Greenwood's Power Ranking™ of Books.

I read sometimes. SOMETIMES.

I have good years, and I have bad years. I go through phases where the only thing I want to do in my free time is read, and I go through phases where the only thing I want to do in my free time is anything other than read. According to Goodreads™, I have read 234 books. I am CONFIDENT that is not an accurate number, but it’s a good pool for me to rank from. For instance, it doesn’t include the 50-some odd Magic Tree House or Goosebumps books that I read as a kid. It doesn’t include most book that I read before 2016. It DOES include some real CERTIFIED BANGERS though. Let’s get on with it. Here are the 10 most POWERFUL books that are on my Goodreads™.

10. How to Keep House While Drowning - K.C. Davis

    This book was one of those books that you see on the internet, and when you see the title you look around at the living room that you are sitting in, and you think, “Yeah, okay. The algorithm got me.” This book was weirdly freeing for me, it changed how I think about some tasks around the house. An example, why did I spend so much time folding my underwear? Get a basket, throw it in your underwear drawer, and just put those bad boys in that basket loose. NEVER OCCURRED TO ME. I also loved how refreshing the chapter on the Kitchen (I think) was. “I haven’t figured this one out yet”. That’s like the whole chapter.

9. White Fang - Jack London

   I think that my obsession with dogs and wolves was born from this novel. Also, thinking back over this novel now, it’s kinda wild to have read as a kid. Lots of death, lots of questions of morality. Honestly, it’s a great book and you should check it out if you have never read it.

8. Halo: The Fall of Reach - Eric Nylund

   Yeah man, this short HALO book was this good. I borrowed this from a friend on his recommendation and took it with me on a vacation to Idaho with Sav’s family two years ago. I started reading this book one morning out on the porch of the ranch we were at, and finished it a little after lunch that day. I don’t know why, but this book HOOKED me. I know that technically this book isn’t “good”. BUT IT’S GOOD. I guess I am a sucker for a fast paced space video game book.

7. Deep Work - Cal Newport

   If you are interested in non-fiction that relates to how you work and you have not heard of Cal Newport, you should make this book your next read. He writes a lot about removing distraction from your life so you can do things that are important to you, but not like in a weird zen vibes way. He talks about how we are losing our ability to think and work deeply because of LOTS OF REASONS. I’ve read 4 of his books, and they are all FANTASTIC. This was my first Cal Newport book and it introduced me to him. Interesting brain, interesting guy, interesting philosophy of work and life. Check him out.

6. The Odyssey - Homer

   I can’t help it. I’ve been a Classical mythology guy since middle school. I remember reading this in 9th grade for the first time, and falling in love. I love the adventure, the characters and monsters, the sweet “It’s ME” reveal. What a good story. Homie just wanted to go home, ya know? Who can’t relate to that?

5. Mythology - Edith Hamilton

   Yeah, two in a row. I told you I love Classical mythology. If the Odyssey was too specific for you, this book is the ticket. My first real read of a lot of Classical Mythology came from this book. It’s got all the high points. You want to know about all those Gods and what they’re all about? Check. What about all those heroes? Check. Just need to brush up on anything that might happen in the next couple Percy Jackson episodes? Check.

4. Jayber Crow - Wendell Berry

   Man, a friend gave me this book and I took too long to read it. It’s a wonderful depiction of parts of the human experience. Jayber is a barber for much of the story, and as such he gets this unique lens into the other characters’ lives. He think deeply, asks big questions, gets sad and lonely. He’s just a person, and I love him and this book dearly.

3. Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster

   I’m pretty dumb, and often need someone to speak really practically about the what and the why of things. This book does that wonderfully about many Christian disciplines. It helps my type A brain make sense of some of these disciplines and understand not just why we (should) do them as Christians, but also HOW to do them. Honestly, a very impactful book for me.

2. Gilead - Marilynne Robinson

   One of my favorite books to recommend to people. It’s one of those books that sound boring as a elevator pitch, but are just CAPTIVATING in practice. This book made me feel so many things, and books don’t often do that for me. I cry watching movies a lot, but I rarely cry reading books. This one makes me cry every time I read it. PLEASE go read this book.

1. The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

   We all knew it was coming. If you don’t know why these books are the best, come talk to me and I will bore you with all the reasons that I love these books. READ THESE BOOKS.

Get your read on nerds.

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