Before 2013 fades away into nothing but memories, I wanted to share some of the books that were my favorites among those I read this past year. It felt like I read the least this year that I ever have, but I still managed to squeak in about 23 books. 🙂 Here are a few I really enjoyed:
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp: This book was a life-changer. It opened my eyes to the benefits of practicing everyday gratitude and noticing the thousands of little (and big) ways God shows His love for us each day.
Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath: This book was both entertaining and informational. I think it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to communicate ideas in a memorable way.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: A co-worker loaned me this book and I really enjoyed it. Written in the form of letters to and from an author and several other people, it takes place just post-World War Two and chronicles the tales of a group of people on tiny Guernsey island during and after the war. It reminded me somewhat of an L.M. Montgomery book.
The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews: While I didn’t necessarily agree with everything in this book, one of the principles for success the author shared really changed the way I think and has lessened my level of frustration in life quite a bit. The principle was this: The buck stops here. Take responsibility for your actions and choices. Yes, other people have an affect on your life and will cause problems for you at times, but you still have a choice as to how you will respond. Don’t look back at what went wrong, look forward at how to fix the problem.
Forever Faithful Trilogy and Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury: Karen Kingsbury takes the challenging situations of life and shows how God can work through them for our good and His glory, which is what I appreciate most about her writing.
The Negotiator by Dee Henderson: This was my first Dee Henderson book, and I really liked it. It was a well-researched (at least to my limited knowledge it seemed so) book with some suspense and some romance, and she did a good job of presenting the Gospel clearly.
Jesus Lives by Sarah Young: My friends gave me this devotional book last year for Christmas. The devotionals were so encouraging and uplifting, written as if it were Jesus talking directly to you. I highly recommend it!
So there you have it. Some of my favorite books from 2013.
What did you read in 2013? Did you discover any new favorites?
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