Life Changing Books
Good books are like gems; in this age of MTV, Reality show and English football, blessed is the man who makes time to read, to take time to reflect and to put to use the knowledge gleaned to life.
The following five (in no order of preference) are some works that have profoundly influenced my thinking:
1. Mere Christianity (CS Lewis) - THis book needs no introduction, and so does the author. I read this book in my secondary school days (and still do so now), and was astonished by the simple yet thought-provoking ideas put forth by Lewis in this work. This book is the best example of how as human beings, the questions we all ask, to some extent can be reduced to certain basic propositions. Issues such as the existence of God, problem of evil, morality are universal themes that concern us all.
2. How Should We Then Live (Francis Schaeffer) - Was introduced to Schaeffer's works during my university days, and it was his writings that influenced and shaped much of my thinking within the academia and beyond. In How Should We Then Live, Schaeffer provides a supreme, yet concise dissectation of Western though and the cultural forces that have shaped Western thought over the last twenty centuries! Reading this book, one does not feel like one is attending a purely academic lesson, Schaeffer does not merely write, he speaks, and the message spoken more than 30 years ago still continue to reverberate to this day.
3. Reason for Being (Jacques Ellul) - This work, by Ellul, was read last year during a very tough period of life and it throughly ministered to me. Unlike many Bible commentators, Ellul (who is more often known for his social critique on technique, see The Technological Society) writes plainly, honestly and deeply on the various themes contained in the book of Ecclesiastes, challenging me to see my life within the framework of eternity and the existential complexities it brings about. It was a book that moved me to tears.
4. Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien) - Like many, I only started reading this book after watching the film (Fellowship of the Ring). It took me exactly one month to finish this, and after reading the last page, it was difficult to put down the book. LOTR remains my favourite film till today. Themes of friendship, courage, honesty, loyalty, deceit, evil, goodness, love, honor etc...abound in this work. And to think that i only read this book at the age of 22!
5. Hebrews expository preaching series (Rev Dr Stephen TOng) - I was compelled to listen to Dr Tong's preaching series on Hebrews (more specifically, Heb 11) in order to teach my Sunday School class about six years ago. So i listened to Dr Tong's preaching on the Internet (was too poor then to buy his VCDs), and for almost a year, taught from what i learnt, I became a Sunday school teacher and student all at the same time. I listened, i read the mandarin transcription, took notes, and taught. It was my privilege and blessing to have gotten acquainted with Dr Tong and his preaching of the Word of God.
So there you have it, four books plus a series of sermons that have changed my life. Next up, when i've got the time, would be a post on "Life Changing Films"...that's going to be interesting:)
The following five (in no order of preference) are some works that have profoundly influenced my thinking:
1. Mere Christianity (CS Lewis) - THis book needs no introduction, and so does the author. I read this book in my secondary school days (and still do so now), and was astonished by the simple yet thought-provoking ideas put forth by Lewis in this work. This book is the best example of how as human beings, the questions we all ask, to some extent can be reduced to certain basic propositions. Issues such as the existence of God, problem of evil, morality are universal themes that concern us all.
2. How Should We Then Live (Francis Schaeffer) - Was introduced to Schaeffer's works during my university days, and it was his writings that influenced and shaped much of my thinking within the academia and beyond. In How Should We Then Live, Schaeffer provides a supreme, yet concise dissectation of Western though and the cultural forces that have shaped Western thought over the last twenty centuries! Reading this book, one does not feel like one is attending a purely academic lesson, Schaeffer does not merely write, he speaks, and the message spoken more than 30 years ago still continue to reverberate to this day.
3. Reason for Being (Jacques Ellul) - This work, by Ellul, was read last year during a very tough period of life and it throughly ministered to me. Unlike many Bible commentators, Ellul (who is more often known for his social critique on technique, see The Technological Society) writes plainly, honestly and deeply on the various themes contained in the book of Ecclesiastes, challenging me to see my life within the framework of eternity and the existential complexities it brings about. It was a book that moved me to tears.
4. Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien) - Like many, I only started reading this book after watching the film (Fellowship of the Ring). It took me exactly one month to finish this, and after reading the last page, it was difficult to put down the book. LOTR remains my favourite film till today. Themes of friendship, courage, honesty, loyalty, deceit, evil, goodness, love, honor etc...abound in this work. And to think that i only read this book at the age of 22!
5. Hebrews expository preaching series (Rev Dr Stephen TOng) - I was compelled to listen to Dr Tong's preaching series on Hebrews (more specifically, Heb 11) in order to teach my Sunday School class about six years ago. So i listened to Dr Tong's preaching on the Internet (was too poor then to buy his VCDs), and for almost a year, taught from what i learnt, I became a Sunday school teacher and student all at the same time. I listened, i read the mandarin transcription, took notes, and taught. It was my privilege and blessing to have gotten acquainted with Dr Tong and his preaching of the Word of God.
So there you have it, four books plus a series of sermons that have changed my life. Next up, when i've got the time, would be a post on "Life Changing Films"...that's going to be interesting:)
posted by Benjamin Ho at
11:09 PM
2 Comments:
Happy week.
Tim Keller's Reason For God is a worthy 21st century successor for Mere Christianity
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