Five Short(ish) Books To Read For Those Already Behind On Their Reading Goals
While we are just reaching the end of February, January may feel months away. And, if you are someone who sets goals at the beginning of each year, you may be coming to terms with the fact that you are already behind on your reading goals. Well, we’re not here to judge, but we would like to help, so we came up with this list of five short(ish) books that might just help you get back on track. Many of the books on this list aren’t particularly new, but they are books that are easily digestible and helpful for the person navigating the intersection of theology, artistry, and culture.
Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon
I love this book for Kleon’s approach to artistry. As an artist, there is often a desire or pressure to create something out of nothing, something that has never been done. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is nothing new under the sun, and this book emphasizes that point and leads the reader through ways that they can glean from the works of others to create something that is uniquely their own. While this book doesn’t speak specifically about worship, it did give me helpful perspective on how we look at the experience of worship in a unique worshipping body. See for example where he quotes Kobe Bryant.
Culture Care by Makoto Fujimura
In a time where people are seemingly fed a steady diet of reasons why they ought to hate their neighbor, Fujimura gives readers a guide for how to care for culture and in so doing build a better community. He explores what it means to live at the borders between groups and the good that can come from spending time there. This book also comes with a discussion guide at the end for those of you who want to walk through the book with others.
Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren
When you think liturgy, you might think of a traditional church service or at the least, organized worship. In this book Warren helps the reader to re-write that word association and shows us that liturgy can be for every day. She doesn’t stop there though. She gives the reader tools to incorporate liturgy as a way of life.
The Storied Life: Christian Writing as Art and Worship by Jared C. Wilson
In this book, Jared challenges writers to hone their craft and moves the reader to write. This book spurs an almost guttural response that one must get their tools as quickly as possible and set words to page. It is an excellent read for authors and creatives attempting to further their craft. His words both give permission and act as a catalyst for writers to pursue the storied life.
If you haven’t encountered Seculosity yet, you’ve already encountered the idea. The premise of this book is that we are all worshiping something, and in today’s culture the object of our worship is shifting. Whether you find your worth in work, parenting, or any number of any things, you may be experiencing the phenomenon of seculosity. Though this is the longest book in our list of recommendations, however Zahl’s whimsical writing style and relatable topic make for an easy read worth your time.
Hopefully this short list can get you caught up on your reading goals, or at the very least introduce you to some books that may be helpful on your exploration of theology, artistry, and culture.
Have you read all of these books? What would you add to our list?