- Since this month we are focusing on musicians that have written books, I thought it might be time to make a list of books that have influenced me over the years.
- I’ve broken the lists down to three, 1) MUSIC books that increased my love for jazz 2) SPIRITUAL books that guided my pilgrimage and 3) CLASSIC books that have encouraged and challenged my life direction.
- My Most Influential Jazz Books…
Music Is My Mistress by Duke Ellington. A joyful mix of history, reminiscences and vision.- Song of the Hawk-The Life and Recordings of Coleman Hawkins by John Chilton. Great bio of the man who essentially invented the tenor saxophone
- Here Me Talkin’ To Ya, the Story of Jazz as Told By The Men Who Made It by Nat Shapiro and Nat Hentoff. An oral history of jaz from the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong. Life affirming.
- The History of Jazz (or West Coast Jazz) by Ted Gioia. Gioia writes history like a Raphael tapestry.
- Visions of Jazz-Gary Giddins. A wonderful primer on all aspects of jazz
The Swing Era (or Early Jazz) by Gunther Schuller. Encyclopedic history of the music and the musicians.- Jazz Singing by Will Friedwald. Any book by Friedwald on singers or singing are state of the art, mixing music appreciation and fandom.
- Jazz Masters of the 30s by Rex Stewart. Duke Ellington’s trumpeter gives a first had run down of what it was like to be part of the swing era.
We Called It Music by Eddie Condon. One of the great “background” books of a musician’s life.- Good Morning Blues by Count Basie or The World of Count Basie by Stanley Dance. There is a set of The World Of…various jazz musicians that are all a joy, but it’s important to learn about the man who was the essence of Kansas City Swing.
Most Influential Spiritual Pilgrimage Books
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis-The man who gave us The Chronicles of Narnia gave a series of radio lectures that is the clearest argument for the validity of the Christian faith. Even if you’re not a believer, his chapter on “pride” is essential reading for all humanity. A close second is The Screwtape Letters, Surprised by Joy , The Abolition of Man, or The Great Divorce. All will make you think of live in ways you’ve never considered before.- The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. A pacifist priest who eventually used his faith to actively resist Adolf Hitler wrote this challenging book on what it really means to be a Christian.
- The Training of the Twelve by A.B. Bruce. What did Jesus do while on earth? He spent time investing in his core followers. How He did it is an inspiration for all people on interpersonal relationships.
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Martin Lloyd-Jones. If you think you’re “spiritual”, you’ll doubt your own salvation after reading this gripping and challenging book.
- Spiritual Depression by Lloyd-Jones. I had to make this a special entrée, unlike Lewis, as its topic is one that is addressed better than any other book I’ve encountered. It has literally saved peoples’ lives.
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- Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. What do you do with your spare time? Where do you get your information from? This book will make you rethink why you watch TV or any videos.
Idols for Destruction by Herbert Schossberg. This book, while a bit dated in its references (like Postman’s) still refers to issues that are eternal.- By What Standard? By RJ Rushdoony. This book throws down the gauntlet as to “how do you know that you know?”
- Pursuit of Holiness (or The Friendship Factor) by Jerry Bridges. The word “Holiness” has gotten a bad rap, even though John Coltrane once said that his life was to “be a holy man”. This book makes holiness attractive and achievable.
Knowing God by J.I. Packer. A classic on the attributes of God. It’s challenging, and you may shake your fist at this book, but you’ll have to either accept or reject the God of the Bible, with no filter.- Paradise Restored by Dave Chilton. Where is the world headed? This book tells you the hope of following God
- Witness by Whitaker Chambers. This book has been called the greatest American autobiography. It’s the story of a leader in the Communist party who becomes a quiet pilgrim, only to become a key witness during the Communist Infiltration of the 1950s
- My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers or Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon
Spurgeon. Two great daily devotionals that will fill up your tank every morning.
- Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton. Writings of a devout Englishman who challenges every thought you’ve ever encountered. Challenging and thrilling
Most Influential Non-religious Books-(With apologies to Hemmingway and Steinbeck)
How To Read a Book by Mortimer Adler. Before you read any book, read this book on how to read a book.
- Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Obviously, one could also include Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield or others, but this one is a great contrast between two revolutions, one with God, and one without.
The Spy by James Fennimore Cooper. The Last of the Mohicans is more famous, but this one about a man who is hated by everyone until after he is dead is an inspiration of who we are trying to please in life.- The Law by Fredric Bastiat. This little booklet tells you everything you need to know about why laws exist, and how they relate to today’s world.
- Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell. Every book by Sowell is essential, but this one put into effect the life-changing idea that “there are not solutions, only trade-offs”.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. How do you deal with revenge? This wondrously dark book delves into the depth of this issue.- Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Can you commit a perfect crime and get away with it? Is it true that “no one really knows” that you’ve done something evil? This book digs deep into our thing called “conscience” like no other
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. What is worse, not getting what you desire, or getting it? Tolstoy brings out this quest to fulfill one’s urges like no one else, with the only true Answer.
- The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. This rich epic is an unforgettable analysis of how you deal with your guilt.
- The Glory of Their Times by Laurence Ritter. A rich oral history of baseball around the turn of the 20th
Century that is like a time capsule you’d love to walk through
- Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. The ill-fated voyage to “discover” the South Pole is a tale of how to survive when life goes from worse to worst.
- The Long Walk by Slawomir An unbelievable journey (disputed by some) of man’s desire to escape to freedom
Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Unbelieving man’s classic fight against believing in God. Guess who wins?