Friday, June 5, 2009

Summer Reading Lists: Free Book Giveaway

It’s a good time to give away a free book, don’t you think? And, it’s a good time to make a list of books we hope to read this summer. Summer can be a great time to catch up on our reading or pick up a book that, perhaps, we wouldn’t normally read, but have some extra time to do so. Here are four books on my list so far:

The Chosen by Chaim Potok. This is one of those books that I have heard much about, but, sadly, have never read. Many colleges assigned it as a text for first year students. I’m going to figure out why!

Beyond Homelessness: Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement by Steven Bouma-Prediger and Brian Walsh. Both of these writers have been influential on my own thinking and I’m surprised that I haven’t read this one yet. Their call if for Christians to be more intentionally rooted and committed to local communities. If you know me, you know this is close to my heart.

Original Sin: A Cultural History by Alan Jacobs. Jacobs provides a historical overview and analysis of the doctrine of “original sin.” I read the first chapter a few months ago and can’t wait to get back to it.

Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford. Now here’s a good story: a college professor and think-tank employee opens up a motorcycle repair shop and realizes that being a repairman forces him to think more! Crawford wonders: where have all the shop classes gone? My good friend Byron Borger of Hearts & Minds Books is raving about this book. It looks like a winner.

Now it’s your turn:

What book(s) do you hope to read this summer?

(There needs to be at least 10 comments to qualify. Winner will be chosen randomly from list of participants. Only one comment per person.)

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

'Killing Cockroaches' by Tony Morgan. 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan. '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' by Jules Verne. Ministry development, spiritual development, personal enjoyment. The trifecta.

Danielle Hawes said...

I have been trying to read "Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers" by Chap Clark. I would also like to finish "The Schack" by William P. Young.

Anonymous said...

"The Christian Ministry" by Charles Bridges

"The Bookends of the Christian Life" by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington

"Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung

"The Message of the Old Testament" by Mark Dever

"The Message of the New Testament" by Mark Dever

....whatever else my pastor assigns. :)

Unknown said...

Among the books on my summer reading shelf...

The Blue Parakeet, Scot McKnight
The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End Poverty, Peter Singer
Do One Nice Thing: Little Things You Can Do to Make the World a Lot Nicer, Debbie Tenzer
No Time to Think: The Menace of Media Speed and the 24-hour News Cycle, Roseberg & Feldman
Jesus was a Liberal: Reclaiming Christianity for All, Scotty McClennan
2 books on adoption that I have to read for our adoption process

...and I'm sure I've forgotten a few others. Busy summer ahead of me!

Rick Nier said...

Good to Great by Jim Collins

Venti Jesus, Please by Greg Stier

I Once Was Lost by Everts & Schaupp

There's a lot more on my list, but if I can only take them 2 at a time...

theoskaris said...

Among my summer reading:
Youth, Religion and Globalization (Osmer and Dean, eds.)

ReJesus (Frost and Hirsch)

Children, Youth and Spirituality in a Troubling World (Moore and Wright, eds.)

Relationships Unfiltered (Root)

I also have a long list of fiction (keeps my creative side alive). :-)

Steven Wiseman said...

My summer reading list:

"Doing Church as a Team" by Wayne Cordeiro

"The Coffee House Gospel" by Matt Turner

"Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry" by Andrew Root

"Spiritual Leadership" by J. Oswald Sanders

Ministry Helps said...

I am Reading They Like Jesus but Not the Church
Organic Church by Neil Cole
Uncommon Youth Ministry by Jim Burns
Downpour by James MacDonald

However, being a youth guy this may become my fall reading list.

john mcclung said...

I plan on finishing these books that I have just got or read a chapter:

"The Space Between" by Uncle Walt Mueller

"Crazy Love" by Francis Chan

"Refuel" by Doug Fields

"Youth Ministry 3.0" by Mark O

"Speaking to Teenagers" by Doug Fields

"Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them" by Ed Stetzer

and

"Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10" by Marcus Luttrell (to get my military action read on)

I also recommend youth pastors to read "Columbine" by Dave Cullen. It is a gritty, accurate account of what happened and debunks many Columbine myths. It is a gripping page-turner (but be warned--contains profanity from the killers journals).

Carlene said...

This summer I plan on reading:
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams.
Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea.
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net

the bri guy said...

I plan to read The Gospel According to Jesus (John MacArthur), How People Change (Timothy Lane & Paul David Tripp), Awakening Youth Discipleship (Mahan, Warren & White), What Angels Wish They Knew (Alistair Begg) and Preaching On Your Feet (Fred Lybrand).

And I just love it when a plan comes together!

Unknown said...

I hope to read tons of books but some of them are:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Life of Pi
Paper Towns by John Green

Anonymous said...

The list of books I'm hoping to read this summer.

Celebration of Discipline (Richard Foster)

The Great Omission (Dallas Willard)

Dark Night of the Soul (St John of the Cross)

Ministries of Mercy (Tim Keller)

God on Mute (Peter Greig)

The Hershey's said...

I hope to read, though more than likely will not get to all:

Do they run when they see you coming: Reaching out to unchurched teenagers (Jonathan McKee)

The way of the heart (Henri Nouwen)

Slave of Christ: A New Testament metaphor for total devotion to Christ (Murray Harris)

Prodigal God and Ministries of Mercy (both by Tim Keller)

Keeping the sabbath wholly (Marva Dawn)

Forgotten Ways (Alan Hirsch)

...yeah - we'll see how far I get:)

Amy said...

"The Cost of Discipleship" Bonhoeffer

"Life together"
Bonhoeffer

"Hurt"
Chap Clark

Jenn said...

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

(Re-read) Growing Teen Disciples by Frank Mercadante

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Dana Ray said...

The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky
Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
Putting "Amazing" Back into Grace by Michael Horton
And hopefully something by Flannery OConnor and Wendell Berry

Anonymous said...

My "goal" reading list

Mere Christianity by CS Lewis

Simple Student Ministry by Eric Geiger and Jeff Borton

Fatherhood by Bill Cosby

The Letter to the Ephesians by Peter O'Brian

Jason Matlack said...

Finish "Christianity for the Rest of Us" by Diana Butler Bass

Finish "Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry" by Andrew Root

"A New Kind of Christian" by McLaren

"Life and Holiness" by Merton

Anonymous said...

Currently on my reading list for this Summer is 'Redeption Song--The Ballad of Joe Strummer' by Chris Salewicz

~layne s
http://papaherman.wordpress.com

Andy Wolverton said...

Signposts in a Strange Land: Essays - Walker Percy

Columbine - Dave Cullen

Bleak House - Charles Dickens

Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor - Brad Gooch

Rainbows for the Fallen World: Aesthetic Life and Artistic Task - Calvin Seerveld

Anonymous said...

I plan to read:
Culture Making by Andy Crouch
unChristian by David Kinnaman
The Rock that is Higher: Story as Truth by Madeleine L'Engle
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
and probably a multitude of others....

lebogar said...

The Shack by Young
Jesus on Leadership by Wilkes
Three Cups of Tea by Mortensen