{"id":14200,"date":"2022-01-02T16:31:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-02T21:31:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=14200"},"modified":"2022-01-03T07:05:31","modified_gmt":"2022-01-03T12:05:31","slug":"books-of-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=14200","title":{"rendered":"Books of 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are my 10 favorite books from 2021. Deeper by Dane Ortlund was my absolute favorite\u2026his Gentle and Lowly was my favorite of 2020. Here\u2019s to hoping he writes a new one in 2022! The other 9 are in no particular order, but all great ones that I\u2019d recommend heartily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A large part of my reading continues to be non-fiction. Most of what I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve added in more fiction reading over the years because the gospel reminds me that I\u2019m called to \u201ctell a good story\u201d (JM Ritchey). In order to be more creative in the way I build relationships and love and lead those around me\u2026I 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\u2019ve done a book review for on my blog. Many of them I just read for enjoyment or to learn something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I realize that reading is a HUGE privilege and it\u2019s 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\u2019ve 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\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d love to hear what you are hoping to read in 2022\u2026here are a few that are already on my list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God of the Garden @andrewpetersonmusic
The Deeply Formed Life @richvillodas
The Judge\u2019s List @johngrisham
Don\u2019t Give The Enemy a Seat At Your Table @louiegiglio #LeadersAreReaders<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some links to the books I\u2019ve intentionally documented the last several years\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Books from 2010<\/a>\u00a041 books
Books from 2011<\/a>\u00a063 books
Books from 2012<\/a>\u00a078 books
Books from 2013<\/a>\u00a043 books
Books from 2014<\/a>\u00a032 books
Books from 2015<\/a>\u00a041 books
Books from 2016<\/a>\u00a054 books
Books from 2017<\/a>\u00a040 books
Books from 2018<\/a>\u00a051 books
Books from 2019<\/a>\u00a051 books
Books from 2020<\/a> 101 books
Books from 2021 93 books<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total read from 2010-2021: 688 books<\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 12
+ The Unsaved Christian by Dean Inserra https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=13894<\/a>
+ The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=13898<\/a>
+ Unified: How Our Unlikely Friendship Gives Us Hope for a Divided Country by Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=13901<\/a>
+ 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<\/a>
+ 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<\/a>
+ Bible Study: She Reads Truth-The Presence of God
+ A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 6
+ It\u2019s 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<\/a>
+ Excellence Wins by Horst Schulze https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=13916<\/a>
+ Help My Unbelief by Barnabas Piper https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=13919<\/a>
+ The Book of John<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t Know What\u2019s Going to Happen and That\u2019s Ok by John Mark Comer
+ On Suffering Lovingly by John Mark Comer
+ Philippians<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s Message from Heaven That Changed a Father\u2019s Heart and Won a World Series by Tom Friend and Rich Donnelly
+ Love or Work by Andre\u2019 and Jeff Shinabarger
+ Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter
+ The Wishing Season by Denise Hunter
+ Married \u2018Til Monday by Denise Hunter
+ Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
+ Gentle and Lowly Bible Study by Dane Ortlund<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>
+ Esther
+ Off the Clock by Laura Vanderkam https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=14178<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>
+ Unstoppable by Nick Vunicic
+ Dirt by Mary Marantz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 5
+ Bit Literacy by Mark Hurst https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=14181<\/a>
+ A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
+ Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets by Andy Stanley https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=14169<\/a>
+ God and the Transgender Debate by Andrew Walker
+ Someday Home by Lauraine Snelling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 4
+ Ten Words to Live By by Jen Wilkin https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=14184<\/a>
+ The Noticer Returns by Andy Andrews
+ Is Christmas Unbelievable? by Rebecca McLaughlin
+ How the Light Gets In by Jolina Petersheim<\/p>\n\n\n\n

November 5
+ The Year Without a Purchase by Scott Dannemiller
+ Wish by Jake Smith
+ Deeper by Dane Ortlund https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=14189<\/a>
+ The Sandcastle Sister by Lisa Wingate
+ Sooley by John Grisham<\/p>\n\n\n\n

December 17
+ Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller
+ Emotionally Healthy Discipleship by Pete Scazzero https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=14193<\/a>
+ 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\u2019t 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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total for 2021: 93 Books<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,14,35,25,37,12,16,19,23,28,17,32,18,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-study","category-book-review","category-creative","category-education","category-eli","category-emma","category-family","category-funny","category-generosity","category-integrity","category-leadership","category-marriage","category-north-cobb-christian","category-travel"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/best-books-of-2021.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14200\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}