The 5 books I enjoyed the most in 2024

I’ve written before about my tendency to read numerous books throughout the year while only completing some of them. I fully read 22 books in 2024, and I want to comment on the 5 I enjoyed the most.

5. The Storied Life by Jared C. Wilson

This is the kind of book I’ve waited years to read. But it was only published this year.

I’ve been writing since 2014 and have understood it as part of my calling. The Storied Life is a book about writing for the glory of God and the good of others. Wilson addresses common concerns in writing, such as finding a voice, overcoming “writer’s block,” and getting a platform.

But what I love about this book is the permission it gives to be a writer—even when a publishing company isn’t interested or nobody seems to read what you write.

Wilson says, “Writers don’t ask for permission. They don’t wait for the perfect moment. They feel the inexorable draw to create coming from the inside; it’s something they just do, something they are. Nobody has to assign them the task. They usually don’t need anyone to give them an idea” (xiv).

4. On the Incarnation by Athanasius

This is another book I’ve waited years to read. But it’s been published since the fourth century!

Athanasius was an early church father who pastored in Alexandria (Egypt). He was particularly influential in his understanding of the Trinity, particularly Christ’s divinity. The Nicene Creed (325), written during the life of Athanasius, gives a good description of the divinity of Christ in contrast to the Arian heresy of the day.

The creed reads in part: “And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father.”

On the Incarnation is a short read full of theological insight.

3. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

This book is unique in my list. It’s written by a social psychologist at NYU who describes himself as an atheist.

Published earlier this year, The Anxious Generation explores the debilitating anxiety of Gen Z (my generation) from a research-based perspective. Haidt describes, “My central claim in this book is that these two trends—overprotection in the real world and underprotection in the virtual world—are the major reasons why children born after 1995 became the anxious generation” (9).

He goes on to explain the decline of play-based childhood and the rise of phone-based childhood. Then, he concludes the book with some practical things governments, companies, schools, and parents can do.

Interestingly, Haidt (even though he is an atheist) writes about spirituality and the value of local church involvement. Of course, I don’t agree with everything Haidt writes about, but the research he provides in this book is excellent.

2. Preaching and Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd Jones

It’s probably the best book I’ve read on preaching. But it’s not what I expected it to be.

Published in 1972 from a compilation of lectures Lloyd Jones gave at Westminster Theological Seminary, Preaching and Preachers is a comprehensive book on the centrality of preaching and the responsibilities of the preacher himself.

Lloyd Jones was trained as a medical doctor but pastored Westminster Chapel (London) for 30 years.

Lloyd Jones is one of the most opinionated Christian writers I’ve ever read, so I have my disagreements. But this book on preaching is truly excellent and helpful.

He writes, “We are always to give the impression, and it may be more important than anything we say, that what we are saying comes out of the Bible, and always comes out of it” (86).

1. Let the Nations be Glad by John Piper

Without a doubt, this was my favorite book in 2024. It was first published in 1993.

Perhaps the most compelling (and most popular) quote from the book is this: “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more” (3).

It’s the means to the end—missions should result in the glory of God being enjoyed by the nations. We’re making disciples who make disciples until people everywhere worship Jesus.

Piper writes about unreached people and the need for sent disciples. I highly recommend this book for all believers and churches.

Happy New Year!