A Few Of My Favourite Things
One of the popular songs that makes Christmas playlists is Sound of Music’s, “A Few of my Favourite Things.” Because books are one of my favourite things, and because the end of the year is when everyone shares their, “Best Of” and “Worst Of” lists of the previous year, I thought I would end the year by sharing my favourite reads of 2020:
10) How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness by Russ Roberts (Portfolio 2015, 250 pages) — This little book was such an unexpected delight and an easy read (I think I read the whole thing in one or two sittings). Adam Smith is best known as the Father of Capitalism, specifically with his famed work, The Wealth of Nations. However this book was focused on a lessor known work entitled, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, which emphasized the importance of personal virtue, specifically as it relates to the way you live in relationship within your own local community. *Thanks Aaron Jermyn for the recommendation and loan.
9) Range: Why Generalist Triumph In A Specialized World By David Epstein (Riverhead Books 2019, 352 pages) — Written in a similar vain of a Malcolm Gladwell (and in contrast to Gladwell’s excellent book Outliers), Epstein argues: Some vocational fields demand rigid specialized expertise to garner success, however in most fields, those who can bring a greater amount of experience from various fields can often offer better creativity and problem solving capabilities to a wide range of areas that are usually believed to be best ruled by specialists. *Again thank you Aaron for the recommendation!
8) The Clocks (William Morrow Paperbacks 1963, 320 pages) & Ordeal By Innocence (William Morrow Paperbacks 1958, 270 pages) by Agatha Christie — Not sure if it was Covid, but somehow Agatha Christie was the medicine I needed to help me get through this pandemic. Something about the familiarity and suspense of a good o’l murder mystery, to both stimulate the “grey cell’s” and to also mindlessly shut out the world for a short time, served as a cathartic remedy for some strange reason. I have not done much binge watching during Covid, but I did read ten Christie books this past year, and these two were the unexpected, enjoyable standouts of the lot.
7) The Wingfeather Saga By Andrew Peterson (Waterbrook Press 2008, 2009, 2011 & 2014) — There is nothing quite like a good kids’ fantasy book to escape reality. Even in my mid-forties I still love visiting other worlds to embark on wild adventures. Peterson’s series did just that. A truly delightful tale, filled with commical whimsy and an intellegent spiritual depth. Out of the four books, my favourite was the first, On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness — this book is worth reading just for the footnotes! If you have kids or grandkids, consider this as a great Christmas gift collection for 2021. *Thanks McAlister Burke for the recommendation and loan!
6) The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey From Psalm 23 To The New Testament by Kenneth E. Bailey (IVP 2014, 280 pages) — I love Kenneth Bailey, and everything he writes is worth digesting (*His, Jesus Through Mediterranean Eyes is probably my favourite Biblical resource). This book walks the reader through the Old Testament metaphor of understanding God as our shepherd, and how Jesus is the perfect embodiment of understanding God as our shepherd. This book also helped serve as an inspiration to writing a number of devotional blogs based on Psalm 23.
5) The Golden Legend by Jacobus Voragine (Penguin Classics 1999, 432 pages) — This book is a medieval classic work of the church where its earliest editions date back to around 1250 AD. Voragine was a compiler of many of the legends and stories of the saints of the church, from the apostles to the likes of Saint Francis of Assisi. If you ever visit a beautiful church or cathedral, and wonder why there are stained glass pictures of monks battling dragons (I learned that Saint George was not the only saint to allegedly battled a dragon — seems like the church has had a few dragon slayers in its day) or sorcerers, chances are the inspiration came from the tales of the saints outlined in this collection. This book help matches the Christian saint with their feast day, and shares the incredible legends that are associated with these holy heroes. Not sure if you should best read this as a work of serious theology or as a collection of children’s fairytales, either way the read is delightful and enlightening.
4) What Every Catholic Should Know: God by Elizabeth Klein (Ignatius Press 2019, 144 pages) — One of my esteemed gifts of 2020 was a collection of three books (I have read 2 & currently reading the 3rd), signed by the authors, and given to me by friends and Trentside members David and Janet Klein. The three books were from a recent collection of books released under the title, What Every Catholic Should Know (the other two books included were on Salvation and Literature — *The book on literature was written by Joseph Pierce, who wrote an outstanding biography on one of my literary and theological heroes G.K. Chesterton). Elizabeth’s book, the daughter of David and Janet, is obviously meant to be read by Catholics as a basic primer for their faith, however this is a fantastic introduction that could and should be mandatory for every Christian to read. It would also be a great place for any searcher or skeptic to look at, who wants to understand the Christian view of God — a far better starting place than Google and Wikipedia. *Thanks Kleins!
3) Churchill and Orwell: The Fight For Freedom by Thomas E. Ricks (Penguin Press 2017, 352 pages) — This book really has something for everyone. If you are interested in literary figures, it is hard to think of two bigger figures than Churchill and Orwell. If you like biographies, well this book contains biographies of two of the most seminal English men of the 20th century. If you are a World War 2 buff, most of this book is primarily concerned with the events surrounding the second great war. If you are interested in politics and political science, you are dealing with one of the great leaders of the last century in Churchill, and probably the greatest observer of politics gone awry in Orwell. There is even a little romance, both beautiful and tragic, as it relates to Orwell.
2) Lightfoot by Nicholas Jennings (Viking Press 2017, 336 pages) — I have always had a great fondness and nostolgic attachment with the Canadian musical legend Gordon Lightfoot. There is something about listening to Lightfoot’s distinct baritone, his timeless melodies, and endearing lyrics that one cannot help feel sentimental and proudly Canadian. As far as biographies go this was one I did not want to end. For years Lightfoot refused to allow anyone access to him for a definitive biography, he finally relented allowing Jenning’s access on the condition he did not try to smooth over the rough spots of Lightfoot’s character. This book contains what you would expect from a rock n’ roll biography with too much drinking, womanizing and self-destruction. But the book offers so much more, which makes it a beautiful read. It is about a small-town Ontario kid, who hits the big time, but never really leaves rural Ontario. It is about the Toronto folk scene of the 1960’s and the rise of a local hero. It is about an awkward Canadian, who gains the respect of the legends of the music industry, but never quite feels comfortable with celebrity or in the presence of it. It is about man who sustains a nearly life-ending, coma inducing health tragedy late in life, and still manages his way back to music and touring. Finally it is about, both a prideful and humble man, who takes responsibility for the the great hurt he caused many, and in many ways, has spent the last few decades quietly trying to make amends for the hurt he caused to others. *Thanks Elizabeth and Kendra for this 2019 Christmas gift!
1)A Private & Public Faith By William Stringfellow (Wipf & Stock 1962, 94 pages) — Friend and Trentsider Tim Shauf asked to drop by the church a few months back as he was curious about a book he had just read. The book in question was written by an Anglican, Harlem New York lawyer and layman William Stringfellow. I had no familiarity with the writer of the book, but said I would read the book and looked forward to sharing my thoughts. I ordered a copy and a month or so later started reading the short work and within a page or two I was so taken by it, I think I was texting Tim quotes from it. Rarely have I marked up a book as much as this one. After finishing, Tim and I connected, and I think we chatted about the book for nearly 4 hours, which seemed like 15 minutes. Even before I finished the book, I knew I needed to read it again and read it again soon. Although I finished the book a couple months ago I still have it on top of my church desk and I have no plans to put it on the shelf anytime soon. *Thanks Tim!
All in all 2020 was not a great year thanks to this pandemic, but it did make for a good reading year. I had a hard time narrowing it down to a top 10, and really wanted to add an honourable mention category as well, but then I realized if I did that, my honourable mention would be just as long if not longer than my top 10.