Top Reads of 2024

First off, a disclaimer.

Not everything on this list was published in 2024. These are some books—both Christian and non-Christian—that I particularly enjoyed this past year. I don’t agree with everything in them, but I found them insightful, inspiring, and challenging.

1. Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future by Jean M. Twenge

If you want to understand our culture moment better—or maybe just get a better understanding of your parents, co-workers, and friends—Generations is a great place to start. Spanning three decades of research and 39 million people, Twenge chronicles the six American generations. The book contains more graphs than an algebra textbook, but it helps paint a picture of the differences across each generation. We could all show a little more grace to those ahead of us or behind us, and Twenge’s research helps us do just that.

2. Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi

I’m not a die hard tennis fan, but I’ve been told to read this book by several people over the last decade. I finally got around to it and was hooked early on. One thing that struck me was Agassi’s relationship with his father. The verbal abuse and psychological trauma were devastating—but reader is left wondering if Agassi would have achieved all he did without his father’s influence. There is some redemption in Agasis’s relationship with his coach though. It’s touching to see all he does for Andre and the ways he supports him through the ups and downs of divorce, injuries, and the grind of playing professional tennis for over twenty years.

3. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

This is another book I’ve been meaning to read for years. In the first half Frankl recounts his experience in a concentration camp, and it’s as devastating as you would expect it to be. In the second half Frankl unpacks his philosophy called logotherapy. A few favorite quotes: “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.”

And “suffering with meaning can be endured.”

4. The Pastor as Leader: Principles and Practices for Connecting Preaching and Leadership by John Currie

This was by far the best book on pastoral ministry I read this year. So many books on preaching and leadership seem to regurgitate the same material, but John Currie takes a unique approach. Curries’s chapters on vision and strategy are particularly effective because he lays a solid foundation for the pastor’s calling. This is a great book for both new and seasoned pastors.

5. Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

I loved Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, so I was excited to pick this up. Musk’s accomplishments with SpaceX, Tesla, and his acquisition of Twitter were significant, but one of the most insightful—and saddest—things to me about the book was the childhood trauma Musk went through. Between frequent bullying and the psychological abuse of his father, it’s shocking that Musk has been able to rise to pinnacle of influence in modern society.

6. Waiting Isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life by Mark Vroegop

This book is about the ‘gaps of life’ and how the Bible calls us to fill the void of uncertainty by waiting on God.

At just 158 pages, Waiting Isn’t a Waste is very manageable and chock full of Scripture. Vroegop admits his own struggles of waiting on God and outlines the practices that have helped him grow in this area over the years. Whether you are in the thick of your wait—or God just broke through for you—I highly recommend this one.

7. A Call to Contentment: Pursuing Godly Satisfaction in a Restless World by David Kaywood

Next to faith this is the highest art: to be content in the calling in which God has placed you. -Martin Luther

On this side of heaven, contentment will always be a relevant topic for every generation, but you could argue the need for it is more pressing now than ever in the digital age. All of us can relate to the “it’s never enough” feeling. Your house, car, clothes, friends—you can constantly see how they stack up to everyone else on social media. David Kaywood does a great job showing how contentment affects our relationship with God and others. Finally, he gives practical help to walk in Godly satisfaction.

8. Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? by Tim Keller

For me, forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed? - Bell Hooks

I feel guilty putting any Keller book towards the bottom of a list. The fact that I placed it 8th doesn’t reflect its quality. Forgive is Keller’s last published book before his death in May 2023. It will help you better understand what the Bible has to say about forgiveness and put it into practice.

9. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

The wood...taught us about survival, about overcoming difficulty, about prevailing over adversity, but it also taught us something about the underlying reason for surviving in the first place. Something about infinite beauty, about undying grace, about things larger and greater than ourselves. About the reasons we were all here.

I’ve been wanting to read The Boys in the Boat for a few years. I was able to tackle it this year and watch the new movie also. It is an inspiring story that follows the Washington rowing team and the various challenges they face on their way to winning gold in the 1936 olympics.

10. The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger

Robert Iger’s career journey is impressive. He started out on the television set of ABC in 1974 making $150 a week. In 2005, he was named the CEO of the Walt Disney Company. The Ride of a Lifetime covers his entire career with the lion’s share devoted to his time as CEO. The book is full of leadership lessons that anyone can benefit from.

Best Children’s Book

The Royal in You by Jordan Raynor

The Royal in You is helping my children better understand what the Bible really says about heaven. They are learning that King Jesus will one day bring heaven down to earth, and we will reign with him for eternity here—on the new earth. The illustrations are moving, and it’s been fun to see the gears spinning in their heads as we have more conversations.