My Top 12 Reads of 2019

Last week I shared about my goal to read 30 books in 2019.

Some books I loved. Some books I hated. A few books were good reads, but a struggle to get through. In case you are looking for some reading inspiration, today I thought I would share my top 10 recommendations based on my 2019 book list. And somehow 10 turned into 12, so here we go (in no particular order):

1 Dotcom Secrets – Russell Brunson

In the world of digital marketing Russell Brunson is a name to know. I had listened to a few episodes of his podcast, but this was the first time I really delved into his world. If you’re interested in digital marketing and building marketing funnels this is a good read. If not, the big takeaway is the principles of direct sales are just as effective in the digital space. While the medium has changed, human patterns of behavior have not. 

2. The Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg

There’s a lot to unpack when you look at the science of why we do what we do. This book goes deep, but the key takeaway is that habit loop is made up of a three-step process: cue, routine, reward. When we can identify the cues and rewards that drive our habits and routines, we can begin to make changes to those habits. A habit can be reshaped when you 1. Identify the routine, 2. Experiment with various rewards, 3. isolate the cue, and 4. develop a plan to re-engineer the formula. Like I said, it goes deep.  

3. The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas

I haven’t seen the movie, but the book was powerful because it gave me a glimpse into a world that I have no concept of. I’ve learned that my favorite fiction books are the ones that make me think…the ones that give me a different viewpoint or help me to learn something outside of what I already know and experience. There is a lot of language in the book, so heads up, but it’s a very eye-opening read. 

4. The Simplest Way to Change the World – Dustin Willis & Brandon Clements

Sooo good. This book encapsulates what I want my life to be about. Hospitality is definitely not a word that gets people excited (which is why they didn’t use it in the title). The idea is that when we choose to engage with the world around us, with an open, welcoming posture, it changes the world. Loneliness is traded for community, comfort is traded for purpose, and “detached apathy is left behind for a mission meaningful enough to give your life to.” Life on mission is not some grand accomplishment, but a choice to  intersect gospel intentionality into our everyday routines.

5. Captivate – Vanessa Van Edwards 

I kind of feel like I probably need to read this book a couple more times just to soak up all the information in there. It explores our interactions with other people and how we can “hack” those interactions to become better at connecting with others. This is an area that I identified a couple years ago as an area for growth in my life. Van Edwards calls herself a recovering awkward person and I can so relate! This is a book I will probably return to again and again. 

6. Educated – Tara Westover

When I finished this book, all I could say was “wow.” I learned this year that I am not big on memoirs. I read several and while each had some good nuggets, overall I didn’t love the genre. This one, however, I couldn’t put down. I waited almost five months to get a copy from the library, if that gives you an idea of how popular this book has been. A few sections were difficult for me to read, but I was amazed at all the author went through. I was so interesting to see how various members of the family could come out of the same experiences with such different perspectives. 

7. I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening) – Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers 

I started listening to the Pantsuit Politics podcast about a year ago. I was frustrated by the lack of respectful dialogue about politics and issues, so it was refreshing to hear current issues analyzed and dialogued about in a grace-filled way. Their book focuses on how to have political conversations with others who may feel differently. Rather than getting frustrated by partisanship and lack of true discourse, I can model grace-filled political conversations and focus on better understanding others, ideas and ultimately myself. 

8. Daring Greatly – Brene Brown 

This was my first of Brene’s books to read, but it won’t be the last. (I’m just going to pretend that we’re already on a first name basis). She explores the themes of connection, vulnerability, scarcity, and shame as she leans into why vulnerability is so vital to the way we live our lives. The book’s title comes from a Theodore Roosevelt quote: 

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming…who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…”

9. Mindset – Carol Dweck

This was definitely one of my top reads for the year. The book examines the power of people’s beliefs. It explores the consequences of thinking that your intelligence and personality are fixed, as opposed to seeing intelligence and personality as something that can be developed over time. A growth mindset believes that although people may differ in talent, interests and aptitudes, everyone can change and improve through effort, strategy and aid from others. We all have elements of both fixed mindset and growth mindset beliefs in us, and these beliefs influence how we live, work, parent and relate to others.

10. War of Art – Steven Pressfield

I don’t remember exactly where I first heard about this book, but it had been on my “to read” list for awhile. It is not a long or difficult read. It focuses on resistance – this idea of a force that prevents us from achieving the life God intended. If you’re struggling creatively, or trying to launch a new venture, or start a new healthy practice, this is a helpful book. I particularly enjoyed his discussion of what it means to be a professional as opposed to an amateur. It’s the difference between writing when one feels inspired to write and… writing when one is inspired to write at 6am every morning. 

11. Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl

The last year and a half I spent a lot of time listening to the Building a Storybrand podcast with Donald Miller. Miller references the work of Viktor Frankl quite regularly, so I finally decided to read it for myself. This book is divided into two sections – the first part describes Frankl’s experiences in German concentration camps and what it taught him about humanity. The second half describes logotherapy, his school of psychotherapy. Logotherapy in a nutshell is the idea that meaning is a man’s primary motivational force in life. Life can be meaningful despite circumstances (even in a concentration camp), and fulfillment is ultimately found outside of self. 

12. Everybody Always – Bob Goff

I’ve heard about Bob Goff for a few years, but he really came on my radar this year. A friend on Facebook recommended this book and I heard him speak on a couple of different podcasts. This book is challenging in that it deals with an issue that we often like to shove under the rug – loving difficult to love people. One of my favorite quotes from the book:
“We’re not supposed to love only our neighbors, but Jesus thought we should start with them. I bet He knew if our love isn’t going to work for the people who live close to us, then it’s probably not going to work for the rest of the world. Jesus didn’t say who our neighbors are either. Probably so we wouldn’t start making lists of those we don’t need to love.” 

Do you have a favorite book from last year? Or something you are excited to read this year? Drop me a comment below and let me know!