pat loughery

One of the meme-like things going around right now is for bloggers to list their ten favorite books of 2006. So here’s my take, in no particular order.

I’ve had this on the bookshelf for quite a while and read it over my vacation.  It was fantastic, a great survey of contemplative prayer and its history.  Very different than I expected.

Wonderful stories of the reality of monastic living – personality conflicts, hopes and dreams, the reality of spiritual formation over life, etc.

I highlighted something on most every page in this book.

Easily my favorite book this year.  It’s lyrical, poetic, frank, and uplifting.  It’s a masterpiece, and I’ll read it several more times in my life.

If you read Guder’s Missional Church and were blown away but had a hard time figuring out what to do next, read this one.  I’ll read it again.

Wow.  My uncle bought this for me last Christmas and I devoured it.  It’s the story of a man from Port Angeles, WA sea kayaking around Ireland.  Although he’s not a man of faith, the way he describes the history of the people and land through which he travels is pure, holy.  I can’t wait to walk these paths next August.

I love good street photography.  This book contains fantastic images, but also great interviews with the masters.

Inspirational. Even if I didn’t run right out and corporate-ize our church as a result.  The book thrills me with hope.

Best baseball book this year.  Great stories, analysis, discoveries.

Yep, yet another great book on Benedictine community.  Again, I highlighted a ton of it.

Best book on prayer I read this year (and I’ve read many).  I miss Stan Grenz’ voice, and this book is a classic.  I wish all Christians could read it.

Hmm, I guess that’s 11.  Oh well, this one goes to eleven.