There is something about a good book. Nowadays, you may find one in a digital forms or a physical one. Personally, I find the physical ones to hold more of a sentimental value. Either way, there are books that keep speaking truths to me no matter when I choose to read them.
Aside from the Bible, there are 5 books I read periodically to glean from their seemingly endless mine.
-My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
-Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton
-Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin
-Any book by GA Henty
-Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas
These 5 have formed my life since I was 12 years young. The Henty books are formulaic for sure, yet astoundingly practical and influential for any man coming of age.
Bonhoeffer is the most recent book to join the list of top 5. I read it about 4 years ago and it is the one book on this list where I often thought I was reading my own notes or journal entries in Bonhoeffer’s words.
Chesterton and Chambers speak for themselves. Their classics have been favorites for decades in the marketplace of ideas.
Thou Shall Prosper has likely the most annotations and exclamations of wonder. Only Orthodoxy rivals the level of depth as Rabbi Lapin’s masterstroke.
All of these books are well worn in the sense that I continue to pursue these men for a good conversation. After all, that is what a book is meant to be in my mind - a conversation between myself and the author.
Life itself is one big conversation between tradition, or the democracy of the dead as Chesterton calls it, and our modern era. Life moves on, and the unchangeable truths withstand any onslaught of the changing sentiment of man.
You and I both decide each day who we will converse with. You and I both have ideas floating around in our minds of how the world works, should work, or will work.
Ultimately, there are a few things that are universal laws, and there are a few people who have helped me see them best. I am grateful to have met each of them and continue to enjoy our conversations.
There is something to be said for physical books. Since childhood I have been a fan of Winnie the Pooh and Huckleberry Finn.
Truly. Ahh, yes, classics for all ages. I enjoy Winnie the Pooh and Huck Finn. Good to hear from you my friend!