As I get older, I have increasingly adopted Benjamin Franklin’s advice to read “much, but not too many books”.  There was a time when I was concerned about how many books I read in a year.  But this year, I read more repeat books than ever in a calendar year.

Reading good books for understanding strikes me as more strategic than reading lots of books in a hurry.  That said, I still have been incorporating more fiction into the mix in the past several years and have found a new ‘guilty’ pleasure in Brandon Sanderson.  His books are beefy, and the fact that some of them are over 1,000 pages each could also account for the fact that I read fewer books this year.

Below are the books I read this year with some commentary:

1.  War Breaker (Brandon Sanderson)
2.  Edge Dancer (Brandon Sanderson)

I’ve always enjoyed fantasy fiction (the Lord of the Rings was the first book that I read and actually enjoyed).  Brandon Sanderson is very creative in his world building, and I appreciate his works as very immersive.

3.  The Pastor (Eugene Peterson)

I read this book at least once a year.  It is like a coming home for me.  I am so familiar with this book, and somehow it still gives me peace in the tumultuous vocation of pastor.  I find a peace and a recentering in the life of a man who suddenly woke up one day to the reality that God had made him to be a pastor.

4.  Leadership and Emotional Sabotage (Joe Rigney)

I read this book twice; once to review its fitness for a group of men to study, and then once chapter by chapter with that group of men.  A great book on leading in a world full of abusive empathy.

5.  A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (Eugene Peterson)

I read this book twice as well.  Once as a refresher and once chapter by chapter with the elders of my church.  It is an excellent study in the Psalms of Ascent.  The title is the inspiration for a tattoo I am cooking up.

6.  And the Trees Clap their Hands (Virginia Owens)

This book came up in my readings of Eugene Peterson.  It is a book saturated with the general revelation of God in creation, and this is a subject I’ve loved for years.  I found it edifying.  The writing style could be a bit flowery for people who demand that their science be fed to them in sciency ways.

7.  Project Hail Mary (Andy Weirs)

I listened to this on the drive home from vacation in the Smokies.  Loved it.  Now I’m looking forward to the movie and glad I read it first.

8.  How to Stay Married (Harrison Scott Key)

This was a powerful book about marriage by a non-Christian.  Language might be a struggle for some in this one, but it was well written and ultimately encourages fidelity.

9.  The Honey Bus (Meredith May)

This book was recommended by a friend.  It was surprisingly refreshing.  The message of the power of a grandfather investing in his granddaughter was endearing.  A good read.

10-13. Hosea (David Hubbard) [TOTC], The Book of Hosea (J. Dearman) [NICOT], Hosea (Gary Smith) [NIVAC], Hosea (Douglas Stuart) [WBC]

I read these four commentaries as I preached through the book of Hosea this past year!

14.  Oath Bringer (Brandon Sanderson)

Book Three of the Stormlight series.  A substantial book of fiction but daunting to many by page count.

15.  No Graven Images (Elizabeth Elliot)

I didn’t even know Elizabeth Elliot wrote a novel!  So when I found out, I read it.  It echoed some of the concerns that exist in my heart regarding modern missions.  I was surprised to find in this book a critique of a sacred cow worshiped by so many evangelicals.  Maybe that’s why I had never heard of it.

16.  Out of the Silent Planet (C. S. Lewis)

I finally got around to this series.  It was ait.

17.  Perelandria (Lewis)

Also ait.

18.  That Hideous Strength (Lewis)

Better than the previous two in regard to the tackling of social issues that still rest hard on our technological culture.

19.  The Energy Bus (Jon Gordon)

While I am not endorsing this book, for some reason it hit me at just the right time to speak to me of some things I needed to shore up.  I generally can’t stand “rah-rah” leadership hype books like this. It helped me for a moment.

20. Answering God (Eugene Peterson)

This is an excellent book on prayer that has actually improved my personal prayer life!  I commend it to anyone who is looking to enhance their life of prayer.  Praying through the Psalms is perhaps the greatest spiritual improvement in this past few years for me.  Adding this practice to my routines has been enriching.

21.  Reversed Thunder (Eugene Peterson)

Too much Peterson?  Maybe.  I count it as a benefit that he is gone to glory.  He has been my mentor from a distance.  I don’t agree with him on everything.  But his pastoral theology is anchoring for me vocationally.  This commentary on Revelation was life-giving.

22.  Extreme Ownership (Jocko Willink)

I read this in part because of some responsibilities for board position I hold that is separate from ReCAST.  I had heard of this guy before.  But I appreciated it.  The church is not a business.  And yet all truth is God’s truth and leading people is leading people.  Some really valuable lessons about humility in leadership in this book.

23.  How People Change (Paul Tripp)

A decent book about sanctification.  It had been a while since I read something like this book, and it reminded me of subjects I wrestled with and settled about three decades ago.  I am glad people are still cranking books out like this.

24.  Dawnshard (Brandon Sanderson)

More fantasy candy.

25.  The Children of Eve [DNF] (John Connolly)

Picked this up at the library because it looked interesting.  It wasn’t.  One of only a few books I’ve ever started and didn’t finish.  I just didn’t even care about how it would end.

26.  Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools (Tyler Staton) 

Didn’t love this and wouldn’t recommend it.  While it has some good points, it is encased in a youthful zeal that I found to be a bit overly idealistic.

27-30.  2 Timothy [Christ-Centered Exposition] (Tony Merida), 2 Timothy [WBC] (William Mounce), 2 Timothy (Walter Liefeld) [NIVAC], 2 Timothy (Philip Towner) [NICNT]

4 commentaries I read while preaching 2 Timothy.

31.  Rhythm of War (Brandon Sanderson)

Book 4 in the Stormlight series.  Sanderson continues to impress with his world building.

32.  The Things of Earth (Joe Rigney)

I appreciate this book as a reminder to keep my focus in the right place while enjoying this created world.  It was a bit of a confirmation bias book.  I found little challenge in this book, because it reflects many thoughts I’ve already had.

33.  Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl (ND Wilson)

My annual reading of a book that always bolsters my faith in the sovereign God.

34.  Flags Out Front (Douglas Wilson)

I am always intrigued when pastors write novels.  I think fiction is a great vehicle of communication.  Wilson does a good job sticking to character stereotypes.  And I kinda like this simplicity.  Good guys remain good.  Bad guys are clearly bad.

35. Against the Machine (Paul Kingsnorth)

I was very impressed with this book that identifies where we are at in our culture regarding screens, isolation, AI, and technology in general.  Keen diagnosis, weak on solution.  Not to say he doesn’t propose a solution, but it is insufficient in my opinion.

36.  Leap Over a Wall (Eugene Peterson)

A study in the life of King David.  Refreshing insights on such a fascinating life.  I know David’s story.  But this book helps me to know him better.

37.  Sunrise on the Reaping (Suzanne Collins)

My daughter had just read this and so Linda and I listened to it.  Collins is a good storyteller.  The book is just sorrow after sorrow.  Not a light novel at all.

38.  Leaving Ruin (Jeff Berryman)

The last book I finished in 2025 and one that I just added to my shelf of favorites.  This one will NOT appeal to many, but as a pastor it spoke to my soul.  It follows the internal thoughts of a pastor in Texas losing his church.  And the experiences and processing of pastoral ministry through a novel was surprisingly refreshing to me.  I will likely read this novel again.

That’s my list.  I share it because a couple of people ask each year.  Overall, this year was not as rewarding in the reading department as the past couple of years.  But that’s the way things go.  Let me know what you read this past year that was worth considering.  And I’m already off to a good start in this new year.