The Best Books I Read in 2024
5. The Crisis of Narration by Byung-Chul Han
In The Crisis of Narration, Byung-Chul Han explores how contemporary culture’s embrace of instrumental rationality has disrupted the traditional role of storytelling in human life. Han argues that modern secularization has hollowed out the communal and metaphysical dimensions of storytelling, reducing it to a means of communication or self-promotion. In a world dominated by efficiency and productivity, narrative loses its power to create shared meaning and existential depth, becoming fragmented and transactional. Han laments the rise of what he calls "data-driven narration," which fails to address humanity’s deeper longing for transcendence and connection. His reflections challenge the modern elevation of storytelling as a universal solution, revealing its limitations within a secularized and disenchanted world.
Reading Han as a theologian proves remarkably fruitful, even though Han himself is not a theologian. His nuanced—if at times polemical—take on secularization uncovers the ways in which instrumental rationality corrodes the sacred and the communal aspects of human life. In a cultural moment where "storytelling" is often granted magical authority as a means of encountering others and the world, Han’s critique is a sobering reminder of the challenges posed by secularization. While his writing can be frustratingly sharp-edged in its critiques, it helps theologians and others recognize the limits of narrative when divorced from deeper metaphysical or communal foundations. The Crisis of Narration is an incisive and provocative work that demands thoughtful engagement, particularly for those seeking to reconcile the theological dimensions of storytelling with a secularized culture.
4. Bonhoeffer for the Church: An Introduction by Matthew D. Kirkpatrick
This book delivers what it promises: an accessible yet deeply researched introduction to Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life and thought for pastors and church leaders. Kirkpatrick skillfully bridges the gap between Bonhoeffer's academic legacy and his practical relevance for the church, offering insights into preaching, worship, prayer, and more. The writing is clear and engaging, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to enrich their ministry or community life. Grounded in rigorous research yet approachable for a wide audience, this book is an inspiring tool for revitalizing faith and ministry in the modern church. In particular, the biographical sketch, the first chapter, will be useful to anyone looking for a succinct outline of Bonhoeffer's life.
3. The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an age of Extremism by Tim Alberta
Tim Alberta’s The Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory provides a compelling exploration of the intersection between evangelical Christianity and American politics, particularly in the era of Donald Trump. Alberta, an experienced journalist, traces how political allegiances and cultural conflicts have shaped the priorities and public witness of evangelical communities in the United States. Through a combination of investigative reporting, interviews, and historical analysis, he examines how the quest for political influence has affected the integrity of evangelical faith, revealing both the opportunities and pitfalls of aligning spiritual convictions with temporal power. Alberta’s work serves as both a journalistic chronicle and a thought-provoking critique of the modern evangelical movement’s engagement with power and culture.
As a theologian, I approached the book with managed expectations, recognizing that Alberta, as a journalist, is not tasked with offering theological interpretation or resolution. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of his analysis and the clarity of his writing. Alberta’s account is succinct, balanced, and deeply informed, offering a valuable perspective on the cultural and political forces that have shaped contemporary evangelicalism. While it is not a theological treatise, the book provides a helpful framework for understanding how evangelicalism has navigated its fraught relationship with political power, making it a worthwhile read for those seeking to engage critically with these dynamics in an age of Christofascism and the MAGA movement. Alberta’s journalistic lens brings an important perspective, complementing theological reflections on the church’s vocation in the public square.
2. Prayer by Hans Urs von Balthasar
Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905–1988) was a Swiss Catholic theologian, priest, and prolific writer who is considered one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. A close collaborator with Adrienne von Speyr, his works spanned systematic theology, spirituality, and philosophy. Balthasar’s contributions to theological aesthetics and his emphasis on the beauty of God have had a lasting impact on Christian thought. He was appointed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II shortly before his death.
Balthasar’s Prayer is a profound exploration of the nature and meaning of Christian prayer, subtitled Theology in the Contemplative Tradition. Balthasar situates prayer as the heart of the Christian life, portraying it as an intimate participation in the divine life of the Trinity. Rather than a mere act or obligation, prayer is a space where human freedom and divine grace meet, marked by surrender, attentiveness, and dialogue. Balthasar draws on scripture, the Christian mystics, and the theological tradition to articulate a vision of prayer as a dynamic and transformative encounter, one that integrates the contemplative and active dimensions of faith.
Balthasar’s argument is theologically nuanced and deeply resonant, rooted in his broader Christocentric theology and Trinitarian framework. He emphasizes that authentic prayer requires an emptying of the self, an openness to God’s will, and a readiness to enter into the Paschal mystery of Christ. His reflections challenge the reader to see prayer not as a utilitarian activity but as an act of being drawn into the eternal love of God. For those who approach prayer with a desire for control or certainty, Balthasar’s insights invite a radical reorientation toward receptivity and trust. The book’s beauty lies in its ability to balance intellectual rigor with the mysticism of lived faith, making it an essential text for those seeking a deeper understanding of the spiritual life.
1. God, Sexuality, and the Self by Sarah Coakley.
Sarah Coakley’s God, Sexuality and the Self is a remarkable and profound work that reframes prayer as the primary mode of theological inquiry and personal transformation. The book’s central insight—that prayer is not an act of grasping for God but a surrender to being grasped by God—redefines spirituality as a divine act of reconstitution. This insight is beautifully encapsulated in her reflection: “What is blanked out in the regular, patient attempt to attend to God in prayer is any sense of human grasp; and what comes to replace such an ambition, over time, is the elusive, but nonetheless ineluctable, sense of being grasped, of the Spirit’s simultaneous erasure of human idolatry and subtle reconstitution of human selfhood in God” (p. 23). Coakley’s emphasis on prayer as a receptive rather than a controlling practice challenges modern notions of power and agency, making her work especially relevant in a world preoccupied with mastery and self-determination. For those seeking a theology that integrates the depths of spiritual experience with rigorous intellectual inquiry, this book is an essential and transformative read.