My latest book, Things We’ve Handed Down: Letters I Leave for You, is about books. What I have read through the years that impacted my life in positive ways. What I want others to read as I process lessons learned and applied from those books.
Each of the twelve chapter titles of my twelfth book is the title of one of those books.
If you sent me twelve titles of books which have impacted your life in positive ways, what would those be? What did you learn from those books? What did they say to you when you read them? What are they still saying to you? How can you take what those books have said to you, and what they continue saying to you, and pass those thoughts down to others?
In upcoming blogs I’ll write honest thoughts about each of the chapters in Things We’ve Handed Downand the books those chapters highlight. Thoughts about what I wrote. Thoughts about what I learned. Thoughts about I want you to learn. Thoughts about what I still need to learn.
For now, select one book you have read.
Not twelve. Just one.
Write down that one title. That one title of one book that best reveals where you are now in life. Or where you want to be in life.
Don’t send me twelve titles. Send me one title.
What is the title of that book?
Why did you select that one title?
Take a little time to write your own story about the book, and how it is a part of your life.
The Cross of Christ by John RW Stott. I used to read it once a year. I can’t find my copy now, but it always reminded me of what was essentially true in my life.
That is such a good book, Jim.
When I was in high school, my book club read “A Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue”. I remember relating to the main character’s little sister, Felicity, a lot, in some ways for how I am, in other for how I wish I was. She is an extremely bright young lady that refuses to let the context in which she lives define her opportunities. I don’t know if I would consider myself extremely bright; however, I would say I have a decent head on my shoulders. I hope to have her ambition and inability to accept less than she knows she’s worth. When you’re little, especially a little girl, people make you feel like you have to play down your intelligence or you’re bossy or a know it all. Characters like Felicity helped me realize it didn’t have to be that way, that it shouldn’t be that way.
This post is a reflective piece that delves into identity, purpose, and the single title that truly matters—being known and loved by God. It resonates as it emphasizes the value of our inherent identity over societal labels or accomplishments. For me, this post was a reminder to focus on what truly defines me rather than external validations. The concept of being anchored in an identity bestowed by faith is grounding and encouraging in a world that often values superficial titles.
If there was one book title that I would have to say affected me the most, it would have to be “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.” This specific book impacted me enough that I started going to counseling. It made me take a step back in my life and inspect every part of my life. It was humbling but so necessary. There had been feelings that I had been experiencing finally put into words. I could finally put a reason to different situations in my life. For this book, I am truly grateful!
One book which I think has significantly impacted the way I see the world is the Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. I think that especially for someone in my generation– this book was extremely impactful. Often, people think that with the progression of technology we have gained time, but Comer explains it has had the opposite effect. It has made us crave speed and distraction. It left us without the experience of living a slow, fulfilling life in which the things done are done with intentionality. I suggest this book because it doesn’t just give us the theory of how to live a slow life but Comer gives practical ways on how we can implement this life. This is a book I will continue to go back to throughout my life.
A book that has significantly impacted the way that I see the world is The Making Of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr. It really showed me how harmful extra-biblical ideologies can be and how so much of what so many women believed about themselves or about other women in a church setting was not shaped by the Bible but by cultural tradition and the ideas of men throughout history. The book really educated me on the different perspectives about women from medieval times until now and contrasted those ideologies with how Jesus used women during his time on earth. I think that book help push my drive towards empowering women in ministry and it overall gave me so much more freedom and a feeling of equality as a Christian woman. It helped me walk in boldness and kept me from feeling like I had to confine myself into a box.
My book would have to be Kneeling with Giants. I used to believe that I was bad at praying so I chose this book to help me with my prayer life, and it has. I also understand now that it is not about what other people think about my prayers, it is entirely about what God thinks about my prayer.