One of my personal goals for 2013 was to read 30 books, so I’ve finally pulled together my reading list. Most are faith-based, but I did want to read a few classics this year. You can see the books I read last year here.
Parenting:
- Instructing a Child’s Heart
- Praying Circles Around Your Children
- Give Them Grace: For the most part, I really loved this book. The heart behind it is amazing, and it really gets to the heart of discipline. I did find the prayers and sample “discussions” you can have with your child a little bit overwhelming and way too long. I’m not going to have a conversation with a child throwing a tantrum–I just don’t find that effective. But overall, I think it’s worth reading just to consider a fresh view of discipline and parenting.
- The Mom Walk
- Desperate: I love Sally Clarkson, and I really liked this book. I guess I’m finally in a season where I don’t feel so desperate as a mom–the girls are old enough to help around the house, and I don’t get woken up by them in the middle of the night, and they aren’t quite so needy (physically, anyway), so it maybe didn’t speak to me as much as it would have. If it had been a few years ago, I definitely would’ve loved it, I think!
- When Your Children Hurt
Marriage:
Faith:
- Unglued
- Money, Possessions, and Eternity
- Safely Home
- 7:
- The Me I Want to Be
- Forgotten God
- Beyond the Soiled Curtain: This book is challenging to read–simply because it describes the horrors of child trafficking. Having a little girl the same age as some of these girls really brought a new awareness to me and opened my eyes. I think everyone should read this book just to see what is going on in the world and how we can help.
Business:
- You are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One)
- Tell Your Time: How to Manage Your Schedule so you can live free: I’ve read many time management books, and I like how short and concise this one is! She gives a little different approach to managing time, and I’m trying to implement some of them as well!
- Platform: I struggled with this book. I highly respect Michael Hyatt, but I always feel conflicted when I think of “building my platform”. Don’t get me wrong, he has great ideas in the book, and I’ve done most of them. He also has some great visionary kind of material in the book, but I always struggle with what God would have me do. Do I focus on building a platform…do I not…do I try to embrace obscurity (another book I read around the same time–probably added to my internal conflict)!
Other:
- How Huge the Night
- In the Garden of Beasts
- Uncovering the Logic of English
- Well-Fed: This book is filled with Paleo recipes, and it also has some helpful advice if you are just starting out on a Paleo-style diet. It is one of the better Paleo books that I’ve read, and I recommend it!
Classics:
To be added:
1) The Diet Cure
2) It Starts with Food
Any recommendations? What’s on your reading list this year?
Tami says
I don’t know if this fits into your goals or not, but when you’re reading The Me I Want to Be, maybe we could all read it together and comment together chapter per chapter or something like an online book club. (I mentioned that book, because my friend has it and has recommended it)
Stacie Nelson says
I think that would be a good idea….I’m just not sure if I could get enough people reading it and commenting to make it work! We could email together though!!
Dawn says
nice list, I just started following you, so I’m not sure if you’ve read it, but for Marriage I’d recommend ‘Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Emerson Eggerichs’, So far I have a few on this years list, but haven’t completed it 🙂
Stacie Nelson says
It has been a few years (like 8 or so) since I read that one. Thanks for the recommendation….I do like to go back and reread some of those. That one was so helpful for me during those first few challenging years of marriage!
Erika Sutherland says
Love your list and have added many of them to my list now. 😉 I have a couple suggestions for you too. The Heavenly Man, Radical by David Platt, Anything by Jennie Allen
Erika Sutherland says
Oh, and one I just downloaded was Becoming Fearless: My Ongoing Journey of Learning to Trust God. It is only $2.50 for an ebook on Amazon right now.
Taryn says
I have The Meaning of Marriage and Tell Your Time on my list for this year too. Your book Thanksgiving Heart is also on my list. I just read Hope for the Weary Mom which was really good.
Samantha says
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a fantastic, well-written biography of an Olympian, survivor of an inflated raft for 47 days, former Japanese POW, and Christian!!
Stacie Nelson says
Thanks! I have not heard of that one! I will take a look!