A series of talks on 'life, God, and other small topics,' this book is the thinking person's alternative to pop psychology and prosperity gospel (that will seem much more clever and applicable if you listen to the book).

Based upon other reviews, I can see that listening to the audio version of this book is much more enjoyable than reading the paperback. That makes sense, since the audiobook is a recording of the Socrates in the City events with different lecturers taking on a variety of topics before opening up the session to Q&A.

Listening to this made me think and added several new books to my TBR. Definitely worth a listen.

I may have rated a few other books just as highly as these, but when I look through the 100 books that I read this year these are the ones that give me pause. Each of these books surprised me, challenged my way of thinking, uplifted me, or were extraordinarily memorable in their own way. It may seem easy to choose a top 10 for the year, but I am thankful that I've read so many fantastic books that this was a challenging task. To make it easier, I did not count re-reads (Pillars of the Earth) or books in the same series (Bloodline by Conn Iggulden).

I'm looking forward to another great year of reading in 2017! 

Not a bad month of reading for August. Especially Bonhoeffer. Amazing book. Inspiring person. I didn't write a review of this book, but I have thought about some aspect of it every day since I finished it & have ordered Cost of Discipleship.

The Hangman's Daughter was a fun group read for More Historical than Fiction. 

Another month, another crazy TBR.

Jasper and Thunderstruck are already in progress, so I should get through those two!

Sunne in Splendour is a re-read that I am excited about. My local book club has been making selections based on the members' favorite books, and this month is mine. Yay!

The Hangman's Daughter is the selection for More Historical than Fiction, so join us in reading and discussing this. Last month's book, Colour of Poison, was awesome.

What are you excited about reading in August?

In a word: magnificent. From his early beginnings in Berlin to his maturing into a true man of God, this stunning work shows Bonhoeffer's strength to stand and face, head-on, the evil of an emerging Nazi regime led by a relatively unknown foreigner, one Adolf Hitler. In spite of Hitler's persuasion of the German Church to adopt Nazi theology, Bonhoeffer remains steadfast in his commitment and his continual message of the Word of God as opposition to this growing evil. Amazingly, Bonhoeffer never wavered even as he was captured and eventually executed for his part in various assassination conspiracies against Hitler, even garnering the admiration of his executioners as a man "who was hardly ever seen so entirely submissive to the will of God". This is quite possibly the most important book I have ever read, and I was continually stunned and surprised at how much of this book applies to our situation in this country today. The similarities are eerie.