Most of my friends like to read, too, and we like to read things based on each other's recommendations. Here's an email I sent to a girl last spring who asked me...well, just read it.
From: Tim Perkins <Single-user mode> To: Blakely B Adams <adamsbb@mail.auburn.edu> Subject: Book recommendations (get ready for a long email) Send reply to: tperkins@auburn.campus.mci.net Date sent: Wed, 21 May 1997 19:17:16 Get comfortable, Blakely. This is a long message. When people ask me to recommend books, I can really get going. > I've only read about 50 pages- but so fAr I'm impressed...it hits > home because I deal with parents who still hold fast to a "Jesus is my > boyfriend" mindset I'm not sure I know what you mean by this. >...also has given much Scripture to support > conversations I've had since FREEDOM on how theology shades every aspect > of ministry and worship and teaching. I've got a lot of pent-up frustrations about "Freedom". I hear talk that some want to scale it back and make it a yearly or quarterly event. UGH. By the way, I hear that you girls in the dorm are really taking it on the chin from your warm-hearted evanglical friends who can't comprehend your non-support of revivalism. I went to a "training" seminar (the one that Steve conducted) and had a good laugh to myself at some of the terminology used by the organizers. It brought back memories of myself when I first became a Christian. I guess I used to be pretty "warm-hearted", too. > What book are you reading now?? I'm actually reading two; I always try to keep one on theology, one on history (usually the War Between the States), and one just for fun all going at the same time. I'm between history books right now (although I've got my next one picked out), my fun one is called "Master and Commander," the first book in a series of British sea novels set in the Napoleonic era (around 1800), and then, "Back to Basics," an intro to reformed theology edited by David Hagopian. It's a compilation of 4 essays entitled (in order) "Conversion" (predestination),"The Covenant" (covenant theology), "The Church", and "The Christian Life." I got it specifically for the section on covenant theology, because I thought I needed some shoring up on the subject. Actually, I just needed to learn about it, period. It's a good book, but I'm flying through it. After I finish it I'm either going to read "Charity and its Fruits" by Jonathan Edwards or a biography of Edwards that I bought; I haven't decided yet. > Make me a top ten list of your favorite > books...I'm going tohave time on my hands this summerto read like crazy... Oho! Here's a challenge. After some careful consideration, here's my top ten, in no particular order. I've also given my opinions on them. ------- TIM PERKINS'S TOP TEN LIST OF GOOD BOOKS, THEOLOGICAL AND OTHERWISE. 1. _The Pilgrim's Progress_, by John Bunyan. >There's a reason why this is the best selling book in history next to the Bible; it's the best book ever written next to the Bible. Every Christian should read this book, not just once but periodically throughout their lives. If you can only get one book, this is the one you should get. 2. _Holiness_, J.C. Ryle. >Also highly recommended. A collection of essays, he begins to repeat himself a little bit after a few chapters, but this is without question the best book on sanctification you'll probably ever read. GET IT. 3. _The Pleasures of God_, John Piper. >Written by a reformed Baptist, this is a good counterbalance to Horton's pugnaciousness. A collection of essays about what gives God pleasure, what he enjoys. Very uplifting; he has another one, _Desiring God_, that I haven't read, but it's supposed to be just as good. 4. _The Great Divorce_, C.S. Lewis. >A short book about a bus ride where denizens of Hell go to Heaven one afternoon and have conversations with people they knew on earth. Sort of in the tradition of Pilgrim's Progress; you'll see yourself in some of the characters. You could probably read it in an afternoon. 5. _Revival and Revivalism_, Iain Murray. >A RINGING INDICTMENT of Freedom '97. Covers the history of God's work in America from the close of the Great Awakening to around 1850. Quoting Steve Malone: "The first half will make you happy, the second will make you mad." Explains true revival and contrasts it with the humanistic "revivalism" practiced by Finney and the rest--and nearly every evangelical church today. I was reading it during Freedom, and I'm actually glad I didn't get the opportunity to talk with any pro-F97 people. I'd have bitten their heads off. 6. _Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God_, Jonathan Edwards. >The most famous sermon ever preached by the best preacher ever born in America. Get the original language version published by P & R Publishing, not the one sold by Cumberland Valley (it's crappy). 7. _Ideas Have Consequences_, Richard Weaver. >This is a tough one to read. Weaver was a professor of English and Rhetoric at the U. of Chicago; he wrote this just after WWII. It's sort of philosophy and social commentary wrapped into one, and it's frightening how applicable it is today. I can't really describe it in one paragraph, other than to say bring your dictionary along when you read it. I fortunately was able to study it with Dr. Alderman (Dean of Business, Fiji advisor), and profit from his insight (he'd studied it with others). If you decide to tackle it, don't get discouraged if you don't understand everything. *I* sure didn't, and I still put it in my top ten. 8. _The Life and Campaigns of Lt. General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson_, Rev. Dr. R.L. Dabney >Don't laugh--I'm serious. This is definitely one of the best books I've ever read. According to a friend of mine, Dabney was one of the last bulwarks of conservatism in the Presbyterian Church; after his death it began to drift. But in addition to being a brilliant theologian, he was also Jackson's chief of staff and an ardent supporter of the South. This biography (and it really is an accurate one), describes Jacksons strong character and the unflinching faith that guided his life. There are some real jewels here. Not to mention an intelligent defense of secession! At one point he digresses for about a chapter and a half to explain Virginia's legal right to withdraw from the Union. I loved it! 9. _Lee: the Last Years_, Charles Bracelen Flood. >I'm a firm believer in reading biographies, especially of men who stand out in history; Lee was without question one of the greatest men of character ever born. This book details the five years from his surrender at Appomattox to his death. There are a few good biographies of Lee, and this is one of them. 10. _The Civil War_, Shelby Foote. >Can you see a pattern here? You didn't say anything about limiting the categories, so I didn't. This is a massive 3-volume, 3000+ page work that describes the _entire_ _war_, beginning to end. The history is accurate, the writing superb (Foote's a novelist by trade), and since Foote's from Mississippi, he has the proper perspective (although he bent over backwards to be objective). A *must* for anyone who wants to learn about the War. I've read it, Steve's read it, and I think Sam Bryant said she's reading it. As a fine southern young lady from Montgomery (the cradle of the Confederacy), you ought to make sure you've got a working knowledge of the War of Northern Aggression. ;-) That's it; I'll just add that always be on the lookout for good fiction, too--but DISCRIMINATE. Some modern fiction is good, classics are better. Some examples of what I like are _The Lord of the Rings_ and _Gone With the Wind_. Don't get caught in the mindset (like I did) that novels are a waste of your time. There's nothing like a good story. Also, if you'd like me to, I've got a couple of other "recommended reading lists"; one by Paul Hahn (RUF leader before Steve) and one by Dr. Doyle. I can dig those up if you like. Also, I'm going to get Mike Alsup to put together a list for me. We're still doing the Confession study it shouldn't be to hard to get it from him. Whew! I don't think I've ever written an email that long. Hope I haven't given you eye strain from having to look at the computer screen that long. TP