On My Shelf helps you get to know various writers through a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lives as readers.
I asked Drew Dyck—acquisitions editor at Moody Publishers and the author of several books including Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything—about what’s on his bedside table, favorite fiction, go-to writing advice, the book he bluffs about having actually read, and much more.
What’s on your nightstand right now?
I have a few on my nightstand. I’m reading Remaking the World by Andrew Wilson. I love books with a big bold thesis, so I’m finding it fascinating. Frankly, I’m blown away by the breadth of Wilson’s knowledge. No one should be that smart. It’s not fair.
I’m also slowly working my way through the new book by the poet Christian Wiman, Zero at the Bone. It’s collection of short essays, interspersed with poetry. Wiman tackles the topic of despair and doesn’t sugarcoat it (“There is nowhere to stand and see, nowhere to escape the stink of being human”). But he wrestles his way to a hope aided by his subtle but strong faith.
I’m currently rereading On the Incarnation, which I haven’t read since seminary. It’s the edition with a foreword by C. S. Lewis with his great exhortation to tackle primary sources.
I’m halfway through Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk. The thing I’ve found interesting is how his traumatic childhood shaped his relentless drive. It highlights a paradox I’ve observed in the lives of many prominent figures—that often there’s a pathology underlying extreme success.
Lastly (and I’m embarrassed to admit this), I’m reading The Hunger Games. My 12-year-old made me. And don’t tell anyone I said this, but it’s not bad.
What are your favorite fiction books?
My favorite contemporary fiction book is Peace like a River by Leif Enger. He’s a master of the craft and explores Christian themes so beautifully in his novels. I’d like to meet him but alas I’m on Day 794 of him not accepting my Facebook friend request.
I loved The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Well, “loved” is probably wrong for a story that bleak and brutal, but it affected me deeply. The Great Gatsby is still a favorite too. I like how Fitzgerald writes for the ear (“I must have stood for a few moments listening to the whip and snap of the curtains and the groan of a picture on the wall”). Plus, his unforgettable portrayal of a hollow and decadent age seems newly relevant for our time.
What biographies or autobiographies have most influenced you and why?
Missionary biographies were huge for me. I wasn’t a reader as a kid, but my mom read them to me. She was the original Audible. Two that left a big impression were Lords of the Earth and Bruchko. It’s great for a young Christian to encounter these stories of courage and sacrifice for Christ.
What are some books you regularly reread and why?
I like to read Finnegans Wake a few times every year. OK, that’s a lie; I couldn’t make it through once. I reread Buechner a lot. I especially like his memoirs. My copy of Now and Then is falling apart. He’s my favorite Christian writer. He just had a knack for expressing timeless truths of the faith in a way that was both fresh and profound. I also read the Chronicles of Narnia series regularly. When you have kids, you kind of have to.
What books have most profoundly shaped how you serve and lead others for the sake of the gospel?
That’s a scary question because it assumes I’m out there serving and leading like a boss, but most of the time I’m just trying to make it through the day.
But setting that aside, I’ve been shaped by Eugene Peterson’s A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. I love what he says about obeying God, even in the absence of feelings. “Feelings are great liars. If Christians worshipped only when they felt like it, there would be precious little worship.” That principle extends to all areas of the Christian life, whether it’s worshiping God or serving others. As Peterson writes, “We can act ourselves into a new way of feeling much quicker than we can feel ourselves into a new way of acting.” Ain’t that the truth!
What’s one book you wish every pastor would read?
Pastoral Graces by Lee Eclov. (Full disclosure: It was published by Moody where I work, though I didn’t work on it.) This little book is a best-kept secret. I cried twice when I read it. Lee is just an ordinary guy who pastored a smaller church faithfully for decades. But he wrote a beautiful book that cuts against the grain of all the leadership literature and calls pastors back to the heart of ministry—the care of souls.
What’s your best piece of writing advice?
Write like you talk! I’ve worked with a lot of people who are good verbal communicators. But when they write, the wheels come off. They think they need to sound official and academic, so they use words and phrases they’d never use if they were just chatting over coffee. The best writing doesn’t draw attention to itself. It’s invisible. When you read it, you feel like you’re having a conversation with a good friend. That’s hard to pull off, but the first step is to stop trying to sound smart and just write like you talk.
What are you learning about life and following Jesus?
I’m learning that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. When I was younger, I was in a hurry to change the world and do something great for God. Now I’m midway through the journey and my perspective has shifted. I have a demanding job, a couple of sidelines, and a few kids. My life is wonderful but it’s hard. I’m tired. Changing the world sounds exhausting. But the freeing conclusion I’ve come to is that we’re not called to change the world. That’s God’s job. We’re only asked to be faithful. Thankfully God seems to delight in multiplying our meager efforts for his glory. So, we can just obey and leave the outcomes of our life to him.
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