My whole life I have never really been a reader. Growing up I struggled with reading and it was something that never came easy to me. I would read books for school and occasionally I would read something like Harry Potter or a comic book, but that was pretty rare. In college I don't think I ever got through one text book. I always envied those that read a lot. I wanted so bad to be a reader. When I was working on my bachelors degree I always told myself that once I graduated I would start reading, and when the time finally came I was put to the test. It probably took a good 4 or 5 months before I really started reading, but I did it. So about a year and half later I'm proud to say that I'm finally a reader! I'm still pretty slow at reading and it takes me a while to get through a book, but I've come to find a great passion in reading. (You can read more about my journey to become a reader here) Every year since I started a blog I've always shared my favorite movies I watched from the previous year (which you can see 2015's picks here) but now I'm excited to finally share my favorite books that I read this past year!
10. The $100 Start Up
Author: Chris Guillebeau
This book was a really fun and easy read, full of really cool business ideas. I had never really thought too much about the possibilities of small, microbusinesses before. This book really helped me get my creative juices flowing. There are lots of great little nuggets of information in this book that are both applicable and interesting.
9. The Power of Habit
Author: Charles Duhigg
I loved how this book literally breaks down what habits are, how they work, and how they dictate almost every thing we do. It presents all of it's information through interesting case studies about habit formation. It also does a great job at helping you recognize your habits, how to create good habits and how to break bad ones. It does this all by telling real life stories.
8. 10% Happier
Author Dan: Harris
Before reading this book I had no idea who Dan Harris was and I didn't really know anything about meditation. The only reason I decided to give it go was because a friend recommended it to me (and it also has a pretty catchy title), but I loved it. Dan Harris's personal story and his introduction to mediation was super interesting. I also loved learning about something that seemed so foreign and different to me. Mediating is something I've done on and off since first reading this book but it was here that I really first gained my introduction to mediation.
7. Getting to Yes
Author: William Ury
When Taylor I moved back to Arizona from Utah in April of last year I was tasked with driving our moving truck back alone, but this book kept me company. It was a really fun and inspiring book about how to overcome internal and external conflicts. I love how it goes into detail about before resolving problems with others we need to address the problems inside of us first. It's filled with a ton of great stories and cool ideas.
6. Essentialism
Author: Greg McKeown
It wasn't until I read this book that I realized how cluttered and unfocused my life can be sometimes. This is an excellent book about why it's important to simplify our lives. It's filled with great stories and insights and has a lot of great application. The thing I liked most about it though is that it's one of the first books I've read that stays focused on one topic and keeps that one topic interesting.
5. The Morning Miracle
Author: Hal Elrod
This is a tremendous self help book that outlines 6 practical things to help live to a more balanced and fulfilled life. Unlike other self help books though this book actually has great application. Everything
4. Real Love in Marriage
Author: Gref Baer
This is an amazing book about how to have great relationships. It helped changed the way I view my marriage and relationships. Some of things this book address is how to help your spouse and also how to help your spouse understand you. Another thing this book addresses is how to receive love when you feel like it may be lacking in your life.
3. The Hiding Place
Author: Corrie Ten Boom
This is one of the most inspiring stories true I have ever read. This is a book that makes your soul ache but at the same time inspires and uplifts. There are so many great things to learn and discuss in this book. I loved reading about Corrie Ten Boom experience of finding God and meaning even in extreme and difficult situations, like a concentration camp. This story is living proof that bad things still happen to good people, but that doesn't mean that good thinks don't happen either.
2. Man's Search for Meaning
Author: Victor Frankl
This is another book that had a profound impact on my life this year. Like Corrie TenBoom from The Hiding Place, I find it incredible that someone can go through something as excruciating as a Nazi concentration camp and come out finding meaning and gratitude. This book really helped me better understand what it means to have a purpose and meaning in life. No matter what happens around us we can always find meaning.
1. The Power of Vulnerability
Author: Brene Brown
2015 introduced me to one of my favorite author's/speakers, Brene Brown. I chose this over two of her other books I read this year (The Gifts of Imperfection and Daring Greatly, which easily could of made my list as well) because it encompasses pretty much everything she talks about. In this book Brene Brown fleshes out topics such as vulnerability, connection, shame, belonging, authenticity, and she helped me realize why these are important things we should be discussing. She shares a lot of important stories and interesting research to back up what she's teaching. Her work more than any other this year really helped me understand myself better and help give me a better sense of purpose and reason to life.
Here are some of the books I plan on reading this year!
The Four Hour Work Week
by: Tim Ferris
Rising Strong
by: Brene Brown
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
by: Robert Kiyosaki
The Bonds That Make Us Free
by: C. Terry Warner
The One Thing
by: Gary W. Keller & Jay Papasan
The Art of Work
by: Jeff Goins
The Psychology of Superheroes
by: Robin Rosenberg
So what were some of your favorite books that you read this last year? And what books do you look forward to reading? Have any good recommendations?
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