I love to read. I love to read more than I like to sleep. I love to read more than I like to eat. In 2020, a year marked by COVID-19 that provided more time at home. As things were being cancelled right and left, books allowed me to travel to new places, to meet new people, and to consider new ideas. About a week ago, I realized that I might hit 100 books in a year for the first time. Over this past week, I’ve been getting up extra early and staying up late to squeeze in some extra reading. What a joy to be able to read! To have eyes that can see and the resources to purchase so many great works. The 10 book covers above are my top 10 for 2020…in no particular order except for “Gentle and Lowly” by Dane Ortlund. That one is my book of the year. I have recommended it to many others. That book was a journey into the heart of God. It helped me see the compassion of my Savior that compels me humbly love and serve others.
A large part of my reading continues to be non-fiction. Most of what I’m interested in is related to spiritual formation and things that will help me learn more about the person of Jesus Christ. I have enjoyed several Bible studies this past year that have shaped me and stretched me. It was a blast to join in on the #SamePageReading we did with North Cobb Christian school that journeyed through Romans, 1 Timothy, 1 Peter, Mark, and Acts. After the school year wrapped up, I jumped into the Woodlands Camp Bible Reading Plan on their app and finished up 2020 reading Scripture alongside Paul David Tripp’s Come Let Us Adore Him Advent devotional…which actually puts me at 101 books now that I think about it!
I’ve added in more fiction reading over the years because the gospel reminds me that I’m called to “tell a good story” (JM Ritchey). In order to be more creative in the way I build relationships and love and lead those around me…I need to let my mind wander in new places. This year I had the chance to read a few authors…all of what they’ve written. Some were super easy beach reads and some required a lot of thinking and a whole lot of highlighter. When you look at the list below, you will see links for all of the books that I’ve done a book review for on my blog. Many of them I just read for enjoyment or to learn something new.
I realize that reading is a HUGE privilege and it’s not anything that I take for granted. My mom is to thank for instilling a love of reading in all three of her kids from a very early age. I’ve written on this blog a number of times how I feel about reading and the way that reading shapes the influence that you have. I’ve heard it said that you can tell a lot about a person by the people that they hang out with and the books that they read. Words matter.
Here are some links to the books I’ve intentionally documented the last several years…
Books from 2010 41 books
Books from 2011 63 books
Books from 2012 78 books
Books from 2013 43 books
Books from 2014 32 books
Books from 2015 41 books
Books from 2016 54 books
Books from 2017 40 books
Books from 2018 51 books
Books from 2019 51 books
Books from 2020 101 books
Total from 2010-2020 595 books
January (8)
- Garden City by John Mark Comer
- The Guardians by John Grisham
- I Give Up: The Secret Joy of a Surrendered Life by Laura Story
- Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
- Mindshift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education by Lynn Swaner, Dan Beerens, and Erik Ellefsen
- Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
- Joy in the Sorrow by Matt Chandler
- Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana White
February (8)
- Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Finding Chika by Mitch Albom
- Unscripted by Ernie Johnson, Jr.
- Growing up Social by Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane
- It is Written: A Journey to Discovering the Father by Adria King
- Window on the Bay by Debbie Macomber
- The Whistler by John Grisham
- My Name is Hope by John Mark Comer
March (7)
- The Racketeer by John Grisham
- Sacred Endurance by Trillia Newbell
- Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson
- A Witness to a Trial by John Grisham
- Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen
- A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller
- The Motive by Patrick Lencioni
April (5)
- Esther by Chuck Swindoll
- The Case for Easter by Lee Strobel
- Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter
- Coronavirus and Christ by John Piper
- Enjoy by Trillia Newbell
May (8)
- Nincompoopery: Why Your Customers Hate You–and How to Fix It by John Brandt
- As The Light Fades by Catherine West
- My Name is Mahtob by Mahtob Mahmoody
- Unburdened by Vance Pitman
- The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck
- The Logic of God by Ravi Zacharias
- The Gospel Driven Church by Jared Wilson
- Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons
June (12)
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
- Camino Winds by John Grisham
- Walking from East to West by Ravi Zacharias
- Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble
- All is Calm by Colleen Coble
- Mother to Son by Jasmine Holmes
- Driftwood Lane by Denise Hunter
- The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter
- Seaside Letters by Denise Hunter
- Replicate by Robby Gallaty
- The Father’s Promise by Donnalynn Hess
- Dream Big by Bob Goff
July (6)
- Mother and Son by Emerson Eggerichs
- Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble
- On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior
- The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by Colleen Coble
- Seagrass Pier by Colleen Coble
- The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
August (2)
- I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
- Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out by Scott Hildreth and Steve McKinion
September (7)
- The Pandemic Population by Tim Elmore
- Making All Things New by David Powlison
- Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate
- Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate
- Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate
- Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate
- Weep with Me by Mark Vroegpop
October (4)
- Cultural Engagement by Joshua Chatraw and Karen Swallow Prior
- Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury
- Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
- The Courage to Stand by Russell Moore
November (10)
- What are You Going to do with Your Life? J.D. Greear
- Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris
- Hope When Life Unravels by Dr. Adam Dooley
- Win the Day by Mark Batterson
- My Tech-Wise Life by Amy Crouch and Andy Crouch
- The Restaurant by Pamela Kelley
- The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson
- Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
- Searching for Christmas by J.D. Greear
- Lean on Me by Pat Simmons
December (24)
- Christmas at The Restaurant by Pamela Kelley
- The White Christmas Inn by Colleen Wright
- A Family Under the Christmas Tree by Terri Reed
- Captivating: Beholding the Mystery of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection by Thabiti Anyabwile
- Do More Better by Tim Challies
- The Conviction to Lead by Dr. Albert Mohler
- The Memory House by Rachel Hauck
- A House Divided by Kimberla Lawson Roby
- Blue Ridge Sunrise by Denise Hunter
- Without a Word: How a Boy’s Unspoken Love Changed Everything by Jill Kelly
- Honeysuckle Dreams by Denise Hunter
- On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter
- God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel by Costi Hinn
- A Time to Dance by Karen Kingsbury
- A Time to Embrace by Karen Kingsbury
- Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt
- How to Get Unstuck by Matt Perman
- How to Set Up Your Desk by Matt Perman
- The Pastor’s Kid by Barnabas Piper
- Leadership as an Identity: The Four Traits of Those Who Wield Lasting Influence by Crawford Loritts
- First Things First by Stephen Covey
- The Post Quarantine Church by Thom Rainer
- Before You Vote by David Platt
- Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp