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Dear Reader,
One of the things I miss most about being a kid is binge reading. Summer was one of the best times for that.
I’d grab books from the bookmobile “like a raccoon at the county dump, grabbing whatever looked interesting in the moment.” Then I’d spend hours each day reading novels, nonfiction, or how-to books. I wasn’t picky.
Part of what made that possible was how little tech we had in the house. We never got more than four channels of TV (three if the weather wasn’t good) and certainly didn’t have internet.
Clare Morell’s recent book, The Tech Exit, is all about giving kids the gift of a childhood closer to mine. It’s countercultural, but Morrell is arguing for a tech-free childhood. As Nick Harsh notes in his review, “The countercultural approach outlined in this book won’t be easy and may not work for everyone in every context.” However, I think she’s got some suggestions worth considering.
If you’re wondering why limiting technology is so important, the contributors to Scrolling Ourselves to Death recommended a list of books to help you understand how technology influences us in ways we often fail to recognize.
Happy Reading!
Andrew Spencer
Associate Editor
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New from TGC
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Book Review
Nick Harsh
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“The countercultural approach outlined in this book won’t be easy and may not work for everyone in every context. Yet Morell shows that the self-control, virtuous character, and real-life experiences a family gains in return for avoiding tech dependence are worth the cost. Whether readers accept all of Morell’s prescriptions or not, ‘The Tech Exit’ is an excellent resource that can help parents, pastors, and youth workers advocate for a better strategy for technology use in their churches and communities.” Read the review.
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Book Review
Andrew Spencer
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The contributors to ‘Scrolling Ourselves to Death’ collaborated to recommend some of the “most important books for understanding how technology has shaped our culture.” Read the review.
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Book Review
Ryan Zhang
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Book Review
Thomas Kidd
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Book Review
DeMyron Haynes
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Links for the Reading Life
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| 1. |
Andrew Spencer, “What We’re Reading This Summer (2025)” (The Gospel Coalition)
“One of the best parts of summer when I was a kid was bringing an overstuffed backpack home from the bookmobile. I’d walk through that book-lined bus like a raccoon at the county dump, grabbing whatever looked interesting in the moment.
“I don’t have as much time to spend reading, so it’s more important that I separate the wheat from the tares before I invest my precious hours of summer freedom. I’m sure you’re in the same boat.
“That’s why the editors at The Gospel Coalition have compiled a (non-AI-generated) list of reading recommendations for you to enjoy this summer.”
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Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger, “Summer Reading with Melissa Kruger” (Gospelbound)
“Summer is a time for reading. Work slows down a bit, at least for some. I’m not traveling as much to speak and teach. School’s out. I spend more time at the lake. In fact, I’ve probably spent more time reading on a couch next to a lake than any other place. I’ve read everything from history to fiction to theology on that couch—it helps put my mind in the right place to relax then concentrate.
“One of my favorite guests is back on Gospelbound to talk about summer reading as we close out the spring 2025 season. Melissa Kruger is the vice president for discipleship programming at The Gospel Coalition and cohost of the hit new podcast The Deep Dish. We talked about why we love reading and why reading still matters with social media and AI. And we offered dozens of book recommendations in many different genres.”
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Megan Fowler, “Recommended Reading from the First General Assembly” (byFaith)
“Presbyterians have always been a bookish bunch, a trait the PCA leaned into from its inception. When the PCA founders convened their first General Assembly in December 1973, they began building the frame of a denomination that would be faithful to Scripture, true to the Reformed faith, and faithful to the Great Commission.
“The Committee on Christian Education and Publication had its work cut out for it in developing the new denomination’s curriculum and publishing ministries. One of the 35 recommendations it made to the first General Assembly was ‘that the following bibliography of suggested training materials used by other Reformed Denominations in leadership training be published for study and possible adaptation by individual sessions.’”
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The Gospel Coalition
8520 Allison Pointe Boulevard, Suite 220, Indianapolis, IN, 46250
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