Wholeness
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture
Gabor Mate
Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty Isn’t the American Dream
Brian Fikkert
Achieving “the American Dream” is thought of as the measure of success—but it often doesn’t work for the poor at home or abroad. Why? Discussing misconceptions of the Western church and civilization, the authors expose the true sources of brokenness and poverty and show how the good news of God’s kingdom opens new pathways to human flourishing.
The Hidden Life of Trees: What they Feel, How They Communicate
Peter Wohlleben
Are trees social beings? In The Hidden Life of Trees forester and author Peter Wohlleben convincingly makes the case that, yes, the forest is a social network. He draws on groundbreaking scientific discoveries to describe how trees are like human families: tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. Wohlleben also shares his deep love of woods and forests, explaining the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration that he has observed in his woodland.
Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging
Sebastian Junger
We have a strong instinct to belong to small groups defined by clear purpose and understanding “tribes.” This tribal connection has been largely lost in modern society, but regaining it may be the key to our psychological survival.
Combining history, psychology, and anthropology, Tribe explores what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty, belonging, and the eternal human quest for meaning. It explains the irony that for many veterans as well as civilians-war feels better than peace, adversity can turn out to be a blessing, and disasters are sometimes remembered more fondly than weddings or tropical vacations. Tribe explains why we are stronger when we come together, and how that can be achieved even in today’s divided world.
The God of the Garden: Thoughts on Creation, Culture, and the Kingdom
Andrew Peterson
There’s a strong biblical connection between people and trees. They both come from dirt. They’re both told to bear fruit. In fact, arboreal language is so often applied to humans that it’s easy to miss, whether we’re talking about family trees, passing along our seed, cutting someone off like a branch, being rooted to a place, or bearing the fruit of the Spirit. It’s hard to deny that trees mean something, theologically speaking.
This book is in many ways a memoir, but it’s also an attempt to wake up the reader to the glory of God shining through his creation.
One of the first commands to Adam and Eve was to “work and keep” the garden. Award-winning author and songwriter Andrew Peterson, being as honest as possible, shares a story of childhood, grief, redemption, and peace, by walking through a forest of memories: “I trust that by telling my story, you’ll encounter yours. Hopefully, like me, you’ll see that the God of the Garden is and has always been present, working and keeping what he loves.”
Sometimes he plants, sometimes he prunes, but in his goodness he intends to reap a harvest of righteousness.
