Here are ten great books I’ve read recently and recommend:
Awareness – Anthony de Mello, SJ, goes for a bit of shock value, that is, he challenges our programmed perceptions of life, happiness, suffering, even God. We’ve heard some of these insights before, but he puts it right out there, shockingly reminding us that we often fail to live in or accept reality. The way we do this is by being more aware, simply observing, letting go of attachments. Through this we find true happiness.
What’s Your Decision?: How to Make Choices with Confidence and Clarity – A concise and easy-to-understand and -read compilation of Ignatian principles and rules of discernment. The book makes Ignatian discernment accessible and absolutely practical using real life examples. A perfect book to read when approaching big life decisions.
Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God – Well known theologian Elizabeth Johnson provides new perspectives by presenting theologies from various cultures and contexts, how people come to know and relate to God in different ways. The book is respectable, balanced, and mind-opening. It has made me appreciate my Christian faith and God’s work in our world much more.
Zephyr: Tracking A Dream Across America – A great book for railfans that want a behind the scenes experience of the operations of an Amtrak long distance train.
The Shack – A father’s daughter is murdered on a camping trip in an abandoned shack. He gets a note from God asking him to come back to the shack. There he finds God and his life is changed. The story tackles the question about God’s presence in a world full of hurt and suffering.
A Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life - James Martin, SJ, does it again by making Ignatian spirituality practical and accessible to all.
Chance or Purpose? Creation, Evolution, and a Rational Faith – Quite a great stance on the creation vs. evolution debate. There should be no debate. The Archbishop of Vienna states that evolution is not in disagreement with Christianity. Evolution always comes back to a Creator. The Cardinal references Biblical verses and how science supports God and not “random chance”. God sustains and upholds the universe.
How to Be Like Walt – This is possibly the best biography of Walt Disney I’ve come across. The book pulls together Walt’s life lessons and attributes like imagination, optimism, courage, integrity, and hope for tomorrow, and shows how you can apply his learnings to your life.
Eats, Shoots & Leaves – An enjoyable lesson in punctuation and grammar, highlighting the sad state of it in our daily life.
The Namesake – This is probably one of the best pieces of writing I’ve read. It’s so vivid and captivating. “The Namesake follows the Ganguli family through its journey from Calcutta to Cambridge to the Boston suburbs.”
>> Check out my full bookshelf
