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Books I'll be Reading in 2009
- 12/24/08
- 27
A couple of days ago I was a guest on a radio program, discussing my favorite books from 2008. At one point the host asked what books I am looking forward to reading next year. I thought I’d share just a short list here. This is based only on books that have been announced or that I’ve somehow discovered in my online wanderings.
As you probably know, 2009 marks the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth. Hence we are going to see several Calvin biographies. It is actually surprising how few there are today; I’ve little doubt that this will be remedied next year. So for those of us who are indebted to Calvin but who know little about him, next year should offer a bounty of good resources. I hope to read at least two or three of those biographies.
2009 also marks Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday. The New York Times says “Throw in the fact that the next president of the United States, like Lincoln, is a former state legislator from Illinois, and an African-American who says he has been reading the writings of the man who wrote the Emancipation Proclamation and you have, well, Lincoln-mania.” Because his birthday is in February, we can expect several biographies and other resources in the early months of the year. It’s not like we are suffering from a lack of top-notch biographies on Lincoln, but I expect to see the field grow even more crowded. Ronald C. White’s A. Lincoln: A Biography looks as if it may be the best of the bunch.
There are two books releasing on almost the same day (and for almost the same price—only $0.01 separates them) titled Finding God in The Shack. I’ll probably read them.
We will undoubtedly see a deluge of good Christian books next year. Some of the ones I am looking forward to are:
- The Bookends of the Christian Life by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington (disclosure: I’ve already read it and written an endorsement for it. It’s a very good book)
- Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will or How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Impressions, Open Doors, Random … Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc. by Kevin DeYoung. Of the writing of books dealing with God’s will there is no end; but this one looks both interesting and unique.
- Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God by Bruce Ware.
- The Disappearance of God: Dangerous Beliefs in the New Spiritual Openness by Albert Mohler.
- This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence by John Piper. He waited many years to write this book and I’m looking forward to reading it.
How about you? What books are you looking forward to reading next year?
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (27)
I’m looking forward to reading Understanding Intelligent Design by Dembski & McDowell, Loot by Waxman, & The God of the Mountain by Caldwell.
I have not heard what the title is, but N.T. Wright supposedly has a book coming out in 09 through IVP which is completely dedicated to Justification (then there is the slight possibility of Wright’s fourth Christian Origins book coming out, here’s hoping).
Also, the fourth and last book of Meier’s “Marginal Jew” series is slated for an 09 release.
Looks like it will be a great year for reading from where I sit.
Great list ill be taking on some of those myself….i will be doing some civil war history in honor of the 200th anv in Feb and spending a month on Covenant Theology starting with the Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson….
I’m going to read “Proverbs” by Bridges again this year. I’ve already expressed here that I consider it a great resource.
I’m going to read “The Cross He Bore” by Leahy again this year. I can’t thank you enough for turning me on to this book. I’ve given my original copy away but I ordered two more last week.
I’m going to start reading “The Reign of Grace” by Abraham Booth in January. I have the module in my e-Sword and I’ll be reading it from there.
Although my minor was History, in college, I’m not much into biographies. I may read a biography on Calvin but I’ll wait and see what you recommend.
“Just Do Something… ” looks interesting but I’ve pretty much come to grips, in my thinking, on the “Knowing God’s Will” issue. And, I came to grips without the help of Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Impressions, Open Doors, or Random … Liver Shivers.My last “Liver Shiver” was actually a kidney stone and it was quite painful.
I would say that the “Bookends of the Christian Life” are “God’s Glory Alone”. If the topic strays much from that then I’ll probably not read it.
I’m always looking for something else so I’ll watch this thread for more suggestions.
Merry Christmas and Thanks for all your work!
John Adams by David McCulloughThe Puritan Origins of American Patriotism by George McKennaSeeing with New Eyes by David PowlisonThe Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression by Amity ShlaesThe ESV Study Bible (For devotions)
I will probably read at least one biography of Calvin and also of Lincoln. Calvin’s sermons on the Acts.Truman by David McCulloughEisenhower by Stephan AmbroseBen Hur
The Road to Assisi: The Essential Biography of St. Francis (Sabatier)David Copperfield (Dickens)Jane Eyre (Bronte)What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848 (Howe)Hawthorne: A Biography (Wineapple)Gun Pederson Series (Enger)
I am looking forward to Faith & Feelings by Pastor Brian Borgman. Due out in April from Crossway. Should be good if it is anything like the sermons.
Hey Tim,
You should also check out “The Real Lincoln” by DiLorenzo. I recommend it for a diff. perspective on Lincoln.
Mad Church Disease by Anne JacksonVintage Church by Mark Driscoll and Gerry BreshearsThe Fine Line by Kary OberbrunnerApproaching God by Steve BrownThe ESV Study BibleHow People Change by Paul Tripp and Tim Laneand more that I’m sure will present themselves over the next year.
E. M. Bounds Complete Works on Prayer
i am just gonna try and read morei’ll be looking for books on the gospel, a good biographyi love this site
I made the mistake of starting another fantasy series that isn’t yet complete. So, the next episode (“The Wise Man’s Fear”) is due out next year, and I’ll read that. I’m hoping to read the bible cover to cover, and maybe a general book on the history of the church.
I’ve got a ton of books that I plan on reading in 2009.
Of course, top on that list is Calvin’s “Institutes of the Christian Religion”. Reading that for his 500th birthday.
I will also be reading “What He Must Be - If He Wants To Marry My Daughter” by Dr. Voddie Baucham. I’m sure that is going to be a great book.
Already ready This Momentary Marriage. It is great.Will be reading the Institutes. I will be back home after 14 months in Iraq, so I don’t even know what I will start with after that.ESV Study Bible, then Reformation Study Bible.Living the Cross Centered Life, by CJ Mahaney. Again. And probably a few more times throughout the year.
Here are my initial considerations:Truth For All Time by CalvinRaising Children God’s Way by Lloyd-JonesRight Thinking in a World Gone Wrong by MacArthurJesus & the Feminists by Margaret Elizabeth KostenbergerJesus, Keep Me Near the Cross by Nancy GuthrieComforts From the Cross by Elyse FitzpatrickThis Momentary Marriage by Piper
I LOVE to read so I am sure this will grow and change! Thanks for your site, I enjoy catching up with new things here often.
Tim,
Have you read Steve Lawson’s biography on Calvin?
Books for 2009:Finally Alive by John PiperESV Study Bible (probably won’t make it all the way through)Worship Matter by Bob Kaughlin
Hopefully more as well.
I’ll be reading through the Institutes with Reformation21 which is going to be blogging through them for the year. Also plan to read Aitken’s biography on John Newton and whatever is next in Reading the Classics Together.
As a history buff, I am always up for a good history book. In regards to Lincoln, an excellent book is Manhunt, about the search for John Wilkes-Booth. It is a great read and very hard to put down.You may be able to help here, but I had heard that Piper was releasing a new book in his Swans are not Silent Series. I have enjoyed those and would be looking forward to that.
The Courage to Be Protestant by David WellsDeath by Love by Mark DriscollThe ESV Study BiblePierced for our Transgressions by Michael Ovey, etc.Calvin’s Institutes
Also,God’s Big Picture: Tracing the story-line of the Bible by Vaughan Roberts
I’m going to finish reading Chuck Colson’s How Now Shall We Live, and then start reading The Faith, Given Once, and For All. I also want to try reading St. Augustine’s Confessions again, and then whatever else shows up on the radar.
“Just Do Something” sounds interesting…hope it’s a good and helpful book. I’ll be checking it out, or looking for your review. I enjoyed and benefited from the new Piper book on marriage. I highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading “How Now Shall We Live” also, since I received it just this morning from my daughter, and am also looking forward to reading the Martin Lloyd-Jones biography by Ian Murray.
Merry Christmas to the Challies family.
Great list Tim!
I’m gonna try (Bible college reading permitting) to read Calvin’s Institutes. I’m guessing it will be a hard slog.
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology edited by Burk Parsons looks good. As does Minority Report by Carl R. Trueman. As a good Anglican, I’m trying to get my head around covenant theology with God of Promise by Michael Horton.
My women’s Bible study will be working through Ezra and Nehemiah, and I plan to see whatever notes I can find on both.Our Bible study will be using Wayne Mack’s book IT’S NOT FAIR, looking at what Scripture says about various issues.I also have a number of other books on my list for other settings from Anne Bradstreet to C. S. Lewis.
Here’s my (hopeful) list!
1. Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis2. Real Sex by Lauren Winner3. Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris4. Reading is Believing by David Cunningham5. The Christian Imagination by Leland Ryken6. The Jesus Way by Eugene Peterson7. The Gifts of the Jews by Thomas Cahill8. My Father’s World by Philip Graham Ryken9. Through a Screen Darkly by Jeffrey Overstreet10. The Reason for God by Tim Keller11. The Creative Call by Janice Elsheimer12. Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be by Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
Happy New Year! B.
I don’t usually make a reading list of what I plan to read, but there are a lot of books on my shelf that I want to read. Here are a few: - Six Days of War by Michael Oren, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp, When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch, The Wages of Spin and Minority Report by Carl Trueman, The Way of Salvation by Paul Rainbow, and Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen (Kapic and Taylor).