I’m planning to read strategically in 2009. I have broken down the books in to seven[7] different categories. If you would recommend a book, leave a comment. As the year proceeds I’ll be reviewing each book and posting my thoughts as each one is read.
If you are interested in seeing the books I’ve listed below, you can see them at Amazon.ca: Jeff’s 2009 Reading List
Canadian Authors
- Dr. Karyn’s guide to the Teen Years: Dr. Karyn Gordon
- Goodbye Generation: David Sawler
- Hope and Healing for Kids Who Cut: Marv Penner
Culture/Sociological
- Youth Ministry 3.0: Mark Oestreicher
- Man’s Search for Meaning: Viktor Frankl
- The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and PreSchoolers: Elizabeth Pantley
Fiction
- Hood, Scarlet, Tuck: Stephen Lawhead
- The Shack: Wm. Paul Young
- Voyage of the Dawn Treader: C.S. Lewis
Organizational (structure/belief/communication)
- Communication for a Change: Andy Stanley/Lane Jones
- The Revolutionary Communicator: Erik Lokkesmoe /Jedd Medefind
- Made to Stick: Heath/Heath
- Outliers: The Story of Success: Malcolm Gladwell
General/Miscellaneous
- Jesus Wants to Save Christians: Rob Bell
- Samson & the Pirate Monks: Nate Larkin
- A Practical View of Christianity: William Wilberforce
Biographies/Autobiographies
- Out of the Depth: John Newton
- Pour Your Heart Into It: Howard Schultz
- Me, Myself and Bob: Phil Vischer
Classics
- The Silver Chalice: Thomas B. Costain
So what am I missing?
Jeff Smyth 
Man’s Search for Meaning is excellent, and frankly I’m shocked you haven’t read Voyage of the Dawn Treader yet! I would suggest Wikinomics be added to your list, it is as much a study of global culture as it is a book on modern business, but that is just a personal favorite of mine so I am automatically biased. So Chapters troll that one before purchasing to see if you will like it.
Thanks Bob! I pulled Wikinomics out but your the third person suggesting it so it back on the list. Dawntreader, what can I say!?! I’ve never read it! That will change this year though.
Wikinomics is a must for anyone living in a world of Web 2.0, and I actually like you blog btw, not enough people blog!
Jeff,
As far as fiction goes I am reading The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, it has been a great Historical Fiction centred around Vlad the Impaler. I am also reading The World Without Us. I would recommend that as well for your Culture section. Vintage Jesus/Church would be good as well. I read Vintage Jesus and would love to hear your thoughts on the questions raised. I just picked up Vintage Church and I am looking forward to reading it. Wikinomics is a great read as well. I am sure I’ll think of some others, but good luck. I loved the way this challenge worked out for me last year and I am starting it again….I think.
Adam
Adam, Thx for the recommendations. Any book centred around Vlad the Impaler, deserves a second look.
wow jeff how on earth do you have time to read all of that!?
Ryan-it’s really not that difficult. It works out to about 1 book every two weeks. It’s just a point of seeing where I’ve been using time unwisely and then using that time for reading. You know, like sitting on the toilet, showering, driving…all those times :o)
Jeff, here’s another book for you to read this year: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NIght-Time by Mark Haddon
H.