During a recent conversation with Carrie we began discussing books that engaged the mind. It is easy to read on a superficial level but to engage an author in such a way that the reader comes away from the experience with a bit of wisdom is difficult. And what books are really worth reading. There was a time when the very thought having to really think through what I was reading was odious. Later, I began to look at books as some sort of treasure hunt. The process of discovery through reading is dangerously addictive. Foremost, I suppose, it is vital to develop a open but critical mindset with a moderately well thought out worldview as a starting point. Then, much like G. K. Chesterton said: “I keep an open mind until I find something solid on which to close it.” Afterward, I tend to read both people with whom I agree and people with whom I disagree and occasionally, people with whom I probably ought to agree. When in the course of our conversation Carrie asked me for a few books that might stimulate her thinking in the area of wisdom I readily agreed to send along a short list; but, then, it occurred to me that it is a bit presumptuous to even try to recommend books other than the sola Scriptura that stimulate the heart/mind in the pursuit of true wisdom - as though anyone has mastered the subject. Nonetheless, I recommended a few starter books to get up and running. What follows is the core of my email with its recommendations.
Personally, I find the Biblical wisdom literature and the Gospels (that includes Paul's "gospel" Romans) extraordinarily informative - along with my other Scriptural readings I've been reading through the Biblical poetic books (wisdom literature) almost daily for the last year or so and I've found Job and Ecclesiastes very helpful; albeit somewhat depressing as a quick read; nonetheless its penetrating truths begin to sink home after the 5th or 6th read through. Philip Graham Ryken's "Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters" and Zack Eswine's Recovering Eden" are helpful guides to Ecclesiastes; while Christopher Ash's commentary Job: The Wisdom of the Cross is faithful guide through what is for many a troubling book.
If you have never read J. Mortimer Adler's How to Read a Book I think you will find it helpful. It is a classic and every student ought to be required to read it - though I do not think it is on many required reading lists. Adler, an agnostic, came to faith very late in life and his conversion is chronicled in a book entitled Philosophers Who Believe. His conversion was a great surprise to many - not unlike Malcolm Muggeridge's late conversion (BTW his book Jesus Rediscovered was a delight to read). Miggeridge is a great wordsmith.
Some time ago I read Provocations: The Spiritual Writings of Soren Kierkegaard edited by Charles Moore and found it delightfully disturbing and thought provoking. I had read a number of Kierkegaard's works when I was in my twenties and was particularly moved by his treatise Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing (I gave my copy to a philosophy professor and never got it back) so I was delighted to find a compilation of S.K.’s work by Moore. Eugene Peterson's blurb on the book reads: "In a culture awash in religious silliness, Kierkegaard's bracing metaphors expose our mediocrities and energize us with a clarified sense of what it means to follow Jesus."
Another classic Christian philosopher is Blaise Pascal. Of course, the book to which I am referring is Pensees It is an unusual read - rather like theological / philosophical sound bites - but it may be worth your time to digest the insights of a man who stood between science and religion. Intellectually akin to Jonathan Edwards who was a great theologian but also a gifted philosopher and scientist.
A book that was of great help in the formulation my basic theological framework was The Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson (one of the authors of the Westminster Confession). It is a slow read, but a great devotional read.
Not to overwhelm you, but let me suggest one more volume: George Herbert's Poems. I have often found great poetry wonderfully and succinctly encapsulate truth, wisdom and beauty. Though the romantic poet Keats' understanding of beauty may have been off the mark as far as understanding the beauty of the infinite his often quoted phrase 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,' - that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know (from an Ode on a Grecian Urn) it may be an apt summary of Herbert's poetic depiction of God's divine love and redemptive intercession.
Personally, I find the Biblical wisdom literature and the Gospels (that includes Paul's "gospel" Romans) extraordinarily informative - along with my other Scriptural readings I've been reading through the Biblical poetic books (wisdom literature) almost daily for the last year or so and I've found Job and Ecclesiastes very helpful; albeit somewhat depressing as a quick read; nonetheless its penetrating truths begin to sink home after the 5th or 6th read through. Philip Graham Ryken's "Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters" and Zack Eswine's Recovering Eden" are helpful guides to Ecclesiastes; while Christopher Ash's commentary Job: The Wisdom of the Cross is faithful guide through what is for many a troubling book.
If you have never read J. Mortimer Adler's How to Read a Book I think you will find it helpful. It is a classic and every student ought to be required to read it - though I do not think it is on many required reading lists. Adler, an agnostic, came to faith very late in life and his conversion is chronicled in a book entitled Philosophers Who Believe. His conversion was a great surprise to many - not unlike Malcolm Muggeridge's late conversion (BTW his book Jesus Rediscovered was a delight to read). Miggeridge is a great wordsmith.
Some time ago I read Provocations: The Spiritual Writings of Soren Kierkegaard edited by Charles Moore and found it delightfully disturbing and thought provoking. I had read a number of Kierkegaard's works when I was in my twenties and was particularly moved by his treatise Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing (I gave my copy to a philosophy professor and never got it back) so I was delighted to find a compilation of S.K.’s work by Moore. Eugene Peterson's blurb on the book reads: "In a culture awash in religious silliness, Kierkegaard's bracing metaphors expose our mediocrities and energize us with a clarified sense of what it means to follow Jesus."
Another classic Christian philosopher is Blaise Pascal. Of course, the book to which I am referring is Pensees It is an unusual read - rather like theological / philosophical sound bites - but it may be worth your time to digest the insights of a man who stood between science and religion. Intellectually akin to Jonathan Edwards who was a great theologian but also a gifted philosopher and scientist.
A book that was of great help in the formulation my basic theological framework was The Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson (one of the authors of the Westminster Confession). It is a slow read, but a great devotional read.
Not to overwhelm you, but let me suggest one more volume: George Herbert's Poems. I have often found great poetry wonderfully and succinctly encapsulate truth, wisdom and beauty. Though the romantic poet Keats' understanding of beauty may have been off the mark as far as understanding the beauty of the infinite his often quoted phrase 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,' - that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know (from an Ode on a Grecian Urn) it may be an apt summary of Herbert's poetic depiction of God's divine love and redemptive intercession.
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