Hoopla

25 Books in 2025 Library

/ johngregoryjr / Leave a comment

For an eighth year I have followed a self-developed reading strategy with the objective to read broader. The goal: read books falling under diverse headings. This strategy is still working for me, probably the richest year yet.

For the curious, here is the library of 25 books including avenue of reading:

  • Attached to God by Krispin Mayfield (hoopla)…2nd read
  • Becoming Rooted by Randy Woodley (hoopla)
  • Beyond the Third Door by Maria Heckinger (hoopla)
  • Bone Songs by Andre Gregory (hoopla)
  • Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening by Cynthia Bourgeault (hoopla)
  • The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris (hoopla audio)
  • Courage Doesn’t Always Roar by Mary Anne Radmacher (hoopla)
  • Deliver Me by Dawn Van Beck (hard copy)…most recommended Christian life book on the list-several “I needed this book” responses
  • Dream Weaver by Jenny Jing Zhu (hard copy)
  • From Beneath the Ice by Todd Arkyn Crush (audible)…most compelling book on the list-leading to a new friendship
  • Fully Alive by Timothy Shriver (audible)…favorite read of the year
  • The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan (audible)…most practical book on the list–bought hard copies for coworkers
  • Hello Darkness, My Old Friend by Sanford Greenberg (hard copy)…most engaging book on the list
  • In the Shelter by Padraig O Tuama (hoopla audio)
  • Ladder to the Light by Steven Charleston (hoopla audio)
  • The Lord Is My Courage by K. J. Ramsey (hoopla)
  • A Loving Life by Paul E. Miller (hoopla)
  • Resurrecting Jesus by Adyashanti (hoopla audio)
  • Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart by Adyashanti and Cynthia Bourgeault (hoopla audio)
  • Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang (audible)
  • A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller (hoopla)
  • Single at Heart by Bella Depaulo (hoopla)…most thought-provoking book on the list
  • The Third Door by Alex Banayan (audible)
  • Unlimited by Jason Dunn (hoopla)
  • The Wisdom of Stability by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (hoopla)…the best big idea book on the list–a fresh take on the definition of and need for stability

NOTE: If you’re not familiar with hoopla, check it out: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

2024 Library

/ johngregoryjr / Leave a comment

For a seventh year I have followed a self-developed reading strategy with the objective to read broader. The goal: read books falling under diverse headings. This strategy is still working for me, another rich year of reading.

For the curious, here is the library of 19 books including avenue of reading:

  • A Trip Around the Sun by Mark Batterson and Richard Foth (hoopla)
  • Against Empathy by Paul Bloom (hoopla)
  • And There Was Light by Jacques Lusseyran (hoopla audio)…most thought-provoking book on the list
  • Attached to God by Krispin Mayfield (hoopla)…my favorite book on the list
  • Awe by Paul David Tripp (hoopla)…9th annual read
  • The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus by Janet Holm McHenry (hard copy)…most compelling book on the list
  • Creation Regained by Albert M. Wolters (hoopla)
  • From the Mouth of Dogs by B.J. Hollars (hard copy)…most engaging book on the list
  • Greetings from Duluth by B.J. Hollars (hoopla)
  • Humble Inquiry by Edgar Schein (hoopla)
  • The Last Exchange by Charles Martin (hoopla)
  • Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen (hoopla)
  • The Pleasure of His Company by Dutch Sheets (hard copy)
  • Sacred Scars by Michelle Bengtson (hoopla)
  • Say All the Unspoken Things by John Sowers (hard copy)…the best big idea book on the list
  • The Shift by Colby Martin (hoopla)
  • Think Ahead by Craig Groeschel (hoopla)…most helpful book on the list, under consideration as an annual read
  • Unclobbered by Colby Martin (hoopla)
  • What Aging Men Want by John C. Robinson (hoopla)…most practical book on the list

NOTE: If you’re not familiar with hoopla, check it out: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

Photo by Maël BALLAND on Unsplash

2023 Library

/ johngregoryjr / Leave a comment

For a sixth year I have followed a self-developed reading strategy with the objective to read broader. The goal: read books falling under diverse headings. This strategy is still working for me, particularly this year-the richest year of reading in a while.

For the curious, here is the library of 22 books including avenue of reading:

  • Against the Pollution of the I by Jacques Lusseyran (hoopla)
  • All That I Dread by Linda White (kindle)…the five titles by Linda White in the list are a series of fictional books
  • An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor (hoopla)…my favorite book on the list
  • The Awakened Brain by Dr. Lisa Miller (hard copy)…most thought-provoking book on the list
  • Awe by Paul David Tripp (kindle)…an annual read
  • Faith Beyond Belief by David Steindl-Rast and Anselm Grun (hoopla)…most engaging book on the list
  • The Fear That Chases Me by Linda White (kindle)
  • Finding God in the Waves by Mike McHargue (hoopla audio)…most compelling book on the list
  • Freedom Journeys: The Tale of Exodus and Wilderness across Millennia by Rabbi Arthur Waskow and Rabbi Phyllis Berman (hoopla)
  • Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson (hard copy)…the best big idea book on the list
  • Jesus Wept by Bruce Marchiano (hard copy)
  • Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor (hoopla)
  • My Darkest Night by Linda White (kindle)
  • Prayers for Freedom by Bruce Wilkinson (hoopla)
  • Rich in Heaven by Chris Mackey (hoopla)
  • Silence and Beauty by Makoto Fujimara (hoopla)
  • Solo by Stephen Smith and Peter Ivey (kindle)…most practical book on the list
  • South by Ernest Shackleton (hoopla)
  • Toughest People to Love by Chuck DeGroat (hoopla)…most helpful book on the list
  • When Evil Finds Us by Linda White (kindle)
  • Winter Flight by Linda White (kindle)
  • The Wisdom of Your Body Hillary McBride (hoopla)

NOTE: If you’re not familiar with hoopla, check it out: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

2022 Library

/ johngregoryjr / Leave a comment

For a fifth year I have followed a self-developed reading strategy with the objective to read broader. The goal: read books falling under six headings. This strategy is still working for me.

For the curious, here is the library of 20 books including avenue of reading:

  • Ambiguous Loss by Pauline Boss (kindle)
  • Awe by Paul David Tripp (kindle)…an annual read
  • The Crimean Nexus by Constantine Pleshakov (hard copy)
  • The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone (kindle)…the most thought-provoking book on the list
  • Doorway to the World by Hugh Steven (hard copy)
  • The Doubting Disease by Joseph W. Ciarrocchi (kindle)
  • Fathered by God by John Eldredge (hoopla)…the most surprising book on the list
  • The Fight by John White (hoopla)
  • God’s Resting Place by Ron Marquardt (hard copy)
  • The Hollywood Commandments by Devon Franklin (hoopla)
  • The Journey: Finish Strong by Lee Ann Martin (hard copy)
  • Sermons for All Seasons by Bruce Porter (hard copy)
  • The Shallows by Nicholas Carr (kindle)
  • Shame by Josh Roggie (hoopla)
  • Shame, Guilt, and Surviving Martin Bryant by Karen Collyer (hoopla)
  • Shame Nation by Sue Scheff (hoopla)
  • Silence by Shusaku Endo (hard copy)
  • Solo by Stephen Smith & Peter Ivey (kindle)…the most practical book on the list
  • The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson (hoopla)…my favorite book on the list
  • Try Softer by Aundi Kolber (hoopla)…the most helpful book on the list

NOTE: If you’re not familiar with hoopla, check it out: https://www.hoopladigital.com/