The Death of Ivan Ilyich
This is a classic novella by Leo Tolstoy. I recently saw it recommended in a list of novels, short stories, and essays that explore Biblical themes. My wife and I read a little each evening for a couple of weeks, usually one chapter per night. Tolstoy wrote it with a good pace so, although it […]
Growth in spiritual vitality
Spiritual vitality. The energy and drive with which Christians live their lives.
Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap? by Graham Allison
I’ve been on a China kick lately, and like Paul Kennedy’s The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, this book was recommended by Ray Dalio. Having finished it, I see why he suggested reading it. Allison examines the way that Thucydides’ Trap has played out since the late 1400s between 16 different country pairs. […]
The Law of Undulation
In his book The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis writes from the perspective of a fictional senior demon. Screwtape, who is an instructor to other demons, is corresponding through letters to his nephew and student tempter, Wormwood. The book is packed with insight into how the demonic world strategizes and plans attacks on humanity and the […]
Guerrilla Hostage: 810 Days in Captivity, by Denise Marie Siino
This is the story of the kidnapping and captivity of Ray Rising, a missionary who served Christ with SIL in Columbia. He was taken by guerrillas and held for over two years. I read most of the book out loud with my wife, usually reading one chapter each night before bed. Don’t worry, it didn’t […]