This is a collection of books that I enjoyed a whole lot and that your local bookseller might not know about, especially if you are not living in the US.
Since I do read most of the stuff in english I link you to the english books. If I do know of German translations, I put that behind the title.
For Germans: Please go to your local bookstore as much as possible. Anyways, my beautiful bookstore back in Germany pointed me to the big „A“ for the english stuff because it is faster and cheaper. And since I had to change to an e-reader because of moving to China that is different again.
Did I say that I miss the stacks of books on my night table?
There are books out there that are basically just everywhere (I look at you, Michelle Obama – you can find her book even in chinese language in chinese bookstores…), so I am not pointing you to those. This place is a little bit more underground.
For the feminist part in me I start with the female authors.
Since this place is not about earning money, these are not affiliate links.
Books on the Inner Work and the Enneagram:
- You should basically read anything from Brene Brown that you can get into your hands. She is hillarious and honest and makes me cry any time I hear or read her. She is not just a scientific researcher but a christian as well. And with that one of my true heroines. You can start with „The Gifts of Imperfection“ or go straight to her last one „Dare to Lead“ which feels to some degree like her best off. They are in the process of translating all her books into GERMAN.
- Ian Cron & Suzanne Stabile: The Road Back to You. An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery – A great entrance into the Enneagram. I´ve enjoyed the easy read and learnt so much about myself. And then the work started… It is available in GERMAN. I wrote a little introduction to the Enneagram here.
- Donald Miller: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years – On how you write your own beautiful life story. Made me think quite deeply about the stories of my life. You need to get used to this writing style though if you haven´t read „Blue like Jazz“ or one of Millers other books. It is available in GERMAN.
Books on Spirituality and spiritual practises
- Sarah Bessey: Out of Sorts. Making Peace with an Evolving Faith – The faith journeys and deconstructing Bessey and myself took went very different but I believe we arrived at a very similar place for now. Which is rare. So if, after deconstructing, you are still comfortable with worship and praying in tongues and praying for healing and proclaiming the word when necessary – this might be a great read. If you are still deconstructing and you are out there in the wilderness by yourself this is a fantastic read as well. Just got kicked out of her church because she is confirming the LGTB community. That speaks for itself I guess. And there is a new book coming out in October! Can’t wait for it. Gosh, I wish there would come a day that I could write as compelling and inviting and honest as Sarah Bessey.
- Aaron Niequiest: The Eternal Current. How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning – My pentacostal upbringing didn’t teach me a whole lot about spiritual practises and I found out only a few years ago that I really like this stuff. This is a great start for anyone who is new to this.
- Casey Tygrett: Becoming curious. The spiritual practise of asking questions – The mindset of curiousity and asking questions has helped me so much to calm down the judgemental side in me which is a big help in living overseas (f.e.).
Books on the specifics: Bible, Prayer, Church, Women, Missions
- Rachel Held Evans: Inspired. Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again – an easy and entertaining book on the bible… will always remind me of our vaccation at the croatian coast.
- Rachel Held Evans: Searching for Sunday. Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church – I do get her on so many levels and yet she has the most beautiful way of explaining why you just can’t get away from church. For me too complicated to read in english. But there is a GERMAN translation.
- Rachel Held Evans: A Year of Biblical Womanhood. How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband ‚Master‘ – This was entertaining beyond words and really interesting and challenging as well. If you haven’t read anything else from her yet, you should start here as a women. And yes, as a man as well. Available in GERMAN.
- Sarah Bessey: Jesus Feminist. An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women – If you ever wondered if Jesus and Feminist belongs together… You hear a resounding Yes from me. And here you can read why. No idea why they don’t translate that into German… This is so needed!!!
- Jamie Wright: The Very Worst Missionary: A Memoir or Whatever – I’ve finished this one in 24 hours. It was just way too funny and entertaining. If you can handle real honesty and probably a little sarcasm with the church and missions this is the thing for you.