The 5 Best Books I Read in 2020
I’m a voracious reader. On the fiction side, my taste ranges from historical novels to detective mysteries. On the non-fiction side, I enjoy devotional, professional, and developmental publications.
This past year, with more time available due to sheltering in, my reading time increased dramatically. Of course, I could have spent all of it seeking information on how to navigate this unprecedented, ever-changing, pressure-packed season (or how to escape from it).
Yet I wanted to do more than survive. I wanted to thrive. Thus, I intentionally engaged books that could allow for this. I was pleased to find some. Here’s my list of the five best books I read in 2020.
The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn
This New York Times bestseller was a valuable addition to my personal devotions. Messianic pastor Jonathan Cahn was raised in a Jewish family, the son of a Holocaust refugee. At age 20, after a near-death experience, he converted to Christianity and later began Hope of the World Ministries.
A prolific author and prophetic voice, Cahn has written several bestsellers including this one. The book contains 365 devotional readings whereby “the Teacher” unpacks biblical truths to one of his students.
This was arguably the most unique book I read this year. Part Scripture and part allegory, Cahn takes some of the most important principles, stories, and truths of the Bible and retells them in an engaging way which compels you to keep reading.
Partake in the voyage and unlock the treasure chest to uncover the mysteries of the ages. With 365 mysteries, one for each day of the journey, The Book of Mysteries is a daily devotional unlike any other.
The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile
I have to admit that I was a latecomer to the enneagram. My wife preceded me, and it was her enthusiastic response that drew me in. Cron & Stabile’s book hooked me even further.
If you want better insight regarding yourself and those in the world around you, this insightful and brilliant book is a perfect place to begin. An understanding of both my strengths and my weaknesses has finally been given some language. And out of that, I can lean into the former and address the latter.
Moreover, this book provided extraordinary help in relating to my wife and family as well as other individuals who I long to understand more and love better.
The Road Back to You is rooted in an approach to formation which Thomas Merton described as the one challenge upon which all of life rests: to discover our true selves in discovering God, and to find more of God in finding more of our true selves.
Hero Maker by Dave Ferguson and Warren Bird
As one who is constantly on the lookout for fresh insights on creating a disciple-making culture, I was so pleased to have this book recommended by a trusted colleague. I wasn’t disappointed.
The authors posit that it’s time for us to put forward a new vision for the church. Actually, not a new vision, but an old vision long forgotten. Jesus’ vision for the Great Commission wasn’t about gathering and counting. It was about multiplying and sending.
This book offers some practical ways whereby a leader can move from being the hero in his church to making heroes who multiply the church. In showing how these strategies have worked around the world, I found myself more hopeful than ever about the future of the Jesus movement.
Everybody wants to be a hero, but few understand the power of being a hero maker. When you become a hero maker, you have the greatest possible impact.
The Other Half of Church by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks
Don’t let the title fool you. This book isn’t about church growth – it’s about spiritual transformation. It was prompted by Hendricks’ disappointment that true change seemed so little and so fleeting not only among those in his church but even in himself as pastor.
The book then describes his serendipitous meeting with neurotheologian Jim Wilder whose study on brain science revealed that most discipleship only accessed one half of the brain. And how this failure to stimulate joy, identity, and attachment created stunted disciples.
I’m convinced that this breakthrough book will prove to be a valued addition to the library of discipleship experts. It has that much spiritual potential and power.
I realized that I was a half-brained Christian, and I was helping other Christians grow with practices that largely ignored half of who they were.
White Lies by Daniel Hill
This book is the perfect read for this tension-filled season when there is such confusion regarding the issue of racial justice. One of the most painful yet necessary places to start is to admit that “white privilege” has become an unseen parasite within Christianity.
If you can get beyond this shocking statement and will dare to investigate this, you might well discover, as I did, that there is much that we need to learn and, indeed, repent of.
Mark it well: this book will sting. However, perhaps it’s only when there’s some pain that the parasite will be revealed and removed.
One of the greatest threats facing American Christianity is the severe divide along the racial lines that continues to grow more severe with each passing day.
So, there you have it! I’m sure that I will return to all of these heavily underlined books in the months ahead. But I’m also looking forward to reading some new ones.
Let me encourage you to do the same in this new year. Why not set a goal of reading at least five books? I’m confident that you will benefit both personally and professionally.
Perhaps you might have some suggestions for me. Use the comment section below to offer your best reads.
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