I'm late, I'm late. Sorry. Christmas was busy. But it's a snowy weekend, so here it is: a list of my favorite books of 2021. The list is relatively organized, although I wouldn't put too much stock in where the books were placed. Each of these books is just lucky to have made it on the list.
Kidding.
But seriously, all these books were very good. Some of them engaged my heart deeply and produced lasting effects. Others were super informative and helpful for me as I think about the world. Others were just really fun reads. I'd recommend reading each of these books and coming to your own conclusions about them. Here you go!
Reminder: These books didn't all come out in 2021, I just read them in 2021. Okay, carry on.
#1. Deeper by Dane Ourlund
I think Gentle and Lowly was my #1 pick last year. In the same vein, Ortlund has again written a book that gripped my heart. Deeper is all about how we grow in our faith, and it challenges many of the natural instincts we have when we think about spiritual growth. I've been walking through this book with a group of guys from my church, and it has been super beneficial for all of us. I think I read it in like two days - I couldn't put it down. Highest of recommendations.
#2: God of All Things by Andrew Wilson
This was probably the sweetest book I read last year. Andrew Wilson did a great job showing how Christians can find the glory of God in the stuff of every day. I really appreciate this book, and I will definitely revisit it in the years to come. If you want to learn how to see God more clearly in your life (outside of overtly spiritual things), this is the book for you.
#3: The Cross of Christ by John Stott
The best treatment of the cross I've read outside of the inspired text. Absolutely incredible. This book is thorough and beautiful in its treatment of the death of the Lord Jesus. I read it during Holy Week, and I suspect this will become something of a tradition to me. Please, please read this book.
#4: Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth by Thaddeus Williams
If you feel like me, you see both the Right and the Left getting a lot wrong when it comes to social justice. I mean, a lot wrong. So how do we walk the line between the alt-right on one side and the hyper-woke on the other? This book threads that line perfectly. It is robustly biblical, charitable, thoughtful, and readable. I had the privilege of meeting Thaddeus Williams a few months ago, and he is as graceful as his book. This is, undoubtedly, the defining treatment of biblical social justice of the modern day. Please read this book.
#5: Strange Rites by Tara Isabella Burton
This might be the most interesting read from the past year. The Western world may be becoming less Christian, but not less spiritual. From wellness culture, witchcraft, to far-right ideologies, there are plenty of pseudo-religions on the rise in our world. Burton pulls back the curtain and shows many of the new ideologies that are taking the place of traditional, organized religion in our day. It is super interesting and I highly recommend it.
#6: The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
I'm late to the game on this one, but I'm thankful I read it when I did. This book felt like a great complement to Gentle and Lowly in much of its substance. Plus, it was nice to have a book with Rich Mullins on the cover. This book reflects on God's heart for the unworthy. It reminds us that Christianity is about glorying in weakness, not boasting in our strength. I imagine that Manning and I would disagree a bit on the finer things of theology, but I deeply valued his voice in my life as I was reading this book. It certainly stands the test of time all these years after its original publication.
#7: Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier
This was the most frustrating book I read last year because the subject matter is so serious. There is a real threat, intentionally hidden from parents, toward our children in many of our institutions. This book unveils a lot of the goings-on in schools, counseling meetings, and social media our kids are partaking in with—or without—our knowledge. This book shows many of the efforts to pressure kids into making decisions about their bodies and identities, many of which lead to, well, irreversible damage. Parents, as well as anyone else who spends time working with kids/teenagers, I implore you to read this book.
#8: Eurotrash by David Harsanyi
Before I go on, let me state up front for all my dear friends in Europe: I really don't like the title of this book. I think the title makes it hard to engage Europeans/American europhiles. But I digress. I lived in the heart of Europe for three years and traveled around much of western Europe. I am a direct descendant of European culture and civilization. But I also have a lot of suspicions about the European Union. Many of my friends on both sides of the Atlantic will hold different opinions about this book; I'll keep my thoughts close to my chest and encourage you to read this book and draw your own conclusions. Feel free to chat with me one-on-one if you want the unfiltered Jordan on this one.
#9: Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman.
Wait... when was this book written? 1985 or 2021? This book predicts exactly what the media landscape in America has become today. It still serves as a very relevant warning as to what happens when we turn the news into entertainment. Both CNN and FOX would look at this book and point the finger at the other... which I'm sure Postman would have suspected would happen. Read this book, and then watch the "news" accordingly.
#10: A Christian Manifesto by Francis Schaeffer
This list definitely isn't in order because A Christian Manifesto doesn't belong at the bottom. I think this is another one I read in one or two days. It was written decades ago, but like the other older books on my list, it's still very relevant today. Schaeffer helps us think about how Christians should relate to the culture and government in light of the lordship of Jesus Christ. Highly recommended. While you're at it, just read anything written by Schaeffer.
Honorable Mentions:
The Decadent Society, Ross Douthat
Rejoice and Tremble, Michael Reeves
The Drama of Scripture, Craig Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen
Fault Lines, Voddie Baucham
Woke Inc., Vivek Ramaswamy