Table of (Mal)Contents

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.

After a lengthy (?) sabbatical, Barnabas is back with us in the studio to gift you a very special and highly censored discussion of: Where Barnabas has been all this time People using nouns as verbs, and why it should never, ever happen again Terrible ideas for the title of Barnabas's next book Father wounds and our attempt to read a book by a certain ex-megachurch pastor Why parents should post review books on behalf of their children on Amazon (like this one and this one) All this and Dave tries to make Aaron feel bad about not coming to the Lonesome Dove reading group. A few of the books mentioned in this episode: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry The Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva  The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead The Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson Commonwealth by Anne Patchett As always, be sure to grab a few bags of the Table of (mal)Contents blend by our friends at Lagares Coffee Roasters. Also, don't forget to grab a copy of Aaron's ebook from The Gospel Project, Jesus Saves Christmas, here. 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.

About a year ago, Dave and I had the privilege of being joined in-studio by acclaimed novelist Leif Enger while Barnabas was out on a work-related trip. He declared us really bad friends, and we're okay with that. So, today, as we all gear up for Thanksgiving, we're representing this interview as a special holiday gift to you! Listen in as we discuss: Leif's writing process and why it took 10 years for Virgil Wander to be released; Why his latest is his "most Christian but least evangelical" book yet What it means to be a successful writer (and how he handles criticism); How his three books connect with different seasons; and Why book tours actually still matter. And to add salt to the wound, here's how we included Barnabas in our group photo. A few of the books mentioned in this episode: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay The Overstory by Richard Powers 1984 by George Orwell The Plot Against America by Philip Roth Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson As always, be sure to grab a few bags of the Table of (mal)Contents blend by our friends at Lagares Coffee Roasters. Also, don't forget to grab a copy of Aaron's ebook from The Gospel Project, Jesus Saves Christmas, here. 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.

With Barnabas still out trying to get his book written, Dave and I are joined by our friend and colleague Todd Adkins, who is the Director of LifeWay Leadership at LifeWay and the host of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast. Here's what you'll hear: Why leadership books needs to offer both theory and practice Which leadership book Aaron thought was the one he hated (but was actually one he liked) What makes a good illustration The two books Todd would walk through when developing a leader Another round of Leadership Book or Captain Picard! A few of the books referenced this week: Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath The Leadership Engine by Noel M. Tichy Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars by Patrick Lencioni Organizational Culture and Leadership by Edgar H. Schein Endurance by Alfred Lansing As always, be sure to grab a few bags of the Table of (mal)Contents blend by our friends at Lagares Coffee Roasters. Also, don't forget to grab a copy of Aaron's ebook from The Gospel Project, Jesus Saves Christmas, here. 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.