What a year 2017 was! Media, culture, the relentless pace of change, politics, gender identity, #metoo, race, privilege, the awe of a total eclipse, the devastation of Harvey (both the hurricane and Mr. Weinstein) and Irma. These issues clamored for and fragmented our attention. Questions were many, and satisfying answers were in short supply. My mind raced trying to keep up; to make sense of the shrill and deafening attempts at dialog. I found myself pulling back from social media (odd for a digital strategist), turning off all the notifications on my phone, and praying to Jesus for wisdom.
My word for 2017 was humility. Humility invites. It defers. It honors others by listening well before formulating and communicating my opinions on a subject. Humility learns from another. Humility accepts limits. Humility rests secure in displacement, injustice, and personal dishonor. Humility opens doors for fruitful service.
With that context, I offer in no particular order these 15 books God used to shape my thinking, expand my perspective, and humble my proud heart in 2017:
- Awe! Why it Matters for Everything We Think, Say and Do, by Paul David Tripp (audio book)
- Half the Church: Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women, by Carolyn Custis James
- A Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., edited by Clayborne Carson and Kris Shepard. This is an audio book of Dr. King’s actual speeches, delivered by him. Spellbinding.
- Complicity: How the North Promoted, Prolonged, and Profited from Slavery, by Anne Farrow, Joel Lang, and Jennifer Frank
- Letters to a Birmingham Jail: A Response to the Words and Dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., edited by Bryan Lorritts
- The Way of the Heart: Connecting with God through Prayer, Wisdom and Silence, by Henri Nouwen
- The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our Brains, by Nicholas Carr
- You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, by James K. A. Smith
- Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale, by Frederick Buechner
- Radical Candor: How to be a Kick A** Boss without Losing Your Humanity, Kim Scott (audio book)
- Leap Over A Wall: Earthy Spirituality for Everyday Christians, by Eugene Peterson. This is a fantastic study of the life of David, a hidden gem from one of my favorite authors.
- Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul, by Hannah Anderson
- Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in an Age of Acceleration, by Thomas Friedman (audio book)
- The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey, by Candice Millard (audio book)
- Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness, by Andrew Murray
And why isn’t the Bible on your list, some may ask? I read and study the Bible daily. It is much more than a book, and belongs in its own category. For me, God’s Word is light and life, oxygen and water, bread and meat. It challenges, convicts, illumines, sustains, encourages and transforms.
What books shaped you in 2017?