2016 Reading List

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2016 has been the best year of my life regarding reading.  You know why?

In 2016, I decided I was going to read more and I disciplined myself to do it.

I wish I had some other brilliant plan, but that was it essentially.  A few months into the year, 3 books really challenged me concerning my disciplines, and I made up my mind that from that point forward, I was going to read at least 1 book a week.

At the end of the year, I have read 38 books.  Once I made that plan, I was able to stick with it.  That’s more than what I did in seminary at the master’s or doctorate level.

While I usually have a certain type of books I read, I was challenged to branch out a bit into biographies, fiction, and leadership books.  I benefited greatly from all of those.

While I loved all of the books, here are a few I want to highlight:

  1. Most Life-Changing Book: Do More Better.  This short, practical guide literally changed my life.  Challies did an incredible job of asking the right questions and offering some great suggestions to make me more productive this year than any other year of my life.  The way I went through life today was different than this time last year and it is a direct result of that book.
  2. Deepest Book: Awe.  Tripp caused me to want to stand and shout and revel at the glory of God.
  3. Most Delightful Book: The Magician’s Nephew.  Something in Lewis’ description of Aslan’s creation had me tearful during the read.  Glorious.
  4. Most Helpful Book: Under Our Skin.  Watson’s personal and heartfelt account of the state of racism in America was incredibly helpful.  It challenged and stirred my soul.

I am excited to jump into my 2017 list and starting a day early!  Make a goal, write out a list of books, turn the technology off, and get after it.  Here is the 2016 list of 38.