Where has time gone?  It’s already June 10th, and I’ve not yet considered what I might like to read this summer.  Yes, I am a true book nerd—I usually have a Summer Reading List ready to go some time in May.  I’m late.  🙂

But sitting here working on plans for an upcoming business trip next week, I remembered that I will have 1.5 days of free time, on Hermosa Beach in California.  That’s 1.5 days to WRITE and to READ.  Yep. Yep. Yep.  This is awesome.  So, time for me to decide what I’m going to read while there and for the rest of the summer.

Back at the start of the year, I seriously thought that maybe I would read War and Peace this summer (told you–total book nerd).  It’s been on my shelf for so long; however, the only thing that has kept me from reading it and is keeping me from reading it now is the very idea that how many good books could I be reading in the time it would take me to read War and Peace?  That’s going to have to be a book for if and when I ever take a “real” vacation.

So, instead, I’ve visited my “To Read” Shelf on GoodReads and pulled up the following to create my “Summer Reading List”.  Hope you enjoy browsing–maybe you’ll find something you are interested in (if you click on the picture of the books below, it should take you to the Amazon page for that book):

I’m a huge reader of Timothy Keller’s works.  I find him to think in a similar way to how I think, yet also to challenge me on the conclusions that I come up with when I am thinking.  I was really hoping his new book on prayer would be released this summer, however it’s not due out until late fall this year.  However, this looks equally good and the reviews have all been excellent.  In Encounters with Jesus, Keller explores some of life’s questions by examining the interactions Jesus had with 10 different people or individuals.  I always tend to ask the big questions, repeatedly, and I also still struggle with the very personal-ness of Jesus.  I’m looking forward to this book stretching my understanding of who Jesus was and is.

Proof:  Finding Freedom through the Intoxicating Joy of Irresistible Grace by Daniel Montgomery and Timothy Paul Jones:  Joy and Grace–one is an attribute I fight for (Joy) and the other is a gift from God of which I am keenly aware of in my life (grace)–so how could I not at least explore this book?  It is a book on Calvinistic doctrines, but from what I’ve sampled and from the reviews, it looks to be far from a dry tome or a “predestination focused only” diatribe.  No, I think the authors have sought to present a book that explores grace from a firm Biblical stance.  And I know that I, for one, am incredibly grateful for God’s grace in my life and always hungry to read more about it.

I love words.  Love them.  And I so appreciate people who are able to use words well to communicate truth and thoughts.  John Piper (who, himself, is fantastic with words) brings us the lives of three word-lovers in this newish addition to the “Swans are Not Silent” series.  The writers featured in this book are George Herbert, George Whitefield, and (who I affectionately refer to as “my uncle”) C.S. Lewis.  I’m looking forward to reading about these great men and writers, and how they used words to communicate the wonder of God.

Here is something I know nothing about.  I know nothing about Johnstown, Pennsylvania nor the flood that decimated it in 1889.  But I have always appreciated David McCullough’s ability to bring history to life and make it absolutely riveting time and time again.

One of many key questions on my journey toward faith was “Is scripture truth?”  I wanted so badly to know that the words I read–the stories I knew–were real and were relevant to this life.  There are still days that I will read something in scripture and my mind will ask the question “Is this truth?  Can I believe what this says?”  In Taking God at His Word, Kevin DeYoung lays out why the Bible is trustworthy and sufficient for our lives.  I’m also particularly looking forward to his appendix, which will contain a list of 30 more books on scripture.  (Yep, book nerd)

Bonus Book:  Ok, I admit it, Michael Jordan still fascinates me.  No, I’m not a huge sports-watching fan.  But there was something about watching Jordan play ball that was captivating.  And, I love a good biography.  So, I’ve picked this as my “mindless” read of the summer.

There you have it…my 2014 Summer Reading list (unless some other book comes up that I simply have to read).  So, what are you reading this summer?  🙂