December 2022
Well, winter showed up, and it’s been a cold one so far. Fall was longer and milder than it usually is and I suppose the cold is making up for all that nice weather we had. I took a trip to New Mexico to help with the annual kiln firing. I mostly got in the way and did my best to slow down my dad and uncle as we tried to heat the wood-fired kiln up to 2700ish degrees to properly fire all the glazed pieces he had loaded into it. Firing is a lot of work and a lot of fun unless you get in the way of the little boys running the hose on the coal cart. Then it’s cold!
Here are the books I finished in December 2022 and my short reviews of them:
Shorts
The Road to Redunktion by Jack Black
This is the story of Tenacious D, the ridiculous comedic rock band starring Jack Black and Kyle Gass. The two started rocking with just two acoustic guitars and grew to a majestic comedy rock show that toured all over. They did some tv shows and a movie. Their songs are hilarious, vulgar, and crazy. My favorite is Tribute to the Greatest Song in the World. It was interesting hearing their story including the ups, downs, struggles, disappointments, and a trip to rehab.
Fiction Books
The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
Father Brown is a priest from Chesterton who is the star of this collection of mysteries. He uses his keen powers of observation and a wealth of criminal ideas which he has gathered from a lifetime of listening to confessions to solve a different crime in each chapter of the book. The attention to detail he uses feels like Sherlock Holmes. Father Brown is able to get into the criminal’s frame of mind, deduce their motives, and follow the clues to the logical solution. My favorite is the first story, The Blue Cross, where Father Brown leads the police on a confusing chase across the city as he and his disguised rival Flambeau travel with a priceless treasure, which Flambeau is trying to steal. Using subtle distractions Father Brown makes sure the police can follow at each turn in their trail. These are short and interesting stories, that can be shared with younger readers, though some of the older English might take some explaining. Thank you for the recommendation, Jason.
This is for sleuths and crime solvers.
(Rated PG, Score 7/10, audiobook read by Frederick Davidson, 8:41)
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia #1)
This is the latest set of books Jet picked for us to read together. The Chronicles of Narnia series begins with this fantastic creation story. Digory meets Polly and the two children find themselves in the middle of a magic experiment. Digory’s uncle Andrew is a minor magician meddling with powers he doesn’t fully understand. Uncle Andrew tricks Polly into trying on a magic ring which takes her to the wood between the worlds. Then he sends Digory to bring her back. Digory and Polly visit a dying world named Charn as the experiment progresses. There, Digory awakes a powerful and evil enchantress named Jadis. Jadis forces the children to take her to the magician who sent them, then she tries to take over our world. Digory and Polly use their magic rings to take the witch Jadis back to the wood between the worlds, and then into a brand new world called Narnia. In Narnia, they watch the great lion Aslan sing the world into existence. Jadis panics, attacks Aslan, and then runs away. Unfazed, Aslan continues his creation and then he sends Digory on a mission. Because Digory brought the evil witch into Narnia, he is tasked with retrieving a fruit from the far-off tree of life which he must plant in Narnia to protect the land from the witch. Digory and Polly travel by flying horse to the mountains where Digory finds the tree of life and the witch who tempts him to take the fruit for his own. Digory almost caves, until the witch goes too far and suggests they leave Polly behind. That thought snaps Digory back to himself and he understands the evil of the witch. He and Polly return to Aslan and Digory plants the tree that will protect Narnia from the witch. Digory thinks that by following Aslan’s command he has sacrificed his chance to heal his sick mother, but Aslan knows his heart and allows Digory to take a fruit from the new tree. Aslan sends Digory and Polly back to London, where the fruit heals and restores Digory’s mother. The children plant the core of the fruit with the magic rings and the resulting tree eventually becomes a wardrobe- the wardrobe in the second book. Jet said the book is very good and his favorite part was when they were exploring Narnia as it was being created.
This is for readers of all ages, especially adventurers.
(Rated G, Score 10/10, paperback, 106p., audiobook read by Kenneth Branagh, 3:57)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia #2)
The four Pevensie children get shipped out of London to their uncle’s house in the rural countryside to keep them safe during the war. They discover the wardrobe, which is a portal from our world to Narnia. Narnia is many centuries older than in book 1, and the White Witch has made it always winter and never Christmas. The arrival of the children and Aslan marks a change in the balance of power. But one of the children, Edmond, turns traitor and tries to sell his siblings to the witch for power and tasty food. Aslan orchestrates Edmund’s rescue just before the White Witch can execute him. Enraged, she gathers her army and arranges a meeting with Aslan where she claims the traitor’s blood as her right citing the deep magic written on the Stone Table at the dawn of time. Aslan negotiates with the witch, then moves his camp and helps his leaders prepare for battle. That night he offers himself as an innocent sacrifice for Edmond and the evil army kills him on the Stone Table. You are missing out if you haven’t read this book or seen the movie. I won’t give away the ending here. This story holds many truths and powerful moments. The theme of redemption is especially powerful. I enjoy this book each time I revisit it.
This is for adventurers, traitors, and beavers.
(Rated PG, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Michael York, 4:21)
Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski (Witcher #3)
The world is in chaos as the war between the Nilfgaardians and the Northern Kingdoms ravages the small towns being swallowed up by violence. Geralt, the Witcher, is being healed by the dryads in Brokilon Forest after nearly being killed in book 2. He is collecting news from the war and world using an archer named Milva, who acts as a guide in the forest for refugees. When Geralt has recovered enough to travel, he sets out on a rescue mission, seeking Ciri in the south, toward the war front. He accidentally builds a traveling fellowship, which includes Dandelion the bard, Milva, a group of dwarves, a vampire named Regis, and a Nilfgaardian soldier who claims not to be a Nilfgaardian. The fellowship works their way through many adventures caused by the war, and eventually, they learn that Ciri is not in the south and could be anywhere in the world. Ciri is still in the company of “The Rats”, and is learning the lifestyle of an outlaw. She doesn’t know about the Witcher’s attempts to find her, or the society of sorceresses that is being established with the intent of making her Queen of the world. This book had a lot more adventure and fewer politics, so it was easier for me to follow.
This is for the rescuers and the seekers.
(Rated R, Score 6/10, audiobook read by Peter Kenny, 11:59)
The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia #3)
The horse, Bree, and his boy, Shasta, meet one night when Bree’s master tries to buy the boy from his adopted father who is a poor fisherman in Calormen. Shasta discovers that Bree is a talking Narnian horse. Bree and Shasta work together and run away, seeking Narnia and the free north. When escaping from a lion, Bree and Shasta run into another pair of runaways, Aravis, a princess running away from a forced marriage, and her talking horse, Hwin. The four travel together, discovering a plot by the Calormen Prince Rabadash to invade Archenland and Narnia. They race across the desert to warn King Lune of the coming attack. When they don’t think they can go on, a lion shows up and provides the extra urgency they need to finish their mission. Shasta learns that he is actually a prince of Archenland, and he and his twin, Corin join the fight against the Calormen to defend their castle. Shasta, Aravis, Bree, and Hwin learn that their luck with lions may not have been what they first expected, as the great Lion Aslan explains their stories in the end.
This is for orphans, princesses, and those who question the big-picture plans of the lion.
(Rated PG, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Alex Jennings, 4:41)
Non-Fiction Books
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
This little gem came up in an Audible sale recently and I couldn’t help myself. This book is an introduction to Chinese philosophical thoughts of Taoism which uses the stories and characters a lot of us are more familiar with. Hoff uses stories and examples from Pooh to describe the six principles of Taoism. One of these principles, P’u, is the principle of the uncarved block. Pooh is just a simple bear living his natural way and not complicating or overthinking life. He lets life work out in his favor, validating the principle and making him the hero and central character of his books. Hoff uses the stories from Winnie-The-Pooh and The House on Pooh Corner to make these eastern philosophical concepts more accessible. He contrasts the behaviors and stress of Tigger and Rabbit as they work and try too hard to be something they aren’t to the way Pooh cruises through life letting things work out on their own. This book was a great reminder for me to be present in each moment. To give up being too busy. To not try so hard to plan everything out at the expense of getting started. To trust the universe to work out for me as I walk in the natural flow of things.
This is for thinkers, hurriers, and silly ol’ bears.
(Rated G, Score 7/10, audiobook read by Simon Vance, 2:46)
Mastering Fear by Brandon Webb
I was a little skeptical going into this book, but I got a great deal on it during an Audible sale and I am very pleased with the value I got from it. Webb outlines a basic practical strategy for attacking fear by breaking it down into five manageable steps: Decide, rehearse, let go, jump off, and know what matters most. The process is intended to change the monologue (Jon Acuff calls it a Soundtrack) in your head so you can control your fear and your reaction to situations you fear. Webb developed the steps while teaching his friend to overcome his fear of water. He taught him how to swim. Webb forced his friend to decide and commit. Webb explained every step before they did it, from blowing bubbles in the water, to submerging, to floating, to bobbing, to finally doing some simple back and side strokes. Webb forced his friend to let go of his safety (the wall of the pool). And finally, his friend was able to jump off the side of the pool and do a cannonball into the pool. All of these steps were fueled by knowing that what his friend wanted was on the other side of his fear. Webb goes into greater detail on each step, chapter by chapter. In the decision chapter, he explains ways to make better decisions- be fit, healthy, and rested. Trust your gut. Ask wise people for help. In the rehearsal chapter, he explains visualizing techniques. He talks about how to start practicing simple concepts and then move to more difficult aspects of the skills you are trying to master-first crawl, then walk, then run. For letting go Webb talks about how safety is an illusion and how most fears live in our past. We are all going to die so we might as well live while we can. We can only live by letting go of the safety lines and our excuses. For jumping off, Webb talks about how we have to ask for what we want. We have to practice asking and be ready to have people give us what we want. By asking, we trigger action. By asking we exercise our faith. Jumping off is visceral. Jumping off is living. Finally, Webb circles back around and talks about how none of those steps for mastering fear work if we don’t have the big picture in mind. He calls it knowing what matters most. As I thought through some of the ideas in this book, I could see how they have worked at different times in my life and now I have a better framework to use to talk about them. For me, what matters most is my family. I love to provide for and protect my family. When things scare me, I try to lean in and overcome them rather than run away from them. It’s not easy, but it is the most rewarding.
This is for anyone trying to overcome a specific (or general) fear.
(Rated R, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Johnathan McClain, 4:53)
Not In It To Win It by Andy Stanley
This book is a scathing letter to the American church from pastor Andy Stanley. He is angry about the way the church has behaved over the last few years, and he’s right. The American church has become divided along political lines and has allowed politics to take over the discussion, mission, and values of the church, especially since the pandemic shutdown. Stanley argues that the church has adopted the wrong mindset-winning at all costs. He suggests that we need to go back to the beginning of the Christian movement and see how Jesus changed the world. He changed it by losing. He brought a different way of thinking. He turned the ancient world on its head. He said that to be first in the Kingdom of God, you had to be last, and the greatest would be the slave of all. But the church isn’t acting like Jesus. The church is acting like the media and politicians- picking sides and angling to win and alienating those who don’t agree. Jesus prayed for unity for his church, and the only way the church will be able to get back to changing the world will be to go back to washing each other’s feet. The church cannot win a secular war. It was never meant to. It was made to serve. I was deeply convicted by this book and I intend to revisit it. It takes a lot of wisdom and courage to call people out on this level and I appreciate the guts it takes to write hard truths like this.
This is for American Christians who need a reality check.
(Rated PG, Score 9/10, audiobook read by the author, 5:11)
I didn’t know what this book was about when I started it. I just knew the author is funny, and this was a short book my library had available when I needed something to listen to. This book is about when to quit your day job to chase your dream job, and it’s funny because the author spends the whole first chapter telling all the readers not to quit their day jobs (yet). The book is based on the lessons Acuff learned chasing his own dream. So, first, Acuff says to keep your day job so you can say no, stay dangerous, and not trade a good thing for a whole bunch of pressure and needs. If you quit your day job without a plan, you end up scrambling to make ends meet and working with a whole lot of stress you can avoid by approaching the whole process patiently and deliberately. Work in parallel. Fall in like with your day job you don’t love. Use your day job to prepare for your dream job. Work hard and learn lessons that apply to your current job and your dream job. Treat your job as an advocate, not an adversary. Find your dream by finding your passion. Once you have your passion squarely in mind, practice what your dream is. If your passion is writing, write. Practice hard. Hustle. Work on your dream early in the morning before your excuses wake up. Measure your hustle, not your success. Most dreams take a while to grow. Hone your craft. Then, after you have practiced, build a plan to get out of that day job. After you’ve hustled to build your platform, figure out how to build on it to fund your dream. Then you quit your job. This book makes a ton of sense. It’s practical, and funny, and helped me understand how to chase my dreams better.
This is for anyone wanting to chase their dreams and fire their boss (but not right away).
(Rated PG, Score 7/10, audiobook read by the author, 5:45)
The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni
Like Lencioni’s other books, this book is a leadership parable, followed by a further explanation of the model being presented. In this case, the model breaks work up into three phases- Ideation, activation, and implementation. Each of these phases is then divided into two genius types. Ideation contains wonder and invention. Activation contains discernment and galvanizing. Implementation contains enablement and tenacity. The argument is that all work flows through these six areas and that each person will be gifted in two areas, competent or neutral in two areas, and will be frustrated in the remaining two. The more a worker’s tasks and responsibilities allow them to work in their areas of genius, the higher their energy levels and success. The more the worker is forced to work in their areas of frustration, the more quickly they will experience burnout. The model is easy to understand and can be applied almost instantly by individuals and groups. I intend to dig into this more and see how it helps my productivity and engagement at work.
This is for all types of workers looking for more joy and fulfillment in their work.
(Rated PG-13, Score 9/10, audiobook read by Ray Porter, 4:11)
Preview/Currently Reading-
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia #4)
The Egg and Other Stories by Andy Weir
I track my books in a database called Goodreads. You might find it helpful in managing your reading lists.
Final Thoughts-
It was a crazy busy December. I’m pleased to have been able to spend most of it with my family.
Having a week without school, work, or kid activities was a little weird, but we all needed the rest and wind-down time.
Here are my top books of 2022. Click on the link to see each collection of reviews with all the usual details.
Top Five Non-Fiction Books of 2022:
5- Kelly
4- The Infinite Game3
3- Soundtracks
2- Atlas of the Heart
1- Five Presidents
Top Five Fiction Books of 2022:
5- The Old Man and the Sea
4- The Hobbit
3- The Golem and the Jinni
2- Skyward
1- I am Pilgrim
My #1 book of 2022- This was the longest, most novel, and the most brain-stretching book I read this year: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archives 1)
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have brilliant plans for the new year.
Thanks for adventuring with me.
Joshua
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