"The Best Books I Read in 2010...": From 21 Ignatius Press Authors, Editors, and Friends

"The Best Books I Read in 2010..." | Ignatius Press Authors, Editors, and Friends | January 1, 2011

The ancient and venerable tradition (six years and counting!) continues. Several Ignatius Press editors, authors, and staff were asked to offer their picks for the best books they read during the past year. The books didn't have to be published in 2010--no need to limit great authors and books--nor did they have to be about a specific topic. Simply, "What were the best books you read in the past year?" Commentary was optional.

Click here to read the best reads of Dale Ahlquist, Lucy Beckett, Bradley J. Birzer, Mark Brumley, Chris Burgwald, Anthony E. Clark, Fr. Thomas Crean, O.P., Catherine Harmon, Rev. Mr. James Keating, Paul Kengor, Fr. David V. Meconi, S.J., Sandra Miesel, Lorraine V. Murray, Michael O'Brien, Carl E. Olson, Joseph Pearce, Edward Peters, Tracey Rowland, Fr. James V. Schall, S.J., Russell Shaw, and Jose Yulo.

Comments

[Mark Brumley]

Unfortunately, there were not enough duplicates on the lists. So that means I'll have more books to buy (and read). Thanks everyone for contributing your lists. I get some of my best recommendations from these lists.

[Robert L.]

Hooray, I've been anticipating this year's list! I've enjoyed the lists from previous years and they've definitely influenced my book buying. Plus, I can never have too many Ignatius Press books waiting to be read on my trusty Kindle and iPad!

Best wishes for a happy new year to my favorite publisher!

-Robert

[Ed Peters]

I noticed that too. Just proves the old adage, "Great books are enough for a life-time, but a life time is not enough for great books."

[Paul H]

Thanks for posting this. I already have several books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, but now I have some more to add to my "to buy" list.

[Paul H]

Here is my list for 2010. It's not long, and some of these I may have read last year (I can't remember). In no particular order:

1. Be a Man! by Fr. Larry Richards. A bit more basic than I expected, but in a way that is a good thing. A simple but powerful call to holiness and faithfulness for men.

2. The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt, The Dragon Reborn, and The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan. I am re-reading Jordan's excellent but very long Wheel of Time series, the first six books of which I hadn't read since 1995-1996, in preparation for the projected 2012 release of the final book in the series.

3. Modern Physics and Ancient Faith by Stephen Barr. I first read this a few years ago, and I re-read most of it earlier this year. An excellent book that I cannot recommend highly enough for anyone who is interested in both religion and science.

4. The Crusader by Paul Kengor. An informative and captivating chronicle of Ronald Reagan's fight against communism. (I may have read this in 2009. I'm not sure.)

5. Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Conquest of Darkness by Warren Carroll. A short but well-written history of the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (This one I also may have read in 2009 rather than 2010.)