Home Truths by Tina Seskis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this novel that focused mainly on two marriages and their ups & downs...and then brings things together at the end in a surprising way. Well done overall; caught me by surprise. Quite a host of twists that bring things to quite a climax. I liked the writing throughout the book, as chapters alternated between different perspectives. Read on my Kindle.


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The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power by Jeff Sharlet
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Can I just say that in some ways I thought this book was written by a "Charlatan"? The author, Sharlet, bases much of his skeptical, angry, off-base, twisted views of "the Family" on his time living in a "Family" house rather undercover, pretending that he was a Christian/believer. That's not a huge problem, as he was invited into the house by a friend and welcomed by the others living there. It's pretty clear, though, that the viewpoint Sharlet adopted as a result of that and studying religion overall in America prejudices his interpretation and analysis of all things Christian--especially evangelical, which he likes to equate with Fundamentalism. He sees it as a total play for power & money & political influence, not as a desire to see the power of Christ radically change/transform people's & nation's lives. So many things taken out of context and twisted in a dark way--like the constant reference to some of the Family using the example of Hitler's Nazism as a powerful example of how a few can make huge changes in the world. He's done lots of research & interviews--but again, it seems to me that he deliberately and intentionally takes the negative, dark angle. He gets way off topic as well in the last third of the book, and it just tended to drag on. I'm glad I read it, especially after watching the Netflix docu-series, which so clearly showed the bias & prejudice of the author--and examples of taking things out of context again & again. Read on my iPad; borrowed from the library.


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Questioning Evangelism by Randy  Newman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought this was an excellent treatment on the importance of both asking more questions of people and of listening more carefully to what people are actually saying (and responding appropriately & saltily). Some great examples of actual conversations the author has had over his years of doing evangelism, as well as some good imagined conversations--both the good & the ugly. Lots to learn from this approach, which was ultimately modeled by Christ in His time on earth. There are some very good issues/topics addressed by the author in light of sharing the Good News; not exactly what I had been expecting in this type of book, but very well done & encouraging. Read on my Kindle.


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The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity by Lynda Gratton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very interesting & enlightening book on how the average length of life--especially in western, developed countries--has been lengthening 2-3 years per decade (since the early 1900s). My children have a very good good of living till they're 100 yrs old. But, with longer living comes some issues that need attention--which this books does a good job of addressing: how will companies/organizations & governments adjust to help accommodate these changes, how will people financially pay for longer "retirements," and what effects will this have on the traditional 3-stage life cycle (childhood & education, work, and retirement & recreation). Also, with people living longer, how will they occupy their time and make life meaningful. I thought the insight that retirement & recreation in what we now consider older age will need to change to be more a time of re-creation was excellent. How will older people continue to grow & learn and make meaningful contributions to life/society & family? Very good question--since, a miserable life lived longer with no meaning or joy would be a travesty. Read this on my Kindle; borrowed from the library.


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The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God by Brent Curtis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Sacred Romance is deep; it's also unnerving, since it cuts so deep down into the soul, the center of one's being. It exposes our fragility, our weaknesses, our longings & desires, as well as our hopes & dreams for something more, something lasting, something eternal. Read this together with my wife in the evenings before our dinner. Very good food for thought--and practical action steps for the heart & mind.


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The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pretty good story that makes one's blood boil at times to see the way that humans (black American slaves--and then even an indentured Irish servant orphan) treat other humans. A novel--but a very historical novel for which the author did extensive research/interviews. I listened to this audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library. Good narration. I gave this book a 3-1/2 in my Reading Log. Thanks for the recommendation, Heather!


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Some Everyday Thoughts by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good stuff from a deep thinker/writer. These are either radio broadcasts or short speeches/essays given by C.S. Lewis that have appeared in various lesser-known works. Loved the address by the senior devil in "Screwtape Proposes A Toast." Very perceptive insights. Listened to this audiobook I purchased for cheap on chirp.com--on my iPhone.


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No God but One: Allah or Jesus? (with Bonus Content): A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a well-written & documented & powerful book that is really Part 2 to Qureshi's Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus book, which was basically his testimony of becoming a disciple of Jesus. This volume is a well-reasoned & logical apologetic for New Testament belief in Jesus Christ as the promised Old Testament Messiah, and for the clear claims of Jesus' deity, death, burial, and resurrection. Qureshi does a good job of showing why probably the most important comparison in Christianity & Islam is between who Jesus is believed to be by Christians and what the Qu'ran is believed to be by Muslims. As someone who came out of Islam--and a very strong Islamic upbringing/faith--Qureshi gives key insights into his own struggles/journey to faith in Christ and his decision to leave Islam. He outlines a number of holes/deficiencies in Islam's arguments on behalf of both the Qu'ran & Mohammad that are not made available to most Muslims. He also points out the problems with the standard Islamic arguments against the well-established historical facts of Jesus life/death/resurrection, as well as the integrity of the Bible.


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Annapurna: The First Conquest of an 8,000-Meter Peak by Maurice Herzog
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this account of the first successful climb on an 8,000 meter peak, accomplished back in 1950 by a team of French climbers (from Chamonix, no surprise). The book did drag some and could have been less bloated--and the style of writing could have been more engaging; some of this was due to the long descriptions of the climbing team's search for the proper route that would bring them to Annapurna's peak. What got especially interesting was the last 1/3 of the book--recounting the descent of the 2 climbers from the peak in bad weather, their battle with frostbitten hands & feet, and the long, long trek to get back down to base camp & civilization with such severely injured climbers. I'm giving this book a 3-1/2 stars on my Reading Log; read this book on my iPad.


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Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth, Innovation, Sustainability, and the Pace of Lifein Organisms, Cities, Economies, and Companies by Geoffrey West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fascinating study that reveals universal scaling laws that can be seen in all living organisms, as well as in the life & growth of cities, economies, and organizations (companies). Brilliant, yet very accessible & understandable, analysis from the microscopic to the macro, seen through the prism of physics & biology & economics.

Here's what I think is a good succinct quote on the book's summary: "This book is about a way of thinking, about asking big questions, and about suggesting big answers to some of those big questions. It’s a book about how some of the major challenges and issues we are grappling with today, ranging from rapid urbanization, growth, and global sustainability to understanding cancer, metabolism, and the origins of aging and death, can be addressed in an integrated unifying conceptual framework. It is a book about the remarkably similar ways in which cities, companies, tumors, and our bodies work, and how each of them represents a variation on a general theme manifesting surprisingly systematic regularities and similarities in their organization, structure, and dynamics. A common property shared by all of them is that they are highly complex and composed of enormous numbers of individual constituents, whether molecules, cells, or people, connected, interacting, and evolving via networked structures over multiple spatial and temporal scales. Some of these networks are obvious and very physical, like our circulatory system or the roads in a city, but some are more conceptual or virtual, like social networks, ecosystems, and the Internet."

In my opinion, these universals laws clearly point to the hand of The Designer--God Almighty, the Creator--and give reason for one to pause and worship His intricate & purposeful creation. Borrowed from the library; read on my Kindle Fire.


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Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror by Michael V. Hayden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading Snowden's Permanent Record, it was good to have Hayden's perspective/insights for some balance. Hayden spent many years in the Air Force and then in various roles in the IC: Intelligence Community (made up of some 60+ agencies of the US government--or closely related to it). Hayden's account seeks to make a case for the reasons things have evolved to the state they currently are in the US world of intelligence--due to the catastrophic intelligence failure over the 9/11 terror attacks. He also makes the point that there are always--true of every country/government--going to be things kept secret that are meant to be used for a country's protection and/or purposes (whether those are good or evil). He makes the case for the existence of good enough checks & balances & intents on the part of US intelligence to justify what it has done since 9/11--and for what will need to be done for the foreseeable future, given the flow of information across the worldwide net. I am not totally convinced or in agreement with this stance--which has brought us into a world where there is literally no ultimate privacy and our online/communication lives can be recorded AND stored in perpetuity. Borrowed this Kindle book from the library.


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99 Stories of God by Joy Williams
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Sorry, but these so-called "stories of God" weren't what I was expecting, nor were they really connected in any way to the God I've come to know through Jesus Christ and revealed in The Bible. These were rather absurdist; way out there in some kind of other spiritual ether. Mostly vapid, empty, weak, neurotic, disconnected, irrelevant, pointless, the list could go on. Thanks be to God that it was a short book. Listened to audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

My first reading of Frankl--listened to this audiobook on my iPhone, borrowed from the library. I think I also need to read his prior volume called Man's Search for Meaning, which connects more to his experiences with German extermination camps. I gave this 2-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. I think Frankl does a good job of pointing out that man cannot just be an animal driven by basic needs--and "drives"--but obviously has other higher aims/purposes & needs to express a deeper meaning to/for life. And, by deduction, there is a greater/higher Being who must be behind it all, though Frankl's discussion here remains in analytical terms and leaves a lot to be desired. Not much in the way of any theological exploration.


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In This Mountain by Jan Karon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this Book #7 is the Mitford series on audiobook. Again, the narrator does an excellent job bringing the characters alive. Borrowed from the library; listened to on my iPhone, mostly on walks around Istanbul, along with a few longer metro rides.


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The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers by Terri-Lynne DeFino
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of my special Kindle free reads. Enjoyed this story of a group of retired authors who end up collaborating on a love story novel that is inspired in great part by one of the workers at the retirement home. A novel within a novel. Read it on my Kindle Fire.


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Common Life: The Wedding Story by Jan Karon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Delightful little book that covers Father Tim's decision to marry his neighbor Cynthia. I loved the pace & "joy-filled-ness" that this Mitford book showers the reader with. Well, or the listener, as I heard the audiobook on my iPhone; courtesy of the library (thanks public library--you're awesome too!). I also want to give a shout-out to the narrator who does such an excellent job of vocal acting--oh man, he's good, really good. Brings all the characters very alive.


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Fear No Evil by Natan Sharansky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an amazing story of survival & stubbornness & perseverance under pressure! Sharansky spent almost 10 years in the horrible Soviet Gulag system back in the 70's/80's--just for being a Jewish activist who wanted to emigrate to Israel and to help the cause of other Jewish activists. The KGB dragged him into prison in Moscow--soon after he married, Avital, the love of his life--and dogged his every step with utter ridiculousness and fabrication upon fabrication, until just prior to his final release. Sharansky weighed 75 kilos (165 lbs.) going into prison--and at one point was down to 35 kilos (77 lbs), from his extensive hunger strikes and confinements in punishment cells with a reduced diet (the "normal" diet was not even fit for a dog). Shame, shame, shame on the godless, cruel, diabolical, crooked, confused, hypocritical, shameful Soviet system. Bravo & kudos to someone like Sharansky who stood on his principles & brooked no negotiation/compromise with the KGB and their evil & broken system. One of the things that got Sharanksy through his long, terrible ordeal was the Psalm book that his wife gave him just before he was arrested. The psalms/songs of King David & other Jewish leaders gave him life, meaning, comfort, and hope. Sharansky especially loved Psalm 30 and recited it aloud to the KGB officers effecting his final release. After reading of his experiences in the Gulag, the meaning & sentiments of this psalm are that much more deeply understood. Thank you, Sharansky.


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Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Timothy Ferriss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first Tim Ferriss book; do I have to admit that until I picked this up from the library as an ebook (can't remember how I learned about it in the first place), this was the first I'd heard of Tim Ferriss? So, he only has one of (or the) most popular podcasts on the planet, as well as several other bestseller books like The 4-Hour Work Week, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef and Tools of Titans. I enjoyed the format of this book--a compilation of answers from the "best of the best" to 11 questions. I like asking questions of others and using them as a way to get to know each other (my wife & I have been working through the questions over meals). There's a lot of good stuff; there's also some whacky & thanks-but-no-thanks tips/tools/hacks on living life well. Advice today has to be called a "hack," right? I was saddened somewhat by the general lack of biblical wisdom (& knowledge) from any of these experts--though there was at least 1 person who named The Bible as their favorite book. Oh, but wisdom & peace from meditation (even TM...) & Zen/Buddhism was prolific. Yes, because it's just so trendy--along with having your sushi bar experiences. It's so much more "open/free" & mystical--and supposedly not fusty & restricting & exclusive ("dogmatic") like Christianity can be...and I'm talking about "mere Christianity" (from the Bible). All-in-all, though, I thought there was some good mentoring info throughout the book & I especially appreciated the many book recommendations!


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The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had never heard the story behind the CIA's use of the banned novel by Boris Pasternak--Dr. Zhivago--to undermine the Soviet system. This piece of historical fiction centers around these escapades, giving insight into Pasternak's life & struggles--including the devastating results of his novel being published outside the Soviet Union, first by the Italians. What a charade from the Soviet Writers' Union (those are charades in any totalitarian system) as it voted to oust Pasternak, creating lies out of thin air to defame him (for exposing their charade of a system). Read the first half of this by ebook--borrowed from the library--then listened to the second half by audiobook on my iPhone, after finally getting it from the long library hold.


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