Earlier this year, I set a goal to read 20 books by year’s end. Due to a job change at the halfway mark of this year—a job where reviewing books was a small part of the job description—I was able to finish 22 books. As this was the first year I actually kept track of the ones I finished (with the help of GoodReads), I have no way to compare this number to any other years in my life, but at least it gives me a baseline for the years to come.
How many books did you read this year?
While I feel that a Top 10 books list is somewhat wanting when taken from a field of only 22, there are reads here that should definitely be included on your to-read list.
10. Never Let Me Go
I read Never Let Me Go as a result of 101books.net. It’s an interesting story from the perspective of a clone built solely for organ donations, but I didn’t see how or why it was included on Time‘s Top 100 list. Did I miss the deeper meaning? Or was I just put off by the writing style? I’m still not sure.
9. Quitter
Quitter arrived at an interesting point in my life. I had already done what Acuff says not to do—namely, quit your day job to pursue your dream job without having another job lined up, though I’d argue that circumstances dictated my particular route, and I didn’t quit to pursue my dream job, although that’s what eventually happened.
Fortunately, just as my savings were depleted, I was given the opportunity to write for a law firm. A good friend met Jon at a book signing and picked up the book for me (and had it signed). A few months later I actually landed my dream job and in some strange way, I’d been doing what Acuff recommends for years, i.e. working toward that goal by pursuing writing (or art or music or whatever it is that makes you think, “If only someone would pay me to do this, then I’d never work again.”) during my non-work time. If you’re in that spot where you’ve spent too much time doing things you only tolerate, Quitter may be the book to help you realistically dream about a better tomorrow.
8. Decision Points
I wouldn’t call myself a particularly political person, but I had to read about some of the transformative world events that occurred over the last decade, especially from the vantage point of one who was in the absolute middle of it all. Decision Points was fascinating and caused my respect for any sitting President to increase all the more.
7. The Hunger Games
From time to time, I’m a latecomer to the newest craze, a slow runner trying to catch up to an overflowing bandwagon. I didn’t read the Harry Potter series until right before the last book was released. Both then and now, I’m glad to have hopped aboard, especially with the imminent release of the movies. The books are easy to read, engrossing enough, and have just the right amount of Ender’s Game kids-as-killers to be subversively enticing.
6. Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer
Ever since Celebration of Discipline, I’ve been a fan of Richard Foster’s engaging style and practical thoughts on spirituality. Sanctuary delves into the practice of meditative prayer, something I need to learn to incorporate into my own life instead of just replying @God with 140-character prayers. I reviewed Sanctuary of the Soul for FaithVillage. read more
While the advice is worthwhile, I find it difficult to believe that the characters in the book would change their lives so drastically based on reason alone, as if one encounter with a wise man who finally speaks truth into their lives will change years of bad habits. I believe it can happen; I just don’t believe it happens all that often. However, should someone in a like situation to those found in the book read The Noticer, they might in fact be motivated to change. Or at least think about changing. Which is forward progress, even if it’s barely… noticeable.
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