March 31, 2021 update: So, this section was actually the catalyst for this site. Then, it turned into a side page. Now, it’s something that I’m going to simply offer as a feature once a year to highlight my favorite book read in the particular year. This is a result of my schedule becoming increasingly busy with my Masonic work and other volunteer efforts now that things are seeming to open back up slowly. If it’s any consolation, most of my current readings are geared toward self and business development in order to assist in my Masonic career.
At any rate, to any who run across this site and wonder about my other readings in the year or anything else on my site, please feel free to email me any time.
For the year 2020, my “Book of the Year” award goes to: “Wheels of Courage” by David Davis
I would like to highlight this particular book because it is a beautiful history of people in military service who were injured and whose resulting disabilities contributed to the invention of wheelchair basketball and other sports for individuals with disabilities. Whether you’re familiar with disability issues or not, I highly recommend this work for its stories of people with tenacity and the exhibition of how purpose can help you fulfill your destiny. Please check it out and let me know what you think.
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Sovereignty by Ryan Michler | “If it’s always someone else’s fault, it will never be your responsibility and you’re actually giving away your power.” Your disability may not be your fault but it is your responsibility what you do with it.
A Prayer Before Dawn by Billy Moore | “Love didn’t exist in my world.” Be careful of the direction you choose while looking for love. Obviously not only related to disability but very true for those in the Crip world.
The Abolition of Man by C S Lewis| “Aristotle said that the aim of education is to make the pupil like and dislike what he ought.” Make an effort to educate yourself in every way possible about your disability and the way you want to be treated so others don’t make decisions for you! God knows this is rampant in the crip community by friends and family as well as society at large. LEARN TO THINK FOR YOURSELF IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE!
The Way of Men by Jack Donovan| “When the need for effort isn’t present, (the individual) suffers.” If you are newly injured (at any place in your life and in any way), try to see it ultimately as a time to embrace effort and show what you’re made of.
A More Complete Beast by Jack Donovan| “Know your tribe”. Make sure that you know the people who want the best for you and hang around them.
Becoming A Barbarian by Jack Donovan | “Take the world you have and make it the one you want”. This seems self-explanatory.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho| “The darkest hour of the night comes just before the dawn”. In my opinion, this book is highly spiritual with a Christian influence as you might be able to tell by that line. These words could not be more true pertaining to those who may be newly injured or to an individual dealing with something that they relate as darkness in their lives. Hang in there, dawn is coming.
Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho| This book reads a lot like “The Art of War” by Sun Tsu, which I read many years ago and highly recommend as well. “Warrior of Light” details strategies to find your inner fighter and use those tactics to navigate through life.
The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho| I did not realize it before I read “The Alchemist” but “The Pilgrimage” is its prequel. The theme of this work is suggestive that “your journey is to help you help others.” This is a concept that I do believe in and is actually what my site is somewhat based on. My individualistic mind will not let me stop here without saying that applying the concept should be entirely your choice. Moving on…
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas | Even though this novel got on my nerves at times just simply out of the length of it, I highly recommend it if not only for the pure adventure. I became too involved in trying to keep track of all of the characters but I would say if I had to suggest it simply for the theme of the work, I would do so on the lines that it will make you fantasize about some creative ways to get back at your enemies. Out of the effort of full disclosure here, this is not to suggest that you should do this!
The Great Divorce by C S Lewis| “To win in Hell or serve in Heaven?” This little line is actually a great follow-up to the summation on the previous book. What Mr. Lewis is trying to ask is which will be better for you in the long run? Is it better to gain Earthly victory or divine satisfaction? Whatever your situation is, strive to keep your mind on the long haul.
No Greater Love by Mother Teresa | So, some of these books are definitely more spiritual or faith-based than others and this one takes the cake. This book actually made me physically angry while reading it because it just presents such a daunting task because of the way she lived. I suppose that I probably completely missed the point in comparing myself to her so I will move to the line that I will highlight from this book which is something that Saint Augustine said:
“Fill yourselves first and then you can give to others.”
Always be sure to take care of yourself before putting too much into others. Apparently Mother Teresa was a firm believer in this because the book is just completely filled with her work in the world and it is quite frankly overwhelming what she did.
The Logic of God by Ravi Zacharias| So I come to this one on my list and it is probably the toughest to reflect on because Ravi Zacharias was an amazing spiritual giant that I followed for a number of years until his recent death. To digress to the book though, it is a nicely written, small, devotional that talks how about his favorite subject of suffering and Christ. This is obviously perfectly relatable to disability and anyone connected to it in a number of ways. I could pick out a number of lines from this book but one that I will highlight here is “Purpose is to discover splendor in the ordinary.”
This is something that I have thought about a lot in my life and can also be reflected on in the word “extraordinary” (“Extra” “Ordinary”). Your purpose can be found in the everyday things of life, especially those living with disability. Your purpose can simply be adapting your old life to your new life or finding adaptations to a whole new life in general. That is definitely a purpose whether you feel like it or not.
Church of Cowards by Matt Walsh | This book is geared mainly towards a certain population as you will see if you read it. In broad terms, it is about some of the ways that I currently see as the proper way to live out my Christian life. To connect with disability though, this is also another work that really speaks to the concept of embracing the process in all things. This book promotes sticking to what is right and to what is really at the root of things that make them work and to not abandon those things for something more flashy and expedient. As a more targeted note, I highly suggest this to anyone that may be questioning charismatic Christianity.
Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas | This is a rather lengthy biographical tome about one of my other favorite spiritual giants, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. If you take away anything at all from this book and Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a whole, the teaching should be to always do what is right, no matter the cost. As a matter of fact, doing what is right should cost you something and it should not come as a surprise to you.
This is something that I struggle with and probably will do so until the day I die, but it is a goal nonetheless. Whether you are a person with a disability or not, (YES! People with disabilities do bad things!) we will probably all struggle with doing the right thing because we are human. However, good will always prevail.
An inside look: even though he was completely a man of God, it is interesting to know that he believed in the principles above so much that he was actually involved in a plot to kill Adolf Hitler. If that does not make you want to read it, I don’t know what will!
Notes From The Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky | This book deserves a full warning that if you have or at any time suffer from depression, you might want to steer clear. Okay, that may be bit of an exaggeration but I had to get away for a bit after reading it. Many have actually agreed with me that it is a very strange book but if I had to pick out a nugget of goodness from it I would have to say that it also speaks to embracing the process over simply jumping or looking for the outcome. I feel as though I have said quite a bit about this in my descriptions of the other books above and they would offer better insight than this work.
Man’s Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl| While I do recommend this for every man, do not get caught up in the title and think that it would not for women also. This is actually one of the best books I have ever read and would be one of my recommended alternatives to “Notes From The Underground”. The author’s perspective will give you hope and inspiration for whatever you are going through and this especially relates to disability. I believe it is considered a classic among literature and after you read it, you will know why. This book will teach you what true purpose is and how to find it in your life.
The Hope of Glory by John Meacham | This book is series of reflections on the words of Jesus from the cross and is considered a Christian Classic. I would highly recommend this book if you find yourself in the two paradigms of being a Christian as well as a person with a disability. As I look through my notes, I do not see a particular thing that stands out to relate to disability directly here so I will just say that the work and hope of the cross will get you through.
Gideon the 9th by Tamsyn Muir| I only read this simply out of the effort of joining a science fiction book club discussion. I found it rather immature but with some good bits of sarcasm here and there. Other than that, there was not anything to related to disability or any other thing that I am trying to concentrate on my site.
Wild at Heart by John Eldredge | This book is also one of the best I have ever read. It is also one that I will fully endorse for men but one that I cannot say that a woman might get too much out of. Although, I could be completely wrong so if I am, let me know. One thing that really sticks with me from reading this is that to find purpose, one needs to realize that you need three things: A battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue. God knows that disability certainly comes with a fight but it can also create an adventure to live. As for the beauty to rescue, that could possibly mean rescuing and keeping that beauty safe and with you in the trials that you are experiencing. I highly suggest reading this and figuring out what three things in your life can come under those headings and then using them to examine your purpose.
This list will always be a work in progress because I am a pretty avid reader. The last entry was completed not too long ago and since then I have read a great deal of new material that I need to add. I will simply say that I will get to it when I can get my head around it and find some time between other projects I have going on.
Bryan Ridarick
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