Top Non-Fiction Book of 2013

Traditionally here at Writer Off the Leash, I use the last few days of the year to highlight some of my favorite reads of the past year. That doesn't necessarily mean those books were published in 2013. It simply means that's when I read them.

Non-traditionally, I'm adding a non-fiction pick. Before you freak out because you know that I'd usually rather stab myself in the eyeballs with a crooked-tined fork, allow me a disclaimer...

It is true that I don’t like non-fiction. It makes me think too hard, like re-read the same sentence over at least four times to figure it out kind of hard.

However, The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer mixes profound with easy-to-understand. My copy is now dog-eared, highlighted, and has little sticky notes on just about every page. It’s so good, I bought several copies to give out as Christmas gifts.

All that being said, I think the best way to review Tozer is to just step back and give the man the stage. Here are a few of my favorite direct quotes from the book…

“We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety. This is especially true when those treasures are loved relatives and friends. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed.”

“In our desire after God, let us keep always in mind that God also has desire, and His desire is toward the sons of men, and more particularly toward those sons of men who will make the once-for-all decision to exalt Him over all.”

“God will not hold us responsible to understand the mysteries of election, pre-destination and the divine sovereignty. The best and safest way to deal with these truths is to raise our eyes to god and in deepest reverence say, “O Lord, Thou knowest.” Those things belong to the deep and mysterious profound of God’s omniscience. Prying into them may make theologians, but it will never make saints.”