Favorite Books of 2022
Of all the books I read in 2022, here are some of my favorites. They are not necessarily in any order. Enjoy.
That Hideous Strength, by C.S. Lewis. I don’t think I’ve ever read a fiction book that helped me see the modern day more clearly. Masterful.
What I Learned in Narnia, by Douglas Wilson. Having finished the Narnia series with my kids in early 2022, I picked this one up afterwards. Wilson is a Narnia lover and it shows. He helps point out why Narnia is a place to visit often, and how it is particularly helpful for our children.
R.C. Sproul: A Life, by Stephen Nichols. Absolutely loved this book. Wrote a fuller article reflecting on it here.
No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions, by Matt Rhodes. Began this on the way home from Uganda. This book is important and deserves a wide readership. The state of modern missions is dire, and the church needs to recover some age-old biblical principles to get back on track. This book helps.
The Path to Being a Pastor, by Bobby Jamieson. I give this book away to any man who aspires to be a pastor. I’ve read it twice now.
Remember Death, by Matthew McCullough. An extended meditation on our mortality. Some parts are palpable, feel-it-in-your-gut type stuff. Powerful.
The Cross of Christ, by John Stott. Classic for a reason, even though I think he denies impassibility and gets awfully close to patripassianism
The Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkein. Some books get better as you grow up. This is one of them. Many sublime moments.
Zeal without Burnout, by Christopher Ash. Fifteen minutes into reading this I knew I wanted to hand it to the elders and have them read it with me. We did, and ended up having an important conversation about life, rest, work, and pressure.
Just Do Something, by Kevin Deyoung. Every 18-25 year old in our church should read this, and also just about everyone else. This is going to be given away frequently from now on. There are so many wrong ways to think about God’s will. This is a short, punchy encouragement to be more biblical.
Putting Your Past in Its Place, by Stephen Viars. I don’t think I realized how often people are controlled by their pasts. This book helps them process their personal history in a biblical way, and can set them free.
Preparing Children for Marriage, by Josh Mulvihill. I read this whole book on a plane flight. It’s biblical, practical, and hopeful. Too many parents aren’t actively preparing their children for one of the most important parts of their future: marriage. This book helps.
