Table Of (mal)contents

Dave and I are back in the studio while Barnabas is still off doing something else. So, we're joined by our friends, Nick Rynerson and James Kinnard, to talk about our reading through different seasons of life. Listen in as we discuss: How our reading habits grew and changed from high school through adulthood If teen boys will successfully impress girls by reading eastern philosophy Books we read in high school that we ended up liking What happens when a middle-schooler reads Camus If Bloomington counts as a suburb of Chicago The problem with self-appointed experts As always, thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Order all the bags you can handle today. A few of the books we mention on this episode Herzog by Saul Bellow Atomic Habits by James Clear Pattern Recognition by William Gibson The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Dune by Frank Herbert Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Red Badge of Co

Dave's back from vacation, Barnabas is off doing something else, and we're uncomfortable in the studio with a special guest: our friend Nick Rynerson. Nick is the chief creative officer at Useful Group (a digital marketing agency you'll be hearing more about in the future); more importantly he loves to read—and he adores Wendell Berry. So we're going to talk about that. Listen in as we discuss: How Nick fell in love with Wendell Berry's writing (but really doesn't want to sound like he's a stalker) If Barnabas is actually funny on Twitter or is it because we know his tone If your life has to be a hot mess to be a brilliant writer Why we need to recapture a sense of presence when we live so much of our lives in front of screens What you need to go into reading Berry's work knowing Why you should read physical books and not eBooks Who Nick wants to punch in the face as part of the Jack Reacher Sucker Punch of the Week As always, thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to

It's rabbit trails, non sequiturs, and listener questions on today's episode! Dave continues to allegedly be on vacation during this episode, leaving it to us to discuss these important issues: Is Cat Lady Dave played out? Have we ever deliberately destroyed a book? What are some of our favorite international authors? If we could write the history of or a tell-all on anything, what would it be? What are a few of our favorite words that sound like something else entirely? As always, thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Order all the bags you can handle today. The books we mention (positively) on this episode Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva 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

It finally happened: I (Aaron) finished the book I've been struggling to read for months, and Barnabas and I decided to talk through it while Dave was on vacation. (Because that's what friends do.) Listen in to a surprisingly earnest discussion about family dynamics, what Dave's doing on vacation, and our desperate need for coffee: Why all of Pat Conroy's books are an emotional rollercoaster The risks of writing honest memoirs (even if that memoir is told as a work of fiction) Why it's a huge mistake to order iced coffee (or coffee in general) from Chick-Fil-A The difference between experiencing spoilers in books and movies What Stephen Ambrose captured about the character of young men in the 1940s that seems to be missing in our generation Which podcast blend from Lagares Coffee Roasters is the best one (hint: it's ours) How this podcast is saving a listener from living in squalor Barnabas's thoughts-and-prayers request As always, thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with

Things get super-nerdy—and even more middle-aged—on this episode of the show as Andrew Osenga joins us for a great conversation about science fiction, westerns, and being cat or dog people. Listen in as we discuss: Why Star Trek: The Next Generation looked like a Holiday Inn circa 1994 How we really feel about John Steinbeck Why westerns are great to read, and what makes a great western If mindless violence really has a place in books The parallels between westerns and sci-fi The sci-fi storytelling trope Andrew hates The book Amy Grant told Andrew he had to read Andrew Osenga is a musician, songwriter, producer, and host of The Pivot, where he sits down with artists, authors, and non-profit leaders to talk about moving from one career or passion to another. Thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Order all the bags you can handle today. A few of the books we mention on this episode Travels with Charley in Search of Ame

As you can imagine, we're all getting older and (theoretically) maturing. Well, one of us is, at any rate. In honor of my (Aaron's) 40th birthday (on August 21st), and the tendency for guys to start chucking their lives in an attempt to recapture their youth as soon as they officially become middle-aged, we decided to talk through the idea of midlife crises related to reading. Listen in as we discuss: How our reading habits have changed as midlife approaches Sparkly vs dark-and-brooding vampires Neil Gaiman and Nick Hornby as the literary equivalents of midlife crises If there was ever such a thing as "the good old days" Why an ordinary life is a good thing All this plus gift-giving in the studio! A few of the books mentioned on this episode Boring by Michael Kelley Ordinary by Tony Merida The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara The Rising Tide by Jeff Shaara Nick Hornby's works South of Broad and The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy Destiny and Power by Jon Meacham Bonus Content: "Bonhoef

We're back in the sauna/podcast studio for another round of Q&A thanks to our friend Andy Whisenant and the fine folks at Goodreads. Listen in as we dig into the following questions: Who are our favorite sidekicks—and do Ron and Hermoine qualify? If we were starting book clubs, what is the first book we would introduce to our audiences? What do our favorite books have in common? Which books do we have on our shelves that we really feel like we should have read, but haven’t? How would we describe the books we’re reading in three words? Thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Order all the bags you can handle today. A few of the books we mention on this episode: The High Divide by Lin Enger Undiscovered Country by Lin Enger Us Against You by Fredrik Backman The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens The Civil War by Shelby Foote Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad The Selected Poems of

It grieves all three of us on this podcast when anyone walks away from the Christian faith. Joshua Harris' recent announcement of his "deconstruction" of his faith is just one of many that each of us—Barnabas, Dave, and me—know of and are affected by to varying degrees. He isn't the only one, of course. There are so many (former) pastors that have either rejected the faith entirely, or through their behavior, been revealed to be out of step with the message they proclaimed. So what should we do with the books they wrote that we maybe found helpful once upon a time? Listen in as we discuss Should we get rid of books based on the author's character? Can (and should) we separate the message from the individual sharing it? What hope do we have for authors who reject the gospel they once proclaimed? How should we respond as we learn about the attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs of historical figures? All this plus sucker-punching, and our updates on what we're reading. Thanks to Gospel-Centered Disc

Over the last several months, we've mentioned a lot of works of historical fiction, but we've never really talked about historical fiction much at all: it's purpose, some of our favorite works, and does it include room for speculative fiction, too. So, now we're going to! Listen in as we discuss: The difference between period fiction and historical fiction (and if we're just splitting hairs on this) If alternative history works (e.g. "What if JFK was never assassinated?") count as historical fiction Buzz Aldrin sucker punching people What are a few good recommendations for those looking to start reading historical fiction Dave's accusation that someone might have said a word that we would not dare say on a family-friendly show like this one Thanks to Gospel-Centered Discipleship for sponsoring this episode. If you're an aspiring writer who wants to learn from the likes of Jen Wilkin, Hannah Anderson, Jared Wilson, and our own Barnabas Piper, sign up to take part in their new writers cohort at tailor

There are certain books so good they can only be described as transcendent. Others are cultural phenomena, but are best described as… well, you'll find out as we discuss The Notebook. That's right—all three of us have finally (mostly) read this book, and today, Barnabas, Dave, and I are talking about our experience in the most PG-12 episode of the show yet. Listen in as we discuss: Why Nicholas Sparks is one of the worst famous writers any of us have ever read What the movie would be like if Ryan Gosling's and Rachel McAdams' characters were played by ordinary looking actors instead of beautiful ones If we should read books with good romance The unhealthy expectations books like The Notebook create about relationships, marriage and sex Our dramatic readings of random passages of the book A better phrase than "dumpster fire" Thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Order all the bags you can handle today. Today's bonus conten

There's often something that triggers a writer's desire to write—even if that something is as simple as reading a book and saying, "I can do better than that." So what were some of those moments for Barnabas and Aaron? That's our conversation on the show today. Listen in as we discuss: What made us want to write in the first place What authors do we look to for inspiration Who we think are good and great writers that are producing material right now Do we ever imitate other writers—and should we? Is it possible for a good writer to become a great one? The strangest review of the show we've seen recently As always, thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Order all the bags you can handle today. And, of course, leave a creative and entertaining 5-star review on Apple Podcasts—one that we can't help but read on the air! And if you have a question for us to answer on a future episode of the show, call our hotline at 615-538-7473

We don't talk about Christian books a whole lot, which is funny since we all work in Christian publishing. But since it's "summer reading list" season from ministry leaders and websites, we decided to discuss the books would we recommend Christians read to read instead of being known for having read them? Listen in as we discuss: What movies pastors constantly reference in sermons? Does Humble Calvinism qualify as a summer/vacation read? And why do we use the phrase "laundry list"? Does Aaron recommend too many boring books in this category? Who would we wish would sponsor the podcast? Which Christian author wrote the worst summer vacation read? As always, thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Order all the bags you can handle today. And, of course, leave a creative and entertaining 5-star review on Apple Podcasts—one that we can't help but read on the air! And if you have a question for us to answer on a future episode of

We love good stories—and great stories are even better when they're true. Real stories, true stories don't just pass on facts, they inspire us. Recently, Dave and I sat down with our friend Catherine Parks to talk about how biographies help us see God at work, movies, and reading well. Listen in as we discuss: People that surprised Catherine as she worked on Empowered and Strong How to fight against bias when writing biographies What biographies can teach kids How Catherine's family has embraced the Jack Reacher Sucker Punch of the Week Why Dave just needs to own being #40Dave Just how old is Catherine's husband, anyway? As always, thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Order all the bags you can handle today. A challenge for our listeners: Leave a creative and entertaining 5-star review on Apple Podcasts—one that we can't help but read on the air! And if you have a question for us to answer on a future episode of the

Fireworks, grilling, and spending time with friends. That's what you do on Canada Day, which happens to be the day we're releasing this episode. Oh, and Independence Day is this week, too, and all the Americans do that same stuff. Except bigger. And more explosive. Because that's how we do it here in America. Thinking about this got us all kinds of patriotic in the studio, and you get to enjoy the benefits. Listen in as we discuss: Which country has a better national anthem? Nicknames for America and Canada Dave reveals his midlife crisis by eating avocado toast How Canada became a sort-of semi-independent country How Canadians learn about America America's dubious history with dealing with issues Books that help us learn about the histories of both nations The problem The West Wing and comedic timing As always, thanks to our friends at Lagares Coffee Roaster for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Order all the bags you can handle today. A few of the books mentioned on

Not every conversation makes sense, but sometimes they really make no sense. Such is the case in this episode recorded in Birmingham a couple weeks back, where our nadir was reached after a hard day of standing in a conference hall. Listen in as we discuss: Dave's poor defense of Dave Matthews Band Music we'd never let our kids listen to Cat poetry after an impromptu on-air reading Dave's experiences at a recent book convention The pros and cons of getting recommendations from Amazon vs a human being A few of the books we mentioned on this episode: Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o The Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson The Genius Files by Dan Gutman Dodger by Terry Pratchett The Mark of the Christian by Francis Schaeffer I Could Pee On This (And Other Poems by Cats) by Francesco Marciuliano As always, thanks to Lagares Roasters for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Pick up a bag (or 12) today. Just for fun: Here's the Trekkers Sketch from SNL Dave referenced. And the b

Recently, the team was in Birmingham for a certain work-related event. Because we needed a break from what we were doing for our work-jobs, we decided to record a couple of episodes of the show… and it just so happens that an author Barnabas and I enjoy was in town and able to join us on the show. This week we're joined by K.B. Hoyle, author of The Gateway Chronicles and The Breeder Cycle, to chat storytelling, writing middle-grade fiction, and being a Christian who writes for the general market. Listen in as we discuss: The difference between the practice of storytelling and the practice of writing The contradiction of figuring out what books are exactly like—and nothing like—the one you're writing Why writers should always tell true things about the world If "binge" culture has hurt our reading experience Why you can't market a book into being a phenomenon Why J.K. Rowling hasn't had a book resonate the way Harry Potter did To do when your publisher closes its doors before you finish a series What a

In a special bonus episode, we're answering a big question that we've kind of talked about in the past, but we really felt like it would be good to hit directly: What factors determine whether we buy or borrow a book? What prompts us to buy a book brand-new in a brick-and-mortar bookstore—and are we part of the problem with them going under? What books we'll borrow from the library How the library is really useful for audiobook consumption Why we don't like borrowing books from people (or loaning them for that matter) As always, thanks to Lagares Roasters for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Pick up a bag (or 12) today.

It's getting hot outside, which means it's the time of year when many blogs are sharing their annual Summer Reading Lists™, mostly filled with big thick theology books and historical works. Which is… fine. But is that the best way to use your reading time when you actually get to go on vacation? That's what we're talking on this episode over donuts made in my kitchen. Listen in as we get fatter and happier discussing: Two good approaches to summer reading The time Dave watched Jaws before going to the beach If it's a good idea to read on the beach at all The kinds of books you should (and shouldn't) read on vacation The character Aaron wants to punch in the face Also, when the heck are we going to finally discuss The Notebook? As always, thanks to Lagares Roasters for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Pick up a bag (or 12) today. Some of the books we mentioned on this episode include: The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk In Harm's Way by Doug Stanton The Cartel by Don

Since Dave was being all professional and in a meeting, Barnabas and I decided to have a conversation about what might be the grossest phrase associated with writing: the writing process. What are the habits, practices, and disciplines that work for us? What does it look like to be writers who have jobs? Y'know, simple stuff like that. Listen in as we dig tackle the following topics: Which of us would prefer to live the romanticized version of the author's life What our writing processes actually look like Which is worse: Coldplay or Dave Matthews Band The best way to use humor in writing Why "writing like you speak" isn't great advice As always, thanks to Lagares Roasters for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Pick up a bag (or 12) today. The only books we mentioned on this episode are our own, so if you'd consider all of them up, that'd be amazing. Aaron's books: Awaiting a Savior Contend Epic: The Story that Changed the World Epic Devotions: 52 Weeks in the St

We tend to joke a lot about "content," "grit," and "scenes" in books. But today, we're having a serious conversation (as serious as we get anyway) about the place of questionable content in fiction, if there is actually a legitimate place at all. Listen in as we get think-piece-y while discussing: If we should make distinctions between violent and sexual content What we do when we get caught off-guard by explicit content in a book Why it’s not good for fiction to get preachy If explicit content is a crutch for trash writing Whether or not James Bond is a sociopath Aaron and Barnabas' recommendations for a fiction series for Dave to read As always, thanks to Lagares Roasters for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Pick up a bag (or 12) today. A few of the books we discussed on this episode The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett The Coroman Strike series by Robert Galbraith The Conquerer series by Conn Iggulden Ashtown Burials by N. D. Wilson The Hunger Games by Suzanne Coll