American Revolution but also Kant wrote his Critique of Pure Reason, James Watts invented the steam engine, Edward Gibbon published The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and Adam Smith wrote his Wealth of Nations.

All of these events were key in creating the modern West as “WEIRDER” – Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic, Ex-Christian, and Romantic. I love these kinds of sweeping history books, and it’s pretty short and accessible too!

The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money by Ron Lieber

This was a helpful book on how to talk to your kids about money. Lieber gave great examples of conversations you should bring up with your kids about earnings, work, anxiety about money, and differences in class.

I’ve been realizing that with any of the uncomfortable topics like sex, money, and politics, it’s important to talk to your kids about them often. They are going to be hearing messages all the time from the world, and if you want to be seen as a wise authority, you have to start sharing openly.

Redeeming Sex in Marriage: How the Gospel Rescues Sex, Transforms Marriage, and Reveals the Glory of God by Scott Mehl

I was surprised to find a very practical book on sex that is not uncomfortably weird but also helpfully specific. Mehl’s book on sex also gets the right balance of drawing from Scripture but also not just sticking to overly broad generalizations on sex. I really appreciated this book and am already recommending it in counseling sessions.

The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi

I’ve been hearing about “the lazy genius” for years and always thought I’m already efficient enough so I can be lazy that I don’t really need to read it. But I did end up enjoying it and clicked with the author.

Her main idea is to care about less so you can put all your energies into the things you do care about. I love this perspective and felt like it was a good reflection on how to “edit” what you focus on.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

I have loved some of Liane Moriarty’s books, and this is one of her best! For a modern fast-paced novel, this is one of my favorite kinds. She gets the pacing right, which is why I think they turn into movies and TV shows so well. Her characters are well-chosen and described, and I could picture several people I knew that fit them well.

Some of Moriarty’s books have been too intense and strange for me (Nine Perfect Strangers) but I have loved ones like What Alice Forgot. This one was not actually that intense even though it opens more like a thriller. One of the characters has OCD, and she described it so well, and I loved how she focused in on the power of intrusive fears throughout the story.

I did not read any summaries of the plot before and won’t give one here because I love jumping into a novel not knowing what’s going to happen!