Sabbatical Reading List

Sometimes, people ask me what I read, and I think that could be the case on sabbatical. So, although I am less inclined to think of my reading as the most important part of my sabbatical than I might have before, here is what I read while on the sabbatical. This is a sort of book-lover follow-up to my two previous posts this week (“What I Did on My Sabbatical” and “How Was My Sabbatical?“). Also, you’ll note that there are several books here that Kelly and I read aloud together. We have read aloud books together since before we were married, read books aloud to our kids, and continue to enjoy reading books aloud together.

Hartmut Rosa, The Uncontrollability of the World – Thanks to my friend, Chris, for this recommendation.

Eugene H. Peterson, A Month of Sundays

Parker J. Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life – This is at least the third time that I’ve read this wonderful book.

Ragan Sutterfield, The Art of Being a Creature

T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets

James Thurber, The 13 Clocks (a read-aloud with Kelly) – This was recommended by Daniel Nayeri, author of Everything Sad Is Untrue at a gathering in which I participated.

Roberto Piumini, Glowrushes (a read-aloud with Kelly) – This, too, was recommended by Daniel Nayeri; a beautiful book about friendship, art, imagination, and loss.

Gregory of Nyssa, From Glory to Glory

Debra Rienstra, Refugia Faith

Kate DiCamillo, Flora and Ulysses (a read-aloud with Kelly)

Wendell Berry, This Day: Collected and New Sabbath Poems – I have been steadily reading this book over several months but finished it up over the sabbatical, and it is a wonderful book of poetry.

Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Idiot – This is not my favorite book by Dostoevsky, but it does have one of the most wonderful lines in literature: “beauty will save the world.”

Chuck DeGroat, Healing What’s Within – I heard Chuck DeGroat speak about this book and it’s release was just on time for me during my sabbatical journey.

Elizabeth George Speare, The Bronze Bow (a read-aloud with Kelly)

Robert Mulholland, The Deeper Journey

Nicholas Rowe & Sheila Wise Rowe, Healing Leadership Trauma – I received an early release PDF of this book and it was a helpful companion during my sabbatical journey.

David G. Benner, Desiring God’s Will: Aligning Our Hearts with the Heart of God

Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Dispossessed 

Robert Jenson, Systematic Theology, volume 1: The Triune God

Robert Jenson, Systematic Theology, volume 2: The Works of God – I’m still finishing this book up. Jenson’s systematic theology is a challenging read but has been very rewarding.

Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game (a read-aloud with Kelly)

St Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St Makarios of Corinth, The Philokalia: The Complete Text, volume 1 – I am slowly reading through this five volume classic of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It has been a deep gift to me.