Lately, I’ve found myself buried in books more than ever, and I’m not entirely sure why. Maybe it’s that other forms of media have lost their shine. Television offers little worth watching, and platforms like Facebook and Instagram seem more like time-eaters and self-esteem thieves than sources of joy. Books, on the other hand, have remained a steady refuge—quiet, grounding, and endlessly rich—in the midst of the world’s chaos. Take a look at the books I’ve recently finished. My mention of a certain book does not necessarily mean an endorsement or recommendation.
Calvin on Sovereignty, Providence, & Predestination by Joel Beeke – this author does a supreme job of explaining John Calvin’s views of God’s sovereignty, providence, and predestination. Christian doctrines such as these can often be challenging to approach, but have been made easier to wade into with the writing of this book. Beeke concludes the book with this prayer: I pray to God that you now understand how Calvin was biblical and got it right when he addressed the doctrines of God’s sovereignty, providence, and predestination (both election and reprobation). I pray, too, that you understand that these doctrines are important for you as well, biblically, doctrinally, experientially, and practically (p. 33).
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry – I came late to the game with Friends. During Covid, my comfort show was The Office (along with about a bazillion others). Eventually, though, I grew tired of Michael and Dwight and swapped them out for Joey, Chandler, and the rest of the gang. What’s interesting as a viewer is how easily we assume we know these characters as intimately as our own family or closest friends. This memoir shattered that illusion. Released on November 1, 2022—just a year before Matthew Perry’s death on October 28, 2023—the book is filled with highs and lows, though the lows far outweigh the highs. Perry was often his own worst enemy. What stood out most was his relentless pursuit of sobriety and peace, even though so many of his struggles were rooted in destructive choices. As a Christ-follower, I believe true and lasting peace can only be found in a surrendered life to Jesus; chasing peace in this world will always come up empty. Perry’s story is a sobering picture of that search for something the world simply can’t give. It’s an eye-opening read—but be warned, it contains some explicit language.
Salvation on Sand Mountain by Dennis Covington – This book can be summed up in one word: bizarre. Salvation on Sand Mountain follows journalist Dennis Covington as he investigates snake-handling churches in Appalachia, beginning with a court case and ending with his own unexpected involvement. Blending storytelling with self-discovery, it explores faith, doubt, and the search for authenticity. I picked it up because I’d always heard of snake handling in fundamentalist churches tucked away in mountain towns and hollers, and it was fascinating (and unsettling) to realize that this practice is still very much alive in certain congregations today.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell – I’ve always been intrigued by high-demand, high-control religions, and it’s been interesting to see how much more attention they’ve received in the past few years. With docuseries like Shiny Happy People and memoirs from former cult members, the conversation around these groups has really moved into the mainstream. Reading Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell felt eye-opening—it showed me how something as simple as language can be used to pull people in, create a sense of belonging, and ultimately keep them under control, whether in fringe religious sects, fitness programs, or even MLMs.
Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves – There are a few books in my library that I would consider pivotal in shaping my understanding of Christianity. One of them is Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul, and another is Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves. Reading the latter required both patience and a genuine desire to wrestle with the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. It’s a topic of immense depth, but one that is entirely worth the effort to study—or at least to begin to grasp. After all, there are doctrines in Scripture that our finite minds will never be able to fully comprehend because of God’s majesty and grandeur.
Survival and Resistance in Evangelical America: Christian Reconstruction in the Pacific Northwest by Crawford Gribben – I’ll start by saying this book is very niche and not for everyone. Its oddly specific topic caught my attention because of a growing movement in the Pacific Northwest that I wanted to understand better. The book addresses Christian nationalism, reconstructionism, and the philosophy of R.J. Rushdoony—all of which play into this trend. I suspect we’ll be hearing more and more about Christians intentionally relocating to the Northwest in the years ahead.
Cloud of Witnesses: A Treasury of Prayers and Petitions through the Ages by Arnold and Carter. Prayer has been a particular focus for me over the past year. As with many parts of the Christian walk, some disciplines are harder to develop than others, and for me prayer has always been one of the more challenging. This book has been a true treasure—a collection of prayers and petitions drawn from the Puritans, biblical scholars like Calvin and Luther, and even more contemporary voices. I’ve loved using it as a guide to keep my prayers rooted in Scripture while also helping me articulate what the Lord has placed on my heart.
Jacob Robertson 
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