A quick post about books. A gentleman named Paul Reese asked what book I recommend most for writers, and in answer I e-mailed him about several. Here are the ones that have floated to the top for me:
The War of Art, Steven Pressfield
Plot and Structure, James Scott Bell
On Writing Well, William Zinsser
Notable Mentions:
Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott
Zen and the Art of Writing, Ray Bradbury
The Writing Life, Annie Dillard
Also, I recently placed an order for new books. I share them with you in hopes you might share a small list too. Here’s my next journey into bookdom:
Mind Over Matters, Michael J. Nelson
Walking on Water, Madeline L’Engle
The Mind of the Maker, Dororthy L. Sayers
Farenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
Collected Stories, Ray Bradbury
The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck
A Wrinkle in Time, Madelin L’Engle
The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell
(Thank you Mark Hollingsworth for giving me a massive booklist from which I have chosen a few titles. Great spending the week with you and yours! And great talking books.)
That should keep me fed through the fall. And what will you be reading as the leaves come off?
For those who cannot make it to Powell’s in person, a quick tour of a Portland treasure, the world’s largest bookstore:
John Chandler said,
September 6, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
I love Bird by Bird…pains me to see it way down the list as a notable mention.
I also read Stephen King’s On Writing a few months ago and enjoyed it.
I’ve got all kinds of love for Barbara Kingsolver’s Poisonwood Bible. Her ability to write as four different characters in the first person was amazing to me.
Tyler said,
September 6, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
A treasure it sure is. Great video.
Britney said,
September 6, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
This fall I will be reading or finishing the following books.
“The Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson (what a great classic!)
“Necropolis” by Anthony Horowitz
“Last” by Jeremy Kingsley
and probably a handful of other random books I find at the library
Rachel said,
September 6, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
Oh wow, Don, you just made me lust after a trip to Portland. That bookstore is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. As for books, I would recommend _The Book Thief_ by Marcus Zuzak to anyone! I’m currently reading a play by Congreve for my English Lit 2 class… so no fun list there!
Shawn Anderson said,
September 6, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
A Wrinkle In Time sucks. I have the whole quartet in a single volume, and I stopped partway through the second one — I didn’t think it could get much better.
‘Sucks’ is not only an immature critique of a book, though, it is also perhaps a little too strong of an adjective for this book period. I think ‘dated’ would be better.
The reason I feel I need to comment about it as such is only because it was recommended to me as being “Amazing” and “one of my(my mother’s) favourite books!”, and I felt it really wasn’t that special at all. Maybe I’ll give it another try, though…I look forward to hearing what you think -
This fall I’m hoping to read:
Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer
Not For Sale, David Batstone
Pagan Christianity, Frank Viola and George Barna
Horse, J. Edward Chamberlin
The Hitchhiker Trilogy, Douglas Adams (probably WAY better than Wrinkle in Time!)
Your blog-site is my new favourite late evening pass-time, by the way! I love it!
kristie vosper said,
September 6, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
yea for good books. I think Powell’s and cold weather are the two things I envy most about you all who live in Portland.
Since you asked:
The Wisdom of Tenderness by Henri Nouwen
02 by Richard Dahlstrom
Surprised by Hope by NT Wright
The Shack (because everyone else is and I figure I better)
The Dangerous Act of Worship by Mark Labberton
I love the fall and books and pumpkin chai lattes. It’s total bliss. Enjoy your new books…the best thing to come in the mail.
Nathaniel said,
September 6, 2008 @ 10:32 pm
Dare to be a Daniel by Tony Benn and also The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
donmilleris said,
September 6, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
john chandler,
you are right about lamott’s book. it is great. one of the best. and i have it on my desk and go to it often for reassurance. that said, the honorable mentions separated only because the top three really helped me in a practical way, while the others were more like good friends. nothing against good friends, but i was thinking more as an effective writer. but you are right about lamott. it’s a great book.
don
john chandler said,
September 6, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
Don,
Fair enough! I read Zinsser earlier this year based on your mention of it elsewhere. It was also helpful, and I can see your distinction between practical and a ‘good friend’.
jolie said,
September 6, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
Madeleine L’Engle is a beautiful soul and A Wrinkle in Time was a childhood favorite of mine.
I am a good way through Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, and it’s an intelligent and eye-opening read. My next up book is The Very Lowly, A Meditation on Francis of Assisi by Christian Bobin. My agnostic father bought if for me as a recommended read, so it must be good.
Brian Jones said,
September 6, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
I’m reading through the Twilight series. Very good love story.
Brian.
Melissa Baldwin said,
September 7, 2008 @ 12:12 am
I was thrilled to see you had included a couple of Madeleine L’engle’s book as she is my favorite author. Looking forward to your impressions as you read through your list.
Jeremy said,
September 7, 2008 @ 12:16 am
This fall I’m reading books about musicians. “Cash: The Autobiography of Johnny Cash” by Johnny Cash, and “Save me from myself” by Brian “Head” Welch.
Incidentally, my brother-in-law is a huge Korn fan, and also not a Christian, but the book “Save me from myself” has opened up a dialogue between he and my wife about God and spirituality!
Darcie said,
September 7, 2008 @ 12:23 am
I’ve only read the first few pages of Walking on Water but I love it already.
Lauren said,
September 7, 2008 @ 12:27 am
new reads for the fall…best.thing.ever.
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Telling the Truth by Frederick Buechner
Tom Horsfield said,
September 7, 2008 @ 1:13 am
I really value M. Scott Peck’s book, “The Road Less Traveled”. I would highly recommend “How to Read a Book” by Mortimer Adler, that dude was prolific. Steve Brown’s “When Being Good Isn’t Good Enough” has been invaluable to me, and I’m really looking forward to receiving “A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love” by Milton Vincent (http://www.wtsbooks.com). It comes highly recommended. And maybe oddly enough, and it sounds typical, but Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” has served me over the years.
Cheers
Izi said,
September 7, 2008 @ 1:18 am
There is not enough money in the whole world for me to visit Powell’s.
My short list: (really, this IS the short one)
Bird by Bird is going on now…
The Artist’s Way - Julia Cameron
Just Courage - Gary Haugen
Man’s Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
Traveling Mercies - Lamott
The Everlasting Man - G.K. Chesterton
That Hideous Strength - C.S. Lewis
Working and Living in Italy - Kate Carlisle (a girl can dream, can’t she?)
Walking with God -John Eldredge (I can’t get away from this…maybe my 6th reading)
The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom (LOVED this as a little girl)
And now that I have some interesting things from your list, and from the lists of all these other peeps, I will officially never leave the house this fall. And I will have a permanent crick in my neck from my head hanging because my arms get tired holding a book up to eye level. Thanks. I’ll have the massage therapist bill you…
Pam Hogeweide said,
September 7, 2008 @ 5:09 am
fave writer books:
The Courage to Write, Ralph Keyes
On Writing Well, Wm. Zinsser
On Writing, Stephen King
Bird by Bird, of course!
**********
sample of best books i’ve read in my adult life:
The Road, Cormac McCarthy
Night, Elie Wiesel
Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer
Confessions, Leo Tolstoy
The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning
Repenting of Religion, Gregory Boyd
Soul Wilderness, Kerry Walters
Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, John Gottman
**********
sample of my summer reading
Lamb:The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Friend, Christopher Moore
The Secret Fan, Lisa See
Peony Love, Lisa See
The Fall of the Evangelical Nation, Christine Wicker
The Small-Mart Revolution, MIchael Shuman
Red Scarf Girl, Ji Li Jiang
The Lost Gospel of Judas, Bart Ehrman
Lord, Save us from Your Followers, Dan Merchant
**********
books i’m ambitious to read. eventually.
more tolstoy! and manning!
Christianity for the Rest of Us, Diana Butler-Bass
Unchristian, David Kinnaman
Acedia: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer’s Life, Kathleen Norris
********
Fave Rooms at Powell’s:
Red room, Purple Room, Rose room with my kids, Coffee Room…and of course, the rest room
(sorry my comment is soooooooo long and is about to morph into a post of it’s own. i tend to be an overachiever.)
süz said,
September 7, 2008 @ 6:56 am
narrowing it down to a short list…
if you want to write (barbara ueland)
crazy love (francis chan)
swallows of kabul (yasmina khandra)
father brown stories (g.k. chesterton)
the creative habit (twyla tharp)
BTW, i LOVE reading lists. thanx!
Simon Cullen said,
September 7, 2008 @ 7:11 am
I have read and loved The Road Less Traveled - well, me and six million others, apparently! I don’t have a copy at the moment as it is out on loan again.
Most of my books at the moment are textbooks although I just read Blue Like Jazz and are reading some Jack Vance books from my childhood… mmm, good times.
One of the problems of being a bibliophile is that I love reading about books and buying books as much as reading them - if I lived near Powells I would never read a book at home again!
Kim Sink said,
September 7, 2008 @ 9:05 am
Sharing book lists…one of my favorite pastimes! Thanks, ya’ll for passing on such great titles.
Don, your blog is now officially bookmarked. : )
Not to be crass, but you know that video you posted is like porn for book lovers, right?
I will work there someday. That’s one of my goals in life.
Yes, I know. Some people have goals of being president or a spinal surgeon…
I just want to work at Powell’s.
What I’m reading now:
Tender is the Night - Fitzgerald (slogging through)
Sway - Ori and Rom Brafman (anything that helps me to understand why we are the way we are is fascinating)
The Lazarus Project - Aleksandar Hemon (this guy can really turn a phrase)
What’s in the “Read Next” stack:
Sinner - Ted Dekker
The Little Book - Seldon Edwards
A Million Words And Counting - Paul J.J. Payack
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places - Eugene Peterson
The Obscurism of Light - Iain MacKenzie
Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak
Paul Stewart said,
September 7, 2008 @ 9:08 am
This fall I am reading…
The Reason for God by Tim Keller
The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner
The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture by Shane Hipps (reread)
The Orthodox Way by Bishop Kallistos
The Mission of God by Christopher Wright
Paul Bowman said,
September 7, 2008 @ 10:07 am
My visit to Powell’s on my recent Portland sojourn produced Andy Cartlett by Wendell Berry and Blankets by Craig Thompson (a graphic novel and one of the most beautiful things I’ve read in ages)
And also on the fall list is ‘Secrets in the Dark by Buechner
nolan ross said,
September 7, 2008 @ 10:41 am
i’m pretty sure that “infinest jest” by david foster wallace may keep me busy until christmas.
thanks for the list!
Amie said,
September 7, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
I would add “A Writers Journey… Mythic Structure for Writers” 2nd Edition by Christopher Vogler
Mike said,
September 7, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
Wow! Love the post, but comments are even better. After reading the post I was going to ask for a survey of books for the solid Jesus lover who is sick & tired & burned out on traditional American religion. I’ve read all your books… but these comments give me a great start.
Tonyalynne Wildhaber said,
September 7, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
i am incredibly blessed that powell’s is only a short streetcar ride away. even after living in portland for three years, i still get blissfully lost among its stacks.
this fall i will be curled up in the coffee room buried in…
The Reader, Bernhard Schlink
Last Night I Dreamed of Peace, Dang Thuy Tram
A Tale of Love & Darkness, Amos Oz
The History of the Church, Eusebius
Politics of the Womb, Lynn M. Thomas
On Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan (for the second time)
Reading Like A Writer, Francine Prose
Price of Honor: Muslim Women Lift the Veil of Silence on the Islamic World, Jan Goodwin
The Kentucky Cycle, Robert Schenkkan
ps: Walking on Water, L’Engle is fabulous!
also try: Art & Fear, David Bayles & Ted Orland
Megan said,
September 7, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
I love reading lists! Thanks to everyone for your great suggestions! I just added three more books to my ever-growing Amazon wish list ;o)
Since I’m head deep into my text books and research articles right now, my pleasure reading has unfortunately been pushed to the back of the line. I miss it dearly though. I’m slowing working on Erwin McManus’ new book Wide Awake. I love it so far, just like I love the rest of his books. His writing style kind of reminds me of yours Don. After reading them I just want to get up and immediately start living my life differently……better.
I’ve only been reading your blog for a couple weeks but I’m really enjoying it so far. Just like I enjoy your books.
Thanks!
good for airplanes, my church, the Arctic, etc. | . said,
September 7, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
[...] My boyfriend recommended some books for me to read, and since I value his every thought like the precious drops of heavenly wisdom that they are, and since I’ve been wanting one of them for a long time, I decided to hit up Barnes and Noble after church today and pick up a couple of his suggestions. I had some money on a gift card, and I didn’t want to spend much more than that, so I only got two of them: On Writing Well and Bird by Bird. I’ve already started on the former, and I’ll let you know how they are, but what I really want to show you is this: [...]
Sarah Comley said,
September 7, 2008 @ 6:18 pm
Ahhh, how I love book lists, and now one of my favorite authors has left one…makes me grin from ear to ear! Soo glad you’re reading “Walking on Water”–it’s in my top 5 of all time, “Wrinkle” is up there too…I’ve always wanted to read the Dorothy Sayers book–Rich Mullins recommended it to me many years ago, and multiple friends have recommended “The Power of Myth”. I just finished Anne Lamott’s “Grace Eventually”–wonderful writing as always, but not as great as “Travelling Mercies”. Here’s my current/going into fall reading list:
–The God Who Smokes by Timothy J. Stoner
–The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
–The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
–Prayer by Richard Foster
–What Should I Do With My Life by Po Bronson
–The Reason For God by Tim Keller
love your blog!
Burke Sisco said,
September 7, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
Put Peace Like a River by LL Enger on your list if you haven’t read it. Beautiful beyond words…
Lisa said,
September 7, 2008 @ 6:53 pm
good call with “a wrinkle in time.” i believe that i’ve read it 23 times. granted, 20 of them were between ages 11 and 13, but you know. i think that this fall i’m going to start with pamuk’s “the black book.” good times.
Joshua said,
September 7, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
Madeleine L’Engle is incredible, and both Walking on Water, and A Wrinkle in Time are definitely worth the read.
Here’s my short list of upcoming books I’m gonna read..
The Everlasting Man, by G.K. Chesterton
Everything is Illuminated, by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, by Stephen King
Collected Poems of Jane Kenyon
Grace (Eventually), by Anne Lamott
Steph said,
September 7, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
Currently reading:
“The Name of the Wind” - Patrick Rothfuss
“Ruthless Trust” - Brennan Manning
to read pile:
I don’t have the patience to type in the 14 books there - so if interested http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/384270
Winston said,
September 8, 2008 @ 1:35 am
Ah my Fiance and I are honeymooning in Portland and on the Oregon Coast, and the one place that is at the top of our list to visit is Powells. Actually, it is the list right now, since we’ll be staying out at Edgefield.
Fun to see you were hanging with Mark Hollingsworth, although I’ve only met him once I see him at church occasionally!
Noah said,
September 8, 2008 @ 9:49 am
This fall I will finish:
Jesus for President: S. Claiborne
Plan B: A. Lamotte
The Shack: Young
The New Christians: T. Jones
Surprised by Hope: Wright
Paul in Fresh Perspective: Wright
White Fang: J. London
Christianity Rediscovered: V. Donavon
Marshall said,
September 8, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
Walking on Water is one of the most insightful books on art I’ve ever read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I’ll be finishing, reading or re-reading
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Intuitive Leadership by Tim Keel
The Shack
C.S. Lewis: A Biography by A.N. Wilson
Phonogram: Rue Britannia by Jamie Mckelvie and Kieron Gillen
Bryce said,
September 8, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
An older book, but one that’s been helpful to me, is If You Want To Write by Brenda Ueland. I enjoyed parts of it as much as Bird by Bird. That is saying a lot.
I’m currently working my way through The Bin Ladens by Steve Coll. Atonement by Ian McEwan is next on my list.
Margie said,
September 8, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
Ah, this posting has reminded me of my all-time favorite quote which is from “Bird by Bird”… in the chapter “Plot”… I dedicate this passage to Sam, who read it to me and our community life ministry team shortly before he moved away 4 years ago. I think it was his way of expressing what our team meant to him. I’ve since translated it as a possible way to live life more abundantly. Thank you for reminding me about my favorite quote…
“Plot grows out of character. If you focus on who the people in your story are, if you sit and write about two people you know and are getting to know better day by day, something is bound to happen.”
“Characters should not, conversely , serve as pawns for some plot you’ve dreamed up. Any plot you impose on your characters will be onomatopoetic: PLOT. I say don’t worry about plot. Worry about the characters. Let what they say or do reveal who they are, and be involved in their lives, and keep asking yourself, Now what happens?”
Big Fan said,
September 9, 2008 @ 12:54 am
Donald-
What if I don’t like to read? Do you think you could record yourself reading one of those books on your list and post it on you blog. Then I could fall asleep to your reading voice- people say it is calming.
Thank you
BF
Travis said,
September 9, 2008 @ 9:55 am
“The Elements of Style” is another good writing book.
This fall I plan to read:
“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”
“I Was Told There’d Be Cake”
“When You Are Engulfed in Flames”
“To Own a Dragon” (the only book of your’s I have not read yet)
Sarah Vowell’s new one about the pilgrims
Karen said,
September 9, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
I’m going to finish my own manuscript and be reading…
“The Little Prince” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
“Wide Awake” - Erwin McManus
“Respectable Sins” - Jerry Bridges
“I Kissed Dating Goodbye” - Josh Harris
“Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places” - Eugene Peterson
“Merchant of Venice” Shakespeare
I’d read anything you wrote Don so get going!
Jennifer said,
September 9, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
So glad I stumbled upon your blog today! I absolutely love Madeleiene L’Engle. A Wrinkle in Time is my all-time favorite book. I read it over and over. All of her fiction is excellent, actually. Walking on Water is great as well. You will definitely enjoy them!
Zach said,
September 9, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
I’m currently reading What Are People For? by Wendell Berry
This fall I’ll also be reading:
Mosby’s Textbook for Long Term Nursing Care
Human Anatomy and Physiology 7th Edition by Marieb
Intro to Psych 8th Edition by Plotnik
And then:
The Frontiersmen by Allan Eckert, The Blugrass Conspiracy by Sally Denton, and Kentucky Through the Centuries by Cantrell et al for my Kentucky History class
And if I have time:
A Continuous Harmony by Wendell Berry
All the Pretty Horses/The Border Trilogy by Cormac McCarthy
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne for the second time
Busy fall…
Wendy said,
September 9, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
It was a dark and stormy night when this post arrived, just in time.
I’m half-way through reading Bird by Bird, I love it. It’s so good. Thanks for all the other writing book recommendations. I think I have quite a few of those on-hand because I go to library sales all the time and have acquired quite a collection.
As for books on writing, I participated in NaNoWriMo last year (National Novel Writing Month - write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November). I loved it. The founder wrote a book about it called “No Plot, No Problem” It was great. And it was true about the Plot thing with me. You don’t need a plot the characters take over on about day 7.
Joseph Campbell…hmmm, interesting. I took a class at LSU years ago, Introduction to Religion and the professor focused on Hero Myths. We used the books “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”, “An Introduction to Joseph Campbell” by Robert Segal (he was the professor) and “In Quest of the Hero” by Otto Rank. Very interesting way to teach a religion class.
One book I recommend that hasn’t been mentioned yet is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (retelling of the book of Hosea). I read it in 2 nights, cried like baby.
After Bird by Bird I hope to get back to “A People’s History of the United States…” by Howard Zinn.
My DH just interviewed for a job in Portland, we haven’t heard back yet, I hope we get the opportunity to go. I’d love to be able to go to Powell’s.
(Sorry so long)
Beth Wittenbach said,
September 9, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
Anything by Krakauer I highly recommend, but Into Thin Air was my favorite. I have a book on hold called “Tresspassers will be Baptized” by Elizabeth Hancock. Looks like a really funny memoir of a girl who grew up in a very religious, Midwestern family. Being a former middle school English teacher, I wish everyone knew how much great young adult literature is out there. Of course a lot of it is Gossip Girl-esque stuff, but there are some really great books that are worth looking into:
A Corner of the Universe (Ann Martin)
Stargirl (Jerry Spinelli)
Walk Two Moons (Sharon Creech)
Claire said,
September 9, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
I went to Portland years ago when I was just 16 and a very kind man told me all about Powell’s and I went. Oh WOW. There is nothing like that here in Augusta, GA. I was so envious! Next time I am up that way I will have to stop by again!
Donny Pauling said,
September 9, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
I read all the time, but the first book that pops into my mind from my recent list is “What’s So Great About Christianity?” by Dinesh D’Souza. I like it because beginning around page 80 he lays out some great scientific evidence for God, in response to recent books by the likes of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens.
I also like D’Souza’s stance on how evolution doesn’t contradict the Bible, as I, too, am a proponent of Theistic Evolution.
Sean O. said,
September 9, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
-Just finished ‘Tis by Frank McCourt
-Currently reading Sailing the Wine Dark Sea by Thomas Cahill
-Looking forward to Human Smoke by Nicholson Baker, Born Standing Up by Steve Martin, Monkey Girl by Edward Humes and The War Within by Bob Woodward
-Still need to finish The Shack by William Young
jon said,
September 9, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
cheers on the bradbury books. he’s up there on my list as are many other books you’re reading. here’s mine..
currently/just finished
1. gilead by marilynne robinson
2. in dubious battle by john steinbeck
3. a good man is hard to find by flannery o’connor
4. nine stories by j.d. salinger
about to read
1. slaughterhouse five by kurt vonnegut
2. the grapes of wrath by john steinbeck
3. the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald
4. unveiling empire by two guys?
5. thoughts in solitude by thomas merton
perhaps i should read walking on water too. i hear its great.
jon said,
September 9, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
p.s.
i will be in portland a month from now and plan on spending several hours at powells. the thought kills me.
Mike Morrell said,
September 9, 2008 @ 8:44 pm
How serendipitous, I just got some reads in this week from some saved-up store credit. Besides reading for class, here’s what I plan on sinking my literary teeth into this fall:
Absolute Sandman Volume 3 (graphic novel), Neil Gaiman
Silence, Shusaku Endo
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things, Jon McGregor
The Gift: Poems by Hafiz, translations by Daniel Ladinsky
TechGnosis: Myth, Magic + Mysticism in the Age of Information, Erik Davis
On Religion, John D. Caputo
God Without Being, Jean-Luc Marion
Read on!
Mike Morrell said,
September 9, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
Oh gosh, and I forgot - I just got this massive shipment from McSweeneys, where they were having this $5 back issue sale! I got like 2/3 of their total backlist, it was amazing.
donmilleris said,
September 9, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
An incredible list. thanks so much. reading sources of strength now by Jimmy Carter. Did you know he taught Sunday School the entire time he was President? How crazy is it that only that short time ago security was that low? I actually attended the RNC sixteen years ago. I basically snuck in because I was wearing a tie. I walked right up to the Bush family and sat behind them in the arena. Security was there, but so loose. Anyway, I thought about that while reading Jimmy Carter’s books. I’ve read Reagan, Clinton, Lincoln, Eisenhower, Truman, and now Carter. I look forward to reading the first book by W. (The Reagan book was by Edmund Morris, so it wasn’t Reagan’s writing.)
Dena Brehm said,
September 10, 2008 @ 12:59 am
Mike - funny meeting you here! You get around as much as I do! I got this link from a fellow unschooling mama. We should both be packing — looking forward to meeting you in person!
And Don — I now live an hour south of you (Dallas, not The Dalles), but back when I lived in the shadow of Wash., DC, I read your “Blue” — part of God’s unlearning me, after leaving a legalistic system. Brian McLaren’s books featured hugely, too. I’ll compile my own journey-list (starting in 2004):
- Twelve Steps for Recovering Pharisees (Like Me)” ~ Fischer
- Blue Like Jazz - Miller
- Anything by Yancey
- Traveling Mercies - Lamott
- Plan B - Lamott
- Messy Spirituality - Yaconelli
- The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse -
- Sheet Music - Leman
- Finding God Where You Least Expect Him - Fischer
- A New Kind of Christian (trilogy) - Mclaren
- Generous Orthodoxy - McLaren
- For Women Only - Feldhahn (understanding men!)
- Dangerous Wonder - Yaconelli
- Exquisite Agony - Edwards
- Pagan Christianity (the original version) - Viola
- So You Don’t Want to go to Church Anymore - Jacobson
- He Loves Me - Jacobson
- Woman: God’s Plan, not Man’s Traditions - Krupp
- Captivating - Eldredge
- Me, Myself and Bob (a Veggie Tale) - Vischer
- Waking the Dead - Eldredge
- Christian Unschooling
- Unschooling Handbook’
- Searching for God Knows What - Miller
- The Shack (early ‘07) - Young (FAVORITE book, hands-down!)
- Hope Beyond Hell - Beauchemin
- The Inescapable Love of God - Talbott
- Universal Salvation: The Current Debate - Talbott
- The One Purpose of God - Bonda
- The Evangelical Universalist - McDonald
- The Irresistable Kingdom - Brogden
- God Does Not Foreclose - Watson
- Beyond Creation Science - Martin/Vaughn)
- Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation
- Hannah Whitall Smith - Marie
- The Search: Historian’s Search for the Historical Jesus - Charles
- Jim & Casper Go to Church - Jim & Casper!
- An Evening in Ephesus - Emery
- The Sexually Confident Wife - Etheridge (because a woman can’t think about “what the hell is hell” ALL the time!)
Lots of others, but it’s late, and I can’t remember!
Shalom,
Dena Brehm
Travis said,
September 10, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Can W write?
Ooooh, no I didn’t! (Yes, I did)
Rain said,
September 10, 2008 @ 10:10 am
I see you share my appreciation for Bradbury…Fahrenheit 451 is brilliant. I thank you for directing me to a book of his I have not yet read (and they are getting fewer).
Leah D. said,
September 10, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
Don,
For me….
This fall is about finishing.
Finishing books I have started and have not finished. I guess like the trees I will be casting off a few good ones:
Hinds Feet on High Places - Hannah Hurnard
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard
The Motorcycle Diaries, Che Ernesto Guevera
Desiring God, John Piper
And picking up a few new ones to keep me for the winter:
A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Flannery O’Connor
The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis
When You are Engulfed by Flames, David Sedaris
{PS. Interesting/funny that ‘On Chesil Beach’ is the last shot in your little powell’s video….Hmmmm]
Erin K said,
September 10, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
I recently visted Powells on my trip to portland. I went because of you talking about it in your books etc and had to see it for myself. Wow…impressive.
Im currently reading The Shack by William Young. Its beautiful
Ld said,
September 10, 2008 @ 5:24 pm
My book club is reading these books to finish up our year:
Overload Syndrome: Richard A. Swenson
Don’t Waste Your Life: John Piper
Lord Change Me: Evelyn Christensen
When the Soul Listens: Jan Johnson
The Hiding Place: Corrie Ten Boom
We also read some other good books this year: Your God is Too Safe: Mark Buchanen; What’s So Amazing About Grace: Phillip Yancey and…a little book called Searching for God Knows What (which is my favorite DM book!)
Chris said,
September 10, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
I moved to Salem from Texas this summer and have made my way up to Portland with the sole purpose of getting lost in Powell’s a few times already. It is by far the coolest, most unique one I have been to. I have yet to get in and out without letting go of more money than I had planned on spending.
The current reading list includes:
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (I finished this last night and I highly recommended it to anyone who enjoys reading)
The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
The Rebel by Albert Camus
The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud
Hurt by Chap Clark
A Timbered Choir (The Sabbath Poems) by Wendell Berry
Back to the Basics (The Young Life Story) by Jim Miller
I am also slowly making my way through Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.
Misty said,
September 10, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
I’ve been meaning to start If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor. I’ll get around to it hopefully sooner than later. After that, who knows? I bought a whole bunch of secondhand books I hadn’t read a couple years ago, and I’m still wading through those.
Tara Eastman said,
September 12, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
Don,
With all the Madeline L’Engele and a Lamontt book - you are on a great reading journey!
Another L’Engle book I’d highly suggest is ” Circle of Quiet.”
Tara
Jason Grant said,
September 12, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
I have to read the following typical evangelical books for my college classes:
Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb
Seeing With New Eyes by David Powlison
Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
and I am reading The Shack in my free time right now
Mike said,
September 12, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
Maybe the parents in the crowd will appreciate this list:
With son Drew (age 11): Going thru Narnia series for a second time. About to start A Horse and His Boy. Read thru Hemingway’s Old Man and The Sea with him around the fire on a three night Dad-son only camp trip. I was lucky. He really enjoyed it… and he “got it”! We were on book 20 of 58 in Hardy Boys when we felt they were all sounding alike (were reading the 50s/60s era versions).
With daughter Julia (age 8): Nancy Drew (50s/60s era versions)
With Claire (age 6): Magic Treehouse Series.
With Wife: A walk thru the Bible in a Year for New Believers… Just discovered about 18 months ago she was a “new believer” (its complicated)…
By the time I’m done with those, doing work related journal reading… I’m usually watching a ball game & thumbing thru Car & Driver, Christianity Today, my wife’s Southern Living magazine, etc.
My to-read pile is enormous: ‘Til We Have Faces, CS Lewis; A bunch of Chesterston & Brennan Manning; Yancey’s last 2 or 3 books, half a dozen biographies: J. Cash, B. Graham, Hemingway, Churchill, Bono… , a couple books given to me… “Sex God” (author?) & a couple by B. McClaren. I’ve read “The Shack” and need to read it again…
katie jonesy said,
September 12, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
Thanks for sharing the video! I’m moving to Portland soon, and now I know where I can spend my first unemployed days in town.
I just bought probably the most quintessential book for a Christian, “The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics.” According to some, I might not even be a Christian until this is read.
Wendy said,
September 14, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Don,
Now we need a music list. I need some writing tunes. I just purchased a few tunes by The Be Good Tanyas. But I need more recommendations.
(Hey Dena, funny to see you on here.)
Kathi said,
September 15, 2008 @ 11:04 am
My reading list is all about getting back to classics - most of which I have not read:
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
The Little Prince, Antoine de St. Exupery
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe
Franny and Zooey, J.D. Salinger
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Mark Twain
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rebecca said,
September 16, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
So my list makes me feel like a Supernerd, but here it is nonetheless:
Current- Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman, Buffy Season 8 #17 (do comics count?), and Astonishing X-Men (anything from the Whedonverse ranks high on my list).
Next Up- Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis, Fray and Serenity (comics, again), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, All Families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland, Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton, The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy.
Chase said,
September 17, 2008 @ 9:38 am
Thumbs up to “Fahrenheit 451″ and Sayers’ “Mind of the Maker”
I hope you’re making your way to them.
I also took note of a book or two from your list, and hope to make my way to those… so, thanks!
-Chase.
Todd said,
September 22, 2008 @ 10:58 am
I would add Stephen King’s “On Writing” to your list…it is quite insightful and he obviously takes very seriously his craft.
Mark Hollingsworth said,
September 24, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
Thanks for the kudos, Don. I’m sure I’ll think of more books than I could come up with while we were together in California a few weeks back.
You mentioned Jimmy Carter teaching Sunday School in one of your responses. You know, he STILL teaches every Sunday when he is home in Plains, GA. Got to attend one of those classes in the humble little Maranatha Baptist Church in May. Besides being a former President, Admiral in the Navy, nuclear physicist, Governor of Georgia, author of over 20 books, peace activist, poet, painter, and carpenter…he is also a good Bible teacher. He was working through Hebrews this spring and summer.
Anyone can attend, and there is always a wide variety of guests from around the globe. Afterwards you get to chat with he and Rosalyn and get your photo taken with them. What a treat. I highly recommend getting the Jonathan Demme documentary done on him last year (now on DVD) entitled “Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains.”
Also, while we were together you mentioned some folks had recommended Neil Peart’s writing. I’ve been a 30+ year fan of Rush…in particular Neal’s drumming (he’s one of the best) and his lyrical prowess. He writes his books in a more memoir style. Probably the most gripping is “Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road” about his various marathon motorcycle rides around North America in the years after his wife and daughter both died tragically. Heavy stuff.
One final thing: I met Barbara Bradley Haggerty, the chief religion correspondent for NPR) today. She was speaking at Belmont University here in Nashville where one of the Presidential Debates will take place on Oct. 7. She has heard about you from several sources, and believes she has even been given a copy of “Jazz.” I told her how you rattled some religious radio folks by telling our retreat group that you often found NPR to be more Christian than most Christian radio. She got a good laugh out of that. She asked more questions and I told her to definitely read your work, and check out your site. Who knows, maybe she’ll want to do a feature on you for NPR one of these days. : )
Kathleen said,
September 30, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
Given our current financial crisis I think Atlas Shrugged might make for some good reading right now. Too many parallels to our current situation.
Will Krebs said,
September 30, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
Travel’s With Charlie? Holy Crap, that is the first time I ever heard that obscure of a reference!! That is right up there will The Log From the Sea of Cortez!! Aw heck, I love Steinbeck. My favorite I think was Cannery Row. Doc was a heck of a good charecter, and it was cool he turned out to be real. I am also sure glad you read Bradbury. He can suck you in and spit you out in 3 pages like nobody else can!!! Has anybody read Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time by Mike Perry?–great book. I am going to a book reading by him next month….
Alison said,
October 4, 2008 @ 8:49 am
What a fantastic list of great books. Wow. My list is now about a mile longer than it used to be.
That said, my favorite books about writing are:
“Bird By Bird” and just about anything else by Anne Lamott,
Steven King’s “On Writing” (great guide for writers),
Harry Frankfurt’s “On Bulls***” (actual title had to be edited), and Anthony Weston’s A Rulebook for Arguments. While the last two titles aren’t necessarily books about writing, they are great for understanding the role of fallacious thinking, the danger of intentionally misleading one’s audience (”On Bulls***” has a lot to say about that. Those are necessary lessons for any writer.
I have so much in my “to be read” list, it’s ridiculous. While I’m not sure about Ayn Rand, I get what you’re saying, Kathleen. Freakonomics might be a good read right now, as well as Thomas Friedman’s new book, Hot, Flat and Crowded.
Sandra Bishop said,
October 6, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
I wandered around Powell’s for 3 hours on Friday morning and purchased nothing but a greeting card (needed a receipt get my parking validated.)
In my defense, I was there to do market research. Still, leaving the world’s mega-bookstore with nothing in my book bag reminds me how spoiled I am to live a stone’s throw away from the world’s most amazing retail establishment.
Besides, I have too many books going right now. My goal for the fall is to finish all I’ve started.
I have literary adhd, I think:
oh, yeah. the list …
Jesus Land, Julia Scheeres
Ahab’s Wife, Sena Jeter Naslund
Where’s Your Jesus Now, Karen Zacharias
The Exorsistah, Claudia Mair Burney
Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
Through the Storm, Lynne Spears (figured I’d better read it since it’s one of our books and on the NYT BSL)
Oh, and Mike, Sex God was written by Rob Bell.
Dawn Miller said,
October 8, 2008 @ 8:39 pm
Walking on Water and A Wrinkle In Time are classics that will change the way you think about creating/writing, in different but equally amazing ways. Madeleine L’Engle was a gift to this world I will sorely miss.
Sarah McCoy said,
October 9, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
I’m able to read a bit “for fun” this week as my graduate program is on a fall break before midterms.
I’m currently finishing up
unchristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons
and Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain. I started the Merton over Christmas break. It wasn’t anything I wanted to rush.
I found great little copies of The Last Unicorn (Peter Beagle), The Velveteen Rabbit (Margery Williams) and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Beverly Cleary) at a thrift store the other day so I bought them. I can’t wait to reread them as the nights get longer. I’ll take rereading those old favorites over TV as a filler any day.
Ashley said,
October 9, 2008 @ 7:21 pm
For the Time Being (Annie Dillard) is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read. I also love Raymond Carver (Where I’m Calling From is a good one). If you want to see Christianity from an outsider’s point of view (very eyeopening), I recommend Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement (by Lauren Sandler). I also love Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel. And my favorite of the “classics”: As I Lay Dying (Faulkner)
Kels said,
December 5, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
It seems so hard to be challenged by books these days, but I managed to find a few that I think may help me grow my intellect and party-fact-knowledge. Here they are in no particular order:
–How to Lose All Your Friends by Nancy Carlson
–Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi
–How to Walk in High Heels by Camilla Morton
–Hip-Hop Rhyming Dictionary by Kevin Mitchell
–How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor
–I Can’t Believe I’m Lace Knitting by Kay Meado