I love to read. I love to read more than I like to sleep. I love to read more than I like to eat. The past two years (2020-2021), our world has navigated and stumbled it’s way through the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. What a joy to be able to read! To have eyes that can see and the resources to purchase so many great works.
Here are my 10 favorite books from 2021. Deeper by Dane Ortlund was my absolute favorite…his Gentle and Lowly was my favorite of 2020. Here’s to hoping he writes a new one in 2022! The other 9 are in no particular order, but all great ones that I’d recommend heartily.
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. The main focus of my reading will always be Scripture because the reading of God’s word is the only reading that has eternal value.
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. 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.
I’d love to hear what you are hoping to read in 2022…here are a few that are already on my list.
God of the Garden @andrewpetersonmusic
The Deeply Formed Life @richvillodas
The Judge’s List @johngrisham
Don’t Give The Enemy a Seat At Your Table @louiegiglio #LeadersAreReaders
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
Books from 2021 93 books
Total read from 2010-2021: 688 books
January 12
+ The Unsaved Christian by Dean Inserra https://meganstrange.com/?p=13894
+ The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone https://meganstrange.com/?p=13898
+ Unified: How Our Unlikely Friendship Gives Us Hope for a Divided Country by Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy https://meganstrange.com/?p=13901
+ The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
+ A Chance in the World by Stephen Pemberton
+ Grown and Flown by Lisa Heffernan and Mary Dell Harrington
+ Family Discipleship by Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin https://meganstrange.com/?p=13905
+ American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
+ Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life by Ken Costa
+ From Foreign to Familiar: A Guide to Understanding Hot- and Cold-Climate Cultures by Sarah Lanier https://meganstrange.com/?p=13909
+ Bible Study: She Reads Truth-The Presence of God
+ A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber
February 6
+ It’s More Than The Music: Life Lessons on Friends, Faith, and What Matters Most by Bill Gaither and Ken Abraham
+ Creative God, Colorful Us by Trillia Newbell
+ Lead by Paul David Tripp https://meganstrange.com/?p=13913
+ Excellence Wins by Horst Schulze https://meganstrange.com/?p=13916
+ Help My Unbelief by Barnabas Piper https://meganstrange.com/?p=13919
+ The Book of John
March 6
+ I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza
+ More Than a Hobby by David Green
+ Single, Dating, Engaged, Married by Ben Stuart
+ We Don’t Know What’s Going to Happen and That’s Ok by John Mark Comer
+ On Suffering Lovingly by John Mark Comer
+ Philippians
April 9
+ The 13th Gift by Joanne Smith
+ Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A: How Faith, Cows, and Chicken Built an Iconic Brand by Steve Robinson
+ The Chicken Runs at Midnight: A Daughter’s Message from Heaven That Changed a Father’s Heart and Won a World Series by Tom Friend and Rich Donnelly
+ Love or Work by Andre’ and Jeff Shinabarger
+ Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter
+ The Wishing Season by Denise Hunter
+ Married ‘Til Monday by Denise Hunter
+ Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
+ Gentle and Lowly Bible Study by Dane Ortlund
May 6
+ The Gospel Comes With a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
+ 1 Peter
+ 2 Peter
+ Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger https://meganstrange.com/?p=14175
+ Esther
+ Off the Clock by Laura Vanderkam https://meganstrange.com/?p=14178
June 13
+ Hill Women by Cassie Chambers
+ 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
+ Ephesians
+ Galatians
+ Trust and Obey by Dr. Michael Youssef
+ Becoming Elizabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn
+ Different. Harder. Longer. Better. by John Mark Comer
+ The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
+ Setting the Standard for Project Based Learning by John Larmer, John Mergendoller, and Suzie Boss
+ 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
+ The Marriage Adventure : Discovering Mission for your Marriage by Daniel and Bonnie Hoover https://meganstrange.com/?p=14172
+ Unstoppable by Nick Vunicic
+ Dirt by Mary Marantz
July 5
+ Bit Literacy by Mark Hurst https://meganstrange.com/?p=14181
+ A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
+ Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets by Andy Stanley https://meganstrange.com/?p=14169
+ God and the Transgender Debate by Andrew Walker
+ Someday Home by Lauraine Snelling
August 6
+ Remnants | Faith Departed by Elizabeth Maddrey
+ Remnants | Hope Deferred by Elizabeth Maddrey
+ Remnants | Love Defined by Elizabeth Maddrey
+ Not What You Think by Michael and Lauren Green McAfee
+ The View from Rainshadow Bay by Colleen Coble
+ Sycamore Row by John Grisham
September 4
+ Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
+ Make the Call by Mark Richt
+ The Reunion by Lorraine Snelling
+ The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
October 4
+ Ten Words to Live By by Jen Wilkin https://meganstrange.com/?p=14184
+ The Noticer Returns by Andy Andrews
+ Is Christmas Unbelievable? by Rebecca McLaughlin
+ How the Light Gets In by Jolina Petersheim
November 5
+ The Year Without a Purchase by Scott Dannemiller
+ Wish by Jake Smith
+ Deeper by Dane Ortlund https://meganstrange.com/?p=14189
+ The Sandcastle Sister by Lisa Wingate
+ Sooley by John Grisham
December 17
+ Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller
+ Emotionally Healthy Discipleship by Pete Scazzero https://meganstrange.com/?p=14193
+ My Affliction for His Glory by Daniel Ritchie
+ Praying the Bible by Don Whitney
+ A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury
+ Just Beyond the Clouds by Karen Kingsbury
+ Surprise the World by Michael Frost
+ Plot Twist by Bethany Turner
+ Rediscover Church by Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman
+ The Legacy Journey by Dave Ramsey
+ Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp
+ Love Works by Joel Manby
+ The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson
+ Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa Terkeurst
+ The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching by Jim Knight
+ Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter
+ The Summer House by Lauren Denton
Total for 2021: 93 Books