Hello, my name is Joy…and I’m an input junkie.
It’s true. I am somewhat obsessed with gathering information, gleaning nuggets of wisdom, and putting into action what I learn, in my personal, professional or spiritual life. I read several books at the same time (although have a bad habit of not finishing them all), listen to books on Audible, and fold laundry while devouring a Podcast or teaching series.
Information just lights my fire!
Not to be confused with news. News media seems to have mastered the art of draining the soul. But I digress.
For as much of a bookworm as I’ve become over the past several years, it may be hard to believe that I was not a reader as a child. While my older sister would hide under her covers with a flashlight, nose buried in novels late into the night, reading books felt like absolute torture to me.
It wasn’t until I was a teenager stuck in my granny’s house in Cape Town, with little else to do, that books came to life. She had handed me a Mary Higgins Clark murder mystery and I was all in. I read every single one I could get my hands on. I like to think of my penchant for suspense and good detective work as early prep for life as a police wife, but maybe I just have a thing for who-done-its.
After high school, I forgot about books. Reading was either a luxury I didn’t seem to have the emotional bandwidth for, in the form of novels (although I made exceptions for The Shack and Francine River’s Mark of the Lion series), or a necessity I had to endure (think college textbooks).
While my love for words came long after my love for fonts, an appreciation for books grew quickly after I discovered the wealth of insight and wisdom tucked away in the world of non-fiction.
There are so many excellent books out there that I’ve often lamented over the fact that I can’t just slip them under my pillow at night and absorb their information via some kind of magical pillow-brain osmosis. Until I figure out how to make that happen, I read the old fashioned way – every single day, even if just for 10 minutes – and listen to audiobooks each time I’m on the road for an extended period of time by myself.
To help you narrow down the ever-expanding list of must-read non-fiction books, I thought I’d share 12 that I read – and loved – this past year.
These brilliants reads either shook me up spiritually, reshaped my entrepreneurial thinking and methods of doing business, or fueled my passion to accomplish what I feel called to do with my life. Some did all three.
Anything by Jennie Allen
The One Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
Platform by Michael Hyatt
Scary Close by Donald Miller
Undaunted by Christine Caine
Sandcastle Kings by Rich Wilkerson Jr.
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Switch on Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf
Abba’s Child by Brennen Manning
Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon
Louder Than Words by Todd Henry
These books are at the top of my 2016 Reading List:
Rising Strong by Brené Brown
Live Love Lead by Brian Houston
The Go-Giver by Bob Burg
Make it Happen by Lara Casey
H3 Leadership by Brad Lomenick
Living Intentionally by John Maxwell
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Wild & Free by Hayley Morgan & Jess Connolly
Smart Women Know When To Say No by Kevin Leman
Die Empty by Todd Henry
. . . . .
What have you read lately that rocked your world? I’d love to hear what books are stirring and inspiring you.
Join the conversation over on the Simply Bloom Facebook page.
