From Cover to Cover ~ My Top Ten Books

Books have always been an important part of my life, but over the past two years or so they have become more essential than ever to my personality and passions.  Reading is one of my favorite pastimes: I love how one can open a book and be transported to another time, another place, or even another world—one where giants, centaurs, fauns, minotaurs, elves—and yes, Hobbits—tread the same paths with men, where trees walk, animals talk, and mice carry swords.  C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia are among my favorite stories, trumped only by Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.  In reading, though, the real world has opened up to me in some less pleasant ways.  I have begun exploring myriad political, sociological, theological, and scientific non-fiction

books that are opening my eyes to how far the world has come from where our Creator placed it, and our country from where our founders began it.  Still, there are many enlightening and encouraging books out there that give one hope for the future.  I am writing this in an attempt to identify the books that have proven most significant to my life so far—those that have changed me for the better or impassioned me to take action, or both.  I’ll explain right now why Narnia and The Lord of the Rings didn’t make it onto this list: while those books are phenomenal, and indeed contain some fascinating religious and philosophical implications, they have not impacted me in a significant way, at least relative to the changes these other books have wrought on my perspective and worldview.  I'm not including the Bible because, well, that is implicitly stated.

Without further ado, let the countdown begin!

10. Animal Farm by George Orwell.  

This book is not quite what I would call an enjoyable read—at least near the beginning before it gets ‘rolling.’  Still, its message is a vital one.  “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”  How did we ever grasp the true nature of Soviet Communism before George Orwell explained it so precisely?  Though subtitled a “Fairy Story,” this book is far from such.  With its swinish dictators, gullible sheep, and credulous workhorses, Animal Farm clearly demonstrates the goals, flaws, and results of Soviet Communism.  More importantly, it is a stark warning to America of what we could easily become if we allow free market capitalism to be destroyed.

9. Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell.  

This is a very thick book, and I actually haven’t finished reading it yet.  Even so, I have been deeply impressed by the portion I have read.  The subject of economics is often considered boring, complex, irrelevant to average citizens—especially young ones; but Sowell explains, in common-man terms using comprehensible, everyday examples, the significance of concepts such as rent control, price caps, and natural price fluctuations to the success of the free market economy and the life of every single American.  This book is imperative to anyone who cares about understanding the detriment that government regulation has on conservative efforts to preserve free market capitalism in America.

8. Tomorrow by Maria Edgeworth.  

I used to suffer from a condition that many teenagers face; while my case was perhaps not as severe as some, I had a tendency to procrastinate.  For the past year, however, I have enjoyed almost complete freedom from that vice; though a bit far-fetched, this novel paints a vivid, astounding picture of the dangers of procrastination.  Since I read it, I have made a monumental effort to conquer my habit, and have thus become more effective in most areas of my life.  Tomorrow is the story of a young man, full of potential, who is constantly passing up opportunities, simply by waiting until tomorrow to complete a task.  As he grows older, his blunders become more and more frustrating to the reader; the final tragedy falls when… (Sorry, I never got around to finishing this paragraph).  Just kidding.  I'll let you read it for yourself.

7. Growing Up Christian by Karl Graustein and Mark Jacobsen.  

I’m a ‘church kid,’ and blessed to be so; but this book awakened me to a unique danger that we ‘church kids’ face. Growing up in a Christian home, hearing and reading God’s word regularly, does not assure that we enjoy a vital relationship with Christ Himself—we might learn and believe only in our mind.  At some point, we must enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, a relationship that can only be granted by the Holy Spirit, not by our parents, no matter how desperately they want us to have the faith that saves.

6. That Printer of Udell’s by Harold Bell Wright.  

Besides being a phenomenal novel, the kind you grab on an autumn afternoon when you’re going to cozy up with your hot chocolate, this book carries a powerful message.  This is the story of Dick, a young man with a checkered past who overcomes the condescending glares of society, rising to become a respected and successful businessman and church leader.  When Dick the ‘tramp’ returns to his hometown after a vagabond life, he is turned away by all the churches in town—the ‘Christians’ judge him the most harshly of anyone he encounters.  This is the story of the church, the primped Sunday Christians; there are nearly a dozen churches in town, and all talk of fixing the problems of the poor and unsaved, but only one actually opens its doors to the same.  It’s the story of George Udell, who refuses to associate with Christians because of the hypocrisy of the church, but offers the only open door to poor Dick.  It’s the story of Amy, a young Christian with a servant heart who travels a long and rocky road as she tries to escape the judgment of her “Christian” parents.  This is a story of genuine love, redemption, and the triumph of truth.  This is the story that made Ronald Reagan want to become president.

5. The Hour that Changes the World by Dick Eastman.
Throughout the Bible we are given clear instructions on how to pray.  We are told to praise, recognize God’s nature (Psalm 63:3); wait on the Lord, silently marveling in His presence and love (Psalm 46:10); confess our sins, weaknesses, and need for grace (Psalm 139:23); remember the world through prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-2); bring our personal needs to the Lord (Matthew 7:7); Give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18); worship in song (Psalm 100:2); and listen quietly for spiritual instruction (Ecclesiastes 5:2).  For the mature Christian who wishes to draw closer to God and become a more powerful instrument in His mighty hand, this book outlines a practical method for the hour of prayer.

4. This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. 

"For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness..." (Ephesians 6:12, RSV)  This intense, suspenseful novel offers a breathtaking, shiver-inducing glimpse into the dangers of temptation, the darkness of occultism, the bloodthirstiness of demon possession… and the triumphant power of prayer.  Spiritual forces of evil are active in the town of Ashton, working to subdue the people there—and eventually rule the entire human race.  Angels and demons clash over the ownership of souls, and The Remnant gathers to empower the Heavenly Warriors through prayer.  This book reminds us that, though we can’t often see it, spiritual warfare is very real—and very frightening… and, more importantly, that God’s warriors are ready to spring to our aid: they await only a word of prayer.

3. Assumptions That Affect our Lives by Dr. Christian Overman. 

“To understand the present, we must understand the past.” This statement emphasizes the fact that, though times change, our inherent human nature remains the same.  Sinful actions and desires may change in actual deed, but they will never change in nature.  Also, if we are to understand the fundamental beliefs and assumptions of humanity today, we must examine those of the humanity that came before; for, again, humanity really isn’t much different than it has ever been.  We have seen some significant change of assumptions in America’s past.  For example, it is assumed in today’s society that if a boy brings a deadly weapon to school, mass murder will result.  Fifty years ago, children in junior high brought guns to school for show-and-tell.  They were cool—and for hunting rabbits.  Times have changed.  4,000 unborn children die every day in America, something that would have been unthinkable a hundred years ago.  America is on a steep decline, in all the same ways as Ancient Greece right before its fall.  Something needs to change.  Through a step-by-step comparison between Ancient Greece and modern America, this book emphasizes the importance of consciously filtering the assumptions that we make, because those assumptions are the foundation of our beliefs, our actions, and the course our world takes.

2. The Words We Live By by Linda R. Monk.  

America: the land of the free and the home of the brave.  The United States Constitution is the basis for our most fundamental rights as Americans and has been a key element in nearly every major legal and political debate in our history.  Yet, so many Americans today do not understand the language used by our founders or know the most basic provisions of the Constitution.  The Constitution made America the land of the free—indeed, the Constitution is the very cornerstone and pinnacle of American freedom; and behind the Constitution is a carefully laid groundwork of philosophical and religious ideologies, and surrounding it are various court decisions that have shaped its interpretation.  All of these are necessary in order to understand the Constitution, and therefore the most basic of our American liberties.  This book explains everything in common terms, wonderfully accessible to the common citizen and yet beautifully insightful.  Every American needs to read this book, for the knowledge contained therein is vital to adequately fulfilling our role in this democratic-republic that we call America.

Number 1. drumroll please…  I talk about this book all the time.  I did a speech on it in forensics competition last year.  I have referenced it in almost every college entrance essay I’ve written so far.  Second only to the Bible, this book has played the single most significant role in shaping who I am today.  Reading it was like being born again a second time (Eh, that almost sounded sacrilegious).  Seriously, though: this book changed my life.  You guessed it:

Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris.  Ironically, I didn’t want to read it at first.  My mom discovered it and got it for me, and I assumed it was another one of those ‘how to make your kid better’ books.  I wasn’t interested.  It sat on my desk for about two weeks; it was almost time to return it to the library before I finally picked it up.  Once I opened it, I was enthralled, and this book went on to win the gold medal of ‘most significant book in my life.’  Teenagers themselves, Alex and Brett challenge teens to step out of their comfort zones, explode through the stereotypical low expectations our culture has placed on us, and prove to the world—and ourselves—that we are capable of accomplishing amazing things.  To read my full thoughts on this book and my story surrounding it, check out my post, ‘Do Hard Things ~ Their Story Meets My Story.’

That concludes the countdown of my top ten most significant books.  I hope my comments have been at least interesting, if not inspiring, to you brave and admirable souls who persevered in reading this entire post.  I will inevitably find a need to amend or rewrite it in the near future.  May these books bless you as they have me.