Books I’ve read in South Africa, in the random order that I remember them:

·      The Heart is a Lonely Hunter- Carson McCullers

o   A great piece of American Southern Fiction that takes place in the Great Depression.

·      What’s So Amazing About Grace- Phillip Yancey

o   Most of this book is very good and Yancey gives some wonderful anecdotes on the power of grace and how easy it is to forget about what I’d call the most amazing part of the Christian faith.

·      No Future Without Forgiveness- Desmond Tutu

o   Tutu! After apartheid, the South African government formed the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. Tutu chaired this committee and this book collects his memoirs from that. 

·      I’m a Stranger Here Myself- Bill Bryson

o   I’m not incredibly familiar with Bill Bryson but some people I respect love him. This book was interesting as Bryson talked about his returning to America after decades abroad. It was 60% amusing, 20% out-dated, and 20% old white man complaining that things just aren’t what they used to be.

·      The Alchemist- Paula Coelho

o   I very short book that I liked for its theme of journey. It’d be a great gift for high school graduation.

·      Blue Like Jazz- Donald Miller

o   A great read for any young American disenchanted with evangelical Christians but still searching for spiritual significance. Growing up in the Bible-belt, this book felt like a breath of fresh air.

·      Blink-

o   This was a best-seller and has that universal appeal to anyone who passed Psychology 101.

·      Long Walk to Freedom- Nelson Mandela

o   I’m not going to lie- it’s long. Mandela doesn’t spare many details. But for that reason it’s a great history book on the ANC and their struggle to end Apartheid. And Mandela is such an amazing figure, I like to think reading his life story will make that rub off on the reader.