Books That Shape a Life: Byron Borger’s Fall Reading Guide

In this rich and inspiring episode, host Daniel Johnson welcomes back guest Byron Borger to discuss transformative books for the fall season. Byron shares a curated list of titles that speak to theology, culture, education, memoir, and spiritual formation—perfect for students, readers, and lifelong learners. The conversation explores how books can shape our faith, deepen our understanding of culture, and equip us for meaningful engagement in the academy and beyond.

➡️ 📚 Featured Book Recommendations

🎓 For Students & Educators

· Why Study History? by John Fea (Baker Academic, 2024)

· Learning to Love: Christian Higher Education as Pilgrimage by Alex Sosler (Falls City Press, 2023)

· The Art of Asking Better Questions by J.R. Briggs (IVP, 2025)

· Everything is Never Enough: Ecclesiastes' Surprising Path to Resilient Happiness by Bobby Jamieson (Penguin Random House, 2025)

🌍 On Culture & Theology

· The Way of Christ in Culture: A Vision for All of Life by Benjamin Quinn & Dennis Greeson (B&H Academic, 2024)

· The Core of the Christian Faith: Living the Gospel for the Sake of the World by Michael Goheen (Brazos Press, 2025)

· Culture Making by Andy Crouch (IVP, 2008)

· He Shines in All That’s Fair: Culture and Common Grace by Richard Mouw (Eerdmans, 2002)

· Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview by Albert Wolters (Eerdmans, 2005)

🕊️ Spiritual Formation

· Slow Theology: Eight Practices for Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World by A.J. Swoboda & Nijay Gupta (Brazos Press, 2025)

· You Can Trust a God with Scars: Faith (and Doubt) for the Searching Soul by Jared Ayers (NavPress, 2025)

👥 Memoirs & Personal Narratives

· I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown (Convergent Books, 2018)

· Full of Myself: Black Womanhood and the Journey to Self-Possession by Austin Channing Brown (Convergent Books, 2025)

· The Exact Place by Margie Haack (Deep River Books, 2012)

· Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono (Knopf, 2022)

💬 Key Themes

· The Gospel of the Kingdom and its cultural implications

· Christian higher education as a journey of love and formation

· Asking better questions as a spiritual and relational practice

· Engaging culture thoughtfully and faithfully

· The power of memoirs to cultivate empathy and self-reflection

· Slowing down to deepen theological understanding and resilience

🔗 Resources & Links

· Hearts & Minds Bookstore = https://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com

· SL Brown Foundation = https://slbf.org