2017 Summer Reading List

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Every summer I create a list of books I think you should read.  Sometimes the books I include are strictly about small group ministry, discipleship or spiritual formation.  Most times, the books I include may seem pretty far afield (innovation, design, leadership, or strategy).  You’ll just have to trust me.  I wouldn’t include a book I didn’t think would be added to your toolbox and contribute in a trajectory-altering way.

The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future by Kevin Kelly. “Anyone can claim to be a prophet, a fortune teller, or a futurist, and plenty of people do. What makes Kevin Kelly different is that he’s right. In this book, you’re swept along by his clear prose and unassailable arguments until it finally hits you: The technological, cultural, and societal changes he’s foreseeing really are inevitable. It’s like having a crystal ball, only without the risk of shattering.” David Pogue, Yahoo Tech.

The American Spirit: Who We Are and What We Stand For by David McCullough. Every summer list needs a good dose of American history. When McCullough comes out with a new one, it’s always time to include.

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. This book has been on my stack for several years. Finally, I’ve just heard about it too many times from too many people.

Corporate Culture

I am on the hunt for a better understanding of corporate culture and how to change corporate culture. I’ll no doubt discover another title or two, but here are two I’ll be reading this summer:

The Culture Engine: A Framework for Driving Results, Inspiring Your Employees, and Transforming Your Workplace by S. Chris Edmonds. I’m 50 pages into this one and it’s already proving to be rich in ideas and  insights.

Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work: Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles of RESPECT by Paul Marciano. One of the highest rated books I could find on the topic.

Disciple-Making

I’m always searching for help in learning to make more and better disciples.

The Disciple Maker’s Handbook: Seven Elements of a Discipleship Lifestyle by Bobby Harrington and Josh Patrick. I’m about 75% through the handbook and it is full of very practical takeaways and ideas for disciple-making.

4 Chair Discipling: Growing a Movement of Disciple-Makers by Dann Spader. I haven’t started this one, but Spader is pointed to by many of my independent Christian non-denominational friends as their mentor. You can learn more about this book right here.

Further Reading:

Here are the reading lists for books I recommend to everyone.

You can catch up on previous years’ reading lists right here.

Image by Andrew Siguenza