Recently, Jon Acuff tweeted about a couple books he was reading this year. His goal is to read 12 non-fiction books by the end of the 2012 (one a month). I think that’s a great goal, and very realistic and manageable.
I make a concerted effort to read 30 minutes a day a book that will help me grow in my leadership and ministry. I’ve had that goal for about eight years now.
Jon Acuff sharing his reading list inspired me to share some of the books I’ve read or will read in 2012. This is obviously not a complete list, as I often find books along the way, but here are some that I think will help me in my ministry.
Quitter, by Jon Acuff (speaking of). This was a great book to read and provides a lot of motivation (no, I’m not going to quit my job in ministry).
Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry: From a Strategy of Influence to a Theology of Incarnation, by Andrew Root (youth ministry is a passion of mine and is still one of my primary ministries)
Great By Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck–Why Some Thrive Despite Them All, by Jim Collins (I’ve read many of Collins’ books, and I’m looking forward to this one)
They Call Her Pastor: A New Role for Catholic Women, by Ruth Wallace (I’m studying leadership and organizational development for my doctorate program, so this should serve as an interesting read)
Leadership Without Easy Answers, by Ronald Heifetz (Heifitz has written some great books on adaptive leadership)
Mojo: How To Get It, How To Keep It, How To Get It Back If You Lost It, by Marshall Goldsmith (I read another books of his a couple years back, so I’m giving him another try)
Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging, by Mark Waltz (all about engaging people in to church)
Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood, by Christian Smith (he is the lead researcher of the longitudinal study on youth and religion, and is following these youth as they grow into young adults)
What are you reading this year?
Thank you for the reminder that I need to re-read Heifitz’s Leadership on the Line. Our diocesan Board of Catholic Education is finishing up a study of Collins’ Good to Great; I’m hoping to read Great by Choice this year.
My main reading goals are around liturgical catechesis and include The Baptismal Catechumenate: An Inspiration for All Catechesis (Sinwell); How to Read Churches: A Crash Course in Ecclesiastical Architecture (McNamara); and Bringing Catechesis and Liturgy Together: Let the Mystery Lead You (Paprocki and Williamson).
Thanks for sharing your list, Jonathan! There is a great monograph to the “Good to Great” book, called “Good to Great and the Social Sectors” (http://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Social-Sectors-Monograph/dp/0977326403/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327414352&sr=8-1). Very relevant for non-profits, as they translate some of the business ideas into terms that make sense for non-profits. Very short and worth taking a look at.