Best Books of 2019

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My top five books for 2019 are:

1. O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? (Alexander Schmemann)

This short but remarkable work is vintage Schmemann. Schmemann was an Eastern Orthodox priest from Estonia who served as dean of the OCA’s seminary in Crestwood, NY. A liturgical scholar, this work shows the pastoral side of Schmemann, who sees the deep connections between man’s human nature and the principle of death pervading the world. The resurrection of Jesus is the center of humanity’s history and future.

2. Darkest Hour: How Churchill Brought England Back from the Brink (Anthony McCarten)

This is the first book I’ve read on Winston Churchill. McCarten presents a Churchill who is immensely learned, with a clear vision of Britain’s place in the world, yet who is far more complex than the bombastic, overly confident image typically presented. One gets the sense that Churchill’s commitment to defeating evil at all costs was critical to the Allied victory in World War II.

3. The Church and the Office of the Ministry (C.F.W. Walther; ed. M. Harrison)

A different translation of Kirche und Amt was required reading in seminary. This new translation with helpful notes by LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison gave me an entirely new appreciation for Walther and the LCMS understanding of the ministry. I came away with a much stronger understanding of Scripture, the orthodox Lutheran fathers, and our own LCMS position. I used the theses and supporting materials to create a Bible study for my congregation.

4. The Old Man and the Sea (Earnest Hemingway)

I read this in high school, but had little memory or appreciation from that initial reading. The battle between “Old Man” and the great fish is poignantly told. Hemingway’s writing is exquisite.

5. Thank You, Jeeves (P.G. Wodehouse)

This wonderful comic novel find Bertie in the soup with Jeeves over the young master’s infatuation with the banjolele. Bertie must retire to the countryside and loses Jeeves. Kidnapping, a tight substitute valet, and hijinks with the constable make it laugh-out-loud comedy with Wodehouse’s perfect turns of phrase.

For more on my current reading, visit the Books page.

The Best Books of 2018 can be found here.

Here’s the full list of books read in 2019:

  • Christian Reflections on the Leadership Challenge (James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner, eds.)

  • O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? (Alexander Schmemann)

  • The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner (James Hogg)

  • Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America (David Horowitz)

  • The Adventures of Sally (P.G. Wodehouse)

  • Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters (N.T. Wright)

  • The Holy Land for Christian Travelers: An Illustrated Guide to Israel (John A. Beck)

  • The Lion’s Gate: On the Front Lines of the Six Day War (Steven Pressfield)

  • Justification and Rome (Robert Preus)

  • Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Supreme Court (Mollie Hemingway, Carrie Severino)

  • The Old Man and the Sea (Earnest Hemingway)

  • Mission Critical (Mark Greaney)

  • The Alto Wore Tweed (Mark Schweizer)

  • The Cost of Discipleship (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) [reread]

  • The Bogleheads’ Guide to the Three-Fund Portfolio: How a Simple Portfolio of Three Total Market Index Funds Outperforms Most Investors with Less Risk (Tyler Larimore)

  • Darkest Hour: How Churchill Brought England Back from the Brink (Anthony McCarten)

  • The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results (Gary Keller)

  • Carry on, Jeeves (P.G. Wodehouse) [reread]

  • The Man with Two Left Feet and Other Stories (P.G. Wodehouse)

  • Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief (Lawrence Wright)

  • Beowulf (tr. Seamus Heaney)

  • Right Ho, Jeeves [reread] (P.G. Wodehouse)

  • The Demon Next Door (Bryan Burrough)

  • Red War (Kyle Mills)

  • The Church and the Office of the Ministry (C.F.W. Walther; ed. M. Harrison)

  • God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas [reread] (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

  • Thank You, Jeeves [reread] (P.G. Wodehouse)