That season has come around once again, where top ten (or in this case, eleven) lists abound! As you know, reading is one the few hobbies I have, and as of this writing, I’ve read 105 books.1 Going through that many books in a year led to some interesting challenges as I considered which were my top picks. 2011’s reading saw a couple of abysmal reads, at least one that was rank heresy, a few “meh” titles, and a surprisingly large amount that ranged from good to great in terms of quality and content. Not all of these have been reviewed here (I’ve included, but all are ones I think merit your attention.
So, without (much) further ado, here are my top books for 2011, which, with the exception of one book, none of these are in any particular order:
Gospel Wakefulness by Jared C. Wilson (Crossway, 2011). Wilson’s exuberant passion for the gospel is on full display and will leave you further amazed at the grace of God in Christ. For more of my thoughts on this book, read my review here.
Redemption by Mike Wilkerson (Crossway, 2011). This book, offering a biblical foundation for recovery ministry, careful examines the Exodus and shows us how, through it, Jesus frees us from the shame of sin and the futility of idolatry. For more of my thoughts on this book, read my review here.
Rid of My Disgrace by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb (Crossway, 2011). This book vividly portrays the evil of sexual assault and the tragedy of its effects on its victims, but is equally vivid in detailing the hope that the gospel offers those who suffer. For more of my thoughts on this book, read my review here.
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson (Crown, 2011). A captivating glimpse into the complexities of life and international politics in the early days of the Third Reich through the lens of Ambassador William Dodd and his family’s experiences in Germany in the years leading up to World War II.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Random House, 2010). Hillenbrand’s account of former Olympic long-distance runner Louis Zamperini’s experiences during World War II, adjustment to civilian life and conversion to Christianity, is compelling, engaging and beautifully written.
If You Bite and Devour One Another by Alexander Strauch (Lewis & Roth, 2011). Alexander Strauch offers much-needed guidance in handling conflict with grace and wisdom. For more of my thoughts on this book, read my review here.
Note to Self by Joe Thorn (Crossway, 2011). A gospel-saturated, super-practical and super-helpful book—one that requires a lot of careful reading. For more of my thoughts on this book, read my review here.
Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki (Portfolio, 2011). This is a book about influence—how to gain it and how to leverage it. There’s a lot of mixed opinions on this book if you look at Amazon, but what I took away from it was extraordinarily helpful. For more of my thoughts on this book, read my review here.
Counterfeit Gospels by Trevin Wax (Moody, 2011). Trevin shows us how ugly the “counterfeit gospels”—pale imitations that fail to help, encourage and save—truly are as he reminds readers of the beauty of the one authentic gospel. For more of my thoughts on this book, read my review here.
And my top pick for the year:
Innocent Blood by John Ensor (Cruciform Press, 2011)
Why did this book—a book on abortion—make the cut as the top book of the year? Because, as I wrote in my review, Innocent Blood is and continues to be the most personally convicting and challenging book I’ve read this year. Here’s an excerpt from the review:
If abortion is a gospel issue, we must repent of our desire to keep silent. We must put away our notions that it’s a mere political topic. While it most certainly has political implications, it’s goes much deeper than politics. It’s a question of worldview.
Ensor’s greatest strength in this book is that he doesn’t shy away from this reality. In fact, he is so prophetically forcefully (and I use that term carefully, but deliberately), that we cannot help but be stopped in our tracks. If we are truly followers of Jesus, then we are not permitted to sit on the sidelines of this issue, nor can we with biblical support find defense for any other position than being pro-life.
It was a book that I avoided reading initially and much like Redemption and Rid of My Disgrace (another one that was a serious contender for this spot), is not a book that is entirely enjoyable to read but one that is one that you would do well to read.
- This includes several audio books that received multiple listens in order to ensure I didn’t miss anything. ↩︎
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So happy to see that “Innocent Blood” made it to the top of the list! 🙂
Definitely deserved to be there, as well. Such a challenging read.
I liked your list and I agree with you on the Cruciform Innocent Blood. There is so much more to it and it was clearly stated in that book. My other are 9 are as follows and I included 2 Christian fiction which I really enjoyed. The first fiction is An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers…I thought that book clearly stated the Gospel and what keeps us from the Gospel. Plus it was a great historical look at the early church. My 2nd fiction is a book I am reading now Truth Teller, by Angela Hunt. The crux of it is the implications of playing God. I think it allows the reader to see think about it and see the sovereignity of God. My others are The Grace of Repentance- Sinclair Ferguson; Reverberation: How God’s word brings light, freedom and action to his people:-Jonathan Leeman, Living in the Gap: Between Promise and Reality-The Gospel according to Abraham by Ian Duguind; Seeking the Face of God: Nine Reflections of the Psalms by David Llyod Jones, Son of Hamas by Yousef Mosab, Faith in the Face of Apostasy-Gospel according Elijah and Elisha and last Redemption Freed by Jesus from the Idols we worship and the Wounds we carry by Mike Wilkerson
Great list Jeanie!
Keller’s “The Meaning of Marriage – outstanding! Deconstructs the defeater beliefs of our culture and shows how Eph 5 shapes the meaning of marriage.
Armstrong’s “Awaiting a Savior” – I mean, seriously, I read it how many times 🙂 Great book, Aaron!
Miller’s “A Praying Life” – just found this to be totally helpful!
Looking forward to reading Keller’s book; I’m hoping it’ll be a great compliment to Real Marriage (which, by the way, was really good).
Thanks for including my book in your list, by the way—grateful to have had you reading over and over again (it helped make it a lot stronger).
Going to have to check out Miller’s book—I’m just finishing up a DVD study with our small group by Jim Cymbala and haven’t been terribly blown away by it.
Looking back over the year, some of my top titles would be:
Think by John Piper,
Future Grace also by Piper,
How to Write a Sentence by Stanley Fish,
From the Garden to the City by John Dyer,
Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath,
and <We Lost Our Baby by Siobhan O’neill-White and David White
There were also a few authors that stuck out: N. D. Wilson, Alan Jacobs, and P. G. Wodehouse.
This year was my first time reading any of their books, and I ended up reading, and enjoying, multiple books by each.
Oops, I must have must have goofed on the tag. That final title should be “We Lost Our Baby”
I was wondering what was going on there…
This is why I should only use HTML when there is a “preview” option… even when it is as simple as adding italics. Of course, if I started using OpenId with Disqus I could edit my own posts…
I’m looking forward to reading How to Write a Sentence. Switch was amazing as well (another one of those “this should probably be in the list, but…” ones)