What’s On My Nightstand: March 2018

I’m participating in the What’s On Your Nightstand? roundup at 5 Minutes for Books this month. Here are links to my reviews of completed reads, as well as some glimpses of books in progress:

Your Mind Matters (John Stott): “I reread this little gem by John Stott this week. Only 85 pages long, . . . it’s now one of several books lately that provide nourishing food for my thought life and my faith — which are, the book reminds us, deeply interconnected.”

Total Truth (Nancy Pearcey): “Rereading Total Truth for the first time in about 10 years has been both a rich and a worrisome journey. . . [This reading adds] another layer of appreciation for Nancy Pearcey’s scholarship and instruction, another layer of urgency about trends that have only picked up momentum since last time.”

Escape from Reason (Francis Schaeffer) is “part of a trilogy of books explaining the course of philosophical and spiritual history in (mostly) western culture. He flies over history from 30,000 feet, zeroing in on pivotal shifts in humanity’s conceptualization of truth, as well as of nature, reason, and other key ideas.”

Technopoly (Neil Postman): “What worries me is that ultimately Technopoly regards not humans, but humanly made machines, as the increasingly unchallenged authority. At what point will I reach the line Daniel and his friends reached with Neduchadnezzar?”

Finish First (Scott Hamilton): Anyone around my age will remember this Olympic figure skater from the ’80’s. My husband enjoyed this audiobook version of him reading his account of overcoming many obstacles on the way to being a gold medalist — and, in general, an overcomer in life. I decided to listen as well, and I liked it too. I suspect in some ways Finish First contains the standard features of “how to win” books: detailing of failures and learning experiences; encouragement in commitment, faith and courage; emphasis on traits of character that are every bit as important as talent, like working hard, persisting, and maintaining a positive attitude toward failure. The uniqueness of Finish First is Hamilton’s own story and buoyant personality. I had no idea he had survived cancer multiple times, or was adopted, or suffered a childhood illness, or had none of the natural gifts or physique of the typical figure skater. His story is an inspiring, unabashedly Christian testimony, and I especially liked its message that failure can truly be our greatest opportunity.

The Technological Society (Jacques Ellul): This one is a challenge. It has been on my radar for several years, and I thought I was ready for it. But several things are working against it right now. 1.) It’s very thick. 2.) It’s dense with tiny print and almost no margins. 3.) It’s dense with thought. I expected #3, but I’m still having difficulty concentrating on it and toughing it out. I may set it aside for a time when my TBR pile is a tad smaller.

In This House of Brede (Rumer Godden): This is my elliptical book. I listen to it on the Kindle while exercising. It is a quiet, detailed story about a Benedictine monastery, one that gives us a look at the joys, struggles, and personality conflicts the nuns must face as they pursue a contemplative life.

Love Thy Body (Nancy Pearcey): This is a dynamite read so far! It just arrived on Saturday and I am loving it. If Total Truth can be described as scholarly, Love Thy Body is prophetic. It focuses on all the gender and body related issues we face today, analyzing them from the perspective of a Christian worldview. I am absolutely loving its clarity.

So that’s my nightstand these days. What’s on yours?