My 2019 Reading List

I read some amazing books this year! Below are my summaries for each one. You’ll notice that I was intentional about adding in more memoirs/biographies this year – they were a welcome addition to my reading rhythm.

My hope in publishing this list is that you’ll find at least a few that sound like they would be helpful to you and that you’ll commit to your own growth and development in 2020 by challenging yourself to read more.

PS: This photo shows the books I’ll be diving into first in 2020. One of my commitments for 2020 is to spend less than $250 on books, so I’ll be reading a lot of books that are on my bookshelves that I haven’t actually read yet. I’m sure you have many of those too! PPS: You’ll notice that a few of the books pictured are ones that I intended to read in 2019 and just didn’t get to. ;)

The Books (in order as completed):

# 1: The Most Excellent Way to Lead by Perry Noble

We’ve all heard the famous saying, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Perry does a great job of bringing this saying to life in the realm of leadership. He walks through 16 characteristics that, when embodied by leaders, will cause people to feel cared for.

# 2: Cherish by Gary Thomas

Marriage is hard. But it can also be incredibly beautiful and wonderful. Every chapter of Gary’s book helped me identify ways to better love Corey, with the intent of creating a profoundly meaningful relationship.

# 3: The Utter Relief of Holiness by John Eldredge

What I love most about this book is the reminder that we settle for far less than the goodness that we were created for. As Michelangelo said, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and miss it. But we aim too low and reach it.”

# 4: The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry

After showing why it’s important for us to have rhythms in our work, Todd outlines disciplines and habits from experts like David Allen and Steven Pressfield, as well as his own, to put those rhythms into practice. I strongly recommend his discipline of having a specific study plan where you purposefully choose your mental stimuli: what you read, watch, and listen to – truly a fantastic way to know you’re living your best life.

# 5: Unashamed by Christine Caine

Much has been written in the last decade on the subject of shame, creating much needed awareness. But sadly, many people have been left feeling lost and empty about what to do about their shame and how to move on from it. Enter Christine and her critical pathways to hope, help, and healing. Christine picks up where the other writings leave off and provides a way out for those who are ensnared by shame.

# 6: Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

Messaging what we do and why we do it are two of the most crucial factors to success in today’s business culture. If we don’t clearly articulate these messages with brevity, we will be passed over for the business that can. Donald’s reputation for helping companies grow exponentially, by using his 7-step narrative framework, is superior. For a 1-2 punch, utilize a marketing firm, like 27th Letter Media, that is certified in the StoryBrand approach.

# 7: This is Marketing by Seth Godin

Chock full of practical wisdom and insights. Ultimately, the bottom line is, it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond. In other words, find your niche and use it to serve the specific tribe who needs/wants that niche.

# 8: Whale Done by Ken Blanchard

A must-read for everyone who manages people and will admit that you struggle with being critical of your team and their work. Ken’s principles coincide very nicely with Daniel Pink’s Drive and Gary Chapman’s The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, both must-reads for everyone who manages and leads people.

# 9: Essentials for Cultivating Passionate Volunteers and Leaders by Eddie Zacapa

There are over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the U.S. The vast majority of those rely on volunteers to be able to live out their mission. Eddie’s book provides a simple, yet effective, framework for recruiting and retaining volunteers. This is a very helpful read for anyone involved in volunteer work in any capacity, whether you lead volunteers or whether you are a volunteer.

# 10: The Prodigal Prophet by Timothy Keller

“We sneer at people more liberal than us as social justice warriors; we disdain those more conservative than us as hateful bigots.” The most important conversation happening today is how we regard each other as human beings; the respect and honor we owe one another simply because we exist. Tim’s commentary on this conversation is powerful and hits the heart.

# 11: The Secret by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller

Not sure what leadership is or what it looks like? Ken and Mark’s book is a great place to start. Straightforward and easy to understand but mighty powerful when utilized.

# 12: Gmorning, gnight by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Start and end your day with wonderfully fun and inspiring sayings from Lin-Manuel, accompanied by silly and creative illustrations from Jonny Sun. If you need a little pick-me-up, this is just the book for you. “Good morning. Courage. Even when the panic’s at the back of your throat, courage. Let’s go. Good night. Courage. Even when fear is at the foot of your bed, courage. Let’s go.”

# 13: Time Traps by Todd Duncan

Greg McKeown’s Essentialism helped us create resolve about our need to prioritize our lives differently. Todd’s book picks up from there and provides very specific prescriptive guidance of how to do so. It’s also a great companion to David Allen’s Getting Things Done.

# 14: Grit & Grace by Pauline Weger & Alicia Williamson

A great little book of inspiring vignettes about successful women in many walks of life. I love this quote from Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics, “Love produces confidence, and adversity produces purpose.”

# 15: The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan

If you’re like me and you have trouble relaxing without feeling guilty, put down every other book you’re reading and read Mark’s book immediately. I sincerely can’t say it strongly enough! I was challenged and encouraged on every single page. “Busyness kills the heart.”

# 16: Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle

If you knew me as a teenager and young adult, you likely would have labeled me as judgmental. There were many events and experiences that helped me mature to a more loving and compassionate perspective. One of them was seeing people through the eyes of people like Father Greg. I’ve read and re-read this book a couple of times because it’s such a beautiful reminder of love as it was intended to be; it helps me shed my arrogance and seek to find the very best in everyone.

# 16.5: Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza

This was the first book in 3 years that I just wasn’t into enough to finish reading. He has good and valid points about having more power over ourselves and our thinking than we realize, but he could have said what he did in much fewer words.

# 17: Barking to the Choir by Gregory Boyle

If only we all had eyes to see one another the way that Father Greg sees the men and women of Homeboy Industries. I look forward to the day when that will be our reality.

# 18: Here, Now by Kate Merrick

“When will we stop pining for someone else’s life and own ours?” Kate’s decision to completely disengage from social media and connect deeply with her physical community is grounded in a confidence that we will find greater peace by doing so, as she and her family experienced. For those of us who can’t pull ourselves away, she provides thoughtful wisdom, “Unfollow anyone who is causing you turmoil; unfollow anyone who makes you feel inferior. Post with care, and never post if it means interrupting a pure and glorious moment.”

# 19: The Journey of Desire by John Eldredge

We were never meant to live without desire. “Our souls were designed to flourish in an atmosphere rich in love and meaning, security and significance, intimacy and adventure.” John acknowledges that to do so opens “our hearts to the possibility of pain” but to not do so moves us to a place where our hearts become hopeless and lifeless.

# 20: Love & War by John and Stasi Eldredge

A good reminder that through marriage we are entrusted with the heart of a human being. “No one has greater access to your spouse’s heart than you.” Choosing to look at that as an incredible honor will make all the difference in your marriage.

# 21: To Stop a Warlord by Shannon Sedgwick Davis

Over 2.5 million people were displaced, nearly 100,000 children abducted, and over 100,000 people murdered because of Joseph Kony and the LRA. Evil and hatred had run rampant for 20+ years when a blonde woman from Texas vowed to bring a stop to one of the biggest human atrocities this generation has seen. Shannon’s story is powerful, and a reminder to all of us that we have the ability to do way more than we think we can.

# 22: Educated by Tara Westover

Oh my goodness!! A fascinating and insane story. You’d think the setting was the 1800s but it’s as modern as can be. For anyone who is interested in American history, Mormonism, or memoirs, this is a must-read.

# 23: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

Own a business? Read this book. Manage people? Read this book. Want to make money? Read this book. Trouble understanding millennials? Read this book. Want to make a difference in this world? Read this book. Daniel’s book is nothing short of brilliant and tells us exactly how to be successful in today’s business climate.

# 24: The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

I had a coach walk me through my Enneagram 2 years ago and after reading Ian and Suzanne’s book, it became crystal clear that I’m not what number/type I thought I was. While helpful for my self-awareness, the more meaningful learning from this book was being able to understand Corey in ways that I haven’t understood him in 18 years of marriage – soooo incredibly helpful!!

# 25: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Such an eye-opening book. To look at human beings the way that Bryan does is a true gift; a gift I pray for in my own life. I closed the book grateful for God’s grace and mercy, but with the refrain, “There but for the grace of God, go I” lingering in my mind.

# 26: It’s Not Supposed to Be this Way by Lysa TerKeurst

Life definitely presents us with disappointments. Lysa shares openly about her health and marital disappointments, along with her strategies for trying to work through them. I found her wisdom to be comforting and a wonderful reminder of how much grace we all need, as we simply don’t know what we’re each facing in life.

# 27: Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

# 28: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

You won’t agree with all of Rachel’s philosophical beliefs. But let me tell you something: Based on my experience as a business coach for the last 6+ years to entrepreneurs, business owners, and senior executives, if you follow the plan she outlines in Stop Apologizing, success will be yours; the productivity and goal setting tactics that she shares are spot on.

# 29: Unstoppable by Christine Caine

One of my girlfriends recently asked me if I ever get tired of reading so many leadership and self-development books. The truth is, yes. It can be heavy to continually focus on improvement and learning. When I get to a place of needing a bit of breather, I turn to authors like Christine who simply inspire and motivate me.

# 30: In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

When I’m discouraged and need a motivation boost, I read and re-read Mark’s books. This is one of my all-time favorites because it reminds me that we each have a distinct purpose and reason for having been created, “Something invaluable and irreplaceable is lost when we cave in to conformity. We lose our personality. We lose our originality…Instead of becoming the one-of-a-kind original we were destined to be, we settle for a carbon copy of someone else.”

# 31: High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard

I’ve been a bit skeptical of Brendon, so it’s taken me some time to read something of his, but I found this book to be incredibly insightful. His research for the book was on par with highly reputable scholars and thought leaders. I was personally challenged in several chapters, including concerning how I view people who are at earlier stages of their life’s journey. Brendon reminded me that I’m limiting my own potential by not having a habit of being gracious. As Aristotle said, “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation…Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

# 32: Subversive Spirituality by Eugene H. Peterson

Eugene attributed much of his ability to understand and be understood by those he taught, to reading novelists and poets like Dostoevsky, Flannery O’Connor, and Walker Percy. This wonderful compilation of articles and interviews helped me understand more about the philosophies that made this man one of the most encouraging and extraordinary teachers and pastors of the last 50 years. 

# 33: Becoming by Michelle Obama

Every woman should read this book, regardless of political views. Michelle shares heartfelt struggles that I hear regularly from my clients, particularly about her life before politics as a working mom and about her emotions catching up with her in ways that simply depleted her of the ability to do anything other than sleep. She shares openly about the annoying quips and quirks of marital life. She taught me new information about the life of the First Family. She had me laughing and crying more than a few times. I appreciate, and am grateful for, her vulnerability and authenticity.

# 34: If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey

I am convinced that the gravity of the issues we observe and experience in our culture would be lessened if we followed Jamie’s plea to stop shaming and judging each other. Let it begin with me.

# 35: Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday

As our world steadily speeds up, it is imperative that we intentionally slow down; that we do not allow ourselves to get swept up in the tyranny of the urgent. I have seen with myself and my clients that Ryan is not exaggerating when he says that purposeful stillness is the key to “thinking clearly…managing our emotions…identifying the right goals…maintaining relationships…being productive…feeling fulfilled.” This is a must-read for anyone who finds themselves running on fumes. PS: If you haven’t read Ryan’s other books, The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy are my two favorites.

# 36: Social Media Success for Every Brand by Claire Diaz-Ortiz

A follow-up to #6 above, Claire provides a clear framework for how to execute Donald Miller’s storybrand in the ever-changing world of social media. There were a few good tidbits, but there were multiple times that I was left with more questions than answers; she just didn’t define things as explicitly as would have been helpful. For example, she talks about making social media withdrawals, but she never really gave specific examples of what is and isn’t considered a withdrawal. She also said multiple times, “figure out what works [for your audience]”, but she didn’t provide ideas of how to figure it out or resources to go to, in order to attempt to figure it out. I’m glad I read it, but it wasn’t as informative as I had expected it to be given her extensive knowledge and expertise. 

# 37: The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

Delightfully simple and profoundly complex. I read it this time mostly to understand more about friendship, as I find friendship to be far more difficult in adulthood than it was in adolescence. He says in friendship, we have “naked personalities” – something we are all longing for in at least one human relationship, but have difficulty being that vulnerable with ourselves, let alone with another person.

# 38: Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves

John Kotter of Harvard Business School says, “Because of the furious pace of change in business today, difficult-to-manage relationships sabotage more business than anything else - it is not a question of strategy that gets us into trouble; it is a question of emotions.” We can all do a better job of understanding and managing our emotions. This book is a great place to start. Need someone to coach you about your emotional intelligence? I’m the gal for the job!

# 39: 100 Side Hustles by Chris Guillebeau

Doing some research for a client, I stumbled across Chris’s new book. I am seriously awed by the creativity and ingenuity of people; many of the ideas born out of a personal need! If you’re looking to earn a little extra income (or potentially even a lot!), this book will definitely spur you on toward success.

# 40: Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt

A pretty clear-cut method to improving your productivity. My business partners and I used Michael’s mega-batching concept for the recording of our Impress the Boss episodes by recording our 14 episodes in one weekend. One could argue that there are drawbacks to this concept, but the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.

# 41: Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

True Confession: Marie is so dang inspiring, but I have to work really hard to not let myself become overwhelmingly envious of her success and achievements. When I learn from her, I have to remind myself of her words, “Comparison is creative kryptonite,” and acknowledge that we each have our own gifts and callings. If you can let go of jealousy, this is a great read for anyone who needs motivation in practically any aspect of life. Oh PS: she cusses a lot!

# 42: Relentless by Michele Cushatt

Just in the last two weeks I’ve learned of two more close family friends who have cancer and two others who have early onset dementia. Pain and suffering seem to be increasingly present. Experiencing her first battle with cancer in her late 30s, Michele has endured more physical pain than anyone I know. Not surprisingly, that pain created spiritual anguish. Michele spent several years wrestling with God about pain and suffering, and though she admits to not having many answers, she will tell you that she is confident that God is present and loves us. In an age where many are running from their faith, it is emboldening to see someone who had every right to run from faith, run deeper into it instead. 

# 43: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Diplomacy does not come naturally for me. I’m hypercritical of myself, and subsequently of others, and am not always tactful in my approach. I genuinely want to be someone whom others regard as kind, thoughtful, and loving, in all walks of life, so it was time for a re-read of this classic and its timeless wisdom.

# 44: Hidden Christmas by Timothy Keller

Living within the true meaning of Christmas, that goes beyond the gifts and lights, is tremendously important to me. In 2018 I started a new tradition of reading this book each year to set the posture of my heart for the season. If Christmas time of year leaves you wondering what the fuss is about, I strongly encourage you to read this book!!

# 45: The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller and Kathy Keller

I admit that I’ve been incredibly selfish in my marriage to Corey. Yes, I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for him, but admittedly I’ve often done so for my own peace of mind and benefit. I’ve read a lot of books about relationships and marriage, including several others this year, but if I could get every married person to read a book about marriage, this would be that book.

# 46: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

“We’re all settling for less than we’re capable of.” While I don’t agree with some of David’s methods, I strongly agree with his underlying philosophy that we’re all allowing something to keep us from reaching our potential. His approach reminds me of one of my favorite Mark Batterson quotes, “We need to work like it depends on us, but we also need to pray like it depends on God.” David’s book is a great reminder to not sell ourselves short.

With that said, I would be remiss if I didn’t comment about the military practices, that David mentions several times, of referencing women through vulgar language. Until men re-think the offensive, degrading, and divisive speech they’re using, and the impact it has on themselves, their marriages, and their daughters, they will never achieve their full potential. 

# 47: Inside Out by Dr. Larry Crabb

There is no arguing that this life is full of pain, disappointment, sadness, evil, and suffering. For all of us it’s hard to face the things of this life, so we do all that we can to numb ourselves. Larry pushes us to see that the dulling of our senses is actually doing more harm than good, and why it’s important for us to sit with the pain and work through it rather than to busying ourselves and trying to avoid it.

# 48: The Challenger Sale by Matthew Dixon & Brent Adamson

Don’t tell me what your company does, tell me a story of what problems I’m encountering and how you would approach solving those problems. Speak with confidence that shows me that you are the expert and that I can trust you with my business. As Daniel Pink has reminded us, we’re all in the business of selling, and these CEB executives have given us the sales method that is most effective today, backed by strong empirical evidence.

# 49: Abba’s Child by Brennan Manning

I can honestly say that no one, not even Brene Brown, has been able to speak to the root of my shame as tenderly as Brennan has. Often the source of our shame, perfectionism and imposters syndrome were just identified by the Huffington Post as the most common issues discussed in therapy of 2019, and Brennan’s wisdom helps us work through them with kindness and graciousness. You can’t help but walk away from this book being gentler with yourself. 

# 50: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

I definitely don’t label myself as an American History aficionado, but after seeing Hamilton twice this year, I simply had to learn more about Alexander Hamilton and the Revolutionary War era. What a fascinating man, and what a beautiful reminder of this amazing melting pot of a country that we call home. Ron’s depth of study and immense detail is awe-inspiring, and the way that Lin-Manuel Miranda transformed history into a laughter and tear-inducing production created a curiosity in me that I never expected.

What book is first up for you in 2020?

You can check out my reading lists for the previous years at www.laurelemory.com. 

BTW: Rather than doing affiliate links to Amazon and putting cash in my personal pocket if you purchase a book from my reading lists, my Amazon links provide a portion of the sale to be donated to The Cupcake Girls, a non-profit organization that is changing lives. I appreciate you making purchases through my link to support the good work they are doing.