christianreader | June booklist

1. Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman

A modern classic that I just now got around to reading.

2. Finding our Way Again: the return of ancient practices, Brian McLaren

I was disappointed in this book mostly because I expected something else - I had ordered it with the understanding that it focused on Orthodox practices. Still, it is not a bad book and is thoughtful in its look at a variety of the "ancient practices" making a resurgence in the modern world.

3. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, Stephanie Meyer

I would not have read this at all if it hadn't been for the Twilight connection, and now that I have read it, I would not read it again. It's interesting in its own way ... but really, since WHEN is Edward's hair red? Srsly.

4. The Mill on the Floss, George Elliot

Is it giving the plot away to declare that practically everyone in this story ends up miserable or dead? I enjoyed the tale well enough in the telling, but my, what a downer of an ending.

5. Nuture Shock, Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

Absolutely worth reading if you have kids. Or if you might someday have kids. Or if you have grandkids. Or if you once were a kid. It's not that you should accept every word in this book as gold, but it is certainly thought-provoking.

6. Twelve Little Cakes, Dominika Dery

I so very much enjoyed the reading of Twelve Little Cakes. Dominika Dery has a charming way of writing and even though life was very difficult growing up in communist Czechoslovakia - especially if your parents were dissidents - each tale of her childhood is presented with such love and humor that it really is a "feel good" book.

This is my pick for the month!

7. Predictably Irrational, Dan Ariely

Another great addition to the pop-science Freakonomics-style books. Honestly, I just love this stuff. There are things you have to take with a grain of salt, but it does give you a lot to think about. (Also, download Dan Ariely's lecture from the London School of Economics website. You won't be sorry.)

8. God's Gift to Women, Eric Ludy

I think all I'll really say about this is that as usual, the books aimed at men are marginally better (less sappy, more substance), but while I am all for supporting Godly masculinity, there is still something that just gets under my skin about the presentation.

9. Perfecting Ourselves To Death, Richard Winter

I have some perfectionist tendancies (although at a healthy level, according to this book). It was good reading, helped explain why I react to some things the way I do, and ideas of ways to harness perfectionism and use it for good, and not let it impact relationships. Also, this book gets points for being from a Christian perspective.

10. Drive: the surprising truth about what motivates us, Daniel Pink

I found this "surprising truth" not so surprising, but very true: people do their best and most creative work when they are given the freedom to do it when and how they wish.

11. Jane's Fame: how Jane Austen conquered the world, Claire Harman

I've read more than my share of biographies of Jane Austen, so it was nice that this one focused more on how her books rather took on a life of their own after her death. It still felt like the book could have taken the subject further - or maybe I just had hoped for more discussion on Jane-as-popular-culture.

12. Princess Ben, Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Very charmingly presented fairytale/anti-fairytale, if that makes sense. It has all the classic fairytale elements (a princess, a dragon, handsome prince) but several surprising twists, a dash of magic, a more-or-less traditional ending. The writing seemed a bit repetitive, but I think I noticed it more because I listened to an audio version.