2011 was the best year for reading that I have had in my entire life. I completed 46 books, and was challenged and engaged more than I have ever been. This post includes the 4 books I 'most enjoyed' this year.  I am aware of the subjectivity this post presents, but alas, such is life. While many may think these books are the 'worst ever' I admit this post is extremely unorthodox. These are my own views, and should not be taken to meant that these books are neither bad, nor unbeneficial; just that I, personally, really enjoyed them. To see a complete list of all the books I read this year, click -->HERE<-- 
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A Small Corner of Hell
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The Irresistible Revolution
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Early Christianity
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The Orthodox Heretic
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A Small Corner of Hell: Dispatches From Chechnya
Anna Politkovskaya/07

A heartbreakingly powerful account of civilians caught in the war between Russia and Chechnya. Politkovskaya's fearless reporting recounts tales that make even the most hardened heart cringe in sympathy. I have been (or at the least, near) the areas Politkovskaya writes about in this book and have met the people she met and wrote about; they have been some of the most inspiring I have ever known. Unless you have a vested interest in Russian politics or history, or are a fan of Anna's work, this will probably not be a book you will pick up, but for those who do, it would take much resistance to not come away changed.
This book seems all the more powerful given the fact that Politkovskaya was murdered in 2006. Some say the government had had enough of her. She definitely did not endear herself to the Kremlin.
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The Irresistible Revolution: Living Life as an Ordinary Radical
Shane Claiborne/06

Sometimes you read a book which isn't the most well written, or revelatory, but it is 'timely'. Such was The Irresistible Revolution. When I think of other books I have read which have been 'timely', There Is Always Enough, and Revolution In World Missions, and Rees Howells: Intercessor, and The Final Quest, and Church History in Plain Language come to mind; add Claiborne's to the list as well.
It is a call to action, written with a similar prophetic vein as the book of Micah. You would be hard-pressed to put this book down and be content with living a normal, Sunday-morning, Christian life; it is almost down-right impossible. God will use the lowly and unimpressive to advance His Kingdom and reveal His love. It starts with people like Shane Claiborne, and you, and I.
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Early Christianity
Roland Bainton/84

It's under 200 pages, and limits itself to the first 500 years or so of the Church, but this book is one of the most interesting I have yet read. I literally couldn't put it down. I enjoy Bainton's writing, and was definitely not disappointed with this. I found it in a Salvation Army bookstore and got it for $0.25 or something; what a steal. I can't wait for it to come out as Kindle format so I can take it everywhere, forever!!
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The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Impossible Tales
Peter Rollins/09

I am generally not a fan of Rollins. He seems to be one of those with a message characterized by 'shock', and "OMG, did he just say that?!", to such an extent that it seems he does it just for effect. The man is brilliant though and even though I went into this book heavily biased against him I loved almost every page of it. Not that I agree with Rollins theologically, but in regards to orthopraxy (right living) the stories contained in this book were among the most convicting I have ever been faced with. Putting aside the "all deed, no creed" mentality that is often suggested by many in the Emergent camp, this book is a treasure that must be mined continually until we throw our religious mindsets off, and follow Jesus as practically as He intended.
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