Summer Reading

Like many bloggers, I like to read as well as write. We are a high-minded group of people, after all, what with our advice-giving and over-sharing and generally know-it-all approach to the world.  I do a bit of each, here and there, as I find time. A little reading, a little writing.

As a result of this start-stop approach to things, I usually have many books and writings all going on at the same time, and thus, I may not be as literally productive as some other bloggers I know.

I am nothing at all like my esteemed colleague Glynn Young at the Faith Fiction & Friends blog, who devours two or three literary meals a week and then immediately turns around and spews out these stunning book reviews. How does he do all that, and hold down a corporate job at the same time? I don’t know.

Nor am I like my friend L.L. Barkat at Seedlings in Stone, who I’m sure pumps out at least 5,000 pristine words per day, and who, according to my records, has published three books in the past six months. This besides running the editorial for High Calling Blogs, raising two kids, and God knows what else. She’s a writing machine.

Me, I get things done a  little at  a time, squeezed in between the more than full-time work and family schedule.  A little here, a little there.  I get by.

So The High Calling Blogs is doing a round up of summer reading lists, and here is mine. These are the books you’ll find scattered among the various rooms of my house, that I am slowly making my way through. A little at  a time.

Same Kind of Difference as Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.  This is one of those spiritually heart-wrenching feel-good/do-good true Christian stories that I generally avoid and would never read, but a friend insisted. I actually just finished it, and liked it, so thought I’d throw it on the list.  Spoiler alert: she dies in the end, but God’s work is completed through her. Oh. Sorry.

Naked, by David Sedaris.  I have discovered a kindred writing spirit in Mr. Sedaris, and have been progressively working my way backwards through his books. This is one of his earlier works from the late 90’s. His very first essay had me snarfing up a glass of water, it was so hilarious. Who knew I could be so inspired by a lazy gay non-practicing Greek Orthodox with a bad attitude?

Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning, by Mihaly Csikszentmihali (pronounced “czxkxzlmzxy.” If you spit something up while saying his name, I think you got it right).  The godfather of the Positive Psychology movement applies his research to finding meaning and happiness in the business world. I like this guy’s work a lot. This looks like very promising material.

What’s So Great About Christianity? by Dinesh D’Souza. A good intellectual defense for Christianity – this could be a good exercise for me. Plus, I really want to know.

Barbies at Communion, by Marcus Goodyear.  I think the title says enough, but my friend here has an alluring way with words. It’s one of my first forays into poetry, written by someone I can trust with it.

Ballistics, Poems by Billy Collins. Actually, it was this book that was my first foray into poetry, since I got it before Barbies. Is foray even the right word? I just noticed that I used it twice. Anyway, Collins did a reading at my daughter’s school and she fell in love with the bland charm of his poems. She knew I would love it too, and brought the book back for me. After reading a couple of his poems, I think I will be in love too.

Money, Greed and God: Why Capitalism is the Solution and Not the Problem, by Jay W. Richards.  “The book….Demonstrates why a Christian can be a good capitalist!” says the back cover. I should definitely know the answer to that.

Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation, by Parker Palmer. I’ve already started a good bit of this book and am incredibly impressed by the gentle thoughtfulness of Palmer’s approach to work and spirituality. He is very transparent and draws you in to his own journey of finding meaning and purpose through his own work. I would expect nothing less from someone with two last names.

God in the Yard: Spiritual Practice for the Rest of Us, by L.L. Barkat. Honestly, I have no idea what this book is about, but I had to buy it since I know anything that LL writes is  going to sing off the pages. Well. I just looked at the cover and noticed that the tagline says “A 12-week course in discovery and playing towards God.” Now that sounds like a good course of study.

Our Souls at Work: How Great Leaders Live Their Faith in the Global Marketplace, by Mark L. Russel. I recently came across this book and told someone that I suppose I should read it, seeing as this is right up my subject-matter alley. Then I got word from an unnamed source that my parents are shipping it to me for Father’s Day. Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Moore! 

So there you go. If you come by my house sometime, you can find a comfy spot and pick one of these up for a spell.