Got a stack of books you want to read but don't have time? Stop and read this first.

Guest post by John Poitevent

From visionroom.com

How many books are out there that you wish you had time to read? Some church leaders we know keep a list of “must read” books, but they can’t seem to find the time to read them all. Sound familiar?

That’s why we created SUMS. There are so many great books out there—authored by both ministry and business leaders—that can help you go ahead in your leadership. SUMS are short, 5-7 page summaries of the books we think will give you a personal leadership boost. Our team is always reading and we’ll turn the best books we read into SUMS issues that save you time and add enormous value to your leadership.

If you're a leader, and you are not yet familiar with SUMS free book summaries, you are missing out on an incredible resource. Like me, your pace of life probably doesn't permit you to do the reading you would like to. And when you set aside time to read, you want it to be as productive as possible. Through SUMS you can quickly get the essence of each book, then choose which ones  you'd like to dig into deeper. And just in case you're wondering, I don't work for these guys. I don't even know them. But I do know that to be a better leader, I need to read more, and I am a finite person.

With current books from pastors like Matt Chandler, Tim Keller and Andy Stanley, as well as leadership gurus like Jim Collins, Patrick Lencioni and Seth Godin, these are resources you NEED to be reading.

To get you started, here's a link to Tim Keller's Center Church. This book should be standard issue for any pastor who cares about effectively reaching their city with the gospel.

Challies on eBooks vs. Print Books

Tim Challies:

There remains a vast difference between owning a physical book and owning an e-book. My brain may some day adapt to the point where I can believe that a file on an iPad or Kindle is in some way equal to a physical book sitting on my bookshelf, but for the time being, I just cannot equate the two. And perhaps the time will come when I can interact better with an e-book than with a physical book. But until that day I cannot give up those books. I cannot give up the manner and the depth in which I can own them, at least when it comes to the books that are most important to me.

And so I continue to prefer printed copies of the important books and the much-loved books, the ones I want to drive deep into my mind and heart, the ones I want to pour over, to absorb. I love my Kindle for light reading, for enjoying a good novel or a Christian living kind of book. But books that I am going to return to again and again and books I would want to leave behind as part of my legacy, those are volumes I still want to have in printed editions, sitting in my office, accessible to all, able to outlive me, able to represent me.

Read the rest.

And while we are on the topic you can find Tim's books here (print or digital!)

10 Benefits of Ebooks that Will Surprise You

Eric McKiddie:

Did you know that ebooks are even better than you think? There are obvious benefits to ebooks, with lower prices and portability topping out the list. But in my use of ebooks, I have noticed other benefits that I haven’t seen anyone mention yet. 

You may be thinking, “Is this the same guy who gave us 10 Reasons Why Physical Books Are Still Better Than Digital Books?”

Yep. Same guy. And I still hold that conviction. But in that post, I never said that I didn’t like ebooks, just that I think physical books are better. Last week, I was glad to see that I’m in good company.

So here are ten things I love about ebooks. Have you experienced any of these surprising benefits?

Read the rest.

Two More Great Kindle Books for $1.99

When Sinners Say I Do - Dave Harvey

Read Like Blood - Joe Coffee and Bob Bevington


(HT: Challies)