Every year, and now on this blog, I get requests for suggested reading/bibliography on a variety of subjects. I doubt whether my list would be different or more helful than others, but it perhaps will provide a starting point for others to engage in meaningful conversation on the subject at hand.
I teach each summer at Student Leadership University, the ministry of Jay Strack that actually treats young people like young men and women (for my thoughts on that see my book Raising the Bar, or read a condensed version of it at alvinreid.com). Both of my kids have been through 101 and will go farther. One of the quotes emphasized repeatedly is (actually I am paraphrasing): you will become the person you are in the future based on the books you read, the people you meet, and the places you go.
So here are some books that will help to understand our culture so hopefully we can take the unchanging, amazing gospel to a changing culture.
NOTE: I do not imply that books on theology, commentaries on Scripture, or God’s Word in particular are less important than these books. Hardly. But as Paul said to “know the times,” or literally, “be intimately knowledgeable about your season/climate,” these books can help.
NOTE 2: I am of course not endorsing all these books say. Some of them I disagree with more than I agree. But they are vital. I am only giving name of author and book as you can google or amazon the rest.
Andrew Beajon. Body Piercing Saved My Life. This book by an unbeliever who writes for Spin magazine looks at the impact of Christian Rock music. I love to read how people outside our club see us. And, as a music lover I was absorbed by the book. It will shock you, sadden you, and at times inspire you. If we will reach the youth culture, we will need to learn how to sing the gospel to them.
David Brooks. BoBos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There. Recommended by my colleague Mark Liederbach. I have yet to read it.
Jim Collins. Good to Great. You have all likely read this one. “Good is the enemy of great.” Many transferable concepts for ministry, as seen in T Rainer’s Breakout Churches.
Thomas Freidman. The World Is Flat. NY Times reporter’s analysis of the flattening effect of the internet and a myriad of techonological breakthroughs. See my summary in an earlier post.
Malcolm Gladwell. Blink, and The Tipping Point. Both interesting books about facets of culture. Better at recognizing than advising in my view, but still both are compelling, and help us understand how to relate to people and culture.
Steven D. Leavitt. Freakonomics. A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. We tend to be a little too gnostic, seperately spirituality from the rest of culture. Economics, technology, etc, all relate to ministry. We should not take marching orders from the business world or futurists, but niether should we be ostriches.
Gordon MacKenzie. Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace. A sobering and entertaining look at the perils of bureacracy from the artist at Hallmark calls given the title Creative Paradox. Essential for leaders, trustees of agencies, etc. This book will make you think.

All I have time for…please note these are only “secular” books. I will do another list from Christian writers. Please submit your comments and suggest others. I need to read more as well.