Some of Our Favorite Books of 2019

Reading, both widely and deeply, is a vital discipline for any leader. But reading is especially important for the Christian leader, because our way of leadership (following Jesus) isn’t just pragmatic. It’s a inherently theological pursuit that demands we reflect deeply on our relationships regularly.

We asked some of our team to give us a few favorite books from 2019, and we’ve got a list below, in no particular order. (Note: these aren’t necessarily books that were released this year, just books we happened to read this year.)

Enjoy this list of a few of our favorite books of 2019!

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The Church of Us Vs. Them: Freedom From a Faith That Feeds on Making Enemies

The Church of Us vs. Them: Freedom from a Faith That Feeds on Making Enemies by David E. Fitch

(Submitted by Mac McCarthy)

A fantastic book that exposes how the “enemy-making machine” is at work in our individual lives and within our churches. By describing how “othering” works to create an “us vs. them” dynamic, Fitch casts powerful vision and invites the church to break down walls of division by becoming a people who are an us without a them.

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Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

(Submitted by Matt Tebbe)

Okay full disclosure: I was an American History major in undergrad so I nerd out on this stuff, but this book is so well written, so engaging, and so profoundly important I think any in our Gravity Leadership Community would dig it.

Kendi traces the history of America through the lives of five people, black and white, to tell our history of how racist ideas have created racist policies. Whenever Kendi quoted a racist idea, I found myself thinking, “That’s not racist!” but on further reflection realized it was. Such a convicting, necessary book.

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How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, by Jenny Odell

(Submitted by Ben Sternke)

A lovely, meandering book that helped me think more deeply about how our imagination, creativity, and sanity have been hijacked by the “attention economy” (social media, 24-hour news cycle, etc).

It’s not pie-in-the-sky idealism, either. Instead, it presents a very doable, down-to-earth way of “resisting in place” the exploitative forces around us that seek to squeeze us into a capitalist-consumerist mold. Lots of parallels to the “uselessness” of worship and the politics of being the church (ala Hauerwas, etc).

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Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery

Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah

(Submitted by Seth Richardson)

As Rah argued in his earlier work, The Next Evangelicalism, the evangelical church in North America is not shrinking. It’s thriving and growing … among minority and immigrant communities. For those leaders (namely, white middle-class men like me) who want to understand how the Spirit is forging faithful communities on the edges of Christendom, rather than desperately try to recover the old models, Rah’s new book, co-authored with Mark Charles, is vital.

Unsettling Truths is an uncomfortable read at times, but it is necessary prophetic word for detoxing from idolatrous theological and ecclesiological habits. For those pastors who are interested in grounding their ministry contextually, Charles and Rah also do a great job of summarizing important sociological analysis from the past 50 years. Gleaning from their contextual method alone is worth the read.

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The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships

The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Health Relationships by Suzanne Stabile

(Submitted by Mac McCarthy)

An insightful book on how different Enneagram types interact and relate to one another.

This book enriched my self-awareness both at home and at work, increased my understanding of others, and contributed to some breakthrough conversations among our pastoral team.  

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Centering Prayers: A One-Year Daily Companion for Going Deeper into the Love of God

Centering Prayers: A One-Year Daily Companion for Going Deeper into the Love of God by Peter Traban Haas

(Submitted by Matt Tebbe)

Okay I’ve only been using this book for 2 weeks, but, holy cow, do these short, simple prayers pack a punch. Similar in beauty to the prayers in Pádraig Ó Tuama’s Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community, Haas gives words and voice to the deep unworded yearnings for love in my soul. These are prayers to simmer in, settle in; not to finish. I am deeply grateful for the grace and beauty of this book.

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Laurus

Laurus, by Eugene Vodolazkin

(Submitted by Ben Sternke)

This is a very Russian novel in the spirit of Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. It’s difficult to describe, but the story made a deep impression on me. The main character is a “holy fool” that is a Christ-figure of sorts.

It’s whimsical, heart-breaking, hilarious, fantastical, and deeply theological. I couldn’t stop reading it. I think I finished it in just a few days. It’s been awhile since a novel so fully captured my imagination like that. Highly recommended. Maybe read it over Christmas break?

Angels do not tire, said the Angel, because they do not scrimp on their strength. If you are not thinking about the finiteness of your strength, you will not tire, either. Know, O Areseny, that only he who does not fear drowning is capable of walking on water.

― Eugene Vodolazkin, Laurus

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The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk

(Submitted by Mac McCarthy)

The content of this book was not always easy to read as it details  stories involving abuse and trauma.  However, I think this is an essential read for anyone serving in pastoral ministry.

After providing an understanding of how trauma shapes the brain and body, this book casts hopeful vision of how to move toward people relationally, help them engage physically, and restore health.

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Inhabiting the Cruciform God: Kenosis, Justification, and Theosis in Paul’s Narrative Soteriology

Inhabiting the Cruciform God: Kenosis, Justification, and Theosis in Paul’s Narrative Soteriology, by Michael Gorman

(Submitted by Ben Sternke)

This is a wonderful exploration of Paul’s theology of justification, showing that it’s far more dynamic and exciting than the typical “law court” metaphors we typically use to think about it.

To be saved is actually sharing in God’s divine life, which has an eternally cruciform shape. In other words, justification is theosis, the participation in divine life. This book will make you fall in love with the gospel again.

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Being There for Someone in Grief: Essential Lessons for Supporting Someone Grieving from Death, Loss, and Trauma

Being There for Someone in Grief: Essential Lessons for Supporting Someone Grieving from Death, Loss, and Trauma by Marianna Cacciatore

(Submitted by Mac McCarthy)

While not written from a Christian perspective, this book names the many unhelpful ways we seek to help or comfort those in the throws of grief.

Additionally, in articulates a way of being present to others that very much compliments the training we provide in our cohorts.  

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How about you? What are some of your favorite books of 2019? Leave a comment below to join the conversation.