My favorite reads from lockdown and beyond
What did you do during lockdown?
This type of sentence would have been incredibly bizarre prior to 2020. However, most of us experienced at least a portion of the COVID-19 pandemic holed up in our homes. And, if social media is accurate in any way, many people used this time to do lots of things.
Some people made entertaining videos. For example, entertainer/impressionist Frank Caliendo made this fun spoof on Avengers: Endgame with his daughter Juliet. Others used their time learning a new language, adopting a new hobby, and even baking bread.
My activities of choice involved picking up running (after a five-year hiatus) and reading. In 2020 (when a majority of my time was spent at home), I completed 60 books. In 2021 I finished 35 books and as of the time of writing, I have completed 26 books in 2022. I have not had any specific goals on how many books to complete, however, I have found a renewed love for reading.
Since I’ve mostly dealt with some heavy topics lately, I figured this week I would ease up a bit and share some of my favorite reads of the last few years. You will find a variety of subjects included and thus, I have tried to categorize and summarize each appropriately.
To see more of what I have read in the last few years, I invite you to follow me on Goodreads. But without further adieu, here are my favorite reads from during lockdown and beyond.
2020
Title: Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
Author: Barbara Demick
Genre: Non-fiction, Political/Sociological
Synopsis: If you have ever wondered what life is like in Communist North Korea, author Demick provides a fascinating insider look from a variety of perspectives.
Title: Red Rising
Author: Pierce Brown
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian World, Class Struggle, Action
Synopsis: While I listed the first book above, it is representative of the entire series. Red Rising is an outstanding piece of fiction that deals with issues of class struggle and political upheaval. It quickly has become one of my favorite sci-fi series.
Title: As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From The Making of The Princess Bride
Author: Cary Elwes
Genre: Non-Fiction
Synopsis: Fans of the movie The Princess Bride will delight in the stories told by Cary Elwes. If you listen to the audio version, as I did, various cast members were brought in to tell their stories.
Title: Cold-Case Christianity
Author: J. Warner Wallace
Genre: Non-Fiction, Apologetics
Synopsis: Wallace is a cold-case homicide detective and an atheist. Over time he decides to investigate the case of Jesus’s resurrection, leveraging the same tactics he uses in his police work. This is an excellent work of apologetics for any Biblical student.
Title: The Martian
Author: Andy Weir
Genre: Science Fiction, Humor
Synopsis: You may have watched the 2015 movie starring Matt Damon, but have you read the book? Funny, exciting space exploration wrapped up in a story that makes you lose track of time. I enjoy this work so much that I read it nearly every year. I highly, HIGHLY recommend it.
Title: B.L.E.S.S.
Author: Dave & Jon Ferguson
Genre: Nonfiction, Christianity
Synopsis: What does it look like to love your neighbor as Jesus commands? In this book, the Ferguson brothers aim to take the mystery out of that question by providing five simple tactics to use with those around you.
Title: Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They’d Be There By Now
Author: Dale Sellers
Genre: Nonfiction, Christianity, Pastoral Resources
Synopsis: An unintended consequence of celebrating our Megachurches is that sometimes the smaller local church pastors can feel like failures. Sellers speaks from experience as he helps reorient pastors to their calling and purpose. If you would like to know more, I give the book a more full review here.
Title: Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book or Cause
Author: Becky Robinson
Genre: Nonfiction, Business, Leadership
Synopsis: How do you take your message, book, or cause and invest in such a way as to have a long-term impact? In her book Reach, author Becky Robinson presents four values that must be present to grow your reach. Sound interesting? Read my full review here.
Title: Station Eleven
Author: Emily St. John Mandel
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian World, Survival
Synopsis: After a virus ravages the planet in a matter of weeks, the survivors find themselves navigating new challenges and power structures.
If you’ve gone this far, might I encourage you to check out my own book published just this year?
While geared for lay leaders or students who want to preach, Simple Preaching Prep can help you in a myriad of presentation situations.
