Current Reads, Listens, and Link Love

Plus a writing workshop!

While the days are beginning to shorten and the kids are back in school, I wish I had countless hours to curl up with a book. To that end, I’m going to be highlighting books of all stripes that I’m reading (and other odds and ends I’m enjoying). Feel free to add your own in the comments.

I’m reading…

• Yascha Mounk, The Identity Trap: I’m reading this for an interview with the author on Russell Moore’s show (which I produce). (To clarify: Russell does the interviews; I do the research, prep and edits). It’s an interesting and nuanced way of thinking about how ideology can go to an extreme. I’m sure to have more later when I get further in, but the intro is fantastic.

• How Fiction Works, James Wood: A friend gifted this to me, as I’d like to try my hand at some fiction. I’m enjoying reading about how our closeness to the narrator impacts how we think about characters.

• The Galveston Diet, Mary Claire Haver: As I’m heading into my mid-forties, I’ve also spent a fair bit of time thinking about longevity, health, hormones, and am trying to focus on solid nutrition and muscle development over the last several months. The goal is to be an active grandma one day! All of this takes time (and research).

I’m listening to…

• Steve Cuss on “functional theology” was illuminating and practical.

• Curt Thompson — Series 7 on Being Known Podcast is all about confessional communities. It’s a beautiful picture of what it looks like to be both known and loved. I’d be curious to know if churches have worked on this.

• Barbie soundtrack, especially at the gym. :)

From me…

• If you haven’t listened to The Cartographers Podcast, Bryce and I do a podcast about cultural shifts and Christian faith. We’ve recently had Harrison Scott Key to speak about humor as an antidote to the culture wars, Brandon Washington to talk about racial identity and evangelicalism, and Susannah Black Roberts to share about beauty as an antidote to culture warring.
  
  I hope you’ll listen and share. (And sign up for our newsletter coming soon!)

• I’ve written here and there about imagination and what it looks like in the life of church leadership; this time, I wrote about how it can change pastoral leadership in a time of culture war for Christianity Today.

Lastly, coming up on October 20, Mike Cosper and I will be leading a 3.5 hour writing workshop to help participants write to the heart. This is a great live experience to help you fill the well, practice good technique, and think like an editor. It’s ideal for communicators — if you write a newsletter or speak regularly, church communication teams, nonprofit leaders, and writers! The price goes up after tomorrow (September 15)! More details here.

Let me know what you’re reading and listening to these days.