My Top 4 Books for 2010

Whether officially or unofficially, I have -for the past 15 years or so- always set a reading goal in January.

I am not an "avid" reader, but I was influenced to read more by a quote which I think was uttered my Elmer Towns ("Mr. Sunday School").  It went something like this:

"If you want to know what kind of person you will be five years from now, look at the books you are reading and the people with whom you associate."

So, if for no other reason, I began deliberately trying to read more to improve my future prospects.  That statement also affects the types of books I choose.  My goal is usually to read 20 books each year . . . typically I read considerably less.

This past year, I think I read eight.

So if the foregoing does not ruin my credibility altogether, I would like to offer you my four favorites.

I should preface this by pointing out that I usually do not read "trendy" books until all the hoopla has fizzled.  It seems that I run up on these once-trendy books in the library or at a used book sale and think - "oh, I remember hearing about that book years ago - now it costs fifty cents?!? - I'll take it".

The list is in no particular order:

• The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes - this was a loan from my brother-in-law and I probably wouldn't have purchased it because (a) it was too newly published and (b) not anything I had even heard of.  It was an eye-opener!  I always felt FDR was overrated and a Socialist to boot - but this book left me with the impression that he may have been somewhat sinister.  I will give him credit for establishing a political mode of operation that has lasted for over 60 years ... hopefully it will soon wane.
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien - on something of a whim, AA and I went to the library one day while Ab was at piano practice and I decided to check out this book along with the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  The Hobbit had me right away.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it captivating to me - very much like C.S. Lewis' Narnia series.
• The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman - shortly after R. and I married, we went to a church marriage retreat surrounding this book.  It was one of those "trendy" books at that time (about 20 years ago).  I picked up a used copy years ago and picked the book up to read several times but it never took.  For some reason this year, I was ripe for reading it!  Unfortunately, my relationship with the book is a "love-hate" one:  it was filled with good stuff - enriching stuff; but it made me very dissatisfied with the communication that was taking place in my marriage.  This is a book that is still working its influence on me.  I think God had something to do with the timing of my reading it.
• 1776 by David McCullough - someone on talk radio was raving about this book several years ago.  I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge of the Founders.  I just happened upon it at the library and checked it out.  The pitiful state of George Washington's leadership and his little ragamuffin army as portrayed by McCullough made be even more amazed at the miraculous founding of this country.  It also made the realization of God's providence undeniable!

So there you have it.  I am sure sales won't suddenly sky-rocket for any of these tomes based on my recommendation - but perhaps someone will read one and that will become the basis of a conversation.