5 Not-So-Obvious Reads for the Holidays

This post has been written with the aid of my fianceé, a literature major at Patrick Henry College.

For those of us who spend our semesters frantically keeping up with school assignments, writing for and editing school publications, and running to and fro with a schedule that never settles down, it can be difficult to find time to sit down and read for pleasure. Yet, picking up a good book is one of the best ways that we can cultivate the life of the mind and engage with the ideas and stories that have been passed down to us.

Now that the holidays have arrived, maybe you have some time to sit down and open a book. Maybe you are looking for the perfect gift to give someone. Either way, here are five not-so-obvious books that you will want to look at before the rush resumes:

1. The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield

Provocative, unnerving, yet written in a style that can only be described as soothing, this book provides the perspective of an English professor and her journey to the Christian faith. In this testimonial, Dr. Butterfield uses her experiences as a member of the LGBT community to shed light on the overwhelming power of faith and the love that she found in the Church—as well the shortcomings of many contemporary Christian practices.

2. The Mind of the Maker by Dorothy Sayers

Using the familiar nature of human artistry to analogize God’s creative nature and interaction with the created order, Sayers explores the notion that the imago Dei is, in its most basic form, the ability to create. In exploring creativity, she emphasizes the value of the individual participating in the created order by exercising the imagination.

3. The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis

In recommending Lewis, most people would turn to the Narnia series, the Space Trilogy,  Mere Christianity, or The Screwtape Letters. However, in this small collection of essays that I count as my favorite of his works, Lewis presents his argument for the inherent worth of every individual and his reveling in this obscure concept of “glory.”

4. The Fatal Conceit by F.A. Hayek

In an age where the principles of individualism and the practical nature of liberty in a society are being attacked, we can look to the arguments and writings of history to provide some answers. In his critique of centralized economies, Hayek undermines the rationalistic mode of thought and advocates a reliance on our commonly held traditions.

5. The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman

Lest we forget the sacrifices of those who have fought hard to preserve our access to freedom, this work allows us the opportunity to remember those who fought in the First World War. Tuchman’s vividness practically puts you in the trenches, while her thoroughness gives you a bird’s eye view of the geopolitical circumstances surrounding the War. Warning: full of suspense, loads of history, and excellent storytelling.