#SelfHelp

Books I Read in 2018

Well I fell off with my monthly updates on my reads. I still want to share my reading list from 2018. My goal was 5 books/month for a total of 60 and I ended up completing 61. Some are shorter than others and I listened to the majority on Audible.

My top recommendation on the list is Educated by Tara Westover. My least favorite on the list, which was a true struggle to complete, would be Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff.

If you have questions on any of the books, are up for discussing, or want to know if I’d recommend the read, let me know.

Here’s the list:

Genre	Title	Author
Historical Fiction	The Nightingale	Kristin Hannah
Memoir	Extraordinary, Ordinary People	Condoleezza Rice
Historical Fiction	All the Light We Cannot See	Anthony Doerr
Historical Novel	Beneath a Scarlet Sky	Mark Sullivan
Personal Narrative	Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House	Michael Wolff
Historical Non-Fiction	In My Father’s Words The World War II Letters of an Army Doctor	Patricia MacLachlan
Self Development	Your Best Year Ever: A 5 Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals Ever	Michael Hyatt
Historical Fiction	Before We Were Yours	Lisa Wingate
Personal Narrative, Self Development	Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead and Win	Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
Biography	Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those who Create It	Charlamagne tha God
Fiction	Firefly Lane	Kristin Hannah
Christian Literature, Self Development	Hello Mornings: How to Build a Grace-Filled, Life-Giving Morning Routine	Kat Lee
Historical Fiction	The Librarian of Auschwitz	Antonio Iturbe
Memoir	Educated	Tara Westover
Christian Literature, Biography	If You Only Knew: My unlikely, unavoidable story of becoming free	Jamie Ivey
Autobiography	When Breath Becomes Air	Paul Kalanithi
Autobiography, Memoir	Dreams from My Father A Story of Race & Inheritance	Barack Obama
Biography	Girls Like Us	Sheila Weller
Non-Fiction	The Warmth of Other Suns	Isabel Wilkerson
Historical Fiction	We Were the Lucky Ones	Georgia Hunter
Fiction, Christian Fiction	No One Ever Asked	Katie Ganshert
Autobiography	We’re Going to Need More Wine for this	Gabrielle Union
Self Development	Kick Ass with Mel Robbins	Mel Robbins
Christian Literature, Self Development	Girl Wash Your Face	Rachel Hollis
Fiction	Home Front	Kristin Hannah
Slef Development, Christian Literature	I’ve Been Thinking: Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life	Maria Shriver
Autobiography	Carry On: A Story of Resilience, Redemption, and an Unlikely Family	Lisa Fenn
Autobiography	Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis	J. D. Vance
Autobiography, Christian Literature	The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Rabbi	Kathie Lee Gifford
Christian Literature, Self Development	Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions	Lysa TerKeurst
Fiction	The Great Alone	Kristin Hannah
Fiction	The Hate U Give	Angie Thomas
Autobiography	Just Mercy	Bryan Stevenson
Biography	Eunice: The Kennedy Who Change the World	Eileen McNamara
Christian Literature, Biography	Kind Is the New Classy	Candace Cameron-Bure
Self Development, Christian Literature	The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness	Dave Ramsey
Fiction	Winter Garden	Kristin Hannah
Christian Literature	A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live by	Emily P. Freeman
Autobiography	My Life on the Road	Gloria Steinem
Autobiography	Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose	Joe Biden
Autobiography	Barbara Bush: A Memoir	Barbara Bush
Memoir	Night	Elie Wiesel
Historical Fiction	Dawn	Elie Wiesel
Fiction	Magic Hour	Kristin Hannah
Self Development	Women and Money	Suze Orman
Non-Fiction	All the Real Indians Died Off: And 20 Other Myths About Native Americans	Dina Whitaker and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Autobiography	Whisky in a Teacup	Reese Witherspoon
Autobiography	The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations	John McCain and Mark Salter
Biography	438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea	Jonathan Franklin
Fiction	Little Fires Everywhere	Celeste Ng
Historical Fiction	The Tattooist of Auschwitz	Heather Morris
Self Development	The Happiness Advantage: The 7 Principles That Fuel Success and Performance at Work	Shawn Achor
Historical Fiction	Auschwitz Lullaby	Mario Escobar
Autobiography, Memoir	Becoming	Michelle Obama
Fiction	Where the Crawdads Sing	Delia Owens
Self Development	Back to Human: How Great Leaders	Dan Schawbel
Novel, Memoir	Amazing Love: True Stories of the Power of Forgiveness	Corrie ten Boom
Autobiography	From the Corner of the Oval	Beck Dorey-Stein
Historical Fiction	The Kitchen House	Kathleen Grissom
Biography	The Audacity of Hope	Barack Obama
Historical Fiction	Glory Over Everything: Beyond the Kitchen House	Kathleen Grissom

My Reading List: 2018 August Books

The beginning of the month was rather heavy reading so by the end of the month I threw in a couple lighter reads. The all-time-favorite of the month goes to Just Mercy by Bryan Stephenson. It is eye-opening.

I started a book club this month. The idea of our club is to all read the same book and discuss virtually. Currently we are using the Bookship Application as the medium to share our thoughts. For the book club, we started with The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas. I can say for my first-go at organizing and leading a book club, I did a poor job. But hey, I did it, so that is a step in the right direction! I love discussing my reads and it is no fun to carry a one-sided discussion at family dinners or happy hours with friends, so I forced my circles into a book club. Fortunately, the ones who participated all love reading and happily joined so there was not too much pressure put on by me.

Last thing worth noting this month: I started listening to audio books with my sons while we are in the car together. I do not want to jinx myself by sharing this information, but it is going REALLY well. The boys fight less, nag less, and whine less since starting The Magic Tree House series. I LOVE how they will stop and ask what words mean or want to discuss the book. Nothing can top their laughter when a ‘funny’ part comes up in the book. We even have some inside jokes we share now from the books. I cannot wait until their attention span is ready to take on longer children’s chapter books. Children’s novels are some of my favorite books. In college Children’s Literature may have been my all-time favorite course.

With that, I feel it is only appropriate to conclude with one of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” My reading list is a bit random, but I hope it inspires you.

The books I read in August and my opinions:

2018 August	Title, Author, Genre	Rating	Notes
Kindle	The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah, Historical Fiction	4	I cannot stop reading Kristin Hannah books! I love how she brings characters to life and always has multiple themes in her books. This one explores the impact of Vietnam War on a family. The father/husband was a POW and when he returns home suffers from PTSD. This leads the family to explore a new beginning in Alaska. The mother/wife struggles with the challenges of being a woman in the 70s. The primary character is the daughter of this couple, Lenora (Leni). Leni matures from child to adult in a toxic environment within a land she grows to love. Like most Hannah books, she shares their story across several decades making the story complete. I think women would most enjoy this book. The adventure and danger of living in Alaska may make this an enjoyable book for men as well. Going on a long flight, need a beach read, or simply looking for entertainment? Then this is the book to read!
Audible	The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas, Novel	4	A young adult novel set in modern times which explores racial prejudice through the eyes of a teenage girl. Angie Thomas did a fantastic job making the characters in this book come to life and relatable. The perspective this story brings to the Black Lives Matter movement helps to see the depth of the issue we face today with racism in America. I’d recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand a young black person’s point of view. It is a story that will help drive discussions around American culture, family, race, prejudice, and respect.
Kindle	Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stephenson, Non-Fiction/Memoir	5	Recommended by Jamie Ivey’s book club, I could not put this one down. I love non-fiction and memoirs. While this is not Bryan Stephenson’s memoir, it is very personal account of his life’s work. He highlights his greatest accomplishments in civil rights, but the story primarily focuses on the tragedies of our judicial system. The outlook may seem grim, but Stephenson’s spiritual faith guides his life and allows him to show compassion to convicted children, mentally ill, and wrongly accused individuals. I recommend this read to anyone living in America.
Audible	Eunice: The Kennedy Who Change the World by Eileen McNamara, Non-Fiction/Biography	3	I loved this book so much that now if someone were to ask the ever-popular dinner conversation question, “who from the past would I like to have over for a dinner party,” that Eunice Shriver would make my list! I didn’t rate this book all that high because it was a bit dry and long. Listening to it on audible helped because I was able to increase the pace. Had this been written by Eunice herself, I have no doubt that the book would have been rated a 5. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys learning more about the Kennedy family or wants an example of no-nonsense, get-things-done woman who has had a great impact on our world.
Audible	Kind Is the New Classy by Candace Cameron Bure, Memoir/Religious Opinion	3	Candace Cameron Bure is the cutest. She is straight forward and true to herself. This book shows her perspective on being empathetic and always choosing to show kindness which she lovingly refers to as ‘classy.’ I recommend this read to Christian women and any Full House fans who still adore DJ Tanner.
Audible	The Magic Tree House Collection: Books 1-8 by Mary Pope Osborne, Fictional Children’s Books	4	I’m listening to The Magic Tree House series in the car with my kids (4 and 5-year-old boys). It is a hit! I want nothing more than for my kids to have a love a reading. Enjoying these books together as a family on our commute home after school or on a long road trip makes the time fly by and gives us something to explore together. I’m so happy these books can be purchased in bundles on Audible! Each book is ten chapters and about an hour long.
Audible	The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey, Non-Fiction/Self-Improvement	4	Dave Ramsey is a straight shooter. This was a quick listen and I personally enjoyed how direct he is with the plan to get out of debt. He brakes it down in manageable steps and reinforces there is not an ‘easy’ way out. In a time when purchases are as easy as liking a social media post or waving your phone in front of a scanner this book can really help anyone who struggles with their personal finances. Anyone who struggles with money – managing it, emotionally understanding it, or overspending it – should read this!

My Reading List: 2018 July Books

I was able to complete 6 books in July. I wanted to get in 7 or 8 but that didn’t happen. I did read several really awesome books this month. If you are looking for recommendations and interested in prioritizing your reads, here is how I would stack rank them:

1. Carry On
2. Hillbilly Elegy
3. Home Front
4. Unglued
5. The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi
6. I’ve Been Thinking

2018 July	Title, Author, Genre	Rating	Notes
Kindle	Home Front by Kristin Hannah, Fiction	5	I love Kristin Hannah’s books and this one did not disappoint. I finished it on Independence Day which seemed appropriate. While the primary theme in the book is about two married people falling back in love, there are other major themes dealing with modern war, family, and raising young children and pre-teens. It would make an excellent book club read because there are so many conversations that this book evokes. A must read for anyone who has military family/friends, curious about PTSD, or enjoys a page-turner.
Audible	I’ve Been Thinking: Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life by Maria Shriver, Self-Help	3	This makes for a quick easy listen. If you are short on time to listen to books then give this one a try! The way this book is written allows you to easily complete full chapters in small time segments. It is written as if it were meant for audible – sound bites. I wish Shriver would have shared more about her personal struggles but overall, she was encouraging which I believe was her intent with this book. I recommend for the working, God-loving woman.
Kindle	Carry On: A Story of Resilience, Redemption, and an Unlikely Family by Lisa Fenn, Memoir	5	Who doesn’t love a sports story that ends in a ‘win’? This book will make you stop and recognize all your blessings and encourage you that a little effort of giving back can make a difference. This true story is fascinating because of the optimism and bond of two handicapped young men. Fenn explains her journey into understanding their world and becoming their support system as they are launched into adulthood. The themes worth discussing in this book are endless. This is a must read for anyone with a pulse – sports enthusiast or not.
Audible	Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance, Memoir	5	Poverty is a real issue that is hard to understand when you are not truly experiencing it. I loved Vance’s description of his own experience and how he overcame it. He challenges one’s perception of poverty which is worth the exploration. Vance provokes the analysis of poverty – why it is hard to overcome, unprejudiced, and influenced by geography. I recommend for all.
Audible	The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Rabbi Jason Sobel and Kathie Lee Gifford, Christian, Travel	3	Gifford retells her journey to Israel and explores the Bible’s meaning through the Hebrew culture. I liked listening to this book because it was read by the authors and the passion in the message could be felt. I struggled with focusing at some points because of the depth of understanding one may need about the Bible to entirely stay engaged. Regardless, I found this book intriguing and I overall enjoyed it. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in history, Jesus, and understanding the genesis of the stories in the Bible.
Paperback	Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa Terkeurst, Christian, Self-Help	4	This book struck a chord with me as a woman, mother, friend, and spouse. The only reason I am not giving it a 5 is because I think men would not relate to the emotions explored in this book. I most enjoyed the actionable steps Terkeurst gives to help overcome the struggle of letting our emotions get the best of us. She shares scripture, science, and her own personal experiences to encourage a healthier and more productive response rather than ‘stuffing’ or ‘exploding.’ A Christian woman who wants to handle her raw emotions with integrity would enjoy this read.

My Reading List: 2018 June Books

When I finished graduate school, I told myself I was going to do a lot more personal reading. I did so much research and reading while in school. As a young child I used to devour fiction books. So why was it so hard as a young adult to read? I struggled with this for years until I discovered audio books. Once I started listening to audio books it made me more eager to read more books.

About two years ago my role at my company changed which meant I’d be on the road driving more. For long drives, I would download and listen to books. Then I began listening to books as I ran. I started training for a half marathon and as my runs got longer I had more time to listen to books. When my role at my company changed a year later, I found myself using audio books to slow down my walks with my dog or pass the time with monotonous chores like folding laundry.

Of course, when you read more books, you tend to bring them up in conversation. My husband would always declare, “You didn’t read that book. You listened to that book.” This statement of course led to our debate over how to refer to the way I took in a book. We debated words like absorb, digest, and take in, and eventually landed on consume as the winner. I prefer consumed because you can ‘consume’ a book by reading or listening.

Consistently for the past several years, I am consuming about 2-3 books at a time. I do so by departmentalizing my books in the following way:

Audible – I use while driving, walking, or doing chores when I’m home alone. I consume all types of books through audible – fiction and non-fiction. However, I tend to be able to actually complete non-fiction books with the use of audible versus when I try to physically read non-fiction. My favorites are the audio books read by the author.
Kindle – I use at night in bed. I typically read fiction (historical fiction is my favorite) and autobiographies. I love my kindle because it does not require a light to enjoy so it is not disruptive to others in my environment. Kindle books are great for night time drives when you are the passenger in the car or on airplanes! At times it takes me longer to finish reading on my Kindle because of the need for sleep.
Paperback – this is more random but tends to be books that have been loaned to me or more discipline-type of books that would traditionally fall into the ‘self-help’ category – professional development or personal/spiritual development. I typically read these in the morning if I’m eating breakfast alone or before I start my workday. These are great to bring along on errands if I know I will be waiting on an appointment. I like to underline and make notes in these types of books to refer back to at times.

Since I enjoy reading and I have a goal to read more books this year than what I read last year, I thought I would share what I finish reading each month.

By no means am I a book critic, but I generally have opinions on most of my reads. My goal is to share the book title, how I ‘consumed’ the book, a bit of what the book is about, what I enjoyed, and who I think may also appreciate the read.

I’ll include my opinion in the form of a numerical 1-5 rating system as well:

1 – I rarely give a book a one. This would indicate that I did not finish it or absolutely did not enjoy or find value in the book.

2 – I struggled to complete the book. A two means that I can see why some may value the read but I personally did not enjoy or value the book.

3 – A three is tricky for me. I finished the book and found it just okay. It means that I may have had a difficult time initially getting into the book, parts of the book, or understanding a character. Perhaps the theme did not dig in deep enough to convey a strong opinion, emotion, or capture the intended purpose of the author.

4 – I get it and genuinely like it. I think others will find value or pleasure in the book because of the story, characters, or message.

5 – I LOVE the book. I believe almost anyone would enjoy this book as well. If you are similar to me then I believe you will LOVE the book as well.

So here are the books that I completed in June:

2018 June	Title, Author, Genre	Rating	Notes
Kindle	We Were the Lucky Ones, by Georgia Hunter, Historical Fiction	5	One of the best WWII books I’ve read because the ending is heartwarming. This book follows a family’s journey through surviving WWII. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a historical novel to devour quickly – great for a long trip, leisure, and the daily read.
Audible	No One Ever Asked, by Katie Ganshert, Historical Fiction	4	I had a difficult time getting into this book originally, but after reading a few chapters I began to better relate to the characters. This is a modern take on racism and prejudice based in today’s time. I loved that this book looks at everyday life and the various perspectives of individuals experiencing racism. I recommend this book for mothers, young adult women, and anyone who lives in a town where there are clear socio-economic divides.
Audible	We’re Going to Need More Wine for This, by Gabrielle Union, Memoir	4	An unexpected memoir that looks at how growing up as a minority in an affluent neighborhood impacted Gabrielle Union’s life. Throughout her account of her own personal experiences she digs deep into issues of racism, post-traumatic stress, infidelity, and perfectionism. Union’s vulnerability is learned as she experiences life. The rawness of her story makes the reader feel like you are in Union’s inner-circle having a glass of wine and deep conversations.
Audible	Kick Ass with Mel Robbins, by Mel Robbins, Self-Help	3	Real people experience real coaching sessions with Mel Robbins. Robbins helps the individuals dig into deep issues to realize why they are ‘stuck.’ The book forces you to consider alternative perspectives to you own struggles by examining another person’s. This book is for anyone who doesn’t want to feel alone in their struggle and wants to dig into their own personal roadblocks that keep you from moving forward.
Audible	Girl Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis, Self-Help/Memoir	2	This book is on quite a few of my own personal friend’s reading list. They raved about it. I however found it okay. The first half of the book felt a little surface level to me. I enjoyed Hollis’ vulnerability when she dug into some of her greater challenges in life, but that doesn’t happen until the second half of the book. A young working Christian mother would enjoy this book.

Amanda Ray