Intro
The Read Everything list is very simple. It’s authors of a special quality that I intend to read ~everything they’ve ever written (skewing long form > short form content). Below there are:
- Summaries by author.
- Those on the fringe with potentiality.
- Members of the read everything list, when I added them to the list, years they were born/died and age upon death.
- Changelog for this list.
CS Lewis
12 books as of 2024. Absolute legend. I don’t count the latter 4 from the Narnia series as it’s been so long since I read them (I think it was family homeschool audiobook as well). The former I’ve read multiple times I believe.
Tim Keller
An emblem of faithful, persistent lifelong ministry. Thorough in every topic he covers. Intellectual giant, yet always accessible to millions of readers.
John Mark Comer
Highly gifted at reaching millenials and Gen Z, as well as the modern, urban, and deconstructing. Strikes a balance of progressive, while rooted in tradition and orthodoxy. Extremely accessible conversational writing style. Excellent pulse on the Zeitgeist.
Contenders
- Mark Sayers - have read two. Can easily see upon a third. Loved “Facing Leviathan.”
Mark Sayers is known for his work on the intersection of Christianity, culture, and spirituality in the contemporary world. He serves as the Senior Leader of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia, and has a keen interest in the dynamics of cultural change and the role of the church within it. Sayers is recognized for his insightful analysis of post-Christian culture and his ability to articulate the challenges and opportunities this presents for the church.
Books include: "Reappearing Church: The Hope for Renewal in the Rise of Our Post-Christian Culture," "Disappearing Church: From Cultural Relevance to Gospel Resilience," and "Facing Leviathan: Leadership, Influence, and Creating in a Cultural Storm.”
- Balaji Srinivasan - the Network State was my #1 book of 2023, a competitive year of 31 books read. I also listened to a 7 hour podcast this year he recorded with Lex Friedman (podcast link with all platforms) - it’s episode #331.
Balaji Srinivasan is an influential figure in the technology and cryptocurrency sectors, known for his visionary ideas. His background is in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in Information Theory from Stanford University. He co-founded Counsyl, a genomics startup that offers DNA testing for genetic diseases.
He served as the Chief Technology Officer of Coinbase, America’s largest and most successful cryptocurrency exchange. Additionally, he was a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, one of the most prominent venture capital firms.
Srinivasan is known for his thought-provoking ideas on the future of technology, society, and governance. He advocates for decentralized and digital-first approaches to many societal structures, including finance, healthcare, and government. Lately, he is known for his ideas surrounding network states.
- N.T. Wright - can easily see indictment happening. I’ve just only read Surprised by Hope (though an absolute banger) and he’s written a lot lot.
N.T. Wright, full name Nicholas Thomas Wright, is a prominent British scholar and Anglican bishop renowned for his influential work in New Testament studies and Christian apologetics. Born in 1948, Wright has served as the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and is currently a Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Wright is particularly noted for his contributions to the historical Jesus debate and the study of Pauline theology. He is a leading figure in the New Perspective on Paul, a theological movement that reevaluates the works of Apostle Paul, particularly in relation to justification and the law. Wright's scholarship seeks to place Jesus and Paul within their historical and cultural contexts, arguing that many traditional interpretations of the New Testament have been distorted by later theological constructs. Wright's views have sparked significant discussion and debate within theological circles.
His most influential books include:
- "Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense"
- "Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church"
- "The Resurrection of the Son of God" (Christian Origins and the Question of God, Volume 3)
- "Paul: A Biography"
- "The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians"
- Saifedean Ammous (economics, bitcoin)
- Nassim Taleb (risk, probability, antifragility)
- Michael Heiser (spiritual beings, Old Testament)
- Tom Holland (history)
I include “broad impact reached” not because fame, money, or respect are within my category of highest ideals. One of the great idols of my life is positive “impact” and “influence,” so I’m challenged to tie my core to even deeper wells.
I include it primarily to be a reminder to any who read this that even the “greats” of history had a great number of “menial” years, by many definitions.
It’s a reminder to be patient and faithful in the daily grind of caring for one’s body, seeking the well-being of those surrounding us, and building in our occupations of placement. (Note: A job that feels like building is truly a gift. For many, and at most times, it feels like just getting by).
Changelog
- [~2017] +CS Lewis opened the list with my reading of Mere Christianity, though it did not exist yet.
- [~2018] +Augustine joins the list. I’m guessing his “non-Confessions” other works will be more of a slog due to the style of ancient times, but I’m still committed to reading everything.
- [~2019] +Tim Keller joins the list (though still not existing) with Every Good Endeavor and influence on me through a variety of non-book channels. By 2022 I’d read 5.
- [2021] Idea conceived probably about this time when I read the Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by +John Mark Comer.
Just for fun, here’s the first image AI spit out for me :)
