What I've read in the past year...

Over the past year, I’ve read 42 books. Initially, I did not set out to read a lot of books - I didn’t even have a goal to reach (which was very odd for me, might I add). But as I started reading more, I noticed myself growing in different ways and I just wanted to read more and more.

And then, I started talking with people I respected and admired and well, they all read A LOT. So, I continued on my journey of reading with a new goal of becoming 1% better each day.

I’ve shared a few of the books I’ve read in #TheSpinalTap, but I thought I would also share my complete list. In true Madison fashion, they are separated into four categories and with my favorites at the top.

But before I share my full list, I also wanted to share my top five - across all categories. This was very challenging to do.

My top five picks:

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

2. A Praying Life by Paul Miller

3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Warning: this book made me weep.)

4. Atomic Habits by James Clear

5. The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

And without further ado... the books I've read over the past year:

Business / Personal Development:

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear
3. The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon
4. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
5. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
6. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
7. The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
8. Coaching for Performance by Sir John Whitmore
9. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
10. Happiness is a Serious Problem by Dennis Prager
11. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
12. The Challenger Sale by Brent Adamson and Matthew Dixon
13. I Dare You by William Danforth
14. Who Moved my Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
15. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
16. Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

Christianity:

1. A Praying Life by Paul Miller
2. Knowing God by J. I. Packer
3. Habits of Grace by David Mathis
4. The Gospel at Work by Greg Gilbert and Sebastian Traeger
5. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
6. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
7. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
8. Radical by David Platt
9. A Love Letter Life by Audrey and Jeremy Roloff
10. Single, Dating, Engaged, Married by Ben Stuart

Nonfiction:

1. Night by Elie Wiesel

And now for some fun stuff!

Fiction:

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
3. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
4. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (There's a theme here! Hemingway is my favorite author.)
5. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
6. Persuasion by Jane Austen
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
8. Circe by Madeline Miller
9. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
10. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
11. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
12. Dracula by Bram Stoker
13. The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
14. Dear John by Nicolas Sparks
15. That Boy by Killian Dodd

Thanks for checking it out! And until next time - happy reading!

Madison Ramsey