Previous years: 2020, 2019, 2018
I am still a fairly slow reader, but I’ve been able to first double and now quadruple my pre-2018 average of finished books per year––from 6 to 12 to 24. I think anyone can do this. How? Well, here are some of the things that have worked for me: Spending less time on social media, taking advantage of little moments to listen to audiobooks, listening to fewer podcasts, and reading for 10 minutes before bed each night. Also, being more disciplined to finish a book before starting too many others has helped. I am usually reading two books and listening to at least two audiobooks at the same time. This helps me to keep making progress as certain books are easier to read or listen to at certain moments. When my mind is too tired for deep theology, reading a biography or a novel is usually still manageable. With that said, there were at least four books I got a good ways into this year and then abandoned because they didn’t seem worth completing. I am cautious about giving up too soon, but I think it is okay to do sometimes in order to move onto something more profitable. Not all books are created equal.
So here goes the list from 2021…
Restoring the Foundation of Civilization by Gary DeMar – Good
The Man in the Dark: A Romance by Douglas Wilson – Very good
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund – Excellent. See my review here.
Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson – Excellent
Noah Primeval by Brian Godawa – Okay
Ploductivity by Douglas Wilson – Very helpful
La Liberación del Planeta Tierra (Liberating Planet Earth) by Gary North – Okay
The Mark of Evanlor by Nathan Cedarland – You can be the judge 🙂
Black and Tan by Douglas Wilson – Good
Gaining by Losing by J.D. Greear – Good
Perspectives on the Sabbath: Four Views by Drs. Arand, Blomberg, MacCarty, and Pipa – Very helpful. See my complete review here.
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – Good as always. The younger kids enjoyed it as much as their older siblings did a few years back.
The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards – Excellent. This is my top pick from this year and I hope to blog more about it soon.
Mentor 101 (Mentoring 101 in English) by John C. Maxwell – Very helpful
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs – Excellent
A Small Book about a Big Problem: Meditations on Anger, Patience, and Peace by Edward T. Welch – Very good. Will read again in 2022.
Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis – Excellent––even better than last time. Benjamin enjoyed listening along with me.
Historia de la Iglesia Cristiana (History of the Christian Church) by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut – Okay
Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers – Good
All Things for Good by Thomas Watson – Very good
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis – Good. The younger kids continue to enjoy, though this may be my least favorite of the series.
Gashmu Saith It: How to Build Christian Communities that Save the World by Douglas Wilson – Very good
Education and History by C.S. Lewis – Good
Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis – Very good
As always, I conclude with an encouragement to try to read twice as much Scripture as anything else. The Word of God abides forever.
Happy reading in the New Year!
Cedarland Family 