As we say goodbye to the first half of 2017, (Seriously?!) and many fellow avid readers work their way through a summer reading list, I thought I would share a brief list of the best 5 books I’ve read so far this year. This list was surprisingly difficult to put together as many fantastic books didn’t quite make the cut, but here goes.
In no particular order.
The Faith of Christopher Hitchens by Larry Taunton
No book has gripped me tighter from cover to cover this year. Beautiful, fascinating, perplexing, insightful, tragic and surprisingly touching, Larry Taunton’s (an evangelical) first hand account of his complex friendship with the late world-renown atheist, Christopher Hitchens, is spellbinding in every sense of the word.
Systematic Theology by John Frame
As his magnum opus and the grand summation of decades of theological scholarship John Frame’s Systematic Theology is first rate. Frame’s appeal, at least in my estimation, remains his remarkable ability to write with clarity on complex doctrinal matters. Here is a lifetime of work from one of the great theologians of the last 30 years. It belongs on everyone’s theology bookshelf.
The Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse
Nebraska Senator, Ben Sasse has written what must be recognized as one of the most decidedly apolitical books ever written by a sitting United States politician. Part historical recap, part prophetic cultural critique, Mr. Sasse writes with great insight and clear conviction on the looming national crisis that is “perpetual adolescence”. While many of the issues raised in the book are debated and discussed in the modern political arena, Mr. Sasse never asserts that the complex issues we face as a society can be solved by Washington DC. They must be solved in the home. A must read.
Chasing Contentment: Trusting God in a Discontented Age by Erik Raymond
Erik Raymond is one of the most gifted young evangelical writers writing today. In his latest, he doesn’t disappoint. Chasing Contentment is a timely, thoughtful, pastoral, Gospel-soaked work from start to finish. For young leaders living in a world of celebrity pastors and 30-something billionaires who wrestle with feelings of restlessness, this book is straight Gospel-tonic for weary souls. Read slowly. Drink deeply.
The Starfish and the Spider by Brafman and Beckstrom
Decentralization continues to be a hot-topic in the world of business leadership and this book manages to cover this topic with a surprisingly high degree of readability. This is a thought-provoking, paradigm shifting book that is bound to strike up great conversations among fellow leaders.
Enjoy!
Chad Williams
Develop to Deploy 