Recently Read - October 2024
Welcome to this month’s installment of Recently Read - October, 2024 version.
Something I am trying to do is to share some highlights from books I’ve recently finished. I still plan on sharing my annual favorite books list in November/December, but in the meantime, here’s the next edition of Recently Read - October 2024 Edition.
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, by Jonathan Haidt. I know many have read and posted about this book, but wow… I knew phones, social media, and technology created some challenges in our world, but this book highlights the extent of the impact. So many of the problems we see in our kids can be traced back to the impact of phones and social media. That being said, phones and social media are not evil and they’re not going anywhere. And, they don’t lead to problems solely in our children! Haidt shares how we can make changes in our homes, schools, and in our own patterns as parents that can make a difference (starting with more protection in the virtual world and less protection in the real world).
Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human, by Carlos Whittaker. This was such a fun and fascinating read. Whittaker spends 7 weeks away from his phone and from screens: a few weeks in a monastery, a few weeks at an Amish farm, and a few weeks at home—all screen-free. In the book he tells us what he learned and what it was like to be screen-free for 7 whole weeks. This was a quick but engaging read and challenged me to think through how to be a better steward of my phone and screen time. Once again, as discussed above, phones are not going away; but how can we be more thoughtful with our devices?
Memorizing Scripture: The Basics, Blessings, and Benefits of Meditating on God’s Word, by Glenna Marshall. Scripture memory might be my favorite spiritual discipline. I have a strange habit of keeping track of streaks (how many days in a row I’ve done a habit or discipline). I’ve spent at least five minutes/day memorizing scripture for over 700 days in a row. And even though I clearly am disciplined in memorizing scripture, I still loved and benefitted from this book. While the book shares many practical ways to memorize scripture, I most benefitted from the reasons why we memorize God’s Word: To help us love God, to hate sin, to remain steadfast, to encourage others, and more. Whether you’re a rookie or a veteran at memorizing God’s Word, I commend this book to you.
Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up, by Abigail Shrier. Like The Anxious Generation described above, Bad Therapy is not a Christian book written by a Christian author. However, the book provides some fascinating social commentary on some ways parents and schools might be causing more damage than help for our kids. Shrier is not afraid to attack popular and widespread views and beliefs while addressing our potential over-prescribing of therapy for our kids. While there are certainly many bad parents out there, in general, no can raise our kids better than their own parents. Shrier boldly investigates a mental health industry that is harming, not healing, our children.
Thoughts for Young Men, by J.C. Ryle. There’s a reason why this book has been around since 1865! Even though it was written over 150 years ago, the content and topics are just as relevant today as when Ryle wrote it. He addresses topics such as pride and humility, laziness, and our thought-life. This book had been recommended to me countless times, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. I read it on my own and am now re-reading it with a few college guys I’m discipling. The book is cheap, quick to read, and convicting and challenging. Find some guys and read it and discuss together.
Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On For Life, by David Thomas. My wife has been a ginormous fan of Dave Thomas (and his podcast along with co-host Sissy Goff) for years. Kristen encouraged me years ago to read their books and listen to their podcast. For some reason I was resistant, and, as is usually the case, I should have listened to my wife. As a dad to four boys, I loved learning how to raise emotionally strong boys. And while much of it would have been better applied years ago, I can still change how I parent my boys to help strengthen them emotionally. The examples and applications at the end of each chapter were so helpful and encouraging. Grab this book and read it with your spouse or with your community/life group!
Your Turn:
What have you recently read that you would recommend to others?
Check out my prior list - Recently Read - September 2024.