Podcast: Best Books of Summer 2024
It’s time for some book recommendations! In these episodes, Cole and Terry discuss the books they have been reading and recommending. From devotional books to enjoyable summer reads, there's something here for everyone to enjoy!
Terry’s Recommendations
Abraham Lincoln led America through the greatest crisis of democracy in United States history. Instead of unpacking Lincoln’s character or values, Guelzo takes a look at Lincoln’s vision of democracy which guided him through the Civil War and is still impacting us today.
General George Patton and his troops were stuck in their sprint to Berlin in December 1944. As a Christian, Patton called his chaplain and asked for a prayer. This follows the life of General Patton and the impact of prayer during one of the darkest times in history.
Titled in response to a famous 1966 TIME cover that asked, “Is God Dead?” Metaxas logically makes his case against the idea of a universe with no creator.
Julius Caesar crossed a river called the Rubicon which brought Rome into a civil war. This is a historical account of the social world of Rome during its transition from republic to empire.
Haiku by Everyman’s Library
Haikus were part of a small literary elite in Japan, an art form that has now spread all over the world. This brings together hundreds of haikus.
When we study the Old Testament in detail, we can see Christ at the center of God’s plan to redeem all of humanity. This book looks at how the Old Testament foreshadows Christ through symbols.
This includes Maier’s commentary on each book of The Church History. Eusebius recorded important information on Jesus’ disciples’ lives, the development of the New Testament, Roman politics, and the persecution of early Christians.
Cole’s Recommendations
As much as Spurgeon excelled in preaching, he excelled even more in prayer. This book is a collection of prayers that Spurgeon would pray before he preached. This is a great resource to add to your own devotions!
Prayers on the Psalms Introduced by David Calhoun (Part of Banner of Truth’s Pocket Puritan Series)
A collection of prayers (collects) that summarize each of the 150 Psalms. This is a wonderful resource to add to your devotional routine!
This is the gold standard of systematic theologies. Each chapter concludes with a hymn related to the topic and several discussion questions.
This work is based on Malachi 3:16-18. Watson exposits these three verses.
Bunyan is most known for Pilgrim’s Progress. The entirety of this book is based on John 6:37.
Every Christian should read this book. The Puritan Paperback version has been abridged and made easier to digest. This is an incredible resource for identifying sin and putting that sin to death.
This book asks the question, “What can we learn from brain science based on Christian formation?” Instead of thinking how to form individual people, spend some time thinking about the soil that you find yourself in. Let’s cultivate really good relational-spiritual soil to aid and cultivate spiritual growth.
There are certain things in our lives that act as an eclipse for the sun. This book addresses seven main “eclipses”: Despair, loneliness, shame, ambition, futility, and apathy.
This book started as a podcast about gospel culture. Many people have gospel-doctrine, but there is a gap between what they believe and how they treat others. How fully does your church culture align with your doctrine?
An outline of Henry the VIII six wives. Written in a very entertaining way and a fun read.
This book is about CHurchill and the leaders who shaped him. Reynolds takes people like CHurchill’s dad, his wife, Hitler, Mussolini, Stallin, etc. and discusses his relationship with them, then evaluates what Churchill learned from them.
Written by the former chief of the British Army, and the directly of Churchill Archive Center. This is about the preparation and execution of D-Day from the British and Churchill standpoint.
This is an intellectual biography, a religious biography, and a political biography. Edwards’ influence over American culture is immense and is expressed well in this work.
Revival by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Lloyd-Jones was one of the greatest preachers in the 20th century. This is a series of sermons to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1859 revivals in Wales. He preached these sermons off-and-on for Sunday evening services which contained a broad overview of revival throughout Scripture. He provides unparalleled insight into the dynamics of revival.
Addresses the question, “What happens to a culture with a post-Christian worldview?”
Ryrie makes the argument that unbelief did not start with smart scientific people. Unbelief rose out of the fact that people do not want to believe in God. He traces unbelief through the trends of history and culture.
Brittany Proffitt lives in Dallas and is a writer and content manager for So We Speak.
