2019 Reading List

With the coming of a new year comes a new list of books that I hope to read in the year ahead. At the beginning of every year I have a “Want-to-Read” list that is the starting point of my reading goal for the year. It is a fluid list that is subject to change. Books get added, some books get bumped to the following year (or later), and some books just get lost in the shuffle. But I like creating the list because it gives me a goal - something to shoot for - and it gives me justification for buying more books.  

In 2015 I received a stack of books for Christmas presents (that’s the beauty of having a public Amazon Wish List!), so my list naturally took shape from those gifts. Ironically the one book that I never finished was Unfinished by Richard Stearns. Seeing this picture recently, though, was a good reminder that I still want to read it, so it has made its way onto my 2019 list. Hopefully it won’t be on my 2020 list. 

I don’t always publish my list, but I am really trying to “up” my reading game, so I thought I would post the beginnings of my 2019 “Want-to-Read” list and solicit responses and additional ideas. I am always looking for good suggestions and new authors that might challenge my thinking about life, faith, the church, changes in culture, and how all of that fits together in my daily life. I also try to slip in a historical book and at least one classic work of fiction. This is what that looked like in 2018 (minus The Reason For God by Timothy Keller, which I loaned out). 

Here is my list so far for 2019:

The Explicit Gospel (re-reading) by Matt Chandler

Unfinished by Richard Stearns 

Letters to the Church by Francis Chan

Fight by Preston Sprinkle

Factfulness by Hans Rosling

Miracles by C.S. Lewis

Fresh Power by Jim Cymbala

Martin Luther by Eric Metaxas

Everybody Always by Bob Goff

White Awake by Daniel Hill

Christians in the Age of Outrage by Ed Stetzer

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

If you have already read some of the books on my list, I covet your thoughts, good, bad or indifferent. I would also love to hear any additional recommendations you have, if you have read something recently that you think I might appreciate. Also, I would also like to read a book by Henri Nouwen and one by Leslie Newbiggin. If you have read books from either or both of these authors, I would love to get a recommendation for which of their books is the best!

Like always, I am always grateful for input, so please comment here or on my Facebook post!