Question: what books have you yet to read?
Slate Magazine recently asked readers “what Netflix rental have you kept unwatched the longest?” Last Friday, they published the results of the poll. By far, the “winner” was Hotel Rwanda. It epitomizes the movie which everyone feels they need to watch but cannot seem to muster the courage or energy to do so. (Ironically, I have owned Hotel Rwanda for well over two years and still have not watched it myself!)
In any case, I want to extend this same basic question to students and professors: what book have you checked out from the library or bought from the bookstore but have still not yet read? If you wish, feel free to explain why you think this is the case.
For my part, I have owned Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship for years, but I just cannot seem to get around to reading it. I think this is probably because it’s one of those “classics” that (1) people assume you’ve read and (2) are never assigned for a class. Perhaps I’ll get around to it someday.
Care to weigh in?
In any case, I want to extend this same basic question to students and professors: what book have you checked out from the library or bought from the bookstore but have still not yet read? If you wish, feel free to explain why you think this is the case.
For my part, I have owned Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship for years, but I just cannot seem to get around to reading it. I think this is probably because it’s one of those “classics” that (1) people assume you’ve read and (2) are never assigned for a class. Perhaps I’ll get around to it someday.
Care to weigh in?
Comments
As far as books, I'd name three I can't seem to get around to reading:
1. The Idiot - Dostoevsky (read Demons and Brothers K. but can't do this one for some reason)
2. Transforming Mission - David Bosch (worried that it will just be technical theological justification for concepts I've read about elsewhere).
3. The Resurrection of the Son of God - N.T. Wright (already read the first two in the series, but again, worried that it will just be background evidence for stuff I read in "Surprised By Hope")
But one big bad omission so far: MacIntyre's After Virtue.
Though I don't think that's as bad as not reading Bonhoeffer!
I think the biggest reason I haven't read it yet is because I have been caught up in reading ANE/OT books and monographs all summer and have recently plunged into the wonderful world of Barth, which, as you know, takes up much time. Also, the first chapter of Dunn's book is 80+ pages...a bit intimidating of a start!
Heiko Obermann's Harvest of Medieval Theology sits on my shelf waiting for me.
On the movie front, I have to say that I picked up "The Passion of the Christ" right when it was released, but in the absence of immediate controversy I have never had the desire to watch it.