Dennis' Pile of Books: April 2017

Welcome to Dennis' Pile of Books

If you were to walk into my office, either at the church or at my house, one thing you would most likely notice many, many books. I have piles of books everywhere so it seems. I love books and surround myself with them wherever I am (at work, on vacation, in the bathroom... you get the picture). So welcome to my pile of books!

On one of my other blogs (Immersed in Mystery) I have a running list of books I have recently read, and ones I am currently reading. In the past few months I began writing short comments after each book title, these were sort of like mini-book reviews, really mini. I thought that rather than lose these comments in the future (I only keep 10 titles on the list at any one time) I would create a blog dedicated to the books I have read.

Having this blog dedicated to the books I have read will also allow me to expand on my comments, perhaps even expanding into a full book review on occasion. Each book will have its own entry, and after the initial 10 entries future books will be noted in this blog when I finish them (in other words the date of the blog entry will indicate the date I finished that book). Mostly this blog is for my own benefit (to help remember all I've read), but I also like to share good books with others. Occasionally I feel the need to warn people about a disappointing book - our free time is scarce enough as it is, no use wasting it on a book that isn't worth the time or effort.

I welcome other comments on these books, it is always interesting to hear how others react to a book I've read - so feel free to leave comments on this blog. And I'm always open to book suggestions from others, I've encountered some great books because of other people's suggestions. Enjoy browsing through my pile of books.

Monday, April 3, 2017

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).