Best Books of 2024

I didn’t read as many books as I’d hoped in 2024, but I read some good ones. Here are the top books I’ve read this year, and why I liked them.

In no particular order:

The Hidden White House: Harry Truman and the Reconstruction of America's Most Famous Residence

I'm a little surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. President Harry Truman renovated the White House from 1948 to 1952. Before the renovation, the White House was practically falling apart. The renovation was so extensive that it completely gutted and rebuilt the White House from the inside. The only thing left was the external shell of the building.

This is a great story with a lot of interesting details and a somewhat disappointing result. It's good bedtime reading.

Unrequited Infatuations: A Memoir

I thought Stevie Van Zandt was just a part of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, but I learned from this memoir that he's much more. He played a role in the fall of apartheid in South Africa. He's worked extensively behind the scenes in the music industry. And he's accomplished an incredible amount in his career as an actor and musician.

I don't agree with many of his positions, and he's far from a Christian. But I sure do appreciate seeing somebody remarkably gifted and how he's used his talents. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read.

The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis

This is one of those books I knew I would want to read the minute I heard about it. We've all watched movies and TV shows that feature the Situation Room. This book takes you behind the scenes and tells you the real story.

It features historic events from the time of President Kennedy right until the end of Trump's first term, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of Kennedy and attempted assassination of Reagan, the 9-11 attack, the raid on Osama bin Laden, and more.

It's a fascinating piece of American history.

Elisabeth Elliot: A Life

Elizabeth Elliot was a well-known Christian and the widow of her first husband, Jim, who was martyred for his faith. I thought I knew about Elliot, but her life turned out to be much different than I expected. She really doesn't fit neatly into any categories. As she grew older, she seemed to become more open and honest, yet still struggled in significant ways. I do wish this book had an abridged edition, but it was good reading and very encouraging to see how God was at work in Elizabeth Elliot's life.

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

For a long time, Europeans believed that the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, concealed the lost kingdom of El Dorado. Thousands died trying to look for it. This is the story of one explorer who ventured into the Amazon jungle to search for it and never returned.

It's a great story, and it's hard to believe that it's actually true.

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

This is the second story by David Grann that appears on my list. It's a tale of shipwreck, survival, and savagery. It's hard to imagine a period when empires were sending rickety ships with scarce supplies into an unknown world with the faint hope that they would return. Incredible story. Again, it's hard to believe it's actually true.

De-sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next

This book is essential reading for pastors and members of small churches. We're often led to believe that small churches don't matter. In this book, Karl Vaters provides a history of the church growth movement and shows where it went wrong. He also highlights some of the negative effects of being obsessed with size. Finally, he offers practical steps on how we can pursue health, no matter the size of our church. I really appreciated this book.

If you’re interested, I interviewed Vaters about his book on the Gospel for Life podcast.

Books I Haven't Finished Yet

Books I wish I’d read in time to include on this list are:

• Theo of Golden — Trevin Wax listed this book as a favorite. I just started reading it, and I can see why.
• To the Tenth Generation: God’s Heart for Your Family, Far into the Future by Ray and Jani Ortlund — I pretty much want to read anything that Ray or Janie Ortlund write. In this book, they provide encouragement about why our families matter more than we think. It's such an important book to read.
• What It Means to Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church by Gavin Ortlund — Many of us have noticed a shift of evangelicals towards Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. In this book, Gavin Ortlund addresses this trend and provides a compelling case for Protestantism. I always appreciate Gavin's work, and I can't wait to read this one.
• The Harada Method: The Spirit of Self-Reliance by Norman Bodek and Takashi Harada — I first heard about this book because it describes a method that Shohei Ohtani used to develop his skills through goal setting. I don't love the subtitle, and you do have to work through what you like and don't like in this book, but I'm finding some really helpful things in it. If you're interested in a different kind of self-help book, then this book will help you look at your habits and make changes to become more disciplined and intentional in your life.