Table of (Mal)Contents

Work travel is often challenging, but one benefit of it is going to conferences is that I have the opportunity to chat with writers who don't often come to Nashville. During the Super Bowl last week, Dave and I sat down to chat with Jen Wilkin, who is one of the best theologically-minded writers I know and a whole lot of fun to hang out with. Listen in as we discuss: What Jen really thinks about Super Bowl Sunday Jen's sci-fi street cred What recommending a book can mean What happened when I (Aaron) watched Les Miserables Why classic (serialized) novels might need to be edited for modern readers What more theologically-minded Christians need to keep in mind about reading What might motivate someone to write a memoir Reading while writing a Bible study All as we listen to smooth jazz and shouts of excitement about whatever's going on in the Super Bowl from the Hilton in downtown Minneapolis. This episode is sponsored by Gospel-Centered Discipleship. On April 13th, GCD will host their 2020 Writer's Intensive in Louisville KY (right before T4G) featuring Ronnie Martin, Jonathan Dodson and Jared C. Wilson. Learn more and register at gcdiscipleship.com. A few of the books we mentioned on this episode: None Like Him, In His Image, Women of the Word, and Better: A Study of Hebrews by Jen Wilkin The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein Great Expectations by Charles Dickens The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett (book one of the Lymond Chronicles) The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Shakespeare Wrote for Money by Nick Hornby This Tender Land and Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

One of my favorite people to interview is Andrew Peterson. He's been on the show once before (in its previous incarnation), and he's a great guy to talk books, music, and theology with. Well, today I have some good news: Andrew joined Dave and me in the studio to talk creativity, music, books, and his beef with J.J. Abrams. Listen in to hear: Where to get the best burrito in Nashville The difference between writing a song, a fantasy/adventure story, and a memoir The best advice to people who want to write but think they don't have the time Andrew’s love of Victorian era ghost stories What happened when Andrew and his wife thought they saw a UFO Two theologians who are fans of murder mysteries What’s happening with The Wingfeather Saga in 2020 A few of the books we mentioned on this episode: Adoring the Dark and The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee English History Made Brief, Irreverent, and Pleasurable by Lacey Baldwin Smith The Lion's Gate by Steven Pressfield Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

Dave and I are back in the studio, and we've brought along a friend—Joel J. Miller, Chief Content Officer of Michael Hyatt & Company. Dave and Joel are old pals, having worked together at another publisher back in the day, so listen in as they reminisce, while discuss: Joel's career in publishing (and what he misses from his time in the industry) One of the authors Joel really regrets working with (but it's cool for him to share this since the dude he mentions went to jail for defrauding his congregation) What are some good books to read to help someone understand the Eastern Orthodox faith Joel's near-encounter with Owen Wilson What were the most controversial and/or fun books Joel worked on The resurgence of the library The importance of editors Our hot takes on Star Wars Plus, a challenge for our listeners: One of you needs to find a copy of this movie and send it to Dave. (Send it to us via work: 1 LifeWay Plaza, Nashville TN, 37234) This episode is sponsored by our friends at Useful Group. Whether you’re looking for a new website, or need help developing your marketing strategy, they want to be useful to you. Learn more at usefulgroup.com. A few of the books we mentioned on this episode: The Revolutionary Paul Revere and Lifted by Angels by Joel Miller Welcome to the Orthodox Church by Frederica Mathewes-Green The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson Range by David Epstein 36 Righteous Men by Steven Pressfield Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

Today, we're offering a special Dave-less bonus episode featuring our friend Nick Rynerson. Nick was in town on business, and we decided that we should to something amazing: we should go to McKay's, one of my favorite bookstores! Get ready for the weirdest episode we may have ever done as we: Offer hot takes on books we see Recommend books for one another Describe our approaches to bookstore browsing Search for David Foster Wallace books and other titles Nick can't remember Get a totally off-brand book for Dave that he has to read (because it's a gift, and it would be bad form to do otherwise) All while wondering how long it's going to be before someone kicks us out. A few of the books we mentioned on this episode: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson The Crown Jewels by Walter Jon Williams Island in the Sea of Time by S. M. Stirling Ex Machina Vol. 1 by Brian K Vaughn & Tony Harris (note: this book is intended for adult readers only) Commonwealth by Anne Patchett Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace The Big Short by Michael Lewis Shakespeare Wrote for Money by Nick Hornby A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

What's my problem with the weird books that tell men how to be men? Bill Delvaux joins Dave and me in the studio to talk books for men, faith, and gender stereotypes (a little). Listen in as we discuss: What I (Aaron) really thinks ofWild at Heart How guys use busyness as a way to avoid having to deal with personal issues The problem with most books directed toward men Our fascination with Jeff Goldblum and Nicholas Cage How mythical stories can help us better understand our wiring as men This episode is sponsored by our friends at Useful Group. Whether you’re looking for a new website, or need help developing your marketing strategy, they want to be useful to you. Learn more at usefulgroup.com. A few of the books we mentioned on this episode: Heroic by Bill Delvaux Lilith, Phantastes, and The Golden Key by George MacDonald The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu Recovering From Biblical Manhood and Womanhood by Aimee Byrd Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

Nancy Guthrie, who is already in the running for best guest ever after last episode, returns for another round of talking books, banter, and throwing shade at Dave (well, actually at me, but I like to pretend it was directed at Dave). Listen in as we talk: Why it's taken us so long to have her on the show Why we like having guests in-studio instead of joining via teleconference If/when one of us will be invited onto Nancy's podcast, Help Me Teach the Bible The story behind Nancy's upcoming book, Saints and Scoundrels in the Story of Jesus Why women need to be deeply engaged in Bible study Who or what Nancy nominates for this week's Jack Reacher Sucker Punch of the Week This episode is sponsored by our friends at Useful Group. Whether you’re looking for a new website, or need help developing your marketing strategy, they want to be useful to you. Learn more at usefulgroup.com. A few of the books we mentioned on this episode: Mortification of Sin by John Owen The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger The First Fowler by S. D. Smith The Six by K. B. Hoyle Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

At long last, Nancy Guthrie joins us in the studio this week! Nancy is a Bible teacher, host of Help Me Teach the Bible, and the author of many books, including the upcoming Saints and Scoundrels in the Story of Jesus, which we'll talk about a bit next episode. But this week, we're talking about a lot of different and important topics, including: Nancy's history in publishing—from publicist to author—and how it made her a better writer Why we should thank the author of The Total Woman (Google that one, y'all) for encouraging Nancy to start writing Nancy's rules for endorsing books The difference between being a theological thinker and being theologically driven The value of physical vs digital books as a learner Why your story may not be meant to be in a book—even if everyone is telling you to write one This episode is sponsored by our friends at Useful Group. Whether you're looking for a new website, or need help developing your marketing strategy, they want to be useful to you. Learn more at usefulgroup.com. A few of the books we mentioned on this episode: Biblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos Understanding Dispensationalists by Vern Poythress Seinfeldia by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong Letters from a Nut by Ted L. Nancy Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard Justice League: The Sixth Dimension by Scott Snyder & Jorge Jimenez The Wounded Heart by Dan Allender And be sure to check out all of Nancy's books on Amazon or wherever you purchase your books (but if you go with Amazon, you'll be supporting the show, so there's that). Sharing and supporting the showLeave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

Our friend Nick Rynerson joins us as he auditions to take over for our former co-host (but still friend of the podcast), Barnabas. Listen in as we discuss: Why Nick's coworkers have a Wendell Berry jar in the office Misunderstood authors (both their work and their lifestyles) How Keanu Reeves can be the nicest man in the world and Neil Young is seemingly not, yet both are Canadian Why Dave is reading a Tom Clancy novel when we normally make fun of such things All this and the usual silliness and mockery that goes on between everyone on this show.This episode is sponsored by our friends at Useful Group. Whether you're looking for a new website, or need help developing your marketing strategy, they want to be useful to you. Learn more at usefulgroup.com.A few of the books we mentioned on this episode: Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy Peace Like a River by Leif Enger South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

It's time for our last new episode until 2020, and it's time for the three of us to have "the talk." Wait… what? What kind of talk are we talking about? You'll have to listen to find out. But in addition to that, a few other important things happen on the show: We play another round of our favorite game, "Leadership Book or Captain Picard" We discuss if we've embraced the "no hugging, no learning" rule (or if we're okay with side hugging) We talk about why Chevy Chase is terrible And what's the deal with the doll Barnabas is holding? Because we didn't really talk about any books on this episode, we'd encourage you to check out any (or all) of the following written by us (and leave a 5-star review on each one!): Epic: The Story that Changed the World Epic Devotions Awaiting a Savior Contend The Curious Christian Finally, be sure to grab a few bags of the Table of (mal)Contents blend by our friends at Lagares Coffee Roasters. Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

'Tis the season for exhaustive lists of top- something or others from bloggers and podcasters everywhere. So, we're getting right down to business on this episode as we present to you our completely self-serving end-of-year book lists. Along the way, we also discuss: When Aaron sounds most pretentious How we rank Tim Keller’s books The challenge of enjoying poetry Our happiness about our friend Scarlet being okay after a health scare What we thought about The Last Jedi Aaron's favorites: My Grandmother Told Me to Say She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman The Prodigal Prophet by Timothy Keller Afraid of All the Things by Scarlet Hiltibidal Heroes in Crisis by Tom King & Clay Mann The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson Barnabas' Favorites Us Against You by Fredrik Backman A Sever Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken Two Funerals Then Easter by Rachel Joy Welcher Proverbs: Wisdom that Works by Ray Ortlund  The Son by Philipp Meyer Dave's Favorites: Educated by Tara Westover On Desperate Ground by Hampton Sides Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin While you're at Amazon (or wherever you buy your books), be sure to also pick up copies (and leave a 5-star review) of a few of the books by me (Aaron) and Barnabas, all of which make for great gifts and/or stocking stuffers: Epic: The Story that Changed the World Epic Devotions Awaiting a Savior Contend The Curious Christian Finally, be sure to grab a few bags of the Table of (mal)Contents blend by our friends at Lagares Coffee Roasters. Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.