I Read Books to Relax. I Read Books to Fight.
Join the Will Spencer Book Club. Only on Substack.
I have a confession to make. Are you ready?
I’m a nerd.
I know. This probably comes as a shock to you, but I am in fact a nerd. Call me Chief Nerd, Dr. Nerdly Nerdson.
Why? In part, because I like to read books. Actual dead-tree printed books. Not on a screen or read to me in my ears, but in my hands in front of me.
That’s not the biggest reason I’m a nerd though. I’m a nerd because...
I read books to relax. Seriously. I can’t watch TV for more than an hour before I get antsy. I haven’t been able to play a video game in years. I don’t hunt, fish, or play golf—though all those hobbies are fine.
Instead, to unwind, I read books. That’s how God made me. I accept and even love that about myself.
So, I read a lot. I don’t go for a “number of books per year” high score like some influencers, but reading is part of my daily life. Books on theology, history, politics, culture, comparative religion, and philosophy. I read hidden old classics and newer gems. Mostly non-fiction, but well-chosen fiction is often a part of my evenings, too.
I consider it more than relaxation, though. It’s an adventure. On this adventure, I learn things, yes—but mostly I un-learn things. I unlearn the propaganda we’ve been fed for generations about the family, science, medicine, food, morality, and more. I unlearn the story that Western History began in the 1950’s, and so I go digging to understand what came before.
Most of all, I unlearn the notions of God I acquired during 42 years of wandering the world, seeking Him through spiritual experiences.
Now, I’d like you to join this adventure WITH me.
Because I’m launching my new Will Spencer Book Club, only here on Substack.
Paid subscribers will get access to a twice-monthly Zoom call where we work through what I’m reading, together. These are books that cast down arguments and every thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:5), taking aim at the ideas that set themselves up against the good, the true, the beautiful, and the righteous.
Here are some examples of the books I’d like to read together:
The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct by Thomas Szasz, M.D. — Fifty years ago, a practicing psychiatrist predicted that psychology would swallow morality, turning spiritual conditions into medical ones. His radical claim: we need a return to moral frameworks, not more medicine.
American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation How Indian Spirituality Changed the West by Philip Goldberg — America isn’t a Christian nation anymore. It’s a Hindu one. Goldberg’s book explains when, how, and who was responsible.
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs — This classic Puritan work instructs believers how to overcome the sin of covetousness, especially in our age of endless wanting. How can we be grateful and joyful in God’s provision, no matter our station?
The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian Think? by Henry Blamires — The problem Christians have today is that they don’t think like Christians. They think like people of the world. Blamires’ classic work (one of my pastor’s favorite books) aims to help re-establish a distinctly Christian way of thinking and living.
Limits to Medicine: Medical Nemesis, the Expropriation of Health by Ivan Illich — In 1975, a Catholic priest and one of the twentieth century’s sharpest social critics predicted that the Western medical industry would end up doing more harm than good. Fifty years later, the evidence speaks for itself.
KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps by Nikolaus Wachsmann — This award-winning 2015 masterpiece chronicles how the Nazi concentration camp system was established, expanded, and repurposed for mass murder. It explains how Hitler built one of history’s greatest murder weapons. Nazi revivalism is resurgent. This is a big idea worth destroying.
These are just some of the books I have in mind. There are more where these came from.
I aim to work through a book per month, roughly 10 pages of reading per day. That’s achievable for almost anyone. (Don’t worry, we’ll move more carefully through denser works.)
On each Book Club call, I’ll share the insights I’ve gained from the assigned reading and offer time for questions and open discussion.
This book club is open to both men and women, and each call will be recorded and made available afterward if you can’t attend live.
Our First Book
We’ll begin with The Myth of Mental Illness. I’ll start us off here, because the rise of “therapeutic sentimentalism” might be the most pressing challenge the church will face in the coming era.
For Signature Members
Want to help navigate this adventure? For a one-time payment of $297, you can help me select our next books in the book club. What bad ideas are you passionate about destroying? What God-glorifying ideas do you want to elevate? What hidden gems have you read that I—and my audience—need to know about?
Signature Members also get all the benefits of a paid subscription, including:
Unedited, ad-free podcasts
Long-form articles on religion, politics, and culture
100% FREE access my new e-book on overcoming regret
...and more to come.
Start Date
The Book Club will be launching soon! Paid subscribers will be the first to know.
The unlearning begins. Join me for the adventure.
Become a paid subscriber today. Leave a comment with the word “IN!” letting us know you’re ready.