Reading Update: 2010 Book List, Part One

This post has been a goal of mine since before the end of last year. With all the craziness of 2010, I was actually shocked to realize that somehow in the midst of the mayhem I managed to complete - or at least mostly finish - twelve non-fiction books in twelve months. (Fiction books I consider a relaxing hobby rather than a mental exercise so I didn't bother to keep track of all of those!)

Below is the first half of my reading list from 2010, with thoughts on each one. The first three are linked to summaries I wrote previously (click on the title to be redirected):

1. I'm Chocolate, You're Vanilla by Marguerite A. Wright

2. Grace-Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel

3. Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton

4. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

This is a small volume that packs a big punch. Or to put it in my husband's words, "That is a smart book!" Odd as it may sound given the title, I actually read to this him on a day that we spent 8 hours driving in the car together. We finished the book in that time and even managed some interesting discussions about a few of the chapters. The premise of the book is a "woman-to-woman conversation" that takes you "beneath the surface into the inner lives of men." It is based on the author's survey of and personal interviews with over one thousand men, and is intended not only to help a woman understand the man in her life but also to learn to love and support him according to his true needs. It is a thought-provoking read and at least according to my husband, pretty accurate as well!

5. The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel

This book is "for those who may be feeling attracted to Jesus but who are faced with formidable intellectual barriers" to faith. In this book Strobel addresses eight of these barriers, among them the question of evil and suffering in the world; evolutionary theory; the exclusivity of Christianity; and objections to Hell, to name a few. The writing of this book was literally a journey, as Strobel spent a year of his life traveling nationwide to interview experts and gather opinions and evidence about these objections. He includes narrations of these interviews in each chapter, making for fascinating reading and a book which is challenging both spiritually and intellectually.

6. Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman

This thought-provoking, readable book challenges formulaic methods of evangelism and encourages readers to instead evangelize relationally as Jesus did. Specifically the author explains how the use of insightful questions can open doors to deeper discussions of faith, and he demonstrates from Scripture that Christ Himself used the rabbinic method of teaching throughout the Gospels. With real-life examples as well as sample dialogues, the author draws on over twenty years of experience with Campus Crusade ministry to illustrate effectively sharing the gospel in this way.