{"id":3511,"date":"2020-12-21T11:36:18","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T11:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/?p=3511"},"modified":"2020-12-29T10:05:35","modified_gmt":"2020-12-29T10:05:35","slug":"what-i-read-in-2020-the-full-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/what-i-read-in-2020-the-full-list\/","title":{"rendered":"What I read in 2020 (the full list)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

It’s the time of year when the ‘books of the year’ lists start coming out (I did one for work<\/a>), and I’m gradually joining in. According to GoodReads (which I’ve been using the last couple of years to track and measure what I’m reading – not least to avoid reading the same duffers multiple times) I’ve read 182 books this year (Some don’t exist in GoodReads). Here’s the full list! I’ve included links to reviews (Where I’ve done them) and a less-than-one-sentence summary of my thoughts. I’ve also done a couple of roundup posts.<\/p>\n

My Top Twenty Books of 2020<\/a> >< My Top Ten Theology Books of 2020
\nMy Top Ten for Pastors >< My Top Ten for thoughtful Christians<\/p>\n

Ann Benton,\u00a0The Fruitful Home<\/em><\/a> – a great little book about a big (And vital!) subject: how can our homes glorify God?
\nSharon Hastings,\u00a0Wrestling With My Thoughts<\/em><\/a> – a powerful and moving story of trusting God in serious mental illness.
\nSteven J. Duby,\u00a0God in Himself<\/em> – a superb technical theology book about Divine Simplicity.
\nBarnabas Piper,\u00a0Help My Unbelief<\/em><\/a> – a readable and careful book about the importance of doubt as part of faith.
\nPeter Sanlon,\u00a0Simply God<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>– a robust and accessible book about who God is and what God is like. Excellent!
\nKinghorn and Travis,\u00a0But What About God’s Wrath?<\/em><\/a> – a readable and provocative book engaging this question.
\nMatthew Barrett’s\u00a0Canon, Covenant and Christology<\/em><\/a> – a superb NSBT that links Christology with the Bible’s authority. Recommended.
\nMatthew Bates, Gospel Allegiance<\/em><\/a> – a helpful introduction to understanding the Gospel as ‘Jesus is Lord’.
\nAnne Calver’s\u00a0Baby Change<\/em><\/a> – a readable, honest and practical Christian introduction to parenting. Grateful for this book!
\nVarious,\u00a0His Testimonies, My Heritage<\/em><\/a> – a profound and beautiful devotional on Psalm 119. Absolutely brilliant.
\nPaul Mallard,\u00a0An Identity to Die For<\/a>\u00a0<\/em> – a helpful book about Identity, rooted in Ephesians.
\nJudith A. Muskett,\u00a0Shop Window, Flagship, Common Ground<\/em><\/a> – a fascinating if expensive book, relevant to leaders with large buildings.
\nPeter Bouteneff,\u00a0How To Be A Sinner<\/em><\/a> – a thoughtful book from the Orthodox tradition challenging how I think about sin and identity.
\nDan DeWitt,\u00a0Sunny Side Up<\/em><\/a> – a short devotional type book that is provocative and challenging in a way that points to Jesus. Good stuff.
\nSam Allberry,\u00a0Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With?<\/em><\/a> – brilliant book, timely and engaging. Superb.
\nJohn Lennox,\u00a0Where is God in a Coronavirus World?<\/em> – short and readable apologetics book.
\nPeter Maiden,\u00a0Radical Gratitude<\/em> – a good book on being grateful. Worth reading in light of the author’s death from cancer.
\nMark D. Smith,\u00a0The Final Days of Jesus<\/em> – an interesting perspective on the passion narratives and history from a classicist.
\nJohn Stott,\u00a0The Cross of Christ<\/em> – still a magisterial and moving treatment of the Cross.
\nGavin and Anne Calver, Unleashed: The Acts\u00a0Church Today<\/i><\/a> – an inspiring and encouraging call to the church.
\nMichael Green,\u00a0Compelled by Joy<\/em> – an encouraging book from a master evangelist. Enthusiastic and encouraging.
\nMichael Allen’s\u00a0Grounded in Heaven<\/em> – a competent but not particularly exciting theology book. Forgettable.
\nGustaf Aulen,\u00a0Christus Victor<\/em> – a classic, if flawed book on the Cross. The SPCK Classics edition is showing it’s age.
\nPeter Bouteneff,\u00a0How To Be a Sinner<\/em><\/a> – a fascinating and very readable book from the Orthodox stable. Well worth reading.
\nPhil Knox,\u00a0Story Bearer<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>– a genuinely good, culturally sensitive book on evangelism. Brilliant Bible overview chapter.
\nAndrew Steinmann,\u00a0Genesis (TOTC)<\/em> – a solid commentary in a good series. Great place to start a study or series on Genesis.
\nKate Bowler,\u00a0The Preacher’s Wife<\/em><\/a> – a fascinating and readable look at women’s roles in modern American evangelicalism.
\nStephen R. Milford,\u00a0Eccentricity in Anthropology<\/em> – a provocative and genuinely fresh piece of theological anthropology. I’ll return to it.
\nRich Wilson,\u00a0A Call Less Ordinary<\/em> – an underwhelming and over-long book.
\nGavin Ortlund,\u00a0Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals<\/em><\/a> – a really helpful and readable book of theology – set me off on some fun tangents.
\nRichard Brash,\u00a0Christian’s Pocket Guide to How God Preserved the Bible<\/em><\/a> – a good short book that does what it says on the tin.
\nSharon James,\u00a0Gender Ideology<\/em><\/a> – a disappointing book on a vital topic.
\nDean Beaumont,\u00a0The Expectant Dad’s Handbook<\/em> – a really, really helpful book on becoming a dad. Secular, so missing stuff, but practically great.
\nJames Bryan Smith,\u00a0The Magnificent Story<\/em> – a wonderful devotional book that I found really encouraging.
\nJudith Muskett,\u00a0Shop Window, Flagship, Common Ground<\/em><\/a> – a fascinating but very expensive book about cathedrals!
\nJ. Ayodeji Adewuya,\u00a0Holiness in the Letters of Paul\u00a0<\/em>– a very helpful survey of a key topic in the Pauline corpus.
\nVarious,\u00a0The First Letter of Peter<\/em><\/a> – a curate’s egg of a commentary on 1 Peter.
\nGeoff and Cyd Holsclaw,\u00a0Does God Really\u00a0Like me?<\/i><\/a> – a really helpful book on God relating to us.
\nJames R. Payton Jr.,\u00a0The Victory of the Cross<\/em> – a fascinating and readable book about soteriology in Eastern Orthodox theology. Good book.
\nElisabeth Schussler Fiorenza,\u00a01 Peter: An Introduction and Study Guide<\/em> – partly useful mainstream mini-commentary. Good format.
\nOliver D. Crisp,\u00a0God, Creation and Salvation<\/em> – a good book on\/of Reformed theology marred by poor production values.
\nThomas Erikson,\u00a0Surrounded by Idiots<\/em><\/a> – a helpful business book about communication. Recommended for anyone not working alone.
\nLizzie Ling and Vaughan Roberts,\u00a0Talking Points: Abortion<\/em> – a very good short book on a big moral and political issue. Recommended.
\nJames Mumford,\u00a0Vexed: Ethics Beyond Political Tribes<\/em><\/a> – provocative, fun and readable book about big ideas and how they work out. Read this.
\nSteve Hilton,\u00a0More Human<\/em> – a thoughtful, fascinating but over-long book on making a more human-shaped world. Great ideas. Too long.
\nAl Hsu,\u00a0Grieving a Suicide<\/em><\/a> – a powerful, wise and beautiful book about a horrible topic. Recommended.
\nMary Beard,\u00a0SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome<\/em> – a comprehensive, readable and engaging history of Rome.
\nLuke Bretheton,\u00a0Christ and the Common Life<\/em> – a readable and interesting book on political theology, but more descriptive than I’d hoped.
\nChristopher Steed,\u00a0The Identification Principle<\/em> – an interesting book about how the incarnation should influence Christian life and ministry.
\nBrett Gray,\u00a0Jesus in the Theology of Rowan Williams<\/em> – readable AND technical. If you care about the words in the title, you should read.
\nJohn Starke,\u00a0The Possibility of Prayer<\/em><\/a> – a brilliant new book on prayer, which I found helpful throughout the year.
\nN. T. Wright and Mike Bird, The New Testament In It’s World<\/em> – a phenomenal achievement, and a great resource. Worth buying for reference.
\nJohn and Ann Benton,\u00a0Aren’t They Lovely When They’re Asleep?<\/em><\/a> – a brilliant short book on parenting. \u00a0Some dated aspects, much good truth.
\nMatthew Barrett,\u00a0None Greater<\/em><\/a> – a good book on what God is like. Possibly more technical than intended.
\nLucy Peppiatt,\u00a0Rediscovering Scripture’s Vision for Women<\/em><\/a> – a really good book on the issue from an egalitarian perspective. Read it.
\nVarious,\u00a0Healthy Faith and the Coronavirus Crisis<\/em> – the first book I’ve edited, with some of the best Christian writing on COVID I’ve seen. Buy it.
\nJonathan Lamb,\u00a0Essentially One<\/em> – a really robust book on unity. If you care about church unity and the gospel, read this book.
\nEugene Peterson,\u00a0A Long Obedience in the Same Direction<\/em><\/a> – a book that gave me spiritual backbone for this bizarre year. Gold.
\nMary Beard,\u00a0Women and Power: A Manifesto<\/em> – a punchy but not quite excellent little book.
\nGerald L. Bray,\u00a0Doing Theology With the Reformers<\/em><\/a> – a super book, weirdly packaged, but well worth reading.
\nN. T. Wright,\u00a0God and the Pandemic<\/em><\/a> – a really good little book, more so as an intro to Wright, imo.
\nFitzpatrick and Schumacher,\u00a0Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women<\/em><\/a> – a really good book from a more complimentarian position. Recommended.
\nPenelope Wilcock,\u00a0Equality is Biblical<\/em><\/a> – a very disappointing book from a broadly egalitarian position.
\nWesley J. Wildman,\u00a0In Our Own Image<\/em><\/a> – an interesting piece of philosophical theology. Not what I expected!
\nAlan E. Lewis,\u00a0Between Cross and Resurrection<\/em> – a classic ‘theology of holy saturday’. Some weak parts, some golden nuggets.
\nIke Miller,\u00a0Seeing by the Light<\/em><\/a> – a great technical book. Recommended if you like John’s Gospel, Barth, or Augustine.
\nThomas C. Oden,\u00a0A Change of Heart<\/em> – a\u00a0superb<\/strong> book, both as an interesting biography and theological reflection. Read this.
\nSimon J. Gathercole,\u00a0Defending Substitution\u00a0<\/em>– a really good short book about the atonement. Recommended reading from me!
\nAndrew J. Bartlett,\u00a0Men and Women in Christ<\/em><\/a> – a robust and eirenic look at the egalitarian\/complimentarian discussion. Worth reading.
\ned. Gibson and Gibson,\u00a0From Heaven He Came and Sought Her\u00a0<\/em> – a superb collection of essays about limited atonement.
\nAdam Rutherford,\u00a0How to Argue With a Racist<\/em> – a really helpful book about race, ethnicity and science. Recommended for good discussion.
\nMatt Smethurst,\u00a0Before You Open Your Bible<\/em> – a good little book about the heart postures we should bring to reading the Bible.
\nBen Lindsay,\u00a0We Need to Talk About Race<\/em> – a very helpful book for Christians thinking about race issues – perhaps for the first time.
\nOwen Strachan,\u00a0Reenchanting Humanity<\/em> – an infuriating book: some excellent bits, some mediocre bits, a lot of real disappointment. Avoid.
\nShundrawn A. Thomas,\u00a0Discover Joy in Work<\/em><\/a> – a happy and encouraging book about work. A helpful read in a year of work being odd!
\nNatalie Collins,\u00a0Out of Control<\/em> – a superb book about domestic violence. Sadly and soberingly very relevant this year.
\nMatthew Y. Emerson,\u00a0‘He Descended to the Dead<\/em>‘ – an interesting but not *groundbreaking* book on Holy Saturday and ‘the descent’.
\nDavid Runcorn,\u00a0Love Means Love<\/em><\/a> – a spectacularly bad book on same-sex relationships and the Bible.
\nPaul Harcourt,\u00a0Greater Things<\/em> – an encouraging and inspiring book that shares the story of New Wine. I spoke to Paul about it<\/a>.
\nIan Knox,\u00a0Finishing Well: A God’s Eye\u00a0View of Ageing<\/i> – a readable and practical book about ageing. Worth a look.
\nGraham A. Cole,\u00a0Engaging with the Holy Spirit<\/em><\/a> – an excellent short theological book about the Holy Spirit. Big love for this.
\nCyril of Alexandria,\u00a0On The Unity of Christ<\/em> – mind-bending, heart-warming theology. Please read this book.
\nSam Allberry,\u00a0A Better Hope<\/em> – a short ebook reissue of an excellent chapter from another excellent book.
\nDan Strange,\u00a0‘For Their Rock is Not As Our Rock’<\/em> – a superb academic book, presenting an evangelical theology of religions.
\n2nd edn.,\u00a0Salvation to the Ends of the Earth<\/em> – a helpful if imperfect book offering\u00a0a<\/em> biblical theology of mission.
\nHerman Bavinck,\u00a0Reformed Dogmatics<\/em> (4. vols) – surprisingly accessible and very rewarding ‘big read’ of the year. Will keep it close.
\nJoe Barnard,\u00a0The Way Forward<\/em><\/a> – a helpful book on discipleship, ostensibly just for men, but I don’t think exclusively.
\nRachel Gilson,\u00a0Born Again this way<\/em><\/a> – a really good book on sexuality, by a woman, that deserves a wide readership.
\nRebecca McLaughlin,\u00a0Confronting Christianity<\/em><\/a> – a superb apologetics book, which I’ll give to people when it’s in paperback.
\ned. Joe Aldred,\u00a0Pentecostals and Charismatics in Britain<\/em> – a very uneven but occasionally brilliant anthology. Good reference book.
\nvarious,\u00a0The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views<\/em> – a classic format, usefully engaging the atonement. Helpful reference book.
\nJonathan Leeman,\u00a0One Assembly<\/em><\/a> – a provocative and biblical book, helpfully challenging ‘multisite’ and ‘multiservice’ ecclesiology.
\nElizabeth McQuid,\u00a0Joy: Food for the Journey<\/em> – a solid undated 30 day devotional on this important theme.
\nJohan Bavinck,\u00a0The Church Between Temple and Mosque<\/em> – a very good and short book on Christianity amongst the religions. Very good.
\nNancy R. Pearcey,\u00a0Love Thy Body<\/em><\/a> – an ethical\/theological tour de force, warmly recommended.
\nAllan M. Harman,\u00a0The Story of the Church (4th.\u00a0<\/em>ed.)<\/i> – an idiosyncratic classic: a readable and brilliantly short history of Christianity.
\nChris Wright,\u00a0‘Here Are Your Gods!’<\/em><\/a> – a superb book on idolatry, with application to politics. Recommended!
\ned. Fred Sanders,\u00a0Retrieving Eternal Generation<\/em> – a helpful book of essays on this important topic, with some standouts.
\ned. Trillia Newbell,\u00a0Beautifully\u00a0Distinct<\/i><\/a> – a great little primer on lots of things. Well worth reading.
\nBrian Johnson,\u00a0When God Becomes Real<\/em> – an honest but disappointing book on depression.
\nJohn Fenwick,\u00a0The Free Church of England<\/em> – a readable and fascinating history of this Anglican church.
\nDane C. Ortlund,\u00a0Gentle and Lowly<\/em> – a good book, but not in my opinion the great book that so many say it is.
\nMichael Allen,\u00a0Reformed Catholicity<\/em> – a really helpful short book on theological retrieval and biblical interpretation.
\nGraham A. Cole,\u00a0Against the Darkness\u00a0<\/em> – a superb evangelical theology of spiritual warfare and related issues. Recommended.
\nRosaria Champagne Butterfield,\u00a0The Gospel Comes with a house key<\/em><\/a> – a spiky + mostly excellent book about hospitality. Weakened by patriarchy.
\nVarious,\u00a0Sport and\u00a0Christianity\u00a0<\/i>– an edited collection, slightly uneven, that does what it says on the tin.
\nJohn Piper,\u00a0Life as a Vapor<\/em><\/a> – a helpful and encouraging undated devotional. 31 days!
\nCraig A. Carter,\u00a0Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition<\/em> – a really good book. Could have been a bit shorter.
\nPhilip Marsden,\u00a0The Summer Isles<\/em> – a beautiful travel book about sailing in Scotland. Inspirational and wonderful escape.
\nAmanda Mukwahi,\u00a0But Where Are You Really From?<\/em><\/a> – a good if very short book about some of the racial questions in our culture.
\nJulian Hardyman,\u00a0Jesus, Lover of My Soul<\/em> – a superb book, ostensibly on the Song of Songs but ultimately about intimacy with Christ. Brilliant.
\nDonald V. Gaffney,\u00a0Common Ground: Talking about Gun Violence in America<\/em> – a sobering but helpful book. Worth reading on this topic.
\nDon Kistler,\u00a0Devotions\u00a0from the pen of Jonathan Edwards<\/i> – a helpful but occasionally weak book of 120 devotions. Undated.
\nEphraim Radner,\u00a0A Time to Keep<\/em> – a superb work of theological anthropology. I’ll be reading more by Radner!
\nMitchell W. Kim,\u00a0Genesis: A 12 Week Study<\/em> – good little study in a series I’d not read before.
\nGraham Tomlin,\u00a0Why Being\u00a0Yourself is a Bad Idea<\/i><\/a> – a superb book for our times. Read it!
\nPutty Putman,\u00a0Kingdom Impact<\/i> – a very poor book. Some gold, buried amongst more strangeness. Don’t bother.
\nN. T. Wright,\u00a0Broken Signposts<\/em> – a readable and worthwhile book, but not for long-term fans\/readers of Wright imo.
\nTony Lane,\u00a0Sin and Grace<\/em><\/a> – a superbly researched and wonderfully readable book. Recommended.
\nMartin Saunders,\u00a0We Are Satellites<\/em> – a mostly excellent little book on discipleship, ostensibly for youth but deserves a wider readership.
\nPaul Copan,\u00a0Is God a Moral Monster?<\/em><\/a> – a superb apologetics book, looking at the Old Testament. Recommended.
\nRichard Brash,\u00a0Knowing Me, Knowing God<\/em> – a really good short introduction to theology, as a way of reading the Bible. Recommended.
\nCharles T. Chapman,\u00a0The Message of the Book of Revelation<\/em><\/a> – an excellent short commentary on this often confusing book of the Bible.
\nRuth and Ayo Afolabi,\u00a0MORE> Direction<\/em><\/a> – a good little book on finding and following God’s calling on our lives.
\nKate Bowler,\u00a0Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel<\/em><\/a> – a superb book, well worth reading, and it reads well too!
\nTimothy Ward,\u00a0Words of Life<\/em> – a really strong little book on the doctrine of Scripture. Likely too technical for some.
\nWayne Grudem,\u00a0Systematic Theology<\/em> – the 2nd edition of this controversial modern classic. I interviewed the author<\/a>.
\nNijay Gupta,\u00a01-2 Thessalonians<\/em> – a great little commentary on these two epistles, which I read and enjoyed devotionally.
\nTim Gough,\u00a0Rebooted<\/em> – an excellent and well-rounded\u00a0biblical<\/em> understanding of youth work. More people should read this!
\nMatthew Walker,\u00a0Why We Sleep<\/em> – a solid pop-science book, slightly too long, but with some good practical takeaways. Well worth reading.
\nJustin Giboney, Michael Wear and Chris Butler,\u00a0Compassion & Conviction<\/em> – a superb (if very American) book on faith and politics.
\nStephen Kuhrt,\u00a0Tom Wright for Everyone<\/em><\/a> – a genuinely useful book, even if you don’t like Wright!
\nMatthew S. Harmon,\u00a0The Servant of the Lord and His Servant People<\/em> – an excellent book that digs into what the Bible actually says about servanthood.
\nMark Scarlata,\u00a0The Abiding Presence<\/em><\/a> – a wonderful theological commentary on Exodus, which I enjoyed devotionally.
\nBen Jack,\u00a0My Lord and My God<\/em><\/a> – a very good little book on evangelism and doubt. So good I bought myself a copy!
\nRobin Routledge,\u00a0Hosea (TOTC)<\/em> – a solid new commentary on Hosea. The introduction alone is worth buying it for.
\nEsau McCaulley,\u00a0Reading While Black<\/em> – an absolute barnstomer of a book, thrilling to read, sobering to reflect on. Essential.
\nDavid B. Capes,\u00a0The Divine Christ<\/em> – a really good summary of issues around the divinity of Christ in Paul. Recommended.
\nAlly Kateusz,\u00a0Mary and Early Christian Women<\/em> – a provocative book that, if true, is an un-ignorable challenge. Fascinating.
\nKate Wharton,\u00a0Single-Minded<\/em><\/a> – a superb book on living as a Christian single person. Every Christian should read this.
\nAmy Orr-Ewing,\u00a0Why Trust the Bible\u00a0<\/em>– a brilliant book to give away, or to encourage trust in the Bible. Recommended.
\nJohanna W. H. van Wijk-Bos,\u00a0The End of the Beginning<\/em> – a fascinating and provocative feminist commentary on Joshua and Judges.
\nPeter Smith,\u00a0Bad Buying<\/em> – a surprisingly enjoyable business book that has some helpful takeaways for various parts of my life.
\nPJ Smyth,\u00a0Elders<\/em> – a very mixed bag of a book, with some helpful advice, some poor exegesis, and some just meh bits.
\nD. Martyn Lloyd Jones,\u00a0Walking With God Day By Day<\/em> – a solid 365 day devotional. Got a bit bogged down in 1 John, though.<\/p>\n

There are a few books I will probably finish in the early part of January 2021:<\/p>\n