Everyone is dropping their 2022 book lists so I figured I might as well hop on the trend.
Due to some big writing projects, I wasn’t able to read as many books as previous years. However, I was able to read some really good ones. Here are my top books of 2022 broken down into a few different categories.
Fiction
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
I will admit, it took a few hours for me to really get into this book. But once I was hooked, I was hooked. The pace is a little slow, but Clarke builds a magical world with characters that get better and better as the story grows.
I had no clue what to expect when I started reading Cloud Cuckoo Land. From beginning to end, Doerr keeps you captivated with multiple worlds and a common thread that brings everything together. If you are a fan of All the Light We Cannot See, you should give Cloud Cuckoo Land a try.
I can’t believe I had never read Mary Shelley’s classic until this year. When I saw that Prior was releasing this new edition with a helpful guide, I knew it was time to read Frankenstein; I’m so glad that I did. The back and forth psychological battle between Frankenstein and his monster is epic. Shelley’s classic is a true horror story.
For years I have heard about how good The Road is. It’s not good because it’s a happy story with a story-book ending. It’s good because of McCarthy’s writing. His ability to keep you on your toes, unsure of what will happen next is second to none. Excited to read some more of McCarthy’s works in 2023.
I read The Pilgrim’s Progress every year, and yet, Bunyan’s allegory captivates me every time. Every time I read it, I walk away encouraged to persevere in the Christian life. Every character, every situation, and every trial instructs the reader with theology. If you have never read it, 2023 is the year you need to change that.
Non-Fiction
I love Erik Larson’s books, and this one was exceptionally good. He weaves the story of Chicago’s World Fair bid with the story of one of history’s worst serial killers. If you have never read anything by Erik Larson, start here.
After seeing multiple people raving about Nayeri’s book, I finally added it to my list. I was not disappointed. He is a wonderful storyteller, and I couldn’t put the book down. His ability to move back and forth from the past to the present is masterful. Do yourself a favor and start 2023 off with Everything Sad Is Untrue.
The Nineties was another recommendation of a friend. Growing up in the 90’s made this book so rich and fun to read. Klosterman explains political and cultural phenomena in ways that help 90’s kids understand just how wild and important this decade really was. In one book, he interacts with Ralph Nader, Nirvana, Seinfeld, and gangsta rap. It is wonderful.
When I heard that Christopher Nolan (my favorite filmmaker) was at the helm of a new movie titled Oppenheimer, I immediately wanted to know more about the history of the atomic bomb. If you like history and science, you will love this book. Rhodes is a detailed writer that covers everything from the history of the various scientists that contributed to the bomb to the political turmoil that led to the bomb. It is long, detailed, but wonderfully-written.
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
This year I started a journey through presidential biographies, and I made it through Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power was the best of the three for a couple reasons. First, Meacham doesn’t get bogged down in the details. Some biographies end up being nothing more than every detail of a person’s life, but Meacham avoids this with Jefferson. He gives you exactly what you need, and his pace is perfect. Meacham also really gets at the heart of what made Jefferson such an important leader throughout the revolutionary war and early 1800’s: the way he wielded his power. If you want to learn more about Jefferson, here is the place to start.
Ministry
In my humble opinion, Dangerous Calling is one of the most important books on pastoral ministry that has ever been written. Tripp has a way of digging deep into our hearts before immediately applying the hope of the gospel. His transparency had me nodding my head in agreement over and over. This is one of the first books I will be leading a couple of potential elders through in 2023.
Here is another must-read book for anyone in ministry. Each chapter begins with a conversation taking place between a burdened pastor and various members of his staff. The pastor is convinced that despite the churches’ growth, there is little gospel present. He is burdened for his church and desperately wants to lead his church to be a “gospel-driven church.” Wilson is a tremendous writer who argues that many churches need to shift the metrics they use if they really want to see true discipleship take place.
In Workers for Your Joy, David Mathis walks pastors through the importance of calling and character. Some churches prioritize competence and gifting over character, which Mathis shows is a mistake. Workers for Your Joy calls churches and pastors back to the blueprint for pastoral ministry found in God’s Word.
Hearers & Doers was one of the most important books I read this year. Vanhoozer demonstrates the centrality of sound doctrine and Scripture in the process of making disciples. He argues that churches fail in making disciples because they move away from God’s Word and instruction. If making disciples is the mission of the church, pastors must ensure that God’s Word remains central in the life of the church, especially their preaching and teaching. This is a book I will be returning to over and over.
Faithful Endurance is an edited volume that encourages pastors to persevere in ministry with joy. Each chapter tackles an important issue that every pastor eventually encounters. My favorite chapters are John Starke’s on burnout and Mark McCullough’s on pastoring smaller churches. This short volume is great for new and old pastors alike.
Theology
Christians often struggle understanding and interpreting the Old Testament, especially the role of God’s Law. Imes takes readers to Mt. Sinai to show why the Law mattered for Israel and why it matters for the church today. Bearing God’s Name demonstrates how to blend careful exegesis with gripping application.
How should 21st century Christians interpret God’s Word? Can we do practice typology and allegory like the Apostles did? Why is typology and allegory needed to draw out the full meaning of the Old Testament? Mitchell Chase tackles these important questions and more in Typology and Allegory. Chase writes with precision that is needed with an increasingly debated topic.
God has revealed Himself throughout history and in His Word as the Triune God. Unfortunately, there has been devastating heresies through church history as Christians have misinterpreted Scripture and practiced bad theology. Barrett makes the doctrine of the Trinity understandable by walking through Scripture, church history, creeds, and councils to explain the deep mysteries of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
As I was preparing a paper on Paul’s theology of reconciliation for the Evangelical Missiological Society this year, I stumbled across this volume in the NSBT series. Burke uses grammatical, historical, and theological evidence to show the glory of being adopted into God’s family in Christ.
Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition
There is so much to chew on from Carter’s work. Even if you do not come to all of his conclusions about premodern exegesis, you will marvel at the scholarship packed into this one book. Carter argues that the Enlightenment has affected interpretation more than many Christians know. Therefore, he takes readers back to the patristic fathers and argues that christological exegesis must be recovered. Well written, weighty, and thought provoking, Interpreting Scripture with Great Tradition gave me a lot to think about when it comes to interpreting God’s Word.
I already have some books lined up for 2023, and I hope they are as informative and encouraging as these from 2022. Happy reading!
