Over the course of 2024, Current has seen the publication of upward of 90 book reviews.
Just let this sink in. Most of these have been at Current proper, where we publish 1-2 reviews most weeks. In addition, this year we experimented with quarterly Books Weeks. Some “overflow” reviews also appeared at The Arena blog. Furthermore, not included in this total are John Fea’s long-running “Author’s Corner” features at The Way of Improvement blog, or the other book-related interviews and highlights at both blogs and at Current proper.
All in all, an outside observer might conclude that we just really like books around here. That observer would be absolutely correct. But in this post, I’m getting to flip the script a little bit. While it is Current editors who select the books for review (and the reviewers for those books), it is the readers who vote with their feet, so to speak, and decide which books interest them enough to read the review—and perhaps explore the book further.
So, what were the 25 most-read reviews of 2024 at Current? What were the reviews, in other words, that our readers read and then shared–over and over with others, extending the conversation? Spanning books on subjects as diverse as American politics (because 2024), contemplative reading in the monasteries of Late Antique Syria, drug scandals in college frats, homeschooling, and virtue ethics and long-distance running, one could say that these reviews reflect the remarkably broad interests of Current readers. Oh, and there are several reviews of novels (including one graphic novel) and one children’s cookbook in the mix too!
Whether you are in need of book ideas for yourself, are looking for gift ideas, or are reflecting on the measure of this year as it draws to an end, I hope you enjoy this list.
25. Amanda McCrina, “That One Note That Holds Life”
24. Philip Jenkins, “Stone Circles” — review of Stone Circles: A Field Guide by Colin Richards and Vicki Cummings. Yale University Press, 2024.
23. Greg McBrayer, “Do Good People Make Better Runners?” — review of The Examined Run: Why Good People Make Better Runners by Sabrina B. Little. Oxford University Press, 2024.
22. Andrew J. Pottenger, “Reading as Divine Encounter” — review of The Library of Paradise: A History of Contemplative Reading in the Monasteries of the Church of the East by David A. Michelson. Oxford University Press, 2023.
21. Eric Miller, “Animal Spirits”
20. Joshua Hren, “Great Expectations” — review of Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham. Hogarth, 2024.
19. John Plating, “Pivot Points” — review of Pivot Points: Adventures on the Road to Christian Contentment by Marvin Olasky. P&R Publishing, 2024.
18. LuElla D’Amico, “Love and Marriage in the Age of Austen” — review of Love and Marriage in the Age of Jane Austen by Rory Muir. Yale University Press, 2024.
17. Elizabeth Stice, “U Sad, Bro?” — review of Among the Bros: A Fraternity Crime Story by Max Marshall. Harper, 2023.
16. Agnes Howard, “Is Potty Training What You Will Do with Your One Wild and Precious Life?” — review of What Are Children For? On Ambivalence and Choice by Anastasia Berg and Rachel Wiseman. St. Martin’s Press, 2024.
15. Dixie Dillon Lane, “A Manual for Homeschooling” — review of Becoming Homeschoolers: Give Your Kids a Great Education, a Strong Family, and a Life They’ll Thank You for Later by Monica Swanson. Zondervan, 2024.
14. Christopher Gehrz, “The Moral Vision of American Leaders” — review of Moral Vision: Leadership from George Washington to Joe Biden by Marvin Olasky. Free Press, 2024.
13. Russell Erben Fox, “How Information Overload Destroyed American Democracy (Maybe)” — review of Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America’s Political Crisis by James Davison Hunter. Yale University Press, 2024.
12. David Michelson, “To Catch Those Voices from a Distant Age”
11. Jon D. Schaff, “Words for Conviviality”
10. Bill Fullilove, “Genesis by Way of Gilead” — review of Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024.
9. Tiffany Eberle Kriner, “This Is Remarkable”
8. Dixie Dillon Lane, “The Catholic Kids’ Cookbook” — review of The Catholic Kids’ Cookbook: Holy Days and Heavenly Food by Haley Stewart and Clare Sheaf. Word on Fire, 2024.
7. Ronni Kurtz, “I Cheerfully Refuse… To Give Up Hope”
6. Dan Williams, “Richard Nixon’s Graceless Religion”
5. Sadie Vanderzyden, “The After Party” — review of The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics by Curtis Chang and Nancy French. Zondervan, 2024.
4. Chris Shannon, “Still the Jeremiad”
3. Jon D. Schaff, “Where Is Freedom in This Book?” — review of On Freedom by Timothy Snyder. Crown Publishing. 2024.
2. Ivana D. Greco, “Homeschooling Boys” — Becoming Homeschoolers: Give Your Kids a Great Education, a Strong Family, and a Life They’ll Thank You for Later by Monica Swanson. Zondervan, 2024.
1. Dan Williams, “Shepherds for Sale” — review of Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda by Megan Basham. Broadside Books, 2024.