After 4 years of studying law I now have at least 10 months without having to decipher a case report, so have a quite a bit of time on my hands. At the same time I'm feeling unusually unexcited about the books on my waiting-to-be-read list.
The comments box is open. What are your must-read books that I should read this winter? I will buy and read at least one from every comment.
ok, I'll deliberately be fairly "out there", because you're a reader...
ReplyDeleteNorman Geisler, Christian Apologetics (Baker)
Hermann Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics (Baker)
Rowan Williams, On Christian Theology (WileyBlackwell) or Dostoevksy: Language, Faith & Fiction (Baylor)
Henri Blocher, Original Sin (NSBT)
Oliver O'Donovan, Resurrection & Moral Order (IVP)
Nicholas Wolterstorff, Justice: Rights & Wrongs (Princeton)
Nigel Simmonds, Law as a Moral Idea (OUP)
Alasdair MacIntyre, Whose Justice? Which Rationality? (Duckworth) or After Virtue (Notre Dame)
Graham Cray, Disciples & Citizens (IVP)
Chris Green (ed), God's Power to Save (Apollos)
Kevin Vanhoozer (ed), Trinity in a Pluralistic Age (Eerdmans)
Dave I have the feeling you're much better read than me, but books I've enjoyed recently include...
ReplyDeleteThe Temple and the Church's Mission (GK Beale)
An Invitation to the Classics (Cowan & Guinness)
1 Kings - Focus Commentary (DR Davis)
Above All Earthly Pow'rs (D Wells)
I'll have a think and might add a couple more.
woops - dont mean to oblige another purchase, but two others which might bridge our two interests and would be interesting to read together...
ReplyDeleteColin Gunton, The Barth Lectures (T&T Clark)
Paul Helm, John Calvin's Ideas (OUP)
I read the introduction to both in waterstones, and I was pretty hooked. The second one I'm especially keen to get because Helm's arranging Calvin in philosophical topics. With your theological nous & familiarity with Calvin, I'd be keen...
ps 1st list not exactly "must read". apologies. It's more an invitation if any of those grab you - it's a canvas of whole new directions for me. Thanks for your email btw.
ReplyDeleteI have a very short attention span so I tend towrds the punchy stimulating type.
ReplyDeleteWhat about 'Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace' by James Torrance. A most enjoyable read and really clearly uniting your passions for trinity and law/gospel.
I see you've read Dogmatics in Outline - 'Evangelical Theology' is another good short Barth intro.
To be honest I/1 might be a good investment - it's not as intimidating as it looks. III/1 is a more fun introduction to Church Dogmatics.
TF Torrance's 'Trinitarian Theology' was the book that flicked on the most lightbulbs for me while at college.
But if you were going to pick one - go for James Torrance.
Thanks a lot everyone. Some interesting suggestions. Sorry for taking so long to respond. Despite saying that I now have loads of time this last week has been really busy.
ReplyDeleteChris,
That is a pretty serious book list. I have been thinking of reading some Rowan Williams for a while so will probably read On Christian Theology. Is Law as a Moral Idea the book that Steve W keeps on recommending to me? He would be pleased if I read some Williams – and I suspect he is quite excited about Williams on Dostoevksy. He likes O’Donovan as well doesn’t he, but I don’t think I’m clever enough. I found Resurrection & Moral Order hard going and gave up a long time ago.
I also think I’ll read a Alasdair MacIntyre book because he seems to speak so much sense. Have you read After Virtue and Whose Justice? Which of the two would you recommend I start with?
I think Trinity in a Pluralistic Age is in my local second hand bookshop so may snap that up if it is still there.
Does buying two from the first mean I don’t need to buy one from the second list? I suppose it can as I make the rules. I don’t seem to get on with Paul Helm, and think I should read more of Barth himself before I start reading about him (good though the contents look).
Peter,
I may be getting greedy but I’ve been thinking of reading The Temple and the Church’s Mission for some time but been put off by the length (like Glen I have a short attention span). But I think it has got to a critical mass of recommendations so I will have to take the plunge. I think I may read David Wells book as well. I don’t know that I can buy an invitation to the classics without also committing to read another dozen books…
Feel free to add more though. BTW I reckon you read as much as me. I have a rate of giving up mid way through books.
Glen,
I’m with you on the short and punchy so will happily read James Torrance because it looks like it fits both criteria.
I’ll probably also read some more Barth and think about the TF Torrance.
Thanks again everyone. I really do appreciate it. I’m feeling much more fired up to do some reading. And most of it is outside my comfort zone which is always a healthy thing.
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ReplyDeleteDave, what an opportunity!
ReplyDeleteMay I please recommend:
Anscombe: Faith in a Hard Ground
I also recommend her Modern Moral Philosophy, which you can find on-line, which is similar - though much shorter and punchier - than MacIntyre's After Virtue, and which will leave you crunching your teeth any time you hear anyone in the popular media discussing a 'moral issue'.
Cormac McCarthy: The Road - if you only read one fiction book this year, let this be it and then read all his others.
I think the book I keep recommending is Finnis: Natural Law and Natural Rights, which I do recommend again. I am quite interested in Williams's Doestevsky book though I don't terribly like books about books. I've forgotten most of O'Donovan, which suggests I didn't really understand him either!
Steve!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you read this blog. Suddenly I'm even more intimidated.
I'll take your recommendation happily. The contents page looks interesting.
I have a friend here in York who loves Cormac McCarthy's The Road. And its really short so I expect I'll read that too.
I'm really excited to hear from you. I'll have to give you a call.
I hope you enjoy Anscombe. Her two page 'On the Hatred of God' bounces around my head a lot; I'd be interested to know what you think of it.
ReplyDeleteThe Road is short. (As the Hollies once sang.) I can't think of many better ways to fill a spare day than reading that book in a single sitting.
It would be good to talk.