Books

Top Ten Books Read in 2025

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This is the eighth year that I’ve been writing these posts. This past year was particularly busy and challenging, so I didn’t get to read as much as I had hoped. Let’s just say certain opportunities in my church and priorities in my family took precedence and reading got relegated to the back burner for about six months. The focus of my study this past year centered on three major themes—biblical counseling, secular theory, and creativity (poetry in particular). I hope you enjoy these reflections and find something from my list that you can pick up and read in the new year. Notice, I snuck in an eleventh book.

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Top Ten Books Read in 2024

Peter LeDucLeave a comment

It’s hard to believe that today is the last day of 2024. It’s been a great year. While our church plant has become independent and continues to grow, I, too, am growing as a pastor. This means that I’m learning to balance shepherding, sermon prep, administration, counseling, fitness, and family life with good reading habits. I’ve added some audiobooks to keep up with my goals. Reading is necessary and formative. Good books are timeless and timely. They engage the mind by interacting with and challenging influential modern assumptions that we unconsciously imbibe on a regular basis. I need good books to awaken me from my slumber and arouse me from my stupor. I need good books to challenge my thinking and sharpen sharpen my skills. I need good books to motivate me to live for the cause of Christ and truth in a world committed to neither.

Here are the top ten books that I enjoyed the most and have had a profound impact on my life and mind—

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Helpful Books for Foster/Adoptive Families

Peter LeDucLeave a comment

Behind the walls of an evidently ordinary home are overwhelmed parents ill-prepared to deal with the behavioral issues related to childhood trauma. And behind the eyes of a seemingly normal child is an insecure soul unprepared to deal with the ever-emerging subconscious crisis of identity.

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Top Ten Books Read in 2023

Peter LeDucLeave a comment

It’s that time of year again. I am looking back at all I read this past year and looking ahead at my goals for the new year. Physically, movement is life. Reading is the motion and animation of the inner life. It’s a necessary and enriching experience without which my heart and mind would only grow stagnant. It keeps me aware of the past, conversant in our ever-changing culture, immersed in otherworldly imagination, sharpened by stimulating prose, and rooted in timeless truths. Tim Keller felt compelled to read broadly and deeply in order to prevent his preaching from growing stale and repetitive. I want to follow in that sentiment, which is brimming with both humility and wisdom. In descending order, here are the books that I enjoyed most this past year. I recommend them to you. Tolle lege!

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Top Ten Books Read in 2021

Peter LeDuc1 Comment

Well, this year resembled last year in a lot of ways. It was definitely busier as ordinary life and ministry picked up pace, but there was still much quality reading time to savor. I’m glad I set a goal and stayed ahead because I have been bogged down by various trials these past two months and haven’t had much time or energy to read. Here are my top ten books that I read this past year—

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7 Books That Shaped My Life

Peter LeDucLeave a comment

shapeRarely do we close a book unchanged. Reading has the rich capability of radically reorienting us. Our minds are informed, our hearts are formed, and our lives are reformed. Continue reading →

My Top Ten Books Read in 2019

Peter LeDuc1 Comment

This is the third year that I have committed to reading 50 books (you can view my completed books list on Goodreads here). With the perfect blend of curiosity, intentionality, and tenacity, you can join me in reading more. If you desire this, I have shared my personal tips and tricks on reading more. As I am continually shaped by what I read, I desire to share books worthy of your time and energy. These are my favorite books read in 2019 (not necessarily published this year). As you read through each section, I hope you will see the overlapping and recurring themes. This is one of the joys of reading more. Continue reading →

On Reading More: Simple Tips and Tricks

Peter LeDuc2 Comments

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In my youth, I was intellectually lazy and therefore incredibly averse to reading. I avoided books, reading assignments, and libraries like I avoided traffic and broccoli and black coffee. I even made fun of book-loving, book-smart people who read books (just ask my brother-in-law who majored in English). But now I LOVE to read. You will rarely find me without a book. I am not writing this as an expert or a novice, but as someone who has made some progress in my consumption of books over the last decade. Like you I am daily scraping for quiet, unhurried moments in the midst of my chaotic life to finish that chapter, and eventually that book. Like you I am on a journey toward becoming a better reader. So wherever you are on your journey, I hope you find these tips and tricks helpful.

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My Top Ten Books Read in 2018

Peter LeDuc2 Comments

I love reading other people’s top ten lists and being exposed to great books so I decided I would write one this year. Doug Wilson once wrote, “You read widely to be shaped, not so that you may be prepared to regurgitate.” I found this astute observation so inspiring and have committed to reading more this past year. I am thankful for the Goodreads Reading Challenge which helps me set challenging goals and keep track of my progress. I utilized this tool for the first time this past year and found it to be so motivating. I highly recommend using it and setting a personal reading goal for the new year. Here are some of the books that have shaped me this past year (these are books I read this past year, not necessarily ones that were published this year). You can check out the results of my Reading Challenge here. 

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