Based on consistent posting this year, I’ve been able to see what kinds of subjects you prefer to read about. The Renaissance Biologist has since its inception been a wider-ranging blog, so I don’t think it can meet your reading needs in its present form. Therefore, once you’ve checked out my 2023 reading list for recommendations . . .
Head to The Bibliovore's Wife for the latest posts on philosophy, book reflections, and home education!
By the Numbers
How many books did I complete this year? 66!
How many of those books were wholly or in part via Audible? 9, mostly toward year's end as I used my phone on cold walks more.
How many pages in total? Excluding those on the DNF list (because I don't remember how far I got in any of them), and the Audible-only books (because they were not printed for me to access), 17,849 (mean of 49 pages per day, which seems excessive to me).
Which books did I enjoy the most? See green-highlighted titles in the list below!
List in Chronological Order
DNF List: because of being repetitive, not useful, or with anemic theology
- Curtain & Pesola. Languages and Children: Making the Match. Why didn’t I finish? Can't apply to homeschool. Repetitive.
- C. Kruse. John (commentary). Why didn’t I finish? Repetitive, predictable.
- A. Murray. With Christ in the School of Prayer. Why didn’t I finish? Nauseatingly pietistic.
Finished: most productive months were May (11), March (9), and December (7-8). Least productive months were June (2), August (2), and April/February (4).
- (Theology) 1/1 A. Thiselton. Why Hermeneutics? Helpful glossary. Feels like philosophy Cliff notes. Strong-of-pearls vs argument. Case for Humanities hermeneutics course.
- (Philosophy) 1/11 T. Kuhn. Structure of Scientific Revolutions (re-read). First time fall 2017. Flowed better, no surprises.
- (Theology) 1/17 H. Ferrer. Mama Bear Apologetics (re-read). First time winter 2021 (ish). Decent job summarizing "isms" with balance. Informality was less bothersome this time around.
- (Historical novel) 1/21 L. C. Douglas. The Robe (a novel!!). Mostly good character development, OK history.
- (Education) 1/28 K. Andreola. A Charlotte Mason Companion (re-read). Detailed enough to design/implement. 1990s - pietist, resources outdated.
- (Sexual ethics) 2/12 S. Alberry. Why does God care who I sleep with? Christianity on sexuality for a non-Christian audience.
- (Philosophy) 2/15 A. MacIntyre. After Virtue, 3rd ed. "Practical" to Husband = "only superficially theoretical" to me. Read and find Aristotle useful on virtues (but, as we'll see later, not for everything).
- (Theology) 2/25 N. T. Wright. The Challenge of Jesus. See black notebook for notes.
- (Theology) 2/26 G. Ortlund. Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage. Need all on both sides to read! 4-tier system is helpful.
- (Philosophical novel) 3/4 C. S. Lewis. Space Trilogy. (3 books on Audible) Philosophy sci-fi for Christian adults!
- Book 2: Perelandra
- Book 3: That Hideous Strength
- (Theology) 3/11 N. T. Wright. Paul. Fleshes out Challenge (notebook).
- (Origins philosophy) 3/13 A. Plantiga. Where the Conflict Really Lies. Evolution is OK with theism; neither are ok with naturalism.
- (Theology) 3/18 M. Bird et al. How God Became Jesus. Response to Bart Ehrman.
- (Theology) 3/18 J. Jeremias. Infant Baptism in the First Four Centuries. It was the norm, and theologically supported.
- (Academia) 3/19 R. Fitzpatrick. Write Useful Books. Longevity! Worth a re-read.
- (Devotional) 3/24 H. Blackaby. Experiencing God. (Re-read). Pietistic/Baptist background.
- (Philosophy/theology) 4/3 M. Noll. Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. Grab quotes!
- (Academia) 4/8 D. Carnegie. The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking. Classic self-help: attitude, be oneself, extraversion, care about audience.
- (Education) 4/8 J. Capeheart. Cherishing and Challenging Your Children. I know most/out of date except age-appropriate chores.
- (Sexual ethics) 4/12 S. Klusendorf. The Case for Life. Lay-level, systematic, rational, gracious. Should be part of church curricula.
- (Leadership) 4/22 A. Morgan & C. Lynch. Leading From the Front. Practical female leadership advice.
- (Theology) 5/4 N. T. Wright. Surprised by Hope.
- (Philosophy) 5/9 Plato. Republic (full). Full of himself. Husband's note: Since I read a substantial number of additional dialogues, this actually counts for 5 more.
- (Academia) 5/9 P. J. Silva. How to Write a Lot. Schedule it like a 2-3 hour class time.
- (Education) 5/14 C. Mason. Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education. PDF/e-reader from Smidgen Press.
- (Education) 5/21 K. Magro. Autistics on Autism. Moved to CUW office.
- (Education/theology) 5/27 S. Ashmon. The Idea and Practice of a Christian University. LCMS view.
- (Devotional) 5/28 P. Scazzero. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Updated). Gnostic, prep for Sunday school.
- (Novel) 6/7 J. Austen. Pride and Prejudice (re-read!) (NOVEL!).
- (Novel) 6/23 G. Bowers. Lost Dragon of Wessex. Took forever for story to get moving, but it was a good story. Smidgen Press.
- (Theology/history) 7/12 M. Holmes. The Apostolic Fathers. Awesome except for Shepherd of Hermas which was weird.
- (Theology) 7/17 A. Childers. Another Gospel? Reformed stereotypes.
- (Theology) 7/25 D. Groothuis. Christian Apologetics (2nd ed.). Brick was pretty good!
- (Education) 7/29 J. Gottman. Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child. Emotion coaching!
- (Sexual ethics) 7/30 L. Jacobson & P. Masonheimer. The Flirtation Experiment. Got deeper well!
- (Theology) 8/12 N. T. Wright. The Day the Revolution Began. Crucifixion as part of Israel's narrative/plan (Paul loved Judaism; God has one covenant, of vocation our primary goal; sin as symptom of idolatry).
- (Disability theology) 8/21 A. Kenny. My Body is Not a Prayer Request. Charismatic, for class.
- (History/philosophy) 9/2 C. Evans. A History of Western Philosophy. Clear read!
- (Novel) 9/3 N. Juster. The Phantom Tollbooth (re-read) (novel)
- (Theology) 9/10 S. McKnight. Reading Romans Backwards. (re-read)
- (Academia) 9/16 H. Lipmanowicz & K. McCandless. The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures. Last part helpful. Small-group interactions.
- (Education) 9/25 C. Kranowitz. The Out-of-Sync Child. Sensory processing disorder.
- (Theology) 9/30 G. Yancey & A. Qosigk. One Faith No Longer. Evangelicalism's split in the USA.
- (Philosophy/theology) 10/11 D. Sayers. The Whimsical Christian. Theology-in-literature (allegory, poetry, translation of Dante).
- (Academia) 10/12 R. Ritchhart & M. Church. The Power of Making Thinking Visible.
- (History/theology) 10/12 J. Walton & J. Walton. The Lost World of the Torah. Wanted to copy every paragraph!
- (Theology) 10/13 N. Crain. Faithfully Different.
- (Theology) 10/21 N. T. Wright. For All the Saints? Short, clarifies CTK Sunday (misplaced), 11/1, and 11/2 regarding the resurrection.
- (Theology) 11/5 N. T. Wright. The Climax of the Covenant: Christ and the Law in Pauline Theology. Essays on Torah, Christ, exegesis.
- (Social justice) 11/6 M. Desmond. Evicted. Recommended novel of sorts.
- (Academia/philosophy/theology) 11/19 N. Wolterstorff. Educating for Shalom. Dutch Reformed, quite silly.
- (Novel) 12/7 J. R. R. Tolkien. The Hobbit. (Audible--re-read).
- (Sexual ethics) 12/9 J. Gottman. 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work (finally!) (Audible) (in progress since 9/2020)
- (Academia) 12/15 M. Berg & B. K. Seeber. The Slow Professor.
- (Origins/theology) 12/15 D. Lamoreux. Evolutionary Creation. I wish I had had this back in undergrad!
- (Sexual ethics) 12/22 P. Sprinkle. People to be Loved. (Audible).
- (Theology) N. T. Wright. After You Believe. (paper and Audible)
- (Novel) J. R. R. Tolkien. Fellowship of the Ring. (Audible, re-read)
- (Theology) C. Watkin. Biblical Critical Theory. (paper and Audible). Husband finished book #64 last night and has a stack of thin books-in-progress, so there is no way I can catch up.
Thanks for sticking with me this year! I hope you saw some books that you liked and/or would like to read. See you starting next week over at The Bibliovore's Wife!