Mid-Year Review
We are midway through the year and now is a good time to check-in. I’ve read 23 books so far, which puts me just slightly behind my goal of 50 for the year. Here are my favorites so far:
Anxious People by Frederik Backman
I don’t read much fiction, but Frederik is one of my favorite writers in the genre. Anxious People is a beautifully written story about people. It sounds simple, but we all have stories. Our lives are an interconnected web of events that inform who we are. It’s a story about a bank robbery that’s not really about a bank robbery. Take it to the beach with you.
Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson
For someone who doesn’t read much fiction it’s ironic I’m starting this list off with two works of fiction. Every Time You Go Away is a novel about grief, pain, and how we change. If you read this, have a box of tissues by your side.
Practicing the Way By John Mark Comer
It’s rare for me to find a book that completely reorients my perspective. Practicing the Way is one of those books. In his funny, quirky, intellectual way, John Mark challenges our perspective on the Christian life. Jesus calls us to something more than showing up on Sundays and Wednesdays and paying our tithes. Comer takes us on a tour through scripture and the life of Jesus to find what it means for us to practice the way.
Building a Non-Anxious Life by Dr. John Delony
I like to argue that one of the major issues facing us as a society is anxiety. From the youngest to the oldest, we are reporting feelings of anxiousness in record numbers. Dr. Delony makes the argument that this is not new. Anxiety is neither bad nor good; it’s neutral. The question is: What is it trying to tell us? In this book, he gives us six keys to understanding and living with anxiety.
Tough by Terry Crews
I love memoirs. I think people’s stories are fascinating. Terry Crews grew up in a world that told him his manhood was defined by how “tough” he was. Of course, the definition of tough was narrow and had more to do with brute strength and closed-off emotions than anything else. Terry tells us about his rough upbringing and, ultimately, his journey to becoming a more healthy and whole version of himself.
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Dr. Lindsay Gibson
I’ve spent much time this year reading about emotional intelligence. Right now, there’s a cultural movement where people are distancing themselves from their parents. I can’t say I fully agree with this, but I understand. If you are the child of emotionally immature parents, then there’s a good chance that it had a profound effect on you. This book helped give me language for things I have felt and experienced. I won’t lie, this is a hard read but necessary.
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
You may be starting to sense a pattern here, but I think if you’re the parent of someone in Gen Z or Alpha, you must read this book. Again, we are more anxious, lonely, and depressed than we have ever been, and these two generations, in particular, are reporting these feelings more than anyone else. Naturally, it makes us wonder where this came from. Dr. Haidt places the blame on social media and its detrimental effects on all of us over the last ten years. While I think this is combined with some other critical social factors, this book is worth your time.
Some other stuff
The Bear on FX is one of my favorite shows (there are many language warnings for sensitive ears). X-Men 97 tapped right into my love for nostalgia. Speaking of nostalgia, I’ve been watching a ton of wrestling this year. As an adult, I realize you’re watching for the storylines, not the matches (although there is much to be appreciated there), and right now, they’re telling some great stories. Chief Creative Officer Triple H said it best: we’re not a sport; we’re a movie about a sport.
A Song I Like
A Final Word
You cannot keep secret what thousands of people know. -Zora Neale Hurston