Every year I set out to read many excellent books. This year I read around 80 books, and many of them were very good. Some of them stand out above the rest, and what follows are the books I considered to be the "best" of my reading in 2022. 

As a disclaimer, not all of these books were published in 2022(though some of them were). I also am not putting the list in any particular order, they all stand out for particular reasons, and ranking them amongst one another is quite difficult. I also want to clarify that just because a book is listed here does not mean I agree with 100% with it. These are not all the books I read in 2022, but represent the most engaging and enjoyable.

The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson

 The Whole Christ is one of the very few books that I have re-read several times. Ferguson is always pastoral and edifying, but this book is particularly powerful. Ferguson helps us to see the true heart of the Gospel, and gives believers a wonderful picture of who Christ truly is. 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

2022 was the Year of Narnia(As you'll see on this list). Let me be clear-this series is not just for kids. Narnia is wonderfully enchanting, and captures the heart and imagination. Few books stir my affections like Narnia does. Read these every year, and read them with your family. 

Planet Narnia by Michael Ward

This is simply one of the greatest books I have ever read. You need to have read Narnia before picking up this book. It will also be helpful if you've not only read Narnia, but love Narnia. Assuming this is the case, this book is incredibly fun, engaging, and insightful. I could not put this down, and already want to re-read it. It's that good. 

Live Like a Narnian by Joe Rigney

I'm a fan of Joe Rigney's, and he has done a lot of work in commentating/writing on Narnia. I found his Youtube discussion series insightful, and this book is a good encapsulation of those discussions. Here Rigney takes key themes from Narnia and applies them as practical discipleship tips for the christian life. If you love Narnia, you'll find Rigney hits on things that you felt while reading the book, but couldn't necessarily identify it. If you've read Narnia, you need to read this book. 

Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition by Craig Carter

My doctoral studies allowed me to take a class with Dr. Carter, and for preperation I read both of his books. I found his book on Scripture to be stimulating and insightful. I can't remember writing/highlighting in a book as much as I did this one, and that's saying something. Carter's call to retrieve a hermeneutical engagement with the Great Tradition is a much needed one. 

Contemplating God with the Great Tradition by Craig Carter 

Like his book on Interpreting Scripture, Dr. Carter calls for us to retrieve classical theisim by placing ourselves within the Great Tradition. I found this book to be a refreshing engagement with classical theism, and a much needed corrective to many problems we have seen surrounding the doctrine of God in recent years. I highly recommend both books by Dr. Carter, and am eagerly anticipating his third, which should be released in the next year or two. 

The Economics of the Parables by Robert Sirico 

Those who know me well know I enjoy reading about economics. Sirico, a well known catholic writer, gleans economic lessons that are explicitly or implicitly implied within the parables. This book is a great read, and would be accessible to anyone interested in the subject. I found many of his insights helpful, and overall really enjoyed this book. 

The Library: A Fragile History by Andrew Pettegree

This probably is the book I most looked forward to reading in 2022. I couldn't wait to get into it, and once I started, I loved every second of it. Pettegree traces the history of the Library throughout it's many iterations. As a lover of books, I found the history to be fasicnating. Highly recommend. 

The Theology of the Westminster Standards by J.V. Fesko

While prepping for a sunday school class focused on the Westminster Confession, I pulled this volume off of my shelf. I have owned this book for a while, but have never gotten around to reading it. I now regret that. This book is a tremendous peek into the history of the Westminster Divine's discussion around the standards, and how they came to be what they are. As a pastor who subscribes to the Westminster Standards, this was so inredibly helpful and edifying. I wish I had read this sooner. Also, this is yet another example why you should buy books, even if you aren't going to read them soon. You never know when one sitting on your shelf will have a great impact. 

In the House of Tom Bombadil by C.R. Wiley (Audible) 

If you love the Lord of the Rings(LOTR), you have to read this book. I listened to the Audio book on Audible, and had a blast doing so. Its a quick read/listen, but it packs a lot of power. Wiley delves into the discussion surround Tom Bombadil, engaging many theories over his origin and meaning. Wiley makes a compelling case for what he thinks is Bombadil's role/purpose is, and along the way, provides a great discussion partner on some of the deeper themese within LOTR. Excellent!