Favorite Non-Fiction books I read in 2018

Good morning lovelies!

 One of my favorite things at the end of the year is going over all the books I read and seeing what I liked and disliked. I enjoy seeing the books others recommend and thought I’d share with you some of the books from my list this year that I think are worth checking out. I did a lot of reading this year in how to love well, show up, use my voice, and how being a woman in faith looks. Let me know if you read any of these and what you think! I’m also always down for recommendations, my goodreads account is brimming to overflowing with them!

Top 10 Non Fiction, Top 5 are I believe must reads.

1. Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron: This was recommended to me by my best friend, as a way to cultivate your creative self. I am already a creative person, but this helped me peel back layers of dreams, ideas, and how to set up my day for intentional growth and feeding my inner artist. The biggest takeaways were Morning Pages and Artist Dates. I did it I September, it’s a 12 week workbook, and planning on doing part two this month. I’ve already given away about four copies. You won’t regret this, but you have to follow through to the end.

2. Dare to Lead by Dr. Brené Brown: This is a more technical book from the ones she has written before but it blew me away. To be honest, I had to take my time with this, every page has a new thing to learn, or way to interact with those around you. If you find yourself in a leadership position or ever talking with humans this book is a great read. If you want a more accessible book, check out Rising Strong, or Braving the Wilderness both books that also had me crying and learning new tools in vulnerablility, communication, and understanding. I cannot recommend her work enough, read at least one of her books she has written in the last six years and you will come out the otherside a more well rounded aware person.

3. Love Does by Bob Goff: Wow, talk about expansive love that is outrageous at times but makes you smile and wonder how you are loving and showing up for those around you. Where is the whimsy and wonder in your life? Stories intertwined with God’s love for us, this is a fun engaging read that will make you laugh and cry and wonder how you can bring more light to the world around you.

4. 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell: This was recommended by Rachel and Dave Hollis, I listened to it on audio book but eventually I need to get myself a hard backed version of this, because as I was listening I’d pull out my phone and take notes. Don’t rent from the library, you’re going to want to highlight and tab. Great and useful hands on tips for taking a hold of your life and listening and paying attention to where God wants to take it, and how to utilize yourself to the best of your capabilities. Accessible wherever you are at in your life, or faith as long as this is something you want to learn, because he does get in depth.

5. Girl Wash your Face by Rachel Hollis: I feel like this has been one of the most talked about books of the year. But I thought it lived up to it’s potential. The book is laid out in lies we believe and the truths we need to know, mixed with her stories, it’s a great gut check of a book of what are you doing, why, and how are you using your time to do that. I also audio booked this, and bought the hard back shortly after to pass around our Red Tent. Her facebook and instagram are also chock full of good ideas, and inspiration to get your goals done.

6. Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker: If you don’t want to ask God hard questions, pry don’t open this book. A deep searching of how we as a church can be missing the point, but especially us as solo Christ followers, and how our individual lives look. This follows her journey, but gives you space, and encouragement to seek God out in new and deeper waves. This one hit me in my core. I also audio booked this one.

7. Raise your Voice by Kathy Khang: I have a feeling we will be seeing and hearing more from Kathy in the next few years. This book opens your eyes to not only how you speak up in the world but how you use your voice. As a Korean-American she shares her experience of how her voice has been heard and silenced throughout the years and her work in reclaiming it and our role to play in making sure those who don’t have voices that are often heard can speak up. There are questions at the end of each chapter, I audio booked it, so I missed many of the questions, so rent this one from your library so you can dig deeper!

8. I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a world made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown: With everything currently happening in our landscape I have been more focused on listening to those I might miss. This book highlights some of the major racial injustices currently happening, and how the past is rippling through our world today. It’s a hard read, but it is good. SO so good. I book read it, but I think it would be equally good in an audio book form. Prepare for your heart to be touched and changed.

9. Seven by Jen Hatmaker:  I listened to the audio book with my husband on a road trip, and he loved it as much as me. This book goes through her journey of eliminating excess and refocusing on God. Instead of making you feel guilty, this book brings awareness on how you can use what you have to better serve God, and that stripping down the things you own, and how large our lives can be as Americans, we can lose sight of the real life going around us. She goes through 7 categories, Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. It’s eye opening, and worth the listen.

10. Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans:
A really great book if you are wrestling with faith, or the church and want to hear someone else's honest story. Helpful to know that your frustrations with your own doubts, or questions are not the only ones. Beautiful and a salve for the soul. I read it, but it would be an easy audio book to listen to while you work or drive.

Non-Fiction Books I also enjoyed in 2018:

Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey

The Turquoise Table by Kristin Shell

Everybody Always by Bob Goff

A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans

Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton

An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor

When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd

A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian D. McLaren

Thank you for reading! Let me know if you read any of these, or have plans to! I always love talking about books, and diving into good ones! What are your book goals for 2019! I’m aiming for 45! We’ll see!

Sing your soul song lovelies,

Aj