Notes on four books I’ve read recently…
MELISSA
A Father’s Lessons from a Daughter’s Suicide
by Frank Page
It’s hard to find the right words to say about Frank Page’s book about his daughter’s suicide. Sometimes, it is a memoir – a father’s recollections. Other times, Page is the pastor, offering counsel to the suicidal and wisdom to the grieving. Pervasive throughout is profound grief imbued with profound hope.
As one who has felt the pain of suicide (my best childhood friend took his life when we were 16), I found this to be a difficult, but important book to read.
Whether or not the grief from suicide has touched you, I recommend you pick it up. You will gain insight into the grieving process for a family reeling from the aftershocks of this particular type of tragedy.
JOURNEY TO JOY
The Psalms of Ascent
by Josh Moody
During the past month or so, I’ve focused my devotional reading on the psalms. As I worked through the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134), I found Josh Moody’s recent book to be a helpful guide.
Josh places each of the 15 psalms in context and then applies the insights to our contemporary society, demonstrating the ongoing relevance of these ancient songs and how they shape our hearts as God’s people. Drawing from both Josh’s Cambridge education and his service as a church planter and pastor, the book showcases the mind of a scholar and the heart of a pastor.
BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY IN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE
by Wilbur O’Donovan
This is comprehensive overview of the basics of Christian theology, written with an eye to readability and accessibility for African Christians. It contains “on-the-ground” examples of African belief and practice and it demonstrates a keen sensibility to the issues raised in African contexts that are often overlooked in Western textbooks on theology. More than 300 African theological students and faculty members helped shape this volume.
American readers won’t find anything novel or innovative in the theological outlook, but the global perspective on display will assist pastors and students in looking at ministry practice and contemporary issues from a non-Western vantage point.
TALENT IS OVERRATED
What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
Geoff Colvin
Whenever you see someone who seems to be phenomenally talented at whatever they are known for, you tend to think, Wow! I wish I’d been born with those gifts! Geoff Colvin believes innate talent doesn’t explain great achievements. In fact, it’s likely that person wasn’t born with any talents you weren’t born with.
As Colvin explains in the introduction, “The factor that seems to explain the most about great performance is something the researchers call deliberate practice.”
The rest of Talent is Overrated uses anecdotes from sports and games (baseball, chess), scientific research, and biographical sketches (musicians, artists, business leaders) to show what deliberate practice is, why so few people are disciplined enough to undergo the mental or physical exhaustion it requires, and how great performance is achieved through strategic effort, not innate ability. This is a fascinating read that will put an end to some of the myths you may believe about what separates world-class performers from everybody else.