My Favorite Books of 2020

As expected, history/biography books dominated my favorite list in 2020. Out of the 90 books I read, 33 were history/biography and a handful of them were about Winston Churchill. It seemed I was drawn to more fiction in 2020 than previous years. From the 33 fiction books, 11 were classics. Sadly, the modern fiction choices were mostly disappointing; some I didn’t even bother to finish.

The books about current events/culture study were all excellent. And under the Christian category, a few were outstanding and life-changing, but some fell short. Here are my top books of the 2020, arranged by genre. I've added affiliate links to Amazon.

 

Knowing Christ - as a sequel to an old favorite, Knowing Jesus, this is a modern classic. I especially enjoyed reading it with my book club and discussing our Savior with my sisters in the Lord.

Gentle and Lowly - this made it to the top lists of many Christian authors and bloggers I follow, understandably so. I read it slowly and meditatively throughout the year. The truths found here about the heart of Christ, my Savior, for sinners and sufferers, have been a great reminder what a treasure we have in Him.

Parenting with Words of Grace - a book I didn’t think I needed to read, this offered not only parental advice, but a constant reminder of the glorious gospel, and how it applies to parenting and discipleship.

The Splendid and the Vile - the historical account of the Blitzkrieg attack on London by Germany in World War 2. What struck me about this book is how the Brits kept their lives as normal as possible, despite the constant danger. 

Sons and Soldiers - the story of a group of young men who fled persecution in Europe to America, then later returned to Europe to fight the Nazis. I had not heard of them before and their amazing contribution to win the war with their language skills and familiarity with the habits and worldview of their enemies.

Franklin and Winston - the historical account of the friendship between Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill during WW2. I do not envy these two great men who made difficult decisions to make that resulted in the deaths of their people; but make them, they had to do. This book made me appreciate and wish for principled men who would lead their people with integrity and courage.

Churchill: Walking With Destiny - though a little long, it is an excellent biography of Churchill. I have read a few other books about him, but this is my favorite so far as it provides a fresh and insightful look into the character of the most admired (and hated at the same time) man in the 20th century.

Destiny of the Republic - this is the story of President Garfield’s assassination attempt and our nation’s rallying together as doctors, inventors and scientists tried to save his life. It covers a short biography of Garfield, the history of germ theory and the science to apply it.

The Thirteenth Tale - It’s a gothic novel, not a typical genre I’m drawn to, reminiscent of Jane Eyre. The author is now one of my current favorites. Her storytelling skills just grabbed me by the heart. I just want to have tea with her characters and give them a hug. 

Black Rednecks and White Liberals - after reading Mr Sowell’s engrossing book, I questioned myself why I waited this long to read his works. He taught me new things and made me think differently of current events, history and the possible solutions to our current societal problems.

The Madness of Crowds - This timely, brilliant book was written by a gay atheistic conservative journalist. It is a great assessment of the irrationality of our society. If you are like I am, who have been scratching my head at the banality of the cancel culture, intersectionality and identity politics, you would find this book helpful.

Dominion -  I learned so much just reading the Preface. The author is far from being a Christian apologist, but he affirmed so much of the truth that Christian authors like Francis Schaeffer and Charles Taylor have made famous in their own works. Mr. Holland wrote an honest look at the universal good influence Christian principles have had on our society. 

Summer 2020 Reading Suggestions

Here are some books I recommend, if you’re looking for something to read during a slower than normal schedule this summer. I know that , typically, summer reads means easy, fun and relaxing read, the kind that encourages escapism.

I don’t often follow this and am not a big fan of that genre, so some of these books may not be what you’re looking for. I do encourage you to just check them out and perhaps you will find them as entertaining as, and more enlightening than, the latest bestseller beach read. You can go to my Goodreads Read Shelf for detailed reviews of these books. (Note that I have included affiliate links to Amazon)

History/Biography

1. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson - the historical account of the the Blitzkrieg in London and how the Brits coped with it.
2. Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard - this is about the assassination attempt of President Garfield that covers history, biography and science.
3. The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone - the fascinating story of Elizabeth Friedman, one of the first code breakers, and the beginning of cryptography.
4. For the Glory by Duncan Hamilton - the amazing missionary life of Eric Liddell post-Olympics.

Culture Study/Current Events:

1. Under Our Skin by Benjamin Watson - the best book I’ve read to help me better understand the ordeals of African Americans, with a gospel-centered message.
2. The Madness of Crowds by Douglas Murray - written by an atheist gay author, this book calls out the inconsistencies and recounts the histories of the current trends of victimhood; very enlightening. (Warning: some profanities as quotes, some sexual descriptions)
3. I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong - in light of the Coronavirus, this is an informative book to read that highlights the good germs in our bodies.
4. David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell - using underdog stories, Gladwell skillfully defends his thesis that privilege or abundance does not always mean advantage.

Christian/Bible

1. Closer Than a Sister by Christina Fox - great prep book about pursuing relationships, to read before the busy ministry season begins, as churches start to open and reconvene their pre-quarantine schedules.
2. Faith Among the Faithless by Mike Cosper - a study on the Book of Esther, this is so relevant for our times.
3. The Faith of Christopher Hitchens by Larry Taunton - expounds on the value of friendships with those unlike us.
4. Dispatches from the Front by Tim Keessee - a collection of encouraging stories, that include our pastor’s in Croatia, of Christians in hard places.

Just for fun:

1. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - this may sound confusing in the beginning, but it is a fun read, unlike anything I’ve read before.
2. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch - the book that confirmed I’m a science fiction fan, not just any kind of sci-fi, but the type that encourages introspection and asks philosophical questions that have haunted mankind for generations. (Warning: some profanities)
3. Anything by Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, JRR Tolkien or Jane Austen.

My Favorite Books of 2019

I read 112 books in 2019 and it seems appropriate the pick 12, instead of 10, favorite books. The criteria to earn a spot on my top list are the following:

• I learned something new
• I was reminded of something awe-inspiring
• I would re-read it later on.

Note that giving it a 5-star rating on my Goodreads is not on my criteria list. I rated a few books 5-stars that didn't make it here (e.g., Hole in our Holiness, Closer Than a Sister, The Blessings of Humility). That is because, though I agree with and would recommend those books, they didn't really give me new insight. They felt like something I've read or heard before, but nothing earth-shattering.

Some of the books that made it to my top list I didn't rate 5-stars, mainly because I cannot 100% recommend them to anyone, though they fulfill my criteria above. These books require discernment to be enjoyed and proved useful.

So here are my favorite books of 2019. The links will lead you to my Goodreads reviews:

1. A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and a Great War by Joseph Loconte
This book made me fall in love even more with the works of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. It also portrayed WW1 and its aftermath in ways I never thought of before.

2. Remaining Faithful in Ministry by John MacArthur
This is a must-read for anyone involved in ministry. As someone who has been serving alongside her husband for 20+ years in a country semi-hostile to the Gospel, I found this to be so refreshing and a balm to my sometimes weary soul.

3. In the Land of Blue Burqas by Katy McCord
This is an account of the author's time in Afganistan and her determination to help the women while sharing the story of Jesus that made sense to them. Even as a missionary of 21+ years, I learned so much on how to reach a people group so different from my own.

4. Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
One of the classic works by a favorite author, this book should be read by everyone, especially the young people.

5. The Bastard Brigade by Sam Kean
Written by one of my favorite science authors, this book is both scientific and historical. This fact-filled non-fiction, about the group of men whose main purpose was to search for and destroy Hitler’s nuclear program, reads like a novel.

6. Incredible Victory by Walter Lord
I read this before I went to see the movie, Midway. What an incredible story about the Battle of Midway and Walter Lord did an exceptional job putting down into paper what transpired in that fateful event in WW2 history. 

7. Escape from Reason by Francis Schaeffer
I have not read anything by Schaeffer that I have not loved. I must have taken 20 pages of notes from this. Escape from Reason is a must-read Christian classic that is a short introduction to the history of philosophy and how it has affected our culture and general thought processes.

8. Faith Among the Faithless by Mike Cosper
This book, which excellently explains the context and message of the story of Esther, that it is definitely “less VeggieTales, more Game of Thrones” as the author describes it, is one of those that didn't earn my 5-star rating. The reason is because of the author's exaltation of Mother Teresa as an example of Christian virtue. (On a side note, why do Evangelicals use her as a good example all the time? She followed a works-based gospel that doesn't align with Scripture).

9. A Theory of Everything (That Matters) by Alistair McGrath
This explains the life, work and beliefs of Albert Einstein. It’s a good introduction to his scientific theories and how those were influenced by his beliefs in an Intelligent Designer. It makes a good apologetic book as Christians face more opposition from the world and accused of being anti-science.

10. Disruptive Witness by Alan Noble
This insightful book is about evangelism, philosophy, and anthropology. Itis one of those rare books that forced me to read it slowly and often repeatedly. However, Mr. Noble’s proposed applications are lacking, but his assessment on our problem is excellent.

11. Devotedly by Valerie Elliot Shepard
Written by the daughter of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, Devotedly is like a sequel/extended version of Elisabeth’s Passion and Purity, which I read in college and revolutionized the way I viewed dating. This couple's unwavering devotion to Christ that they were willing to give up being together if necessary, is a great example to emulate in the church that sometimes thinks singleness is a disease to get rid of.

12. Chasing Contentment by Erik Raymond
A book we read with our girls that is reminiscent of the weightier Jeremiah Burrough's The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.

Book Review: A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War

I cannot express enough how much I loved this book. I have been a fan of JRR Tolkien’s LOTR books for many years and have read a few of C.S. Lewis’s great works. I knew they were friends and Tolkien was instrumental in Lewis’s conversation to Christianity. What I didn’t know was their military service during WW1. I knew very little of that war until a recent visit to the Imperial War Museum in London. What I learned astounded me. It was the most brutal war the world had ever known at that point. 

A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and A Great War (HWGW)added another layer of insight how all three (Tolkien, Lewis and WW1) produced the most beloved and timeless books like The Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings series. HWGW is part history, part philosophy, and part biography, interwoven with excerpts from these famous authors’ works. Understanding the temper of the times made me appreciate more how remarkable these books were and are. 

Before WW1, there was a general sense of optimism, fueled by the new discoveries in science that led to progress and advancement people had never seen before. The myth of progress declared science as the new religion and man, the new god. Even people of faith were deceived by the “virtues” of man-centered science that propagated eugenics and the evolving man. There grew a crisis of faith, but optimism in humanity. 

Believing the advancement in science had to lead to peace, nations naively entered into war unprepared for the devastating consequences of the use of their modern weapons. The war that was supposed to end all wars went on for years without a clear winner, but left almost 40 million casualties, a third of which were killed.

WW1 was a turning point in world history, not just in military, but socially, politically and spiritually. It led to worldwide disillusionment that made people cling to modernism further. Rejecting the old systems (democracy and religion) and empires (Ottoman, AUSTRIAN-Hungarian, German monarchy, and Tsarist Russia) that failed them, society then embraced the new (fascism, communism, atheism). Darwin, Nietzsche and Freud were the new prophets that would lead the way to the salvation of man. Society had no more need of God since science could explain everything better than religion.

Astonishingly, it was in this state of gloomy social landscape did the works of Tolkien and Lewis’s works begin. This is due to these great writers’ counter-cultural view of reality. They saw progress as an assault to human dignity and hated the machine. Tolkien and Lewis viewed the degradation of society and faith, but they had a more optimistic outlook. They responded by embracing the value of friendship, the power of storytelling, and by “reclaiming some of the older beliefs and virtues. (p. 180)” 

Their experience in the war did not make them lose hope. They saw the sometimes necessity of war in order to preserve freedom, to save the oppressed, and to protect what made life good. “As veterans of this conflict, Tolkien and Lewis chose to remember not only its horrors and sorrows: they wanted to recall the courage, sacrifice, and the friendships that made it endurable” (p. 170). This was made evident in the beloved books they authored. They created characters that exemplified both fierceness and gentleness. They brought back the old-fashioned ideals of chivalry, nobility, courage humility and perseverance in the face of evil.

Tolkien and Lewis saw the worth of the everyday, seemingly insignificant hero, as we see in Lucy in Narnia and the Hobbits in LOTR. They exalted the virtues of loyal friendships, as exemplified by Sam, Pippin and Merry as they courageously faced what seemed like defeat for the sake of their friend Frodo. They brought hope in the form of a returning king, Aragorn in LOTR and Aslan in Narnia. 

Through their mythological and magical stories, they communicated biblical truths. Man is corrupt and cannot save himself. He cannot face evil alone, but can defeat it in community. Good will win in the end. These were truths that society needed to hear, but was blind to accept. Tolkien and Lewis offered an alternative answer to the plight of man and it wasn’t found in science. Rather, it was found in the myth because it gave way to the supernatural, destroyed the lie of the autonomous man, and pointed to a God who is good and just.

I always knew Tolkien and Lewis did humanity a great kindness through their writing. But HWGW explained why that is and how it came about, and for that reason I highly recommend HWGW to everyone, not to just Tolkien and Lewis fans. It’s a compelling, eye-opening and heartwarming read that I will cherish all my life.

Disruptive Witness Book Review

Disruptive Witness is one of those rare books that forced me to read it slowly and often repeatedly. Though not original (the author from the beginning refers to the previous works by writers Charles Taylor and James KA Smith), his thesis is new to me and helps me better understand our society and culture.

First of all, this insightful book is about evangelism. The author tries to explain the kind of “soil” we are faced with and how to prepare it better to receive the good news of Christ. We live in a secular age where man is autonomous, God and faith are optional enhancements to life, the “buffered self” living in an “immanent frame” is all there is, truth is relative and man defines what gives him meaning, which usually is limited to the physical and not to the transcendent. But the problem is, even if society tries to suppress the transcendent (I.e., God), it cannot shake off the inherent transcendent feelings common to all people.

These moments of awe (e.g., when a baby is born, grieving a death of a loved one, watching a beautiful sunset) are essential to being human, but are contradictory to the general belief of evolution that tries to explain all of life solely through science. So, the modern man lives in this conflict between what he thinks he knows and what he feels and experiences. This is the man we are faced today to evangelize. Knowing the grand influence secularity has on him, I have a clearer picture of how society thinks and how to better present the gospel to it.

The first part challenges me to both examine my heart and the ever-present technology’s effects on it. We live in a distracted world and sadly we are not even aware of this problem. As Christians, we have also been affected by distraction and secularism. Our good works become performance art. We church-shop to fit our eclectic preferences. Worship is approached with a consumerist attitude.

So then, how do we as a church reach people who are glued to their screens, have short attention spans, and do not engage in deep thinking, for the gospel, especially when we as a church struggle with the same? The author proposes the answer is for the believers to live as a disruptive witness among unbelievers. We need to shake their world with truth and practices that will at least, “put a pebble” in their shoe of unbelief, to make them question what they know and be curious about our faith.

His three-fold solution to become disruptive witnesses is summarized as follows:

1. Acknowledge the beauty around us and turn it toward God. He calls this “Double movement” or the merging of the immanent with the transcendent. We need to direct people’s thoughts and feelings of awe to something bigger than this world, to the transcendent God.

2. Engage the culture through participating in and promoting the arts, literature, film and other media.

3. Celebrate liturgy and what makes our faith distinct.

This second part of the book is why I don’t give this book 5 stars. Though these solutions are not wrong, they are either simplistic or incomplete, especially the last two. How far do we go to engage the culture with their filthy forms of entertainment? I’ve heard arguments from church people why Game of Thrones is justifiable to watch because of its great story-telling, yet they ignore the fact that its violent and gratuitous sex are demeaning to women and contradicts our mandate for purity. (You can read Mr Noble's review of the books HERE).

And why did the author focus on liturgy and sabbath-keeping as ways to disrupt our culture, but doesn’t mention more obvious and biblical methods, like the faithful preaching of the Word and doing the one-another’s to a watching world? Is the author’s being a Presbyterian the reason for this emphasis on liturgy and liberal use of Christian freedom?

I am glad to have read this book and I recommend the church to read and discuss it. Though Mr. Noble’s proposed applications are lacking, his assessment on our problem is excellent. I’m currently reading Our Secular Age. I find the chapter in preaching by John Starke offers better solutions on how to reach the distracted world.

My Top Ten Books of 2018

I can't believe it is the end of the year already. And after 110 books, I put together my top ten in 2018. The top 5 are in the order of how much I loved the book. The bottom 5 are about equal. It took me awhile to make up my list as there are a few more I'd add here that I will mention under Honorable Mentions.

Less than half of the 110 were audiobooks. Most were borrowed from the library. Several of them I first listened to as audiobooks, loved them so much, so I had to read the written versions. A few I was able to receive an advance copy of in exchange for an honest review.

Based on Goodreads' stats, my average rating in 2018 is 3.7, which is higher than I expected. I'm usually very stingy with my stars. Here is the break down of what genres I read and it is no surprise to me what the top three are. I discovered my love for the science fiction genre this year, but not the fantastical kind. I like the ones that touch on the philosophical, ethical, moral aspect of it.

Here are my top 10 books in 2018:

1. The Gospel According to God by John MacArthur (Goodreads review) - John MacArthur is my pastor and I have always enjoyed every book I've read by him. But this one really struck me to the core. It is a straight exposition of Isaiah 53 and brought me to tears as Pastor John explained what God the Father had orchestrated in order to fulfill His plan to redeem a people, and it cost Him dearly. I was left in awe of God and His relentless love toward undeserving sinners like us.

2. How Should We Then Live by Francis Schaeffer (Goodreads review) - My second Schaeffer book read in as many years and both made it to my top 10 list. Mr. Schaeffer was a pioneer in his focus on how worldviews direct not only our individual lives, but they affect our society in both good and bad. I think every high school student should read it.

3. Night by Elie Wiesel  (Goodreads review) - Another book I think should be read by all, especially the young generation. It is a poignant story of Mr. Wiesel's account of his time in a Nazi concentration camp. He writes so beautifully despite the detestable condition at the camp. It left me in tears in some passages.

4. In His Image by Jen Wilkin (Goodreads review) - This is the companion/sequel book to Jen Wilkin’s None Like Him, one of my favorite reads last year. Both books cover the attributes of God. The first covers the noncommunicable characteristics that are solely God's. In His Image covers those that we are to aspire after. Ms.Wilkin is one of a few female authors I enjoy reading. 

5. Rocket Men by Robert Kurson (Goodreads review) - This compelling book covers the history of space flight before NASA even existed all the way to the lives of the crew, who manned Apollo 8, now in their 90’s. They were the first men to take part in mankind's first mission to the moon. Their heroic mission provided hope to the broken American society of the 1960's.

6. Flags of Our Fathers by James D. Bradley (Goodreads review) - This book covers the story of the six men (two were misidentified initially) who were in the iconic photo of the flag raising in Mt. Suribachi in Iwo Jima, from their humble beginnings to the end of their courageous lives. The author is a great storyteller. I look forward to watching the film adaptations.

7. Killing the Rising Sun by Bill O'Reilly (Goodreads review) - This historical book is an excellent recounting of the events that led to the bombing of Japan in WW2. It was very enlightening in describing the wartime atrocities of the Japanese that led to the use of atomic weapons.  

8. The Pastor's Wife by Gloria Furman (Goodreads review) - Though it is written with minister's wives in mind, I recommend it to any woman who desires to minister to the Body of Christ. Ms. Furman skillfully reminds us to remove the focus off ourselves (and the challenges that come with ministry), but instead to be reminded of the excellencies of Christ and His gospel. 

9. Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent (Goodreads review) - This is a great history, adventure, survival story, memoir and courtroom drama book about the worst sea disaster in US Naval History. The great writing, intriguing story and memorable heroes of this story make it one of my favorite books of 2018.

10. The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean (Goodreads review) - I just finished this book and almost didn't make it in time before I wrote this post. It is full of interesting facts and stories of the atoms in the periodic table and their discovery. As a Science major in college, I thoroughly enjoyed the geekness and seriousness of the topic.

Honorable Mentions, some of which I may not have rated 5-stars but deserved to be mentioned here, that (1) affected me in unexpected ways, (2) challenged me in my thinking, or (3) made me fall in love with the author's writing skills. You can check my Goodreads for my review of each of them:

Devoted by T. Challies, Eve in Exile by R Merkle, Gay Girl, Good God by JH Perry, Dark Matter by B Crouch, HIgh King of Heaven by J MacArthur, Sexual Morality in a Christless World by M Rueger and Tactics by G Koukl.

I hope you find this list helpful as you decide which books to devote your time on, which ones to give as gifts, especially Christmas is just around the corner. Happy reading!

Review: The Essential Jonathan Edwards by Owen Strachan

4 Stars out of 5
The Essential Jonathan Edwards is a must-have if you are already a Jonathan Edwards fan. I have read and loved some of his works, so I was excited to receive a free advanced copy of it in exchange for an honest review via netgalley. Jonathan Edwards epitomized the pastor/theologian title. His knowledge of God had a direct effect in his heart and life. And it is to our spiritual benefit to learn from his example.
It truly is a comprehensive book that summarizes Edwards’ biography and writings. The authors didn’t shy away from including even his shameful stance on slavery. I thoroughly enjoyed the first third that covers his life story. I breezed through this part.

I didn’t get as engrossed in the last two-thirds that covers Edwards’ published works. The authors quote him extensively and add their explanation to Edwards’ points. This is especially helpful for many of us who are not used to reading colloquial English. I have tried many times to read Puritan works, but end up giving up part of the way. I love the wisdom I can glean from them, but they are not easy reads.

There were some questionable things that Edwards believed that I have to research further. For example, as mentioned earlier, Edwards believed that slavery was not incompatible with his faith. He also made a distinction between the OT church being Christ’s mother and the NT church as His wife.

I would not recommend reading this book cover to cover, but it is excellent to have in your library as a reference book if you want to know Edwards’ beliefs in certain topics. The book is written for the purpose of introducing its readers not just to the scholarly approach to Scripture, “not to shoot over people’s heads with lofty academic discussion, but to fire the heart and mind to embrace the thrilling experience of a God-centered existence.” I believe the author succeeded in doing what they set out to do.