Tag: Books

2025 Books in Review

~ Jason Kanz ~ 1 Comment

Total number of books read–228
Format–Paper books: 59.9%; Audio books: 40.1%
Genre–Fiction: 64.%; Nonfiction: 30.8%; Poetry: 4.8%
Top 3 subgenres–Fantasy, Thriller, General Fiction
Longest Book–It by Stephen King–1155 pages
Shortest Book–Charlie the Choo Choo–24 pages
Most Read Author–Stephen King, 33
Total pages–83,108
Median number of pages–331
Median number of days to read a book–3
Oldest Book–The Legend of Sleepy Hollow–1820
Newest Book–The Rose Field–October 23, 2025
Shortest Title–It
Longest Title–The Quantified Process Approach to Neuropsychological Assessment

Worst Book–A Confederacy of Dunces
For the life of me, I have no idea how this book won a Pulitzer Prize. It is terrible.

My Top 10

Honorable Mention: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris
This year, I read my first book by David Sedaris and I immediately fell in love with his sense of humor and writing style. He is a master satirist, writing about family, relationships, and culture. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is…different. It presents a series of short stories about animals engaging in human behavior and exploring cultural mores, often turning them on their head. Here’s the thing: I suspect most of my friends would hate this book, perhaps thinking, “What the heck is wrong with Jason?” A lot, I suppose. (humor)

10. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
I am a bit surprised I included this on my top 10 list (am I allowed to be surprised by my own selections?). Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist who took an interesting tack with this book…writing both about working with clients and also about being a client in therapy. It is interesting to see how they intersect as well, how her thinking in one domain influences her thinking in the other. In some regards, her writing style here reminds me of the master psychotherapist, Irving Yalom. It is an engaging and deeply human book. (nonfiction)

9. Time of the Child–by Niall Williams
A few years back, Williams’s book, This is Happiness, was on my top 10 list. It was one of the most enjoyable reads I’ve ever had. Williams has an unusual gift of constructing metaphors, painting creative word pictures page after page. Like This is Happiness, Time of the Child is set in the small fictional Irish village of Faha. The book tells the story of a community doctor, his daughter, and their community. And an unexpected child. (fiction)

8. A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck
I am fascinated by large numbers. I mean really large numbers. The human mind cannot comprehend what these huge numbers actually imply. One of my favorite examples compares 1 million seconds and 1 billion seconds. The former is about 11-1/2 days; the latter is 31 years and 8 months.

Anyway, the premise of A Short Stay in Hell is that the main character is sent to a hell that consists of every possible 410-page book with each page containing 40 lines and 80 characters on each line. The characters include letters, numbers, and the other characters found on a typical keyboard. The main character can escape hell when he finds the book that perfectly describes his life. The impossibility of this task becomes quickly evident when after weeks, he still has not discovered a book with even coherent words. (science fiction, horror)

7. John Adams by David McCullough
McCullough’s biography of our second president is considered one of the finest presidential biographies ever written. I have thought about reading it for years, but I never took the time. I am so glad that I finally did. I found the president, his wife, his children, and the other players in the story to be fascinating. I honestly had no idea how truly influential he was in the establishment of the United States and the pursuit of revolution. The tenuous friendship with Thomas Jefferson was really interesting; the two were certainly cut from different cloths. Did you know the two of them died on the same day, July 4, 1826? (history, biography)

6. Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
A couple of years ago, I read Klune’s House on the Cerulean Sea. I liked the story just fine, but it did not wow me as I know it did others. Under the Whispering Door, however, was a touching book. The book tells the story of a deeply unlikeable attorney, Wallace Price, who dies and is escorted by a reaper to a tea shop as he awaits the afterlife. As he stays in the tea shop, he discovers what life is really about. (fiction)

5. The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War–-Jeff Sharlet
Ten years ago, I was a guest on a radio show explaining why I was a never-Trump person. I detailed my reasons and concerns. At the time (May 2016), nearly all of my conservative friends were similarly concerned, though sadly, a huge number of them changed over time. My concerns about Christian nationalism have only grown over that decade. I’ve read over a dozen books about the topic, some of which have appeared on previous lists. The Undertow is unique. Sharlet travels across America exploring particular stories of particular people (including some who live just 45 minutes from here) and their inexplicable love for Donald Trump. It is poignant. It is tragic. (politics, essay)

4. The Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tea Leavings
Like Christian nationalism, over the past several years, I have also read a number of books dealing with harms fundamentalist Christian beliefs can cause. In the Well-Trained Wife, Leavings writes about coming to accept Christian beliefs related to patriarchal leadership, and the eventual abuses she suffered at the hands of her husband. Her’s is a painful story to read, but important. Unfortunately, there are far too many who fail to see the potential endpoint of harmful beliefs. (religion, memoir)

3. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
For months, or even years, Dungeon Crawler Carl popped up as a recommended book on Audible, but I never took the recommendation seriously because the audiobook cover is just so stupid. But then I began to see the book recommended as a favorite audiobook by numerous people. Over and over, people praised it. I decided to give it a try, and it was better than I could have possibly imagined.

In this story, Carl is one of the few survivors of a mass takeover of Earth by The Borant Corporation, who turns it into a multilevel dungeon that is used as a gameshow broadcast throughout the universe. The survivors are allowed to be contestants in this cosmic gameshow. Together with his girlfriend’s award-winning cat, Princess Donut, Carl competes for his life. Part Ready Player One, part Running Man, part Hunger Games, this is a hilarious, engaging story.

I’ve listened to 6 of the 7 books that are available so far. I imagine reading the book would still be excellent, but the audio narration by Jeff Hayes makes it over the top excellent. (sci-fi, humor)

2. Wizard and Glass by Stephen King
Decades ago, I read the first two books in Stephen King’s epic multivolume masterpiece about The Dark Tower but then stopped reading. My friend Josh is a huge fan of The Dark Tower, so I decided to pick it up again and made it through all seven of the canon books as well as the two ancillary books (The Wind Through the Keyhole and Charlie the Choo Choo). I absolutely loved this massive story, and I don’t think it will be long before I begin the journey to the Tower yet again. I chose Wizard and Glass (book 4) because it is my favorite of the series, though let me tell you, you should read them all. (fantasy)

1. Anxious People by Fredrick Backman
In some years, I have had a really hard time choosing my number one book. This year, there was really no contest. Anxious People by Fredrick Backman was easily my favorite book of the over 200 I read this year. It tells the story of a bank robbery and subsequent hostage situation, but it is not at all what you might imagine. It is a deeply human, hilarious, touching account. Backman is a great storyteller, which shines through in my number one. (fiction)

Notes
a) I typically have 3 to 4 books going at any given time.
b) My book total this year far exceeds any previous year. I am not entirely sure why, but I have certainly enjoyed reading.



2024 top ten books

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

It has been interesting to see how my book list has changed over the years. When I first started putting together my book list in 2010, it was essentially all Christian theology books, mostly of the Calvinist persuasion and now none of them fit that category. My top 10 also contains a mix of audiobooks and traditional books, something that would not have happened for me in 2010. I finished 85 books this year so far, which is lower than normal, but there were a number of really good books including some not mentioned on this list. Like last year, I chose not to rank order my list because there was no clear best book.

Star Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith by April Ajoy
Ajoy was all in on Christian nationalism. She campaigned for a Republican presidential candidate, traveled the country with her evangelist father on a bus that said, “America Say Jesus,” and even sang on the Jim Baker show. Eventually, she became concerned about how the faith she claimed often did not seem to be reflected in the Christians she witnessed. In a humorous way, she reflects on her own experiences and the changes in her thinking. Star Spangled Jesus is definitely worth reading if you are a Christian who has heard the term “Christian nationalism,” but have been uncertain what it is about. (audiobook; memoir)

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta
An accomplished journalist, having previously who worked for National Review, Politico, and The Atlantic, Alberta wrote this book out of his own personal experiences with Christian nationalism. Witnessing the toxicity of this movement in the church his father pastored, he set out to explore Christian nationalism in greater depth. From his website, “Evangelical Christians are perhaps the most polarizing—and least understood—people living in America today. In his seminal new book, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, journalist Tim Alberta, himself a practicing Christian and the son of an evangelical pastor, paints an expansive and profoundly troubling portrait of the American evangelical movement. Through the eyes of televangelists and small-town preachers, celebrity revivalists and everyday churchgoers, Alberta tells the story of a faith cheapened by ephemeral fear, a promise corrupted by partisan subterfuge, and a reputation stained by perpetual scandal.” Less humorous and more widely researched, this book would be a great companion to Star Spangled Jesus. (audiobook; nonfiction)

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
I have been a Stephen King fan since I was in high school. I can still remember the first book of his that I read, a fantasy novel co-authored with Peter Straub titled The Talisman. (I actually found a first edition of The Talisman yesterday at a used bookstore). Full Dark, No Stars is everything that makes Stephen King great. It consists of four novellas. Although each of the four stories was excellent, I particularly loved A Good Marriage, where he tells the story of a wife who discovers something terrible. (Hardcover; Horror)

Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon
In some regards, Exvangelicals mirrors the books by Ajoy and Alberta mentioned above. Like Alberta, McCammon is a journalist. She currently works as a national correspondent for NPR. Like both Ajoy and Alberta, she grew up as an American evangelical. She writes about how during childhood, her whole existence seemed to be deeply religious including her friends, the books she read, and the movies she watched. As she grew older, however, she began to encounter situations that led to difficult questions about her faith. As was the case for many of us, the attack on the Capitol on January 6 intensified her concerns about sectors of the church in America. It is at the same time more personally reflective than Alberta’s book, but also well researched. (audiobook; memoir)

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy
You may not recognize the name Jeanette McCurdy, but you might remember the show I, Carly where McCurdy played Carly’s sidekick, Sam. With unflinching detail, she describes how her mother got her into show business as a child and kept her there even when she wanted out. She writes about her mother’s controlling, often abusive tendencies and the long-term impact on her mental health. Although funny at points, I would not describe this as a humorous book. It can be difficult to listen to at points, but her story is important nonetheless. (audiobook; memoir)

Know My Name by Chanel Miller
My friend Stephanie recommended this book to me. It tells the story of Chanel Miller, aka Emily Doe, who was sexually assaulted by Brock Turner at Stanford University in 2015. I remember when the story was in the news and the shock when Turner was sentenced to just six months in jail. Miller chose to share her victim impact statement on BuzzFeed and within four days, it had been viewed 11 million times. A very powerful, often difficult account about a victim reckoning with sexual assault. She also narrated her own book and at the end, reads her victim impact statement, her emotion coming through with every word. (audiobook; memoir)

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah has been a fixture in American comedy for a number of years with multiple comedy specials and having previously hosted The Daily Show for a number of years. His memoir had been on my shelf for a number of years, but I had not taken the time to read it. I am glad that I finally did. Born a Crime is simultaneously funny and humorous. I also learned a great deal about what it was like for him as a child in post-apartheid South Africa. (hardcover; memoir)

Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside by Nick Offerman
Like many people, I knew of Nick Offerman from his portrayal of Ron Swanson on the TV show Parks and Rec as well as his well-deserved Emmy for guest actor in a drama series for his role in the HBO series, The Last of Us. However, he’s also authored four books, including this excellent one. In Where the Deer and the Antelope Play, Offerman writes about conservation and getting outdoors, drawing on his own experiences and reflections. It is funny, wise, and thoughtful. (audiobook, memoir)

Remedy by John Roedel
I first encountered the poetry of John Roedel on Facebook this year. As he wrote about brokenness and healing, he touched my heart in a way that good poets are capable of doing. My immediate impulse was to buy all of his books and read them back-to-back, but I decided to get just one and savor it. I look forward to the rest of them when I get around to them. (paperback; poetry)

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Project Hail Mary is one of those books that seemed to show up every time I would look at my Audible page and apparently for good reason. It was number one on Audible. It was a New York Times bestseller. In 2022, it was audiobook of the year. However, it was when my friend Josh recommended it, I decided to give it a listen and I am so glad that I did. It tells the story of a science teacher who is sent into space on a hopeless mission (thus hail Mary). It is definitely science fiction, but it is equally humorous. Furthermore, it is one of the best audiobook narrations that I have ever heard. (audiobook; science fiction)

2023 Top Ten Books

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

For at least part of 2023, I found it difficult to get motivated to read, which is unusual for me. As of today, December 19, I have read 89 books, which is fewer than normal for me, but still gives me a number of options for top ten list. I have always had a clear preference for non-fiction books, but my list this year contains all non-fiction–more accurately a mix of memoir, poetry, and non-fiction. I decided not to rank them this year because as I looked over my list, there was not an obvious order. I loved each of the books on this list.

Think Again by Adam Grant–Grant is an organizational psychologist and popular professor. In his book Think Again, he wrote about our willingness to explore our own ways of thinking with humility and to consider whether there may be different, better ways of understanding. If you’ve spent much time around me, you’ve heard me talk about the 3 questions: 1) What do you mean by that?, 2) How did you come to that conclusion, and 3) Is it possible I’m wrong? Think Again is a book length exploration of question 3.

We won’t have much luck changing other people’s minds if we refuse to change ours.-Adam Grant

The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté–Gabor Maté is one of the world’s experts in the area of trauma. In this book, he pushes back on a lot of our Western ideas about illness and healing. It is a long book, but each chapter could stand on its own, and each is well worth reading.

Although modern medicine’s focus on the individual organism and its internal processes isn’t wrong as such, it misses something vital: the pivotal influence of the mental, emotional, social, and natural environments in which we live. Our biology itself is interpersonal.-Gabor Maté

See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valarie Kaur–If someone pinned me down and asked me for my top book of the year, I would pick See No Stranger. In a society that is increasingly divided by religious, political, and cultural lines, Kaur’s message is necessary. The subtitle, “memoir and manifesto,” is exactly right. She explores her own experiences as a Sikh-American woman, using those experiences as well as those of others, in suggesting a way of love. This book brought me to tears multiple times and filled me with hope as to what could be.

I refuse to let anyone belittle my soul, or diminish my own expansive sense of self. The more I listen, the less I hate. The less I hate, the more I am free to choose actions that are controlled not by animosity but by wisdom. Laboring to love my opponents is how I love myself.-Valarie Kaur, See No Stranger

Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution by Rainn Wilson–Better known for playing Dwight Schrute on The Office, Wilson is surprisingly thoughtful writer. Although he considers himself to be a part of the Bahai faith tradition, Soul Boom is not an apologetic for Bahai, but an encouragement toward a healthier spirituality regardless of tradition. He writes an often humorous, always engaging style asking questions that I wish more people would ask of themselves and the world in which we live.

When most people think of spiritual tools for change, growth, and finding peace, they think of themselves working internally to increase serenity, perspective, and wisdom. In contemporary American culture, we rarely view a spiritual path as having much, if anything, to do with the peace, serenity, and wisdom of the totality of humanity–Rainn Wilson

Slug: And Other Things I’ve Been Told to Hate by Holly McNish– Slug may be described as a poetic memoir by the excellent British author touching largely on issues related to femininity and modern culture. Provocative to be sure (fair warning to any potential readers. she talks openly and frankly about things like sex and human bodies), McNish writes about deeper societal issues in a way that touches the heart. The poem below was my first exposure to her poetry.

Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation by Jon Ward– Testimony is the first of two books on my list from former members of Sovereign Grace Church. In this book, Ward writes about growing up in religious conservativism and with a father committed to political action. Ward writes about his movie from religious fanaticism and “hardcore Calvinism” to becoming a Trump critic. Notably, he is a senior political correspondent for Yahoo! News, though he previously worked with outlets as wide-ranging as Tucker Carlson to the Huffington Post. I appreciated his political insight, personal reflection, and ongoing work to navigating conflict, even with his family.

I think fundamentalism is this desire to put answers out of reach of questioning. I think one of the icebreaking statements for me has been a very simple one, it’s just: ‘I could be wrong.’ I’ve embraced that over the years and it’s been so liberating in many ways.-Jon Ward

Curveball: When Your Faith Takes a Turn You Never Saw Coming by Pete Enns–I’ve read several books by Pete Enns and this is my favorite so far. Following the theme of memoir, Enns shares the story of his maturation as a theologian. He previously served as a faculty member at the conservative Westminster Seminary, but he was let go when some of his ideas conflicted with the school. Thankfully, he continues to write and share about the Bible through books and the popular podcast, The Bible for Normal People, which he cohosts with Jared Byas. In Curveball, Enns put words to a lot of my own wrestling.

If having faith means holding on to certainty, when certainty is under “attack,” your only option as a good Christian is to go to war – even if that means killing your own.- Pete Enns

Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America by Heather Cox Richardson– Richardson is a history professor at Boston College, where she specializes in the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era. As an American historian, she possesses a unique vantage on the current state of America. She explores variables that have signaled warning in the past and how many of those things can be seen in our current political climate. Her words are challenging, but necessary.

While Republicans since the 1980s have insisted the symbol of the United States is the whitewashed American cowboy who dominated the West with manly individualism, in fact the key to survival in the American West was family and friends: kinship networks, trading partners, neighbors who would show up for a barn raising. Working together, across racial lines, ethnic lines, gender lines, and age lines, was what enabled people to defend their rights against a small group of elites determined to keep control of the country.― Heather Cox Richardson

When Religion Hurts You: Healing From Religious Trauma and the Impact of High Control Religion by Laura Anderson–As soon as I finished this book, I knew that I would go back and read it again in the future. There are many good books that explore trauma in general (see The Myth of Normal above) and religious trauma in particular, but Anderson’s book is one of the best I have come across. She discusses some of her own history and also provides examples from others with whom she has worked. She provides very practical strategies for coping with some of the post-traumatic reactions that can occur.

A marker of healing from religious trauma is not simply the process of deconstructing one’s worldview and identity and rebuilding a new one; it is also the willingness to remain open to shifting and changing over the course of one’s life.-Laura Anderson

The Woman They Wanted: Shattering the Illusion of the Good Christian Wife by Shannon Harris–The Woman They Wanted joins Testimony as books written by former members of Sovereign Grace. Harris was the wife of popular author and pastor, Josh Harris, who wrote, among other things, I Kissed Dating Goodbye (a book he has since renounced and stopped publishing). Shannon tells the story of the loss of self under the teaching and mentorship of CJ Mahaney (the founding pastor at SG) and other leaders at the church; however, this book also discusses the ongoing reclamation of her selfhood and her femininity. Like many of the books on this list, it may not be for everyone, but I am one who is glad she shared her story.

If your world crumbles because you have started to value or believe yourself, then let it, because it means that you were the only one holding it up. let it go. It is the only way a more supportive universe can emerge in its place.-Shannon Harris

Top 10 books-2022

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

For over a decade, I have put out a list of my favorite books from the year. Nearly every year, I read more than 100 books and it is always a delight to go back and consider what has stirred me most deeply. Reviewing past lists has also been enlightening. It is evident that my reading has diversified over the years. Some may find that concerning; but I believe it has been better for me as a reader and as a person. Scanning this year’s list, storytelling and an appreciation for nature are common themes.

  1. This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley
    I only had to read the first page of This Here Flesh to know that it would likely make my top ten. To steal a phrase from author Dave Eggers’ memoir, this is truly a “heartbreaking work of staggering genius.” Riley is a compelling storyteller. She invites the reader into her own narrative in a way that moves deeper still, to lead us into the depth and beauty of our own stories. A friend had recommended the book to me and I have recommended it to others and their responses have been similar. This Here Flesh is absolutely a must read book.
  2. This Is Happiness by Niall Williams
    Earlier in the year, I was looking for fun audiobook titles and Steve Wiens recommended This is Happiness. I had never heard of the book, nor the author. Williams is also a wonderful storyteller. In this novel, he envisions electricity coming to a sleepy Irish town that has not dealt with much change over the generations. It is a welcome touch of humanity and a reminder of what connects us all.
  3. Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman
    Poetry is hard for a lot of people, but 24 year old Gorman–the first national youth poet Laureate and the youngest inaugural poet–makes it easier. Her ability to draw pictures with her words and to move her readers is breathtaking. If you have been reluctant to dive into poetry, her words and wisdom may be a great entry point.
  4. Everything Sad is Untrue: (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri
    In my circles this year, it seemed as though Everything Sad is Untrue was getting a lot of buzz, but I wasn’t sure if it was fiction, non-fiction, or something else. I’m still not sure, and I think that is Nayeri’s brilliance. Daniel Nayeri was born in Iran and emigrated to Oklahoma when he was 8 years old with his mother and sister, after spending some time as a refugee, which are stories he shares in his book. The book is clearly based upon the details of his life, but reveals him to be an imaginative storyteller (can you sense a theme?). Regardless of what details are factual verses embellished, Everything Sad is Untrue touches something deeply true and human.
  5. Where the Light Fell: A Memoir by Phillip Yancey
    I have read several of Yancey’s books over the years, but this is a new favorite. It is, as the subtitle suggests, a memoir–a spiritual memoir of sorts. Yancey said of the book, “I truly believe this is the one book I was put on earth to write. So many of the strands from my childhood—racial hostility, political division, culture wars—have resurfaced in modern form. Looking back points me forward” Yancey is not shy about naming the origin of some of his own unhealthy beliefs and how he has reckoned with those in his adult years, and continues to do so now in his seventh decade. He has something to teach all of us.
  6. 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Amrstong
    Karen Armstrong has published a couple dozen books in her writing career that has spanned more than 40 years, but I am a belated fan. I read her 2022 release, Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond With the Natural World this fall and immediately wondered what else I had been missing, so I moved on to 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life and I loved it too. This former nun and religious historian explores themes common to various faith traditions to demonstrate our unified need for compassion. She wrote about concepts such as concern for everybody and love for enemies and how we might employ these in our day to day lives.
  7. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
    Braiding Sweetgrass had been lurking around my wish list for a long time and I finally decided to check it out. I wasn’t disappointed. Dr. Kimmerer is a botanist and Potawatomi woman who writes beautifully about our connection with plants and the land on which they grow. Much like most of the authors on this list, she is an excellent storyteller and teacher. Books like this one make me want to care for the earth, and specifically where I have found a home, more deeply and thoughtfully.
  8. God of the Garden: Thoughts on Creation, Culture, and the Kingdom by Andrew Peterson
    If Andrew Peterson publishes a new book, there is a good chance it will be on my top ten list. In God of the Garden, he explores our connection with plants, and especially with trees and what they say about our relationship to God. Too often as Christians, we can distort what it means to steward the earth and we end up abusing our God-given role. Peterson invites us back to a gentler, humbler, more thoughtful place of creation care.
  9. All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
    bell hooks died one year ago today (12-15-21). She was a social activist, author, and professor who wrote nearly 40 books, often exploring issues of race, gender, and economics, but in All About Love, she explores how to understand love as people who grow up embedded in families, cultures, and systems. Along the way, she shares much of her own story and how she has come to understand love. I remain awed by her bravery and honesty as she wrote unapologetically about many of the difficult things she had experienced growing up and how they have shaped her.
  10. Wild Land Within: Cultivating Wholeness Through Spiritual Practice by Lisa Colon Delay
    Sometimes I pick a book up and it isn’t the right time for me, but when I return to it, it touches me deeply. Wild Land Within did that for me. When I first purchased it, I started reading and realized I wasn’t in the right heart-space to learn what I needed to from the author. I am so glad I returned. Delay draws together threads from neuroscience, theology, and spiritual formation to help her readers “cultivate wholeness.” Perhaps my favorite part of this book was the way in which she drew upon the spiritual practices of various racial and ethnic traditions to weave together this excellent book.

season’s readings

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

My youngest daughter reminded me that Christmas is exactly one month away, which means you still have time to order copies of my books for yourself or your loved ones. In fact, why not both?

I published my first book, Soil of the Divine, in 2017. It is a collection of 150 poems and prayers based upon the psalms. (Paperback = $8.99; Kindle = $3.99).

My second book, Living in the Larger Story: The Christian Psychology of Larry Crabb, came out in 2019. I was the editor of this wonderful volume published by the Gideon Institute for Christian Psychology and Counseling. In addition to the chapter I wrote with Bryan Maier, there are excellent chapters from experts in Christian Psychology. (Paperback = $12.95; Kindle = $9.49).

Books three and four came out together in 2020. Notes from the Upper Room: Lessons in Loving Like Jesus, and an available devotional filled with unique content, focused on Jesus’s last meal with his disciples discussed in John 13 to 17, which is often known as the Upper Room discourse. (Book: Paperback = $9.99; Kindle = $7.99 / Devotional: Paperback = $5.56; Kindle = $0.99).

One month ago, I released my most ambitious writing project, Letters to the Beloved, which I worked on for six years. In this devotional commentary, I wrote through the New Testament verse by verse as though God was telling me about it in letter form. (Paperback = $24.95; Kindle = $9.99).

Each of the books is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. However, a limited number of sets are also available directly from me, though I will order more if I run out.

Altogether, the five books are nearly $65.00 on Amazon, though if you order all five from me, I will sell them for $50.00 plus shipping and handling. If you are interested in some other combination of titles, reach out, and we’ll see what we can figure out.

Season’s Readings!

Top 10 books–2020

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

I have put together a top 10 books list every year for over a decade. Although I have read fewer books this year than any since I began consistently keeping track in 2014, I had no trouble finding ten eleven books to recommend. You should also have plenty of time to order some of these for jolabokaflod.

Honorable Mention: God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and its Aftermath (2020) by N.T. Wright. God and the Pandemic receives an honorable mention because it is particularly relevant in 2020, but hopefully its relevance will soon diminish. Regardless, Wright, addressed many of the concerns raised by Christians about how to live in this time, finding a reasonable way between the extremes of denial and obsession. He helps us, as readers, to think about what it means to be Christians in the world today.

10. Christ of the Celts: The Healing of Creation (2008) by John Philip Newell. I read several books about Celtic spirituality this year, including three from John Philip Newell. Newell writes like a poet, which is part of my draw to him, I suppose. My attraction to Celtic spirituality is related to its connection with how I see and understand the world, with attention to things like creation, wholeness, interconnectedness, and creativity.

9. Ready Player One (2011) by Ernest Cline. When the Ready Player One movie came out in 2018, I saw it in the theater and I loved it, perhaps because I am a child of the eighties. I often return to the movie when I am looking for entertainment. Although Cline’s book has the same basic premise, there is a much greater richness and depth to the storytelling. I began with the audiobook, which is narrated by Wil Wheaton, who played Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but because I am impatient and could not wait for my son to finish the audiobook with me, I purchased the paperback and quickly finished it. You cannot go wrong with either.

8. Something’s Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse–and Freeing Yourself from its Power (2020) by Wade Mullen. In the past few years, I have read several books about spiritual abuse and Something’s Not Right is among the best of them. Mullen writes from years of experience and research, yet does so in an accessible way. I particularly appreciated his discussion of how abusive organizations often use “impression management.” If you want to learn more about systemic abuse, I could not point you in a better direction than Something’s Not Right.

7. What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism (2017) by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner. The past four years in America have felt increasingly divisive. Deception and vitriol ravage political decency and we have lost sight of what has made America great. Dan Rather, together with his colleague, Elliot Kirschner, put together 15 essays about America that filled me with hope. Drawing from his nearly nine decades as an American citizen, Rather addressed topics such as voting, the press, science, the arts, and the environment. As I listened, I wondered how I can foster the sort of vision Rather and Kirschner have of and for America.

6. 11/22/63 (2011) by Stephen King. There was a time in my life when I read books by Stephen King, and little else. In high school, I wrote a paper about him and I remember going to the Mead Public Library in Sheboygan, Wisconsin to ask the librarian to obtain a copy of the Playboy magazine interview with him for my paper. My friend Jordan turned me on to 11/22/63, which he described as one of his favorite books. I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Craig Wasson, and I was captivated once again by King’s ability to craft a story.

5. Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation (2020) by Kristin Kobes DuMez. Jesus and John Wayne may be the most provocative title on my top 10 list. When I posted a picture of the book cover on my Facebook page and expressed my eagerness to read it, a family member commented, “Give me a break!” I suspect the author has heard far worse. Briefly, the author traced the often parallel paths of rugged masculinity and 20th century evangelicalism, identifying the fallout. If you been trying to make sense of evangelicalism in post-Trump America, you cannot do much better than Jesus and John Wayne.

4. Exclusion and Embrace, Revised and Updated: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation (2019 revision) by Miroslav Volf. My friend Perry, who often has great book recommendations, suggested Exclusion and Embrace and I was not disappointed. Volf is an accomplished theologian, but more importantly, he was raised in Croatia and a witness to ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia. He has an exceptional understanding of confronting oppression, neither dismissing hurt nor the hard work of reconciliation. My copy is filled with underlines and marginalia, which is typically a sign of a book that engaged me deeply.

3. Art + Faith: A Theology of Making (2020) by Makoto Fujimura. I think a lot about topics like goodness, truth, and beauty and their connection to becoming whole. In his previous book, Culture Care, Fujimura introduced me to the term “maercstapa,” which is a border stalker. Maercstapas explore what is possible and bring it back to people. I was equally pleased with Art + Faith, which is just a few weeks old. Fujimura built upon ideas introduced in his former books in developing a thoughtful “theology of making” as he described it. I especially appreciated his connection between the work of creativity and God’s new creation. Weaving in examples from several of my favorite artists and writers solidified its position on the top 10 list.

2. Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making (2019) by Andrew Peterson. I read Adorning the Dark in January and knew that it was going to be a good book year. It is no surprise to anyone who knows me that Andrew Peterson is my favorite singer. He also wrote one of my favorite book series, the four volume Wingfeather Saga. Over the years, I have appreciated his thoughts on beauty and the creative process, so I welcomed having his thoughts condensed in book form. Like Art + Faith, Peterson’s book stirs my love for wholeness and beauty.

1. An Interrupted Life: The Diaries, 1941-1943; and Letters from Westerbork (1981) by Etty Hillesum. As soon as I began reading this book, I knew it would be on my “must read” list, not to mention my 2020 Top 10. I first heard about Etty Hillesum from the writings of Chuck DeGroat, the author of Wholeheartedness, which is another favorite book of mine. Etty Hillesum was a Dutch Jewish woman living in the Netherlands at the beginning of World War II. She kept a series of self-reflective journals from 1941 until 1943, when she was sent to Auschwitz. She demonstrates an uncommon spiritual depth, no doubt sharpened by her experiences.

Notes from the Upper Room

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

I am very happy to announce that my most recent book, Notes from the Upper Room: Lessons in Loving Like Jesus, is available through Amazon in either paperback or e-book.

From the Back Cover:
John 13 to 17, often referred to as the “Upper Room Discourse,” provides John’s narrative of the disciples’ last meal with Jesus. There is no place in the Bible where a single conversation is so carefully recounted, making up nearly one-fifth of John’s Gospel. In Notes from the Upper Room: Lesson in Loving Like Jesus, you are invited to listen in on their conversation, and learn what it means to love like Jesus. From the very first verse of John 13 and the very last verse of John 17, love was the recurrent them. Jesus showed love for his disciples by washing their feet. He taught them about what real love looked like and how he wanted them to put love into practice. In his longest recorded prayer, John 17, he prayed that they would love one another in the same way that the he and the Father loved one another. We were created for relationship, with God and one another. In Notes from the Upper Room, you will learn about loving and relating in the manner of Jesus. Climb the steps, take a look around, and have a seat.

“Jason’s gracious and wise perspective on the Upper Room discourse strikes at the heart of the Gospel, with a hard-to-find balance of depth and accessibility. He applies the love of Jesus to the tensions of our brokenness with great care and empathy. This is an extremely encouraging and uplifting book, and one that I highly recommend you read.”-Chris Wheeler, author of Solace

“If you’re hungry for a biblically centered understanding of both the difficulties and the possibilities of actually putting the love of Jesus on display by how you relate to your spouse, children, friends, and co-workers, Notes from the Upper Room sets the table with a tasty meal. In a strong, clear, and gentle voice, Jason speaks to the crucial value of Trinitarian theology for living the relationally loving life we were designed and equipped to live. This a book well worth reading.”—Larry Crabb, Psychologist and author of When God’s Ways Make No Sense

Here are several ways you could support this project:
1) Please consider purchasing a copy either through Amazon or directly from me and reading it. Books also make great gifts.
2) If you found the book beneficial, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon and, if you use it, Goodreads? Reviews are very helpful to authors.
3) Consider following my blog through WordPress or subscribing by email.
4) If you email me at jasonkanz (at) yahoo (dot) com, I will send you a free PDF of 129 devotionals I wrote based upon John 13 to 17 as well. If the Lessons in Loving Like Jesus is a finely cooked steak, the devotionals are steak bites–the same meat, prepared differently. The devotionals will also be available in a paperback version through Amazon.
5) Stay in touch. Let me know what stirs for you as you read the book.

Go out and love like Jesus.

Top 10 books–2019

~ Jason Kanz ~ 1 Comment

For the past decade, I have posted my favorite ten books I read during the previous year. 2019 has been a light reading year for me; so far, I have finished 81 books, which is about two dozen fewer than my average, which also means that the field of contenders is smaller. As I consider this year’s list and I compare it with previous lists, I am aware of a shift in my thinking. Of course, the question arises, has my thinking shifted because of what I am reading, or do I choose books that reflect these changes? Presumably a bit of both. Another observation and a warning to go with it: at least seven of these books may challenge deeply held assumptions. So, without further adieu, here are 2019’s top ten.

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Request for Readers

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

Last week, I finished the manuscript for my third book. Over a long weekend, I took a couple of passes through the book and I read the first 80 pages aloud to Heather (she seemed to like it though, admittedly, I am her husband). I would like to ask for a few volunteers to read through the manuscript and offer comments about the content of the book before I pass it along for copy editing. Let me offer some basics about the book and then let you know what I am hoping.

SYNOPSIS: Notes from the Upper Room: Lessons in Loving Like Jesus (working title) is a non-fiction book about Jesus’s last supper with his disciples in the upper room before going to the cross, recorded in chapters 13-17 of John’s gospel. This book began when I “mind-mapped” these five chapters, wanting to identify core themes in Jesus’s teaching. The book, which is just shy of 57,000 words, has two sections. The first section, which is roughly 75 pages, is composed of 7 chapters discussing some of the themes I see. Following the introduction, the chapters are titled: Trinitarian Relating, Belonging, Sacredness of the Ordinary, Servanthood, Obedience, Peace in Suffering, and Jesus’s Prayer.

The second section, about 120 pages, is a series of devotional thoughts, verse by verse, through the upper room discourse. In light of the two different sections, you will notice overlap, but I hope they are unique enough to be of benefit.

In light of that brief synopsis, I am hoping that a handful of people will be sufficiently intrigued to do a read through with an eye toward the content. It is certainly not academic, so I hope it is accessible. If you are familiar with the general flow of John 13-17, if the chapters sound interesting, or if you have a general interest in books about the Christian life and Trinitarian relating, all the better. I will probably limit the number of early readers because “too many cooks spoil the stew,” but if you are at all interested, please reach out. I will send out a Word document, so you can track changes and offer comments. If it is something that seems interesting, but you don’t have the time to spend with it, I would ask that you wait until the book comes out.

Regardless of whether you read it now or never, would you please pray for this book and for my nerves as I move forward?