PhxP Book Reports
These are screen shots of some of the books I’m reading or listening to.
This does not include all the hard copy books that I have stacked on the nightstand that I am working through.
For me, the subject matter is not as important as the act of reading itself…I feel like everything thing I read chips away at my boundless ignorance.
The first shots are what I’m listening to on Audible…the last, part of my Goodreads.
What are you reading/listening to?
Hold up a minute..
The thread comes unglued because I’ve made comments on Cosmology and early origins, in light of textual interpretation. Specifically, textual interpretation in light of exponential growth in scientific discovery from late 1600’s till present.
And now Michael, you come clean on a little Genesis ch. one reading, on the side? Specifically, reading about Cosmology and origins, and it’s interpretation in modern times?
Nathan,
Nobody here has any clue what you’re writing about.
Honestly, I just skip over it because it makes no sense.
I am reading orthodox scholars discussing textual interpretation.
Current and/or just completed…
Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres. by Kelefa Sanneh ·
Wilton House: The Art, Architecture and Interiors of One of Britains Great Stately Homes [Robinson, John Martin, Pembroke, William]
Reborn in the USA: An Englishman’s Love Letter to His Chosen Home by Roger Bennett
The Eastern Orthodox Church. A New History. by John Anthony McGuckin.
After the Romanovs: Russian Exiles in Paris from the Belle Époque Through Revolution and War By: Helen Rappaport
Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World’s Most Contested City By: Andrew Lawler
Pretty impressive list, Michael! I’ve found anything by Stackhouse to be very worthwhile.
bob1,
I’m not interested in apologetics for the most part, but Stackhouse is always interesting. He’s also understandable, which is a plus for me…
Duane,
I think we would both commend the book on Eastern Orthodox history to everyone…
His “postlude” essay on the Nicene Creed is exceptional…
The American Demagogue book looks interesting to me. I’m going to check it out.
London,
I have it on Audible…interesting so far…
I rarely have time to sit and read for long without interruption…so I have a bunch of stuff going all the time reading in fits and starts.
Audible is helpful when the narration is good…when it’s not…it isn’t helpful at all.
My uninterrupted time is before I fall asleep…and I always fall asleep to an audio book. I set the timer so I miss little content.
I’m like Michael in that I’m usually reading several things, in fits and starts. An old friend from college days has a similar habit. If we don’t finish a volume, our stock line is, “I got bogged down.” 😁
Well hopefully your reading will result in posting your thoughts.
When was a boy, I would always skip of the first section of most astronomy books. That was typically the chapter that had early Cosmology..meaning a reference to constellations.
It was only later in life, after being detached from Fundamentalists type backgrounds did I notice cosmological references in Scripture. It started for me in Job. Once you see one, you start seeing more.
Orthodoxy forgot Cosmology along the centuries, so I’m not surprised things look different to us, even when reading the same text.
I can guess where where an orthodox scholar would take a book on Cosmology. He would likely go back in time to Canaanite, Chaldean and Jewish understanding of the World and mythology. Somehow, the ancients had a worldview ( to use a 1900’s term ) and that worldview will help us make in a literary understanding of the text.
In short….the way forward, is to return to the past.
I say the way forward…is the path marked forward…to the future, and away from ancient concepts of our World. That future contains an explosion of technology.
Scripture and Physics, I accept as true at the same time. The gap between them is closing rapidly in my mind. The remaining gap, is the result of ignorance. That ignorance again, is diminishing rapidly in the last century, and will gain further momentum.
Ancient “worldviews” are of interest in a forensic sense. Especialy when dealing with cultures that worshipped false gods.
When I come to Dan 12:4 and read….knowledge will increase, I say of course it will. Its happening in the age I live. From the text in vs. 4, I interpret this knowledge is dangerous and will result in great evil. Daniel is told to restrict his writings. My interpretation again..knowledge in one are, will result in knowledge in the other, and vice versa.
Nathan,
My thoughts are that you either need an interpreter or therapy.
I have a strong aversion to “unique” ways of interpreting ancient texts…
Good to see a variety of topics Michael. And GREAT to see no “practical Christian living” books that overpopulate the now-defunct family Christian bookstore. I used to have quite a lot of these types of books, but most of them have found a forever home somewhere else.
I’m ashamed to admit I rarely read, but like I said elsewhere this blog has encouraged me to pick up a book. I have a book called “This Far By Faith” which I’ll start, and will also pick up where I left off with the Gordon Lightfoot biography.
Dan,
I loathe “Christian living” books.
Reading is almost like praying…sometimes you don’t feel like it, but it’s good for you anyway. 🙂
Fits and starts is right … always picking through various and sundry texts … exploring …
Practicing the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence (revisiting … again)
Prayers in the Night, Tish Harrison Warren
The Glenstal Book of Prayer, A Benedictine Prayer Book
Paul, A Biography, N. T. Wright (audio but I think I might follow it better in book form)
An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness, Kay Redfield Jamison
100 Love Sonnets, Pablo Neruda
Turn My Mourning Into Dancing, Henri Nouwen
I struggle with feelings of guilt when reading because Bob can’t. He is supportive and wants me to read … but I don’t enjoy doing things that he can’t. So, we listen to a LOT of sports radio and music 🙂
Judy,
That’s a great list…good stuff!
Judy,
It’s still an abundance of positive or neutral input…and it feeds the soul.
It shows …
Here’s what’s on the bedstand:
How I Found Livingstone, Henry Stanley
Monastic Wisdom, Elder Joseph the Hesychast
Maus II, Art Spriegleman
Anna Comnena, a Study, Georgina Buckler d (I haven’t actually started this one yet)
Saga Book XLV, the current edition of the Viking Society for Northern Research’s journal
Relatos de un Peregrino Ruso, (The Way of a Pilgrim in Spanish)
The Ring Legends of Tolkien, David Day (Not a fan of David Day, but it was a gift)
The Complete Sagas of the Icelanders, Vol. II (I love this set of books, which I got straight from Iceland!)
Laurus, Eugene Vodolazkin, (Sort of an Orthodox fairy tale, a wonderful book to read over and over)
The Synaxarion V (For May and June)
Current issue of The Orthodox Word from St. Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, CA
And on my Kindle:
God is a Man of War, Fr. Stephen de Young (Explains the violence in the Old Testament)
I’ve been studying the concocting of herbal remedies, so I’ve been reading several books on this topic.
After this we should list our favorite podcasts. 🙂
“After this we should list our favorite podcasts. 🙂”
Coming soon…
Covenant — Daniel Block
Adam and the Covenant of Works —- Fesko
War on the West — Douglas Murray
The Dying Citizen — Victor Davis Hansen
A Free People’s Suicide — Os Guinness
Pentecostal Theology and The Lord’s Supper – Chris Green
The Epic of Eden — Susan Richter
Intellectuals — Paul Johnson
God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants — Gentry and Wellum
Systematic Theology — Wolfhart Pannenberg
Dread,
The Murray book is on my list…slightly amused that you’re reading Fesko…
Well
I’m researching Fesko over a variance with his position
Dread,
I see…the Westminster boys are a sect unto themselves…
My initial discipleship was with a Reformed Seminary guy.
Maus is great … and a far easier read than the first volume of Barefoot Gen!
and for a graphic novel about the life of a woman who lived through the Iranian revolution Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is great reading, too.
I recently finished Mark R Sneed’s Taming the Beast: A Reception History of Behemoth and Leviathan
as well as Reed Carlson’s Unfamiliar Selves in the Hebrew Bible: Possession and Other Spirit Phenomena. Both are great reads. I’m still working through Charles Twombly’s Perichoresis and Personhood: God, Christ, and Salvation in John of Damascus .
I have been on a bit of a T F Torrance marathon lately so I haven’t gotten to Matt Colvin’s The Lost Supper but I’ve heard interesting things about it. If anyone else has read it and had thoughts they want to share, feel free.
My routine (daily or close to it) reads include :
The World as I Remember It: Through the Eyes of a Ragmuffin Rich Mullins
Souvenirs of Solitude Brennan Manning
The Rule Of Benedict Joan Chittister
Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace The Complete Prayers St. Francis, St. Clare and Other Early Franciscans Jon M. Sweeney
Celtic Prayers from Iona J. Philip Newell
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers trans. Benedicta Ward
Currently reading :
Seeking God The Way of St. Benedict Esther de Waal
The holding pattern for this summer :
The Soul’s Slow Ripening Christine Valters Paintner
How the Irish Save Civilization Thomas Cahill
The Jesus Way Practicing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises Karen R. Keen
Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer Eugene H. Peterson
Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality J. Philip Newell
Centering Prayer Brian D. Russell
And perhaps I’ll get motivated to read and write here about:
Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity Eugene Peterson
And I need to listen to more Bruce Cockburn……………