Books I read in January 2022

Posted on February 1, 2022March 19, 2022 by Matt Todd

This post about the books I read in January 2022 contains affiliate links. That means I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the appropriate links. You can learn more in my Disclosure Policy. As always, thank you for your support.

I’ve stepped up my reading game since the world came crashing down in 2020. I’d been reading on a steady clip prior to the Great Pandemic Shutdown, but I suddenly had a whole lot more free time, since I didn’t have to drive to and from work each day. That wound up saving me at least 7 hours a week. So I wound up filling some of that extra time reading books. Fortunately, reading was #7 on my list of things I “should have been doing” during the pandemic. I guess I should start doing a few more of those items.

I’ve decided it’s time to share my reading list with y’all. Sure, you could follow me on goodreads, but I don’t really use that platform to share much about the books I read. Yeah, I give them a star rating, but that’s about it.

I plan on sharing the books I read each month, along with a one or two line review that includes a fox rating system.

That’s right. A fox.

via GIPHY

I’m going to call it The Fox Book Rating System^©®TM

You know why, right?

Because Todd means “fox” or “sly as a fox.”

So I’ma use foxes for my rating system and y’all can’t stop me. 🦊

Ten foxes will be the best book I’ve ever read. Ever. I’ll rarely give these out. A rating of seven foxes is still going to be a pretty darn good book. Six foxes won’t be anything to sneeze at. As you’ve probably already figured out, zero foxes means it’s a pretty awful book and I can’t believe someone was willing to put forth the effort to publish it.

Make sense? Sure it does. I’m sure this will change as we go along.

So here we go…

Books I read in January 2022

God of the Garden: Thoughts on Creation, Culture, and the Kingdom
Andrew Peterson
🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊 (9 foxes out of 10)
Available via The Rabbit Room Store

When your wife gives you a copy of a book for Christmas and says, “I have to tell you – this is a used book. I woke up early every morning, snuck downstairs, and read it before you got up. Oh, and I’m going to get my own copy so I can write notes in it.” If she says that to you, you know you’re going to love it.

I did.

It’s no secret that I love both Andrew Peterson’s music and his writing. His book, Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making, is one of my favorite books ever (10 foxes, for sure!).

The Family Roe: An American Story
Joshua Prager
🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊 (6 foxes out of 10)
Available via Amazon

The Family Roe: An American Story by Joshua Prager is one of the books I read in January 2022.

I didn’t really know the story of Jane Roe/Norma McCorvey. Most people don’t, really. Her story is fascinating. And heartbreaking. This book attempts to cut through the hype and the myth and the assumptions that have surrounded the most famous anonymous plaintiff over the past five decades.

Prager does his best to tell the story without bias. There were times, when I read a chapter and thought, “Well, he’s showing his pro-choice bias.” But then a chapter or two later, I’d think, “This sure sounds like he’s revealing a pro-life presupposition here.” While he spills the beans in the end of the book, he does a good job of providing a solid piece of journalistic work, skillfully explaining both sides of this heated debate.

It’s a solid book. Remember that six foxes is a really good rating. As Norma’s story unfolded, I was saddened to see how many people were so willing to use her as a prop with little concern for her as a person. And this is true about both pro-life organizations and pro-choice groups. Of course, it’s also true that she used them, too.

I learned a lot about Roe v. Wade. I learned a lot about Norma McCorvey. And I was also reminded that there are real people underneath the stories everyone assumes they know.

This isn’t just the story of Norma McCorvey, her family, her supporters, and her detractors. No matter what side of the debate you fall on, this is the story of every American. We’re all touched by its impact, whether we like it or not.

What’s next?

I don’t know if I’ll always include this feature, but since I know what I’m reading next, I figure I’ll go ahead and let you know. In honor of Dr. King’s birthday and in recognition of Black History Month, I think it’s altogether fitting to read Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? again. It’s the last book he wrote before he was assassinated, and it is just as important of a message as it was when it was published in 1967.

Matt Todd

Howdy. I'm Matt. My wife, Christy, and I have four kids and two dogs, I'm passionate about orphan care. I'm a die-hard fan of the Evansville Aces, the Indiana Hoosiers, and Star Wars. I'm trying to live life by the Todd family motto: "It behooves us to live!"