July & August 2021 Reading Reflections
I finished five books in July and August:
The Liturgy of Politics by Kaitlyn Schiess (InterVarsity, 2020)
I read a lot from a variety of thought leaders on the topic of Christian faith and politics, mostly in the range of Twitter threads to mid-length essays. Perhaps because of that saturation, I did not glean as much new insight or have as many thoughts provoked from Schiess’ book as I had expected. That being said, I greatly appreciate her substantive contribution to this important conversation and if it a topic of interest to you, and you have not otherwise found a lot of material, it would make an excellent starting point. Available at various retailers as listed on Schiess’ website.
Broadband: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire Evans (Penguin, 2018)
Naomi had found this at the library and passed it over to me to read after finishing it. It is a chronological survey of the major milestones in the development of computer science and of the Internet, and the crucial contributions of women along the way. Gets a little dry at times describing some of the previous-generation technology but overall an engaging read. Available at various retailers as listed on Evans' website.
He Saw That It Was Good: Reimagining Your Creative Life to Repair a Broken World by Sho Bakara (Penguin, 2021)
I saw this on the new release display at the local library and noticing it was enthusiastically endorsed by a number of other authors I had read and admired, added it to my own reading list. Part memoir, part assessment of the role of the arts and storytelling, informed by Christian faith, in the face of systemic injustices. Available at various retailers as listed on Bakara’s website. One excerpt:
When Christianity becomes a religion for the privileged, we can begin to selectively accept those biblical principles that best fit our social status. Similar to redistricting a city, we change the rules to the advantage of the powerful. We essentially redefine what is righteous and what is sinful. If these practices continue, then the church will become a homogenous social club. We must be vigilant in resisting a Jesus who seems to say only what we want to hear or a gospel that perpetuates ideas that benefit only our existing cultural structures. No matter who we are, the gospel should challenge us.
American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country by Jack Jenkins (HarperCollins, 2020)
I have been following Jenkins’ writing and reporting for a number of years now and after having had his book on the “Religious Left” (quotation marks because the term is not really self-used by those who would qualify for that label!) on my Amazon wishlist for some time, found it at the local library. It is a well-researched exploration of often disparate streams of activism and civic engagement (as well as presidential campaigns) in support of liberal policy positions from people of faith. Available at various retailers as listed on Jenkins’ website.
The Weight of Memory by Shawn Smucker (Baker, 2021)
Have been attempting to read a bit more fiction this year and found this novel recommended in a magazine. It was a page-turner, a light thriller story of a man wrestling with a terminal disease and unresolved pain from his past, while also trying to ensure a future for his granddaughter. Available at various retailers as listed on Smucker’s website.
