Books I Read on My Intermission
An intermission is basically a sabbatical, so I was off work for 13 weeks. Of course, I read a bunch, and I decided to just follow my interests. Even though I love writing fiction most of my reading is non-fiction as you’ll see from this list.
Books I read or listened to in the summer of 2023:
Bono, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story - I’m a huge U2 fan and this memoir by their lead singer, did not disappoint. I highly recommend the AudioBook as Bono reads it himself and he is a performer. Great stories about the startup of the band, how they’ve stayed together, and how Bono ended up so involved in advocacy for massive campaigns for HIV/AIDS and global poverty.
Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand, When Church Stops Working: A Future for Your Congregation beyond More Money, Programs, and Innovation. Blair is a friend so I happily read this very accessible book. It will definitely help churches and church leaders.
Verlyn Klinkenborg, Several Short Sentences About Writing
Michael Brooks, The Quantum Astrologer’s Handbook: a history of the Renaissance mathematics that birthed imaginary numbers, probability, and the new physics of the universe (it is kind of a biography of Jerome Cardano, who lived in mid 1500s in Italy and was a brilliant Mathematician and scientist).
Niall Williams, This is Happiness. Excellent novel! Well worth listening to for the amazing narration by Dermot Crowley, who we all, of course, know as the confident Imperial General Madine from Return of the Jedi!
Amy-Jill Levine, Short Stories By Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi I started this, but didn’t finish - but it is good! I will likely keep reading as I continue preaching on parables myself.
Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion, Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ. I’m still slowly reading through this book, but admit to taking lengthy breaks from it.
Jurgen Moltmann, The Crucified God. I’m also continuing to read this very slowly with lots of breaks.
Cristopher Wolff, Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician This is the most comprehensive biography of Bach. It is long and I’m almost done. I’ve been listening to this one on and off for a while!
Alexander Boxer, A Scheme of Heaven: The History of Astrology and the Search for our Destiny in Data. Super interesting book that touches on the human desire for knowledge.
C.S. Lewis (collection), On Writing (and Writers): A Miscellany of Advice and Opinions.
Stephen Fry, Mythos I started this, but didn’t finish. A great, and often humorous, retelling, of classic Greek Myths.
Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. This is more like a 12-week course than a book. I found it very helpful in exploring creativity.
Finally finished Rick Riordan’s book Daughter of the Deep, which I had borrowed from my daughter’s shelf last fall. It was great!
What have you read recently that you’ve enjoyed? Let me know in the comments below.