2017 Reading List

I ended up reading 17 books in 2017, up from 9 last year, but way less than my record of 38. Would have read way more if not for listening to so many Richard Rohr retreats and lectures. Also, my podcast load is too heavy, but there are so many good ones.  So let me just give you the titles and authors and a brief description and you can decide whether or not you want to read.  And I listened to most of the audiobooks in the Harry Potter series again this year on family trips, but I already listened to those before, so I didn't really count them again.

I find my best method of intake is audiobooks which can get expensive, but gets cheaper when you use a subscription service with Audible.  You can certainly save bucks over the list price.  Whenever you have the chance, buy credits.  You should never have to pay more than $15 for a book or lecture series.  I also read some Kindle books as I can read those laying in bed before going to sleep.  And also in December, I began celebrating a Sabbath every week, for which I bought my first paper book in several years.

These are generally in the order of which I finished them, but may not be exactly.  I often read books overlapping, like right now, I'm on one audiobook, one paper book, and one Kindle book, all at the same time, and they may finish one before another or overlapping and whatever.  I realize not everybody can read three books at once! But I do it because I read books in three different ways, audiobooks for while I'm driving or doing manual work, electronic for in the dark, and paper for Sabbath when we shut off electronics.

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up Marie Kondo     Audiobook
I don't know why I bought this book.  It was pretty good, written from a Japanese perspective, helped me to grasp the idea that stuff and junk shouldn't be in my life if it isn't giving me joy or usefulness.

How I slept My Way to the Middle Kevin Pollack, Alan Goldsher     Audiobook by the author
I've always liked Kevin's standup, and excellent impressions.  This book was really enjoyable for its backstories of film projects Kevin has been in, and gave me some films to add to my Netflix list.  The best part of this book is the impressions by Kevin.

True Porn Clerk Stories Ali Davis     Audiobook
You might assume this book is more salacious than it is, and it has its moments, but it is a nice little memoir with some really good stories about being a video store clerk. And it is a video store, not specifically a porn store.  I listened to this on the drive back from Arizona in the late winter.  That's the best time to be in the desert, I think, I've done it twice.  Lovely weather compared to Oregon that time of year.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck Mark Manson
Listened to this on the plane rides back from somewhere on my beekeeping speaking adventures.  A good motivational book.  Basically the idea is similar to "say no to unimportant stuff so you can say yes to important stuff."

Revolution for Dummies Bassem Youssef    Audiobook by the author
Bassem has always been an interesting character for me since I first saw him on the Daily Show. This book chronicles the world he came from in Egypt.  Always get audiobooks read by the author, they are so much better, except for Harry Potter, I'm sure Jo Rowling couldn't do as good with the voices as the guy who does them.

What is the Bible? Rob Bell    Audiobook by the author
As a long time fan of Rob, there was no way I was not reading this.  True to his style, this book explores the Bible, though I would have liked it to be much longer, it is quite good.

The Divine Dance Richard Rohr  Audiobook
This is Richard's recent book on the Trinity.  I listened to this driving back from picking up a trailer in Oklahoma when I started my current business this summer.  Small problem, I was super depressed and having a cruddy time.  Basically my thought through the entire thing was "this sounds so awesome, but is any of it true?"  So I'm going to have to go back and listen to it again because I was in no frame of mind.

The Disaster Artist Greg Sestero, Tom Bissell   Audiobook by the author
If you have seen The Room, you have to read this book.  It's the story of Greg and how he met Tommy Wiseau.  What really livens it up is his dead on impression of Tommy which is used extensively.  Tip: Set Audible speed to 1.25x because Greg reads REALLY slowly.  I often run the speed up a bit simply because I have a higher processing speed.  Not always with Richard Rohr's books though because they are meaty and require more processing power.

Writing My Wrongs Shaka Sengor     Audiobook by the author
A really good book that gives you a look at what it looks like to grow up in a drug and gang rich environment, from a man who spent nearly two decades in prison.  Narrated by the author, the richness of the local accent is brought out.  Mr. Sengor is not a professional narrator, so he lacks in dynamic and emotional range, but still good.

The Sin of Certainty Peter Enns     Audiobook
This book literally resurrected me from the crushing depths of depression and anxiety.  Seriously, in the morning I could hardly get out of bed and by evening, I was fully normal.  It was amazing. The overall message is that God wants trust rather than correct belief.  Must read for those in deconstruction, reconstruction, post-evangelical, etc.

Falling Upward Richard Rohr    Audiobook by the author
Recommended to me by a good friend, this book is about Richard's two halves of life.  It will help you learn a lot about yourself, where you are, and where you are going, and help push you along the path.  Excellent book.  Top 5 Rohr books.

Sober Stick Figure Amber Tozer    Read by the Author
I don't remember why I got this one.  I think it was because she is a comedy writer, or maybe it was on sale, or I don't know.  But it really helped me to scrub my ignorance about alcoholism by telling the whole story from beginning to present.  It helped me to understand a friend who is a former alcoholic, and other authors like Nadia Bolz-Weber who is also a former alcholic.  Listened to this on a drive to Seattle and back.

Yes, My Accent is Real Kunal Nayyar  Read by the Author
Also on the Seattle trip, I listened to this book which is entertaining and enjoyable.  Not on the top of the list of profound and spiritual books, but enjoyable.

Lies We Believe About God Wm. Paul Young    Read by the Author
Another author I read everything from.  Paul wrote "The Shack" and some good stuff since then.  If you have trouble with God, read Paul Young's books.  He's worked through it and has an amazing way of feeling about the world.  Listened to mostly in a hot tub in Missouri.

The Evolution of Adam Peter Enns    Kindle
I bought this a while back and forgot to read it.  It's a touch drier than the other one above, but if you want to hear about ancient near east history and biblical history, it's chock full of it, and I do, so I was happy.  What I didn't care so much about was all the arguments why the story of Creation doesn't need to be read literally which was a point I had already moved past in my journey.  But if you are in that point on your journey, it is very helpful.  Like often happens in Enns books, there was quite a bit of "good to know" stuff in the history part and quite a few "huh, didn't think about it that way" in the theology parts.

Breathing Underwater Richard Rohr    Audiobook
Another book relating to alcoholism, this book was jam packed with mind blowing material.  Top three Rohr books.  It explores the connections to spirituality through the 12 Steps, step by step.  As you can tell, Richard is blowing my mind a lot lately, helping to form my spirituality.  At this writing I am reading a paper book, a Kindle book, and in the midst of a lecture series on Paul all at once.

The Idolatry of God Peter Rollins     Read by the Author
I bought this a while back but never read it because I was kind of hesitant to read it because Rollins likes to burn things down (his "Pyrotheology") and I didn't need that at the time.  There were a few of his arguments I didn't buy, but overall, he had a lot of good stuff to say, not about filling the God shaped hole, but about getting out of the God shaped hole paradigm.  Speed this one up a little, and I hope you like accents, because Peter Rollins is Irish as hell.


Well, there you go.  And remember, half the country doesn't read books at all.  I know quite a number of people who have never read a book after they got out of school.  Stones are for sharpening swords, books are for sharpening minds.  Who knows where I'd be navigating my depression without good books to read.  Major lesson I learned this year, you can't have a resurrection without dying first.  There is no meaningful growth that results from success, but only from failure and pain.

Happy New Year
Solomon