Kierkegaard: A Single Life

by Stephen Backhouse
 
This book has singlehandedly sparked my interest in reading Kierkegaard. A concise but thorough overview of Kierkegaard's life and writings, making the complicated Danish philosopher and theologian more understandable. After reading Backhouse's book I find myself thinking that Kierkegaard has as much to say to our current age as he did to the Danish culture of the 19th century. I also see some interesting parallels with Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Backhouse doesn't assert this, rather it is a conclusion of my own making). Now to tackle a book by Kierkegaard rather than about him.

Age of Discovery: Navigating the Risks and Rewards of Our New Renaissance

by Ian Goldin and Chris Kutarna

A brilliant analysis of how our current circumstances parallel in many ways the time of the renaissance, both with advantages and its dangers. I enjoyed getting a better understanding of the renaissance through the comparisons with contemporary conditions. I particularly appreciated the concluding chapter which looked at how to move forward in the best possible manner (magnifying flourishing genius and mitigating flourishing risk). Written by two Oxford academics, I took pleasure in knowing that one of them (Chris Kutarna) is originally from this neck of the woods.

A Wrinkle in Time

by Madeleine L'Engle

I came across a movie trailer for an upcoming cinematic treatment of this book a couple of weeks ago - I thought I should re-read the book in advance of the movie version's release. A delightful read, to be sure, and one filled with a few surprises that I had forgotten. Madeleine L'Engle loved to play with language, and that can be seen throughout this short novel. Even though its protaganists are children this should not be limited to being considered a children's book. The themes are deep and profound. Even though it was written 55 years ago it still seems relevant, we still live on a shadow planet.

A Beauty

by Connie Gault
 
I read this novel because it was written by the wife of a musician in one of the bands I play in. Fulled with colourful and complex characters, and evocative language I was drawn into the world of the Canadian prairies during the 1930s. At one point the novel jumps 30 years ahead, and suddenly I found myself in an environment I recognized, small town prairie life of the 1960s. Beautifully written, quite enjoyable.

Brand Luther

by Andrew Pettegree
 
The long subtitle of this book is: How an unheralded monk turned his small town into a center of publishing, made himself the most famous man in Europe – and started the Protestant Reformation. That pretty well sums it up. A unique look at the history of the Reformation through the lens of the printing industry. Many surprising insights were gained about this period of history from reading this book, a testimony to Pettegree's research and writing skills. His concluding account as to why Luther's reformation did not establish itself more widely was the most concise and astute explanation I have come across yet. A book about books worth reading.

The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation

by Richard Rohr with Mike Morrell
 
I find I need to read Richard Rohr in small bits, quite simply because there is so much new thinking and shifted perspective required to follow Rohr's line of thinking and revelation. This book lays out the meaning and implications of the doctrine of the Trinity in a non-academic yet deeply thoughtful approach. Some of Rohr's ideas are unorthodox, but not unsupported. I consider Richard Rohr a modern mystic, and with most mystical literature, like most poetry, he requires reflection and expansive thinking to understand what he is saying, but it is worth the pondering.

Inventing Hell: Dante, the Bible, and Eternal Torment

by Jon M. Sweeney

I actually read this book a few months ago but realized I hadn't noted it here. Sweeney shows in this work how Dante's Inferno captured the imagination of 14th Century Europe and how that subsequently changed how people understood the concept of Hell. At the time readers understood the elements of criticism and satire, and reveled in that. Later generations began to interpret Dante's fictional imaginative work more literally, and the understanding of Hell gleaned from Dante's work far surpassed what is found in scripture. It is essentially Dante's Hell that people were frightened of at the time of the Reformation a couple of centuries later. An interesting read that gives better insight into Dante's work and its impact on European society.

The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation

by Jon M. Sweeney
 
I started reading this while traveling through Europe this summer. It gave me a clearer understanding of the place of the popes in European society and politics in the era leading up to the protestant reformation. In the end we are left with more questions than answers as to why Pope Celestine V quit after being pope for only a few months. Regardless of motivation, the whole scenario as to how he became Pope in the first place, as well as other elements of medieval spirituality were explored in an engaging and informative manner.

A Nearly Infallible History of the Reformation: The True Story of the Movement that Created the Modern World

by Nick Page
 
This book was loaded into my Kobo for the trip to Europe this summer. It was a perfect read for the journey, both very informative, and very entertaining. Nick Page writes with a British sense of humour, a dry wit that pokes fun at pretension and resists the recitation of dull facts. Page covers the important people and events of the Reformation with a clear overview, so the information is covered well, even if done with occasional puns or modern cultural references. Highly recommended.

The Reformation: Faith & Flames

by Andrew Atherstone
 
A well written overview of the Reformation made more attractive with great photos and artwork. Atherstone unfolds this tumultuous period of history deftly and comprehensively. He starts in Germany and concludes in the British Isles, including material on the religious wars provoked by the politics of religious freedom. I heard Atherstone lecture in Oxford and was impressed enough to pick up his book, I'm glad I did.

Here I Walk: A Thousand Miles on Foot to Rome with Martin Luther

by Andrew L. Wilson
 
Since my wife and I will be leading a tour called "In the Footsteps of Luther" this summer, I thought this would be a good book to read in advance of our trip. I was somewhat disappointed, not learning as much as I had hoped about Luther's trip to Rome. The book is more like a travelogue with some theological reflections sprinkled in. At times the writing is insightful and interesting, at other times it tries too hard and comes across as a bit pretentious. Still I would say that overall I enjoyed this read, and am grateful for the learnings I did glean from the pages.

Luther's Fortress: Martin Luther and His Reformation Under Siege

by James Reston, Jr.
 
In this interesting volume Reston chooses to focus on the period of time Luther was hiding in the Wartburg Castle after the Diet of Worms. Reston sees those 8 months as key to the success of the Reformation, as it was the most dangerous time for the survival of the new movement. In this time Luther continued to write, and in a spurt of incredible academic energy translated the New Testament into German. Reston shows how Luther attempted to lead while in hiding and finally growing weary of the limitations of such how he went against Prince Frederick's wishes and returned to Wittenberg. Well written and quite informative.

Martin Luther: Visionary Reformer

by Scott H. Hendrix
 
Read as part of my preparations for leading a tour called "In the Footsteps of Luther" I found this book both an interesting and informative work. It helped me understand how Luther's reformation work wasn't a solitary man against the papacy, but rather a collection of scholars and political leaders working with Luther (and sometimes against him). There were many surprising facts about Luther's life that I don't recall ever coming across before. An enjoyable read that breathes life into this particular period of history.

Hope Against Darkness: The Transforming Vision of Saint Francis in an Age of Anxiety

by Richard Rohr with John Feister
 
This book felt very relevant even though it was published in 2001, there was much that seemed to be a response to the current social and political climate. Divided into three sections (1) The Current Dilemma, (2) Francis the Rebuilder, and (3) Finding a Third Way. Of these three it was the concluding section that provided some good perspective and a sense of hope particularly needed at this time. Rohr emphasizes our connection with the wider world and with the Divine, the need to become aware of the Divine Spirit within and can transform us into agents of God's transforming the world. For Rohr it is important to consider orthopraxy first and foremost, rather than focusing on orthodoxy only (which will not transform the world by itself).

Into the Region of Awe: Mysticism in C.S. Lewis

by David C. Downing

One does not usually associate mysticism with C.S. Lewis, champion of apologists everywhere, however in this book Downing makes a good case for Lewis' interest in Christian Mysticism. Downing shows how mysticism shows up in both Lewis' fiction, and in his scholarly writing. I found this book giving me a new perspective on Lewis, and at this stage I didn't think that would be too likely. I will read C.S. Lewis somewhat differently from now on.