adminmessiahLiving Life Backwards: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End By David Gibson
Recommended by: Steve Zeola, Messiah Village Resident
Who might be interested in this book: Those who are curious about the meaning of Ecclesiastes and those who ponder the purpose of life.
“I am going to die.” That is how David Gibson starts the preface to his book “Living Life Backwards.” Using the book of Ecclesiastes as a backdrop, Gibson attempts to show that we can only make sense of this messy, sin-filled life, if we acknowledge the fact that we will die. Each of the 10 chapters in this book starts with a section of Ecclesiastes and ends with several questions for personal reflection and/or discussion. In between, Gibson helps us to understand what the writer of Ecclesiastes is trying to tell us and how we can apply God’s word from
Ecclesiastes to our own lives. This understanding has given me a new perspective on how I should live my life in the here and now.
Daughters of Nantucket By Julie Gerstenblatt
Recommended by: Susanna Caroselli, Messiah Village Resident and Pathways Institute Instructor
Who might be interested in this book: Fans of historical fiction, strong female leads, and richly layered stories of resilience.
“Daughters of Nantucket” is set against the backdrop of the Great Fire of 1846 in Nantucket. In the book we meet three remarkable women: Eliza Macy, the wife of a sea captain whose mysteriously prolonged voyage left her nearly penniless and trying to keep up appearances; Meg
Wright, a free Black woman whose efforts to expand a small business are met with prejudice and aggression; and Maria Mitchell, a highly educated member of a prominent family whose expectations for their daughter are the opposite of the life she wants for herself. The paths of these women cross, recross, and finally converge as the inferno and its aftermath bring both upheaval and the possibility of a new life.
What impressed me most—and stayed with me—was Gerstenblatt’s understanding of the universal challenges and crises that confront the human soul, as much today as in the mid-nineteenth century.
Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution By Rainn Wilson
Recommended by: Kevin Cysyk, Messiah Lifeways Chief Experience Officer
Who might be interested in this book: Anyone interested in purpose-driven leadership, cultural transformation, or a fresh take on personal growth.
Several years ago, I saw that Rainn Wilson was coming to town. As a longtime fan of “The Office,” I ordered tickets. As it turned out, he was promoting his latest book, “Soul Boom.” Though he included moments of humor, the performance went much deeper. In “Soul Boom,” Wilson invites readers to reimagine spirituality—not as dogma, but as a framework for compassion, connection, and collective growth. He makes a compelling case for a “spiritual revolution” that’s inclusive, hopeful, and urgently needed. He doesn’t preach; he reflects. He doesn’t
offer all the answers; he asks the right questions. Whether you’re spiritual, skeptical, or somewhere in between, “Soul Boom” is a thoughtful, accessible read that encourages us to think bigger about what it means to live meaningfully—and how we might build a better world together.
