Read This

I have been out of town this week and away from reliable Internet access. So for this week; here is an idiosyncratic list in no particular order of books to read.

Surprised by Hope : Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church,  N.T. Wright.   Lots in the blogging world about this book. My two cents? Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest.

The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America, Louis Menand  This book explores how our American way of thinking was shaped by  Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Charles Sanders Peirce, William James and John Dewey. Begins with the Civil War and ends 1919. Fascinating look at history, culture and ideas.

Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens, Douglas W. Tallamy  The title says it all. A readable yet detailed discussion of how what we plant in our yards affects insects, birds and the environment. Read this before you go to the garden center this spring.

Speaking of Sin:The Lost Language of Salvation, Barbara Brown Taylor. A small book that gives important concepts and language back to 21st century Christians.  “Abandoning the language of sin will not make sin go away. [It] will simply leave us speechless…. (page 4). Well written, thoughtful, thought provoking.

Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust  Immaculee Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin. One woman’s story of survival, faith and forgiveness.

Longitude: the true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time, Dava Sobel This is the story of how the “longitude problem” was solved in the 18th century. In an age of exploration, sailors had no way of determining longitude. The greatest scientific minds could not solve the problem until unexpectedly one clockmaker did. A great story.

America’s God: from Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln, Mark Noll.  A history of religion and America that takes both religion and politics seriously. A thorough and detailed look at history that helps explain much about why religion and politics are what they are today.

American Creation: triumphs and tragedies at the founding of the republic, and Founding Brothers: A revolutionary generation  Joseph Ellis  Two very readable histories of our country’s early years. American history is much more complex and interesting than I remember from high school.

Well, this should be enough to keep you out of trouble! Please add your favorites to this list. There are always more great books to read.