Fantastic article. Anytime somebody mentions Sir Walter Scott and George MacDonald it makes me very happy. I've read some of the books on this list and I feel compelled to check out many more, so it's much appreciated.
Yeah, it's been fun. I'm not great at keeping a log as I go, but I do log my favorite quotes/moments, and that helps me to remember which books I read.
I enjoyed reading this list! I think we would be good friends based on our shared love for MacDonald (and Lewis, Barfield, etc.) My list this year didn't have much from the Inklings, but I had a lot of MacDonald last year in celebration of his 200th bday. https://pjustin.com/baileys-book-awards-favorite-reads-from-2024
Justin, thanks so much for this note. Just glanced at your list from this year and last. You're right! We have quite a bit in common. Let's stay in touch. Keep up the good work!
Yeah, you're not alone. Most times when I try to share his stuff, people don't get it or maybe even do get it but don't jive with it. I think it's his communication style and his super non-linear approach, which itself can come across as arrogant or impatient if you don't already trust him. But he's kinda my style. He's an artist who thinks rather than a thinker who makes art.
i’ve heard that before. i resonate with it deeply, as somebody who is often more aesthetics over logic. it’s not his abstract approach that bother me, i think it’s the authority with which he proclaims his theories perhaps
Yeah, no doubt. Since I was comparing him to Lewis, he's very different than Lewis in this sense, since Lewis tended to rely on a patient, logical, incremental approach in order NOT to base his arguments on personal authoritative claims.
Man, what a great list. You inspire me to want to spend my 2026 better. Life is so short, and you don't seem to fritter any of it away.
Re: Taming of the Shrew, there's a wonderful version by Zeffirelli starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Those two, of course, are electric together on-screen. But more than this, Zeffirelli shows us how Kate and Petruchio, whose marriage ultimately becomes a kind of alliance between two strong characters against the rest of the world, have a much better marriage than the puppy-love (attraction without respect) that brought Bianca and Lucentio together. Taylor's delivery of the climactic monologue is extraordinary. Anyway, it helped me love this play more, and see what is so worthy in it.
Richard, this is so great. I just watched an old trailer for it on Youtube. Will definitely have to check it out. Thanks as always for the thoughtful comment. We need to meet sometime, maybe with Thomas as well!
Yes! We're hoping to visit Thomas this summer. That would be a great time.
And again, terrific list. I mentioned your praise of Sir Gibbie to my wife, and she said that it's her favorite book she's read in the past ten years that wasn't written by Elizabeth Goudge. I'm looking forward to reading it.
What a comprehensive list! Barfield, MacDonald, and Illich are great names to see. I also appreciate the Joseph to Moses context you suggest for our technological moment. With regard to The Brothers Karamazov, I read it last year and I sat down with it again this winter—I couldn’t put it down and now am leading a book club on it. You’re right: it’s always a good time to reread The Brothers Karamazov.
Thank you, Sam! Man, I can hardly imagine a better book for a book club. That's fantastic. We just did it in our book club as well. On Joseph and Moses Movements, in case you're interested, I wrote about this in more detail here: https://www.patientkingdom.com/p/the-future-of-our-churches
Excellent list. You had quite a reading year! What you wrote about the Ivan Illich book is exactly how I feel about Against the Machine. Question: what Illich book would you recommend starting with? And aside from the paid course, what Jonathan Pageau resource would you recommend starting with?
Thanks Mark! Really enjoyed your list as well. With Illich, I haven’t read much, but I loved his book Gender and his one on healthcare and finally the one I mentioned. I honestly think Deschooling Society is a great place to start.
I always appreciate the poetic and narrative-formed, the beautiful and symbolic that infuses and strengthens your way of writing about true things. It's an approach many of us would do well to imitate, even just a bit more.
Thanks for sharing what's been watering your thinking and living. There are so many gems to mine here.
I’m crushed by your take on ‘They Flew,’ as we seem to have very similar taste and I was just gifted that book for Christmas. Great list though!
Aw man, you should def read it! I think it was more just not exactly what *I* wanted it to be, not bad at all. Quite fascinating actually.
Barfield was a genius. He changed the way I see the world.
Same here, man. Same here.
Fantastic article. Anytime somebody mentions Sir Walter Scott and George MacDonald it makes me very happy. I've read some of the books on this list and I feel compelled to check out many more, so it's much appreciated.
Ha glad we have similar taste!
This is incredibly cool discipline. I want to do this in 2026
Yeah, it's been fun. I'm not great at keeping a log as I go, but I do log my favorite quotes/moments, and that helps me to remember which books I read.
Oh dang yeah I was wondering about how to do it throughout the year
I enjoyed reading this list! I think we would be good friends based on our shared love for MacDonald (and Lewis, Barfield, etc.) My list this year didn't have much from the Inklings, but I had a lot of MacDonald last year in celebration of his 200th bday. https://pjustin.com/baileys-book-awards-favorite-reads-from-2024
Justin, thanks so much for this note. Just glanced at your list from this year and last. You're right! We have quite a bit in common. Let's stay in touch. Keep up the good work!
thanks for sharing this.
i’ve been trying to figure out why i’ve never been able to get into J Pageau. i think it’s something about how he comes across. i can’t place it
Yeah, you're not alone. Most times when I try to share his stuff, people don't get it or maybe even do get it but don't jive with it. I think it's his communication style and his super non-linear approach, which itself can come across as arrogant or impatient if you don't already trust him. But he's kinda my style. He's an artist who thinks rather than a thinker who makes art.
i’ve heard that before. i resonate with it deeply, as somebody who is often more aesthetics over logic. it’s not his abstract approach that bother me, i think it’s the authority with which he proclaims his theories perhaps
Yeah, no doubt. Since I was comparing him to Lewis, he's very different than Lewis in this sense, since Lewis tended to rely on a patient, logical, incremental approach in order NOT to base his arguments on personal authoritative claims.
Man, what a great list. You inspire me to want to spend my 2026 better. Life is so short, and you don't seem to fritter any of it away.
Re: Taming of the Shrew, there's a wonderful version by Zeffirelli starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Those two, of course, are electric together on-screen. But more than this, Zeffirelli shows us how Kate and Petruchio, whose marriage ultimately becomes a kind of alliance between two strong characters against the rest of the world, have a much better marriage than the puppy-love (attraction without respect) that brought Bianca and Lucentio together. Taylor's delivery of the climactic monologue is extraordinary. Anyway, it helped me love this play more, and see what is so worthy in it.
Richard, this is so great. I just watched an old trailer for it on Youtube. Will definitely have to check it out. Thanks as always for the thoughtful comment. We need to meet sometime, maybe with Thomas as well!
Yes! We're hoping to visit Thomas this summer. That would be a great time.
And again, terrific list. I mentioned your praise of Sir Gibbie to my wife, and she said that it's her favorite book she's read in the past ten years that wasn't written by Elizabeth Goudge. I'm looking forward to reading it.
Well we will have to make it happen. Your wife has great taste!
Excited to dive into this. Thanks for sharing. Perfect read for the weeklong break with the fam. Blessings to you and your family, Ross!
Blessings to you too, Samuel!
Fantastic list! So thoughtfully put together. Definitely going to add more George to my list for this year.
Here is my list from this year.
https://samluce.substack.com/p/my-top-10-books-of-2025
You can never have enough George in your list. Haha. Will check your list out too!
What a comprehensive list! Barfield, MacDonald, and Illich are great names to see. I also appreciate the Joseph to Moses context you suggest for our technological moment. With regard to The Brothers Karamazov, I read it last year and I sat down with it again this winter—I couldn’t put it down and now am leading a book club on it. You’re right: it’s always a good time to reread The Brothers Karamazov.
Thank you, Sam! Man, I can hardly imagine a better book for a book club. That's fantastic. We just did it in our book club as well. On Joseph and Moses Movements, in case you're interested, I wrote about this in more detail here: https://www.patientkingdom.com/p/the-future-of-our-churches
Im literally wrapping up Genesis and starting Exodus this week, so your post comes at a good time. Thanks!
Oh wow, then yes it does!
"Planet Narnia" is on my list for this year!! I'm excited about it.
Oh my gosh, it's so good.
Great list Ross. God bless your 2026 and your walk with Christ.
Thank you, Jordan! Same to you.
Any list that uses the word quixotic (one of my favorites) and champions The Last Battle and Lilith gets a ❤️ from me
Hahaha it is a great word. And yes, those two books are life-changingly good.
Excellent list. You had quite a reading year! What you wrote about the Ivan Illich book is exactly how I feel about Against the Machine. Question: what Illich book would you recommend starting with? And aside from the paid course, what Jonathan Pageau resource would you recommend starting with?
Thanks Mark! Really enjoyed your list as well. With Illich, I haven’t read much, but I loved his book Gender and his one on healthcare and finally the one I mentioned. I honestly think Deschooling Society is a great place to start.
Took so many notes!
I always appreciate the poetic and narrative-formed, the beautiful and symbolic that infuses and strengthens your way of writing about true things. It's an approach many of us would do well to imitate, even just a bit more.
Thanks for sharing what's been watering your thinking and living. There are so many gems to mine here.
Wow, thank you Haley. This is a high compliment. Means a lot.