My 10 Favorite Reads of 2009

By Trevin Wax on Dec 8, 2009 in Book Reviews | Print This Post Print This Post | Share (Twitter, Email, Facebook)

Every December, I select the ten books that I most enjoyed reading during the year. (See 2008, 2007, and 2006 lists.) Please note that I am not giving a blanket endorsement to everything in these books (after all, some of them contradict each other at points). I choose ten books a year based solely on how much I enjoyed reading them.
Here are my top ten picks for 2009.

#1. SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, 1859-2009
- Gregory Wills
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1859-2009

…Anyone interested in Southern Seminary or the history of the Southern Baptist Convention simply must read this book… a magnificent achievement.
See my full review here.

#2. UNFASHIONABLE
- Tullian Tchividjian

Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different
“….God-centered and gospel-soaked… immensely practical. You will be convicted, challenged, and encouraged…
See my full review here.

#3. DEEP CHURCH
- Jim Belcher

Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional
 …for evangelicals who resonate with much of the Emerging Church’s critique of contemporary evangelicalism, and yet have misgivings about some of the proposed solutions of Emerging advocates…
See my full review here.
Read my interview with Jim.

#4.  THE CASE FOR LIFE
- Scott Klusendorf
The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture
 …one of the most important books for the pro-life movement. Scott takes the highly sophisticated arguments made against abortion-on-demand and brings them down to a level that anyone can understand.”
See my full review here and my interview with Scott here.

#5. THE GOD WHO SMOKES
- Timothy J. Stoner
Scandalous Meditation on Faith
…thoroughly enjoyable on a number of levels…
See my full review here and my interview with Tim here and here.

#6. ADOPTED FOR LIFE
- Russell D. Moore

Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches

…combines robust theology with personal experience. It serves as a powerful pro-life apologetic, and it demonstrates the power of the gospel when acted out by a faithful community of believers….
See my full review here.

#7. MANHUNT
-James L. Swanson

Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (P.S.)
 … a fascinating glimpse into an important moment in American history. I could not put it down.
See my full review here.

#8. COUNTERFEIT GODS
- Tim Keller
Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
 … the Tim Keller book I’ve been waiting for. Keller peers into the inner recesses of the heart to expose the hidden idolatries that hold us captive…
See my full review here.

#9. WHY WE LOVE THE CHURCH
- Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion
 … a passion-filled love song for the bride of Christ…
See an excerpt here.

#10. THE GOD I DON’T UNDERSTAND
- Christopher Wright
The God I Don't Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith
 …Wright does not exhaustively answer the difficult questions he poses, but he shares valuable reflections that display his pastoral insight and personal piety in seeking the truth….
See my full review here.

HONORABLE MENTION:
GOD’S PRAYER BOOK
- Ben Patterson
The Power and Pleasure of Praying the Psalms
 … leads you through a selection of psalms, illuminating ways in which you can make these ancient prayers the cry of your own heart….
See my full review here.

© Copyright by Trevin Wax | Print This Post Print This Post | Share (Twitter, Email, Facebook)

5 Comment(s)

  1. I’m particularly excited about Unfashionable and Deep Church (which I hadn’t heard about) and Adopted For Life. I’m already building up a massive list of books to read in 2010.

    Thanks for posting this. I always enjoy the end of the year because of these types of posts. I’d might have to make mine soon, but I’m enjoying everyone else’s so much.

    -Marshall Jones Jr.

    bondChristian | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply

  2. Now that’s a very good choice for #1, Trevin!

    Adam Winters | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply

  3. Hi Trevin,

    Thanks for your blog. I was wondering why you review the more readable less technical books. Are books like NT Wright’s larger tomes or Barth’s Church Dogmatics not read enough to warrant a review? Are the ponderous books more for theological students pursuing a Phd.

    Bob | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply

  4. Bob,

    Good question. I have read and reviewed quite a number of more technical books in the past, but those that tend to be my favorite “reads” are generally the more readable ones. Wright’s “Resurrection of the Son of God” was my #1 in 2004. And the history of Southern Seminary that makes my #1 this year is not “easy,” though I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    I wouldn’t know how to do a brief review of Barth’s Church Dogmatics. I suppose I will review Wright’s big book on Paul when it comes out, although how extensive that review will be remains to be seen.

    Trevin Wax | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply

  5. Thanks for the opportunity to win the books you most like.

    Michael Clark | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply

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