The 35 Books I read in 2019

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*Revised and expanded* Somehow I missed 8 books from 2019. I added them at the bottom of the post!

Looking for a good book? At the start of each year, I set out to read at least one book a month. This year I averaged almost three! I have a secret for how I’m getting through all these books, but that will come in another post. For now, I wanted to get the list into your hands in case you are looking for gift ideas for yourself or others!

I’ve created the following rating system:

Nope = Pass. There are too many other good books out there.

Maybe = It didn’t hit me where I am but maybe you will like it better.

Yes = I definitely recommend this book!!

YESSSSS!!!! = Put This one at the TOP of your list!

If you don’t want to read through all the titles, you can scroll to the bottom for my top 10!

Image by Gerhard Gellinger from Pixabay

I’ve separated the books into categories:

Goal Setting / Productivity

Your Best Year Ever - Michael Hyatt… Yes
Essentialism - Greg Mckeown… Yes
Platform - Michael Hyatt …Maybe
The One Thing - Gary Keller …Maybe
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World - Cal Newport… YESSSS!!!!!

Fiction

The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy….YESSSS!!!!!
El Dorado ( the sequel to The Scarlet Pimpernel) - Baroness Orczy…Yes
Then, we watched this movie . It combines both of the books. It was a great movie, though it was hard to get used to Anthony Andrews’ character at first. However, in my opinion, the book is ALWAYS better than the movie!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows…YESSSS!!!!!
We also watched the Netflix movie. It was good. The book was better
Dear Mr Knightley - Katherine Reay…YES
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier…YESSSS!!!!! (especially if you like classics)

Personal Growth / Christian Living

A Hunger for God - John Piper…YES
None Like Him - Jen Wilkin…YESSSS!!!!!
In His Image - Jen Wilkin…YESSSS!!!!!
Nothing to Prove - Jennie Allen…YESSSS!!!!!
Restless - Jennie Allen…YES
The Scars That Have Shaped Me - How God Meets Us in Suffering- Vaneetha Rendall Risner…YES
Unseen - The Gift of Being Hidden in a World That Loves to Be Noticed - Sara Hagerty…YES
The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions - Emily P Freeman…YESSSS!!!!!
Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World - Emily P Freeman…YES
A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made To Live - Emily P Freeman…YESSSS!!!!!
Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living - Shauna Niequist…YESSSS!!!!!
I Am Not but I Know I Am: Welcome to the Story of God - Louie Giglio…YESSSS!!!!!
The Rest of God - Mark Buchanan…YESSSS!!!!!
A Mother of Thousands: From Barren to Revolutionary - Heather DeJesus Yates…YES ( I will pass this along to every woman I know struggling with infertility!)

The Craft of Writing

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction - William Zinsser…YES
Word By Word audio recording of a conference by Ann Lamott, author of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life…YES
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - Stephen King…NOPE (This book was recommended to my by at least a dozen writers! I just wasn’t a fan of all the F- words, and generally, the writing style of one of the worlds most successful writers. Not sure what that means for me.) I didn’t finish it.

House & Home

Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style Less Stuff - Myquillyn Smith…YESSSS!!!!! Beautiful, inspiring, simple soulful.
The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life - Joshua Becker..YES, Though I liked his book, The More of Less, better.

The Effects of Technology & Social Media

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World - Cal Newport…YESSSS!!!!!
The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place - Andy Crouch…YESSSS!!!!!
12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You - Tony Reinke…Maybe
Your Happiness Was Hacked: Why Tech Is Winning the Battle to Control Your Brain--and How to Fight Back - by Vivek Wadhwa and Alex Salkever…Maybe
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age - Sherry Turkle…YES
Unplugged - I can’t seem to find this book online, but I got it from our local library… Maybe

Top Ten (In no particular order)…

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World - Cal Newport
Cal Newport challenged me to think about the kind of work I do, the distractions that derail me, and inspired me to move toward better, deeper work.

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World - Cal Newport
So good, I read it twice!!! I didn’t need scientific studies to tell me that the digital world is sucking the life out of me! But I did need Cal’s strategies to point me toward a more peaceful and productive way of living.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
I struggled to choose my favorite fiction book, because they were all so enjoyable. Guernsey had so many elements of a good novel, but it’s unique style took it to the top of my list!

None Like Him - Jen Wilkin
Jen kept it simple and at the same time left me in awe of the God who created us !

Nothing to Prove - Jennie Allen
I’ve never met Jennie Allen, but she is a kindred spirit! I felt like she had read my journals and written my heart!!

A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made To Live - Emily P Freeman
The moment I finished this book, I re-started it! There were so many gentle nudges toward truth, I knew I didn’t get them all the first time through!

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living - Shauna Niequist
Ok, I actually read this one last year, but it was too good not to mention to you. I think I underlined every other sentence!

I Am Not but I Know I Am: Welcome to the Story of God - Louie Giglio
A short read, worth every second. It reminded me who I am, but more important, who God is!

The Rest of God - Mark Buchanan
This was a book on Sabbath. It was gentle, funny, freeing, and encouraged me to practice rest in new and beautiful ways. I’m reading it for the second time.

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place - Andy Crouch
Whether or not you have kids at home, PLEASE read this book! It’s full of personal stories, research, and practical tips for building character in your whole family!

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*Updated content here:

Somehow, I missed 8 books on my 2019 Reading List!   Here they are with my ratings & a short description:

The Broken Way:A Daring Path into the Abundant Life - Ann Voskamp 
I cried a lot while reading this, being reminded that we are called to live broken and poured out, like Jesus.  I want to follow Him. I long to live like Him. But when it comes down to it, living broken is HARD! Anne’s book was a  beautiful and challenging. YES

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered - Lysa TerKeurst
Another book that reminds us that God is with us in the midst of our mess.  If you haven’t read a book by Lysa TerKeurst yet, the time to start is now! YESSSS!!!!!

The Four-Dimensional Human: Ways of Being in the DIgital World - Laurence Scott
Interesting, but a bit crude at times.  I read too many other books about our digital lives that I liked better.  Nope

The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
THIS is one of my all-time FAVORITE classics!  Intrigue, romance, betrayal, vengeance, redemption, and characters whose lives are woven together in surprising twists.  Plus it’s set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. This was my 3rd time through it, and I liked it better than before. YESSSS!!!!!

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food - Lysa TerKeurst 
I laughed when Lysa talked about pulling out her hair rubber band while weighing herself -been there, done that!  This book not only made me think about what I’m eating, but why I’m eating it. Yes

The Power Of Vulnerability: Teachings of Authenticity, Connection and Courage (Audio Course) - Brene Brown
Brene Brown hit on a topic that is dear to my heart.  She spoke of shame, fear and hiding, and the choice to be vulnerable.  I connected so much of her talk to Genesis 3 and the human condition. I wonder if she knows the deep reason behind our terror of being fully seen and deeply known. Maybe

No More Faking Fine: Ending the Pretending - Esther Fleece
This book was not at all what I expected. Both a  personal story, and a look at the biblical language of lament. “...the unexpected pathway to true intimacy with God and others”.  I hadn’t ever considered that lament is missing from my life and even from the church. Yes

The Magnolia Story - Chip & Joanna Gaines
Chip Gaines. Joanna Gaines. Need I say more? YESSSS!!!!!