I was probably around 9 or 10 years old. It was a normal Sunday morning in church. I was exploring the building in the moments between Sunday school and the worship service. Our church had a small library filled with mostly books I had no interest in. But there was a small section of children's … Continue reading #1 – Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis (My 100 Favorite Books)
#2 – The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien (My 100 Favorite Books)
What is there to say about these books that has not already been said? I suppose everyone who loves this story has their own personal story of how they discovered them. My story is actually rather regretful. I think it was 5th or 6th grade when I first picked up the Hobbit and I gave … Continue reading #2 – The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien (My 100 Favorite Books)
#3 – A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving (My 100 Favorite Books)
First of all, this book is a piece of brilliant writing and fantastic story-telling. It is easy to fall in love with the diminutive and irreverent Owen Meany. John Irving is a great writer, though as I note that, I realize I've only read one of his other books. Perhaps I should check out his … Continue reading #3 – A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving (My 100 Favorite Books)
#4 – What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey (My 100 Favorite Books)
This book changed my life. Throughout my teenage years, I mostly read Star Wars novels. Eventually I got into fantasy. At some point, I decided to move out of the realm of fiction and read some books that might help my faith. I had been a Christian as long as I remembered and had read … Continue reading #4 – What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey (My 100 Favorite Books)
#5 – The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (My 100 Favorite Books)
I'm currently reading this book for the third time. Maybe that's all I need to say for why it makes my top five. The first time I read it, I had heard it was a classic. But it is not an easy read and I am not sure I was able to follow it well. … Continue reading #5 – The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (My 100 Favorite Books)
#6 – The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (My 100 Favorite Books)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an amazing person who lived quite an extraordinary life. Its worth your time, if you haven't already, to read one of the available biographies about him. I recommend Charles Marsh's Strange Glory: The Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Though I have to admit, Bonhoeffer comes across as kind of a spoiled brat in … Continue reading #6 – The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (My 100 Favorite Books)
#7 – Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (My 100 Favorite Books)
Most of the books in my top ten are ones I read years ago and have stuck with me ever since. This is probably the one I read most recently and it totally blew me away. In other words, one year ago this book would not have been in my top 100 and today it … Continue reading #7 – Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (My 100 Favorite Books)
#8 – The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence (My 100 Favorite Books)
I remember finishing this book and then immediately starting it again. Its short and I may have read it twice in one day (its only 68 pages). But its SO GOOD. Imagine you work next to a person in some mundane occupation for decades. Then all of a sudden you discover you have been standing … Continue reading #8 – The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence (My 100 Favorite Books)
#9 – Mere Christianity by CS Lewis (My 100 Favorite Books)
CS Lewis is definitely one of my favorite authors of all time. His Narnia series was one of the first books I remember reading that gripped me and instilled a love of reading in me. Over the years I've read many of his books and am impressed by how wide-ranging the subjects are that he … Continue reading #9 – Mere Christianity by CS Lewis (My 100 Favorite Books)
#10 – The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien (My 100 Favorite Books)
This book was Tolkien's life's work. It was not released until after his death, put together by his son Christopher. I call it the Old Testament of Middle Earth. While it is not as exciting as the Hobbit, or even as fast-paced as Lord of the Rings (which is itself a bit slow at times) … Continue reading #10 – The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien (My 100 Favorite Books)
