I only recommend books that I have read (at least in part- I tend to jump around in my reading) and have found enlightening and useful.
Barnes, Emilie. More Hours in My Day. 1994. Harvest House Publishing.
I read this in a previous edition in the early 90's and received a lot of fabulous ideas for organizing my home and keeping it organized
Bayes, David and Orland, Ted. Art and Fear; Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking. 1993. The Image Continuum. Santa Cruz CA & Eugene OR.
An inspiring and authentic look at the experience of making art, in every mode, for the artist, active or dormant.
Boorstin, Daniel J. The Creators; A hisotry of Heroes of the Imagination. 1992. Vintage Books, NY.
A fabulous history of the arts, from ancient to modern, architecture to writing and painting, this large tome is filled with short chapters packed with information.
Brown, Frank Burch. Religious Aesthetics. 1989. Princeton University Press.
This is a tough read, but it is full of good information about the history and theory of aesthetics,
that understanding, appreciation and use of art, beauty and the not so beautiful,
in the world and religion.
Capacchione, Lucia. The Power of Your Other Hand: A Course in Channeling the Inner Wisdom of the Right Brain. 1988. Newcastle Pub Co. Inc.
I read this many years ago and have used the concepts in it many times, with myself and my clients. Useful exercises using the nondominant hand to reach wisdom to solve personal dilemmas.
Diamant, Anita. The Red Tent. 1997. Picador
Fictional account of a life of Dinah, Jewish patriach Jacob's only daughter, insightful and intimate.
Dyrness, William A., visual faith; art, theology, and worship in dialogue. 2001. Baker Academic
A very useful look at visual arts through time as it relates to Christian artists. It has an
especially useful section on understanding modern art and using current developments
as a Christian artists.
Gardner, Howard. Creating Minds: An Anatomy of Creativity Seen Through the Lives of Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Stravinsky, Eliot, Graham, and Gandhi. 1994. Basic Books.
This is one of my favorite books of all times. He gives a theory of creativity and seven biographies that fit this model, one in each of the basic seven intellegences
Henri, Robert. The Art Spirit. 1923. Harper and Row Publishers.
One of the few books my mother recommended. A wonderful look at life through the eyes of a great teacher.
Johnson, Paul. Creators: From Chaucer and Durer to Picasso and Disney. 2006, Haper-Ccollins
A wonderful reveiw of creative people from several fields.
Lee, Cameron. Beyond Family Values. 1998. Intervarsity Press
A historical perspective on understanding the current idea of "family value" and how society has changed.
Maffly-Kipp, L. F., Schmidt, L.E., Valeri, M. (Editors) Practicing Protestants; Histories of Christian Life
in America 1630-1965. 2006 The Johns Hopkins University Press.
A series of essays looking at a wide variety of practices in protestant life from the Puritans
journals to Hawaiian missions to contemporary liturgical dance. Good read for church history
buff.
Nafisi, Azar. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A memoir in Books. 2003. Random House.
Very personal and eye opening story of political, social, religious and secular life in Tehran during the rebellion and takeover of the Islamic regime.
Neill, Alex and Ridley, Aaron (Ed.) arguing about art: Contemporary Philosophical Debates. 2008. Routledge, London and NY.
A text from an aethetics course, it is filled with a wide variety of thoughtful and challenging essays about art.
Parlette, Snowdon. The Brain Workout: Aerobics for the Mind. 1997. M. Evan and company, INC. New York.
A relatively new book to me, it has lots of good ideas for boosting your brain power.
Sobel, Dava. Galileo's Daughter. 1999, Penguin Books
A special view into the heart of one of history's most influencial men.
Stowe, David W. How Sweet the Sound. 2004. Harvard University Press; Cambridge, MA.
A history of American music of faith.
Swenson, Richard A., Hurtling Toward Oblivion: A Logical Arguement for the End of the Age. 1999. NavPress.
A very thought provoking exploration of "progress" and it's logical outcome.
Tieger, Paul, D., and Barron-Tieger, Barbara. Do What You Are; Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type. 1992. Little, Brown and Company.
A good book to help you evaluate yourself.
Veith, Gene Edward, Jr. State of the Arts; from Bezalel to Mapplethorpe. 1991. Crossway Books.
A good book about the history and experience of arts and faith.
| 
