I love to read. I love to read more than I like to sleep. I love to read more than I like to eat. As they have my entire life, 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 favorite books from 2022. These are in no particular order, but I really enjoyed a mix of books related to spiritual growth, non-fiction, spiritual formation, leadership, and some great stories as well.
The God of the Garden by Andrew Peterson
Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
The Life We’re Looking For by Andy Crouch
A Gentle Answer by Scott Sauls
Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley
The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership by Tim Elmore
The Record Keeper by Charles Martin
Calling out the Called by Scott Pace and Shane Pruitt
The Aspiring Leader’s Guide to the Future by Clay Scroggins
This year I had the privilege of reading 109 books. I didn’t realize it until I was finalizing my list for this post this evening, but that is the most books I’ve read in a year since I started logging things back in 2010. 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 2023…I’m eager to start reading tomorrow!
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 2010-2022: 797 books
Books from 2022…(link included if I posted a review on my blog)
January 18
+ The Marks of a Spiritual Leader by John Piper https://meganstrange.com/?p=14197
+ Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin
+ The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck
+ How to Eat Your Bible by Nate Pickowicz
+ Good Apple by Elizabeth Passarella
+ A Summer Detour by Denise Hunter
+ This Time Around by Kathleen Fuller
+ Captive in Iran by Marziyeh Amirizadeh and Maryam Rostampour
+ The Money Challenge for Teens by Art Rainer
+ The Judge’s List (The Whistler) by John Grisham
+ Gen Z by Barna and Impact360
+ The Great Rescue by Sheila Gregoire
+ Tempted and Tried by Russell Moore https://meganstrange.com/?p=14217
+ Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay
+ The Water Keeper by Charles Martin
+ The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin
+ A Gentle Answer by Scott Sauls https://meganstrange.com/?p=14223
+ Gracefully Broken by Walter Jordan
February 6
+ Anatomy of a Revived Pastor by Thom Rainer
+ Don’t Give The Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio
+ The Aspiring Leaders Guide to the Future by Clay Scroggins
+ All Right Here by Carre Armstrong Gardner
+ Better All The Time by Carre Armstrong Gardner
+ They Danced On by Carre Armstrong Gardner
March 6
+ The Curious Christian by Barnabas Piper https://meganstrange.com/?p=14230
+ Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter
+ No Diving by David Campbell
+ The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership by Tim Elmore
+ Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
+ Everything Beautiful in its Time by Jenna Bush Hager
April 6
+ Gen Z volume 2 by Barna and Impact 360
+ Going There by Katie Couric
+ The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
+ A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits by Ashley Hales
+ The One You’re With by Lauren Denton
+ The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin
May 6
+ Smart Leadership by Mark Miller https://meganstrange.com/?p=14240
+ Five Attributes: Essentials of Hiring for Christian Organizations by Chad Carter https://meganstrange.com/?p=14243
+ Between Ballgames by Amy Bloye
+ To See The Moon Again by Jamie Langston Turner
+ The Hideaway by Lauren Denton
+ The Most Important Place on Earth: What a Christian Home Looks Like and How to Build One by Robert Wolgemuth
June 15
+ Life After by Katie Ganshert
+ Surrender Bay by Denise Hunter
+ A Life Intercepted by Charles Martin
+ Cousin Camp by Susan Yates
+ Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley
+ Not In It To Win It by Andy Stanley
+ You’ll Think of Me by Robin Hatcher
+ The Innovator’s DNA by Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and Clayton Christensen https://meganstrange.com/?p=14250
+ Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy Gray
+ Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy Gray
+ The Memory of You by Catherine West
+ The Life We’re Looking For by Andy Crouch https://meganstrange.com/?p=14247
+ The Beach Trap by Ali Brady
+ The Wish by Nicholas Sparks
+ Fish! by Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen
July 9
+ Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen by Scott Sauls
+ Looking for Leroy by Melody Carlson
+ Two Weeks by Karen Kingsbury
+ Sparring Partners by John Grisham
+ The Case for Life : Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture by Scott Klusendorf
+ Joni and Ken by Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada
+ Return by Karen Kingsbury
+ Remember by Karen Kingsbury
+ Rejoice by Karen Kingsbury
+ Reunion by Karen Kingsbury
August 4
+ At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof https://meganstrange.com/?p=14254
+ Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge https://meganstrange.com/?p=14257
+ Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer
+ Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
September 10
+ Billy Graham : Candid Conversations with a Public Man by David Frost
+ How Does God Change Us? By Dane Ortlund
+ Speaking for Myself by Sarah Huckabee Sanders
+ From Paycheck to Purpose by Ken Coleman
+ “The Talk” (about money) by Dale Alexander
+ 9 Common Lies Christians Believe by Shane Pruitt
+ The God of the Garden by Andrew Peterson
+ Before You Share Your Faith by Matt Smethurst
+ Leading Insights | Mental Health and Well-Being by ACSI edited by Dr. Lynn Swaner
+ The Three Chairs by Dr. Karyn Gordon
October 9
+ Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury
+ Summer by Karen Kingsbury
+ Someday by Karen Kingsbury
+ Sunset by Karen Kingsbury
+ What Matters Most by Courtney Walsh
+ Impact Players by Liz Wiseman
+ More than a Mom by Kari Kampakis
+ The Record Keeper by Charles Martin
+ Digital Discipleship by The Gospel Coalition
November 11
+ Diary of a Pastor’s Soul by Craig Barnes
+ Calling Out The Called by Scott Pace and Shane Pruitt
+ Recovering our Sanity by Michael Horton
+ Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter
+ Love Her Well by Kari Kampakis
+ But God by Jeremy Freeman
+ Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury
+ Deep Bench: Discover, Develop, and Deploy Leaders Within Your Church by Matt Rogers
+ Growing Together : Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests by Melissa Kruger
+ Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton by Susannah B. Lewis
+ Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury
December 8
+ Find Your People by Jennie Allen https://meganstrange.com/?p=15627
+ Soundtracks by Jon Acuff https://meganstrange.com/?p=15654
+ On the Way to Christmas by Melissa Ferguson
+ The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
+ Why Bother with Church by Sam Allberry
+ Raising Emotionally Strong Boys by David Thomas https://meganstrange.com/?p=15650
+ Reactivity by Paul David Tripp https://meganstrange.com/?p=15645
+ Nothing to Prove by Jennie Allen
+ Finished Reading the Entire Bible in a Year (most valuable reading)