Bookends 2018

Looking back on the year of 2018, I would like to take a moment to review and reflect on the various books I read throughout the year.

This past year I set out to read as many books as I could in one calendar year. I have never actually kept track of how many I had read at any given time in previous years. Since I have never counted, it is hard to say for sure how many have been logged in the past, but at twenty-five books, I am positive this is the most I have read in a single year in my life.

I have always loved to read, but I was never consistent when it came to dedicating time to reading. I have a bad habit of starting new books before I have finished the previous ones, causing me to have several partially read books sitting around the house. There are just so many books that look interesting to me that I find myself jumping into several at a time. In 2018, I abandoned that practice (well, mostly).

The following is a list of all the books I read in 2018, along with a brief summary, and maybe a review.

Books I Read in 2018

1. Reading the Bible With Rabbi Jesus- Lois Tverberg
2. Firmly Planted- Robby Gallaty
3. Meat Eater- Steven Rinella
4. The Hidden Enemy- Michael Youssef
5. The Light in the Forest- Conrad Richter
6. Not A Fan- Kyle Idleman
7. Heaven so Near so Far- by Colin Smith
8. Sand County Almanac- Aldo Leopold
9. 1984- George Orwell
10. American Buffalo- Steven Rinella
11. How to be a Perfect Christian- The Babylon Bee
12. Start Here- David Dwight & Nicole Eunice
13. God, Nimrod, and the World- Bracy V. Hill II & John B. White
14. Walking in the Dust of the Rabbi- Lois Tverberg
15. Animal Farm- George Orwell
16. Big Woods- William Faulkner
17. Take Heart- Matt Chandler
18. We Stood Upon Stars- Roger W. Thompson
19. Love That Lasts- Jefferson & Alyssa Bethke
20. How Indians Really Lived- Gordon C. Baldwin
21. Letters to the Church- Francis Chan
22. The Case for Christ- Lee Strobel
23. Don’t Miss It- Reggie Joiner & Kristen Ivy
24. The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game, Volume 2: Small Game and Fowl- Steven Rinella
25. The Holy Bible

Here’s the Breakdown

1. Reading the Bible With Rabbi Jesus- by Lois Tverberg

My interest in this book was actually sparked by another book I read in 2017 called “The Forgotten Jesus: How Western Christians Should Follow an Eastern Rabbi” by Robby Gallaty. Reading that book really ignited my fire for learning the stories and themes of the Bible from a 1st century Hebrew perspective, rather than viewing the Bible through the shades of American religious culture. Lois Tverberg is an expert on Jewish culture, customs, and the Hebrew language. Like all of her books, “Reading the Bible With Rabbi Jesus” helped me see the Bible in the context that it was written. Reading the stories in the proper context, with the right knowledge of Hebrew lifestyle during that time, opened me up to a whole new understanding of the scriptures.

2. Firmly Planted- by Robby Gallaty

After reading Robby Gallaty’s book “The Forgotten Jesus“, I was anxious to read some of his other works. When I picked up “Firmly Planted“, I didn’t realize it was the second book in a three part discipleship series called “Growing Up.” Now that I know this, you better believe I will be heading back to my local bookstore to pick up the other two!

3. Meat Eater- by Steven Rinella

I am a huge Rinella fan. I listen to the Meater Podcast daily, have seen every episode of the Meateater TV show more than once, and have read several of his books. Steve is a masterful writer, blending literature and the outdoors in an almost poetic way. Reading his books makes you feel nostalgic and hungry for outdoor adventure. His words flow so well, like an old classic American writer from yesteryear, that you forget this is not, as Steve would say, an “old timey” author, but just a regular, modern day outdoorsman.

4. The Hidden Enemy- by Michael Youssef

This is the first book I have read by Michael Youssef. In this book, the author points out the threat of aggressive secularism in Western culture, as well as the dangers of radical Islam. Growing up in a country terrorized by radical Islamic rule, Youssef knows first hand what daily life is like in an Islamic State. Yousseff urges Americans to take a hard look at the future of America and to seek to keep Jesus at the center of their lives.

5. The Light in the Forest- by Conrad Richter

In his book, Meat Eater, Steven Rinella describes a squirrel hunting scenario he experienced as a kid that reminded him of “The Light in the Forest”. Shortly after, while perusing an Amish grocery store, I noticed this book sitting on the shelf. Curiosity got the best of me and I took it home (along with some bulk cooking spices and the best cinnamon roll in the Midwest!). This book, meant for young readers, is a great mix of adventure, history, and drama, all packaged into a short, enjoyable read.

6. Not a Fan- by Kyle Idleman

Christianity isn’t a spectator sport. If the extent of your spiritual life is sitting in a pew for forty minutes a week, you are missing out on an incredible journey. Kyle Idleman brings up a really important call to action: Stop being just a fan of Jesus and instead become a completely committed follower!

7. Heaven, So Near- So Far- by Colin S. Smith

Written from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, this book is a short read that I zipped through in no time. Take a look into the mind of a notorious Bible villain.

8. A Sand County Almanac- by Aldo Leopold

Written in 1949, “The Sand County Almanac” is still one of the finest nature writings to ever be published. Aldo Leopold’s wisdom regarding man’s relationship to the land is unsurpassed. This book is a wealth of knowledge concerning the flora and fauna of America. Every serious hunter/conservationists/outdoor lover needs to buy this book!

9. 1984- by George Orwell

This is a gripping story of life in a totalitarian society. At first glance, the circumstances and situations depicted in this book seem futuristic and extreme, but you quickly start to realize that it isn’t as far off from today’s world as you might have originally thought. A terrifying and eye-opening tale of a fictional dystopian society, this classic book will bring you joy, drama, and paranoia all at the same time. Pick it up today! And remember, Big Brother is always watching…

10. American Buffalo- by Steven Rinella

I have long had a fascination with the American bison, or buffalo, as they are often called. I loved reading about how humans have interacted and benefited from buffalo in North America throughout history. The author also tells the story of his own buffalo hunting experience throughout the book. It made me long to go on a buffalo hunt myself, and long for a bison burger! Reading this book will give you a new respect for an animal that has had a humongous impact of American life. At the same time, you will be saddened by the way we as humans, especially in our earlier years, nearly destroyed this amazing natural resource that was once so abundant in our country.

11. How to Be a Perfect Christian- by The Babylon Bee

This hilarious satirical guide pokes fun at the quirks of cultural Christianity while subtly challenging us to go deeper and find a true, authentic faith. If you are an uptight, holier-than-thou person, don’t bother reading this book and go back to your boring life. As for everyone else, I think you will find much humor and enjoyment learning to be a “perfect Christian.”

12. Start Here- by David Dwight & Nicole Eunice

So, you’ve made a decision to follow Jesus. Great! But now what? This book covers the basics for someone who is just peaking into the doorway of Christianity and wants to learn who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him. Often times, new Christians get overwhelmed trying to figure out what to do with their newfound faith. A couple of crucial resources for new believers would be to have other Christians to help guide and encourage them, and a book covering the basics in a down-to-Earth fashion. I read this in just a few days while on an out-of-state hunting trip and it opened the door to a lot of questions about my faith and Christianity in general between myself and the other guys in deer camp. Knowing that beginning a relationship with Jesus is much less intimidating when you have some guidance, I left this book in the lodge for future guests to enjoy, along with a business card tucked in as a bookmark in case the next reader had questions. Use this book as a discipleship tool for those who you’ve had conversations with about Christ.

13. God, Nimrod, and the World- by Bracy V. Hill II & John B. White

This book is for that rare person who takes both their Christian faith and their love for hunting seriously. Very seriously! “God, Nimrod, and the World” is more of a scholarly textbook than casual read. It will have you thinking deeply about your place in the world, and your religion, as a sportsman. If there had been courses offered on the topic of Christian perspectives on hunting at the college I attended, I may have paid a little more attention in class!

14. Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus- by Lois Tverberg

Another great work by Lois Tverberg. This book focuses on examining the words of Jesus and how they should be interpreted in a Jewish context.

15. Animal Farm- by George Orwell

“Animal Farm” is a beautifully crafted allegory symbolizing Russia and the Soviet Union under Communist rule. In reality, however, the farm can represent any society. In this fable, the animals decide to revolt against their oppressive master, the human farmer. After successfully taking over the farm, the animals begin creating their own society and government, led by the pigs. We quickly start to see that this new way of life on Animal Farm is not much different from the oppressive human rule. Arguably, it may even be worse than before. This book points out both the subtle, and the blatantly obvious ways that governments manipulate the various classes of citizens in order to control history and maintain power. I loved every page of this book and now wish I would have had paid more attention to it when it was assigned reading during my freshman year of high school.

16. Big Woods- by William Faulkner

With my love for reading and hunting, I thought this combination was sure to be a slam dunk. I thought wrong. This will probably shock a lot of people who read classic fiction authors, but I wasn’t that into “Big Woods”. I just wasn’t really getting the draw. Am I missing something? Because it seems like I should have loved this. Please, someone reach out to me to help me better appreciate this collection of Faulkner’s stories, because I really wanted to love this book!

17. Take Heart- by Matt Chandler

It is time that we admit that are living in a post-Christian society. But, take heart! As Matt Chandler points out in this book, Christianity has always thrived in the margins of society! It is here, on the fringes, that Christians can be intentional about spreading the message of Jesus Christ in an authentic way, as opposed to the watered down Gospel that has been coasting along in the comforts of Western culture.

18. We Stood Upon Stars- by Roger Thompson

If you’ve felt a little pinned up lately and in need of some adventure, pick up this book! Roger transforms you into another place and time as you ride shotgun in his van through the great American West, catch fish out of mountain streams, and discover new hole-in-the-wall taco joints along the way. If you are looking for a book to awaken your soul, this is it! My only complaint about the book is that it ended.

19. Love That Lasts- by Jefferson & Alyssa Bethke

I read all of Jefferson Bethke’s books that I can get my hands on, and I have no trouble getting my hands on books! Together with his wife, Alyssa, Jeff brings light to the many lies our culture tells us about love, marriage, and sex. The way we are approaching love in our society is not working. Don’t you think it is about time we tried something different? The Bethke’s are doing just that, and they will tell you how you can too.

20. How Indians Really Lived- by Gordon Cortis Baldwin

I have always had a fascination with Native American culture and history. Luckily for me, my father-in-law does too. Therefore, he keeps me in-the-know on all things American Indian. I grabbed this book off of a stack he loaned me and began learning the details about the many different tribes throughout North America and how they differ. This is a handy guide for basic knowledge of Native American life throughout history.

21. Letters to the Church- by Francis Chan

A heavy, convicting call to action. The way most of us are “doing church” doesn’t line up with the Bible’s view of a community of believers. Francis Chan points out his own mistakes as a pastor and challenges the rest of us to rethink how we are operating our churches and how we are working together as church members to accomplish the mission of Christ. You may just find that the way you currently think of “church” isn’t really what is reflected in the Bible.

22. The Case for Christ- by Lee Strobel

I have owned this book for around ten years and finally got around to reading it. I had intentions of reading it right away because of its huge popularity. Though the cover art has changed since then, it is still very popular today, and for good reason. If you have ever been intimidated by people telling you Christianity is a fairy tale or that there is no proof for what you believe, this book will give you all the confidence you need to defend your faith. There is overwhelming proof for Jesus in both religious and non-religious texts and history. This book maps it all out for you in one very eye-opening journey.

23. Don’t Miss It- by Reggie Joiner & Kristen Ivy

My church gives these away to parents who are dedicating their children to God at an event we call “Family Dedication Day”. During this time, church members agree to partner with parents to help them raise their children in a Godly way. This is a tiny little book that can be read in one sitting but it is deeply impactful. “Don’t Miss It” points out that your time with your children is precious and fleeting. For instance, did you know that parents only have approximately 936 weeks from the time your child is born until they graduate from high school? Really think about that. That isn’t really that much time. It really makes you rethink how you spend your weekends (and every day) when you picture your weeks counting down to 0. Your time with your kids is limited. Don’t miss it.

24. The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game, Volume 2: Small Game and Fowl- by Steven Rinella

I am a hunting fanatic. More specifically, I am a squirrel hunting fanatic! There are few books that focus solely on small game hunting and there are none that go into this much detail. Like the title says, this is a complete guide for all things small game and bird hunting. It covers everything from start to finish. You will find what gear to pack, what ammunition and equipment is best suitable for different situations, how to process your game after it has been harvested, fun facts about your quarry, and so much more. You will find yourself referring back to this guide over and over as you seek out different hunting strategies and recipes season after season.

25. The Holy Bible

The Bible is the single most important book to me. It is the only book I read consistently every day. I haven’t always, though. I wasn’t reading the Bible regularly until I came to the realization that a person who confesses to be a Christian needs to have read the Bible… the whole Bible. For most of my life I couldn’t honestly say that I had read the entire thing. I became convicted that reading only portions of the Bible is not acceptable for someone who follows Christ. From that point, I made it a goal to read through the Bible in a year. After seeing just how attainable that goal was, I decided to continue it with each new year. You would be surprised just how easy it is to read through the Bible when you use a manageable reading plan. I talk about this in length in both “Daily Pursuit” and “My Year in the Bible“, so I won’t go into it here, but just know, I have benefited from this book more than any other and it has ignited my passion for God, and for reading, in an unimaginable way!

In Conclusion

As you can see, I have a wide variety of tastes when it comes to books. There are a lot of factors that determine how I choose a new book. Obviously, my own personal interests have a huge impact on what I read, but I also read books on topics that I have no experience in as a way to educate myself. Reading is about knowledge as well as entertainment. I like to read a range of different genres, ideas, and topics to ensure I never stop learning.

That being said, I always have a rather long list of “To Be Reads” comprised of books that I have come across that seem interesting to me or have been recommended by others. I do my best to tackle this list but its every-growing nature doesn’t allow me to ever actually complete it. There are just so many more books available than there is time to read them all, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I know many of you consistently surpass twenty-five books a year by a long shot, and I am already hard at work to beat that number during 2019. Perhaps I should have added another 65 books to my list, considering The Bible is actually a compilation of 66 books! In all seriousness, quantity of books read per year isn’t necessarily my top priority. Quality and content plays a bigger role for me.

I hope you find this list helpful and that you see one that sparks your interest the way it did mine. If you have any other book recommendations that you would like to share, I would love to hear from you! I am always looking for new and insightful things to add to my list!

What About You?

What are you reading right now?

Add your thoughts or recommendations in the comments below, contact me through this site by clicking CONTACT, or reach me by email at ruggedpursuitdevo@gmail.com.

Happy reading!

2.11.19