Rabbit Room 101
A guide to the books, music, and ideas
that have shaped our community
Where to Start Reading
Though there is no official Rabbit Room “canon,” there are certain authors and books that have shaped the character and vision of the organization so much that they are part of our DNA. If you were to dip into the works of every author on this list, you would have a good grasp on the ethos of the Rabbit Room.
Click on a book cover to see all books by that author from the Rabbit Room store. Also, check out the linked Rabbit Room posts about each author for some orientation.
Wendell Berry
Paying Attention: A Visit with Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry and the Beauty of Membership
Wendell Berry and the Romanians: Story and Place
The Rabbit Room Podcast Network includes a podcast called The Membership, inspired by Wendell Berry’s works and vision.
C. S. Lewis
The Best Tale That C. S. Lewis Ever Told
To a Schoolgirl in America: Writing Advice from C. S. Lewis
Always a King or Queen: C. S. Lewis on Childhood
C. S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, and the Power of Storytelling
Also, check out Jonathan Rogers’ book The World According to Narnia, published by Rabbit Room Press.
Flannery O'Connor
The Legacy of Flannery O’Connor: A Conversation with Jonathan Rogers
Beyond the Region of Thunder: Flannery O’Connor’s Last Days
Flannery O’Connor’s Prayer Journal: A Review
Flannery O’Connor: The Complete Stories
Happy Birthday, Dear Flannery…
Also, check out Jonathan Rogers’ book The Terrible Speed of Mercy: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O’Connor.
Other Formative Authors and Poets
This is not an exhaustive list!
Where to Start Listening
The Rabbit Room community encompasses singer-songwriters and musicians who have been part of the organization’s core from the beginning, those we’ve discovered along the way, those whose music is sold in our store, those who perform as regulars or as guests at Rabbit Room events, and those who are inspired by the Rabbit Room and make music for their own local communities—and all of those singer-songwriters and musicians have been shaped by their own favorite music past and present, much of which has been discussed on the blog, on podcasts, or at our gatherings. That’s a lot of songs! So how do you even begin to dip your toes into the musical side of the Rabbit Room?
We recommend the Rabbit Room streaming playlists on Spotify and Apple Music. This is where we get to nerd out about all the new music from artists inside our community, as well as favorite music from outside our community, and share it with as many listeners as we can.
Rabbit Room Playlist
A “Rabbit Room 101” playlist introducing you to a wide variety of new and classic songs from long-standing artists in our community.
Rabbit Room Discovery Playlist
The Rabbit Room’s version of Spotify’s Release Radar—filled with new songs from your favorite Rabbit Room artists as well as new discoveries (updated every Friday).
Local Show Playlist
Set lists from the most recent Local Show (our songwriters in the round concert in Nashville, TN).
Seasonal Playlists (updated quarterly)
Our blog contributors band together with the coming of each new season to provide a soundtrack to the spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In addition to the earth’s seasons, we provide soundtracks for liturgical seasons, like Advent, Christmastide, Lent, and Easter. Be sure to check the Rabbit Room channel on Spotify or Apple Music regularly for new additions.
Topical Playlists (new lists added regularly)
Just for fun, our blog contributors also occasionally put together soundtracks for specific purposes or special interests. Be sure to check the Rabbit Room channel on Spotify or Apple Music for new additions.
The Hutchmoot Podcast
We call Hutchmoot a “conference for everyone,” so it follows that this is a “podcast for everyone.” This series features sessions recorded at the Rabbit Room’s annual conference which celebrates art, music, story, and faith in all their many intersections.
The Complete Audio Archives
Food. Good food, prepared by our resident Rabbit Room chef, John Cal. Quality time among fellow Rabbit Room readers with whom you'll develop friendships that will last until you're 87. Sessions led by a variety of writers, artists, and musicians, including the roster of Rabbit Room contributors. Intimate group discussions on writing, songwriting, and more. Nightly conversation with dessert and coffee. And a lot of great music.We want you to come and enjoy a weekend of music and conversation about the stories all around us in song, film, books--and most importantly the story being told through our lives; our own story--what it means to get to the holy hidden heart of it, how to tell a better story with the days we’re given, and how our stories intersect each other's and connect to the Great Story. One of the things we most enjoy about Hutchmoot is that it gives us the opportunity to meet, listen to, and honor some of our favorite voices in the world of story, art, and faith. Past speakers include Walter Wangerin Jr., Sally Lloyd Jones, Phil Vischer, Leif Enger, Luci Shaw, Diana Glyer, and David Taylor. Other special guests have included N. D. Wilson, Charlie Peacock, Michael Card, Keith Getty, Brown Bannister, Fernando Ortega, Sho Baraka, and a whole lot more.
Kindred Organizations
In keeping with the Rabbit Room’s mission to foster Christ-centered community, we love to recommend the work of other like-minded organizations. Many Rabbit Room authors, musicians, artists, and speakers are involved in one or more of these. Click on each logo to learn more.
Founded in 1991 by Andi Ashworth and Charlie Peacock (Ashworth), Art House America and its literary blog promote the vision of a seamless life of Christian discipleship and imaginative living, with an emphasis on communicating the worth and necessity of all vocations, the promotion of people and earth care, the grateful enjoyment of life and an honest acknowledgement of its sorrows.
In Christian art, the square halo identified a living person presumed to be a saint. Square Halo Books is devoted to publishing works that present contextually sensitive biblical studies, and practical instruction consistent with the Doctrines of the Reformation. The goal of Square Halo Books is to provide materials useful for encouraging and equipping the saints.
Friends of L'Abri Nashville is an informal group made up of those who have a deep appreciation for the ideas and community of L'Abri Fellowship. It aims to support, encourage, and pray for the L’Abri residential study centers around the world and to share the ethos and ideas encountered at L'Abri locally in Nashville, TN, through friendship, family-style meals, lectures, and discussions.
The Bible Project is a non-profit animation studio that produces short-form, fully animated videos to make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Whole Heart Ministries is a Christian home and parenting ministry dedicated to encouraging and equipping Christian parents to raise wholelehearted Christian children. The ministry was founded in 1994 by Clay and Sally Clarkson. They seek to help parents worldwide through ministries of writing, publishing, events, speaking, teaching, and training.
The Anselm Society is a project of a network of churches in Colorado that share a unique vision for the future of the Christian faith. Theiry goal is a renaissance of the Christian imagination. They aim to accomplish it through two complementary projects: building up tomorrow’s great artists, and preparing tomorrow's Church to be inspired by them.
Tokens’ philosophical and theological variety shows hosted throughout the Nashville area, along with its podcast and online shows, imagine a world governed by hospitality, graciousness and joy; life marked by beauty, wonder and truthfulness; and social conditions ordered by justice, mercy and peace-making. It exhibits tokens of such a world in music-making, song-singing, and conversations about things that matter.
Founded by author S. D. Smith, Story Warren exists to serve you as you foster holy imagination in the children you love.
Laity Lodge is a place of subtle discovery: an ecumenical retreat center in the Texas Hill Country. Since 1961, guests from all walks of life have made their way to this outpost along the Frio River, slowing down to discover—in nature, in conversations around the table, in times of quiet reflection, and in participation in the arts—the nearness and goodness of God.
A Rocha engages and equips Christians to deepen their connection to God through the active care of creation. A Rocha Arts originated in Nashville, Tennessee in 2013 with a group of songwriters and musicians who were inspired by A Rocha’s story of restoring specific people and places. They gathered to write songs that reflected that story, and their own stories of love and care for people and place.
Read-Aloud Revival equips and inspires parents to make meaningful and lasting connections with their kids through stories. Offers Family Book Clubs, a vibrant community, coaching, podcasts, webinars, recommended reading lists, and more.