As the year dwindles down its time I reflect on the top five books that I read for 2019. I read just over thirty books this year. Well short of my intended goal. While working on a teaching series I spent a lot of time in large books of systematic theology. I read a lot of content this year, I just didn’t get through as many books. With that in mind, I’m only sharing the top five books of 2019. These five books were so good that I felt I would do injustice trying to add five more to the list.
1. A Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson.
The number one slot goes to Thomas Watson’s A Body of Divinity. This is an exposition of the Westminster Assembly’s Catechism. Basically, it’s a systematic theology. Watson was a puritan preacher. And if you’ve never read any works by the puritans then this is a great place to start. Watson is one of the easiest puritans to read. That doesn’t mean that this is light reading. I kept going back and rereading sentences and paragraphs, which led me to rereading whole chapters. This will be a book that I turn to over and over again in my lifetime.
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear
It’s no secret that I enjoy reading, writing, and speaking about discipline. I wrote a book about spiritual disciplines a few years ago. I needed some inspiration to get back into shape as 2019 came to a close, and a new year approached. I picked up Atomic Habits by James Clear. Some books just come at the right time in your life. This was one of those books. Clear uses a lot of scientific examples, and real-life experience to show how habits form us. Unlike some books on habits, Clear gives simple tools and methods for you to implement. I couldn’t put the book down, it was just what I needed. I didn’t want to start these methods in January, I started the first week of December. I picked up the Clear Habit Journal by Baron Fig to help track my habits and set goals. I’m intending for 2020 to be the best year for reaching my goals.
3. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
Jordan Peterson is a polarizing figure. His television interviews and classroom lectures have been a big hit on YouTube. There’s no doubt that he’s one of the most influential thinkers of our day. I don’t know what I was expecting from 12 Rules for Life, but I wasn’t expecting it to be one of my favorite books of 2019, or perhaps for a long time to come. I have to agree with Douglas Wilson’s tweet review of the book, “This book contains pockets of silliness connected by long stretches of common grace on fire.” There is some silliness in some of the scientific illustrations he uses to support his ideas. But those are few and far between. I would recommend that this book be read by many people I know. I would add some caution too. Peterson uses the Bible throughout his book, leading me to believe that he has some sort of faith in God. But he also mixes in some evolutionary and philosophical theories with it. I would say that Peterson is a secular-believer, or a philosophical-believer. Those are my terms, not his or anyone else’s that I’m aware of.
Much of what Peterson writes is common sense, but common sense has been disregarded by our culture. That’s why this book is so extraordinary. Peterson is not afraid to say what we all want to say, or perhaps we don’t know how to say. Peterson knows how to say it, and he does so with clarity and precision. I’m taking my time finishing it, because I keep rereading the chapters and taking notes. So for this book to be in my top five books of 2019 without having completed it says something of its value.
4. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
If you are regular visitor to my website then you know that the Pilgrim’s Progress has been written about a lot this year. I read the Pilgrim’s Progress over the summer. Like Thomas Watson, Bunyan was a puritan. He was probably the most creative puritan writer, producing several works of fiction. Just because this book is fictional, it is by no means a fairy tale. Bunyan uses allegory to describe the real-life journey of the christian. The main character, Christian, wants to get rid of the burden on his back, and travels to Mt. Zion in an attempt to find relief. Along the journey he encounters many people and places that have the potential to either help or disrupt his spiritual journey. Bunyan writes like he’s experienced these people and places. And if you have been a Christian for any length of time, then you have too. That’s what makes this book so amazing. You begin to recognize some of Christian’s encounters as your own. If you haven’t read it, then I encourage you to do so. While you’re at it join me on my website as I write about the characters and places that Christian encounters.
5. Deep Work by Cal Newport
I have a confession. I struggle with wasting too much time on social media and the internet. It’s almost become an addiction. I decided that I’ve had enough. I have too many other good things to accomplish than to waste my life on social media. Unfortunately, I have to use social media for certain things, but I can limit my intake, and the time spent on it. Enter Deep Work by Cal Newport. I read Newport’s book before I read Atomic Habits. It was the perfect set-up. Newport’s thesis is about doing work that matters, and how that work gets overlooked when we are distracted. Newport adds, “Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It’s a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time.” For me, I need to focus on what matters. As a preacher, teacher, and writer, I need to be able to focus so I can produce the type of work that impacts lives. But if I’m always distracted and unfocused, then I’m going to produce shallow work. Again, this was one of those books that came at the right season. I needed a kick in the pants to get back to doing deep work.
There you have it. The top five books of 2019. You can read about my top books from 2016, 2017, and 2018. You can also follow me on Goodreads.com and see what books I’ve read and what I’m currently reading.