My Fall Reading List...

So every season, I order books to be on my reading list. Here is the list for this fall, ordered today. (Not in any order of importance.)

• The Pastor’s Guide to Youth Ministry by Amy E. Jacoberli
• Silos, Politics and Turf Wars: A Leadership Fable About Destroying the Barriers that Turn Colleagues into Competitors by Patrick M. Lencionili
• Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers by Alissa Quart
• First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham
• God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It by Jim Wallis
• The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne
• Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
  
• The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Tells Us about Our Kids by Barbara Strauchi
• Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace by Gordon MacKenzie
• What Matters Most? Keys to Protecting Your Life and Your Ministry by Doug Fields
• The Danger of Raising Nice Kids: Preparing Our Children to Change Their World by Timothy Smith
• Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture: Bridging Teen Worldviews and Christian Truth by Walt Mueller
• Youth Leader Training on the Go by Doug Fields
• Girls’ Ministry 101: Ideas for Retreats, Small Groups and Everyday Life with Teenage Girls by Whitney Prosperi
• Teenage Girls: Exploring Issues Adolescent Girls Face and Strategies to Help Them by Ginny Olson
• Teenage Guys: Exploring Issues Adolescent Guys Face and Strategies to Help Them by Steve Gerali
• Deep Ministry in a Shallow World: Not-So-Secret Findings about Youth Ministry by Chap Clark
• Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus by Mark Yaconelli
Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication by Andy Stanley.

I will do a review of each book as I read it. As I have said previously, I am a reading freak. Here are some keys to becoming a great reader:
1. Don't have cable TV or reliable internet at your house. You'd be amazed at the time you find on your hands.
2. Read to learn and for enjoyment. As you can see, I have a wide mix of books, from ministry specific to business world books, mainly because a certain pastor told me I need more business books and less Brennan Manning. See I am growing...becoming more corporate. I can't wait until my three piece suit arrives. And my pocket protector. And my Dale Carnegie library.
3. If you hit a wall, stop and do something else. People who read and feel like they aredrudging through something need to take a break. And, if something stinks, quit reading it and move on. Too many good books in the world.
4. Read what you want and what interests you. Don't try and read a ton of major philosophy books if that isn't what interests you. You'll do better reading for yourself and your own growth. Pick books that will stretch you sometimes but don't read books that don't interest you.

Until they get here I am reading liberally from my Eugene Peterson Pastoral Library. I forgot how great and challenging Peterson's thoughts are to me! I may post some quotes in the coming days...