Okay, it’s actually the ten best books I read in 2022. Does that count? I think it does. It’s my list, so it reflects my interests. All of them would make good gifts to the right people. Or not, I don’t know. I just loved them.
So here goes:
My favorite book of the year is The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman. This is the third installment of the Thursday Murder Club series, and all of them are a blast. Great contemporary British mysteries that make you chuckle, keep you engaged, and won’t make you roll your eyes when you learn whodunit.
The best book of the year is And There Was Light by Jon Meacham. An in depth look at how Abraham Lincoln continually chose the just decision over the expedient decision. It made me admire Lincoln all over again. And appreciate Meacham’s brilliance.
The funnest non-fiction book of the year is Running With Sherman. It made me smile and laugh as a rescue donkey is saved and turned into a world class athlete. It all makes little sense if I explain it; just read the the book and smile.
The funnest novel of the year is West With Giraffes, a completely made up story that is so good I actually believed it. Two giraffes from Africa are brought to New York and then trucked across the continent to San Diego. The road trip is, well, exotic! You’ll smile the whole way.
The most useful book of the year is Smart Brevity. If you write anything — emails, letters, reports — then read this book. Please. We are swamped in the written word and most of it is too long and boring (like this blog post).
The most important book of the year for churchy people is Celebrities for Jesus. The book explores and criticizes the things about the contemporary church that I’ve said for 20+ years. So it gives me a warm wonderful “told you so!” as it also documents my anecdotal evidence.
The best churchy book of the year is Meditations of the Heart by Howard Thurman. The writings of a great writer/thinker/pastor are turned into devotions. I mean….it’s really really good.
The holy crap this was written how long ago book of the year is The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. I’ve read this book before, but it is as timeless as ever. A true classic and massively relevant for our time.
The most uncomfortable but everyone needs to read it book of the year is How the Word is Passed. It was recommended reading before our trip to New Orleans, and it is still rocking me.
The most interesting book about how we think is The Power of Regret. I regret to say you’ll have to click the link to learn more.
That’s the top ten list for 2022! If you want to see ALL the book I read this year, here’s the link. And thanks!