Favourite Books Of 2022

Throughout 2022 my reading time was again limited primarily to small periods of free time between other commitments. Nevertheless, by regularly making use of seemingly insignificant stretches of time I completed a satisfactory number of books throughout the year. Below I'll highlight a few of my favourites.

Elisha: A Prophet for Our Times

By F. W. Krummacher

This one read a lot like Pink's Elijah which I had enjoyed not too long before finding this. I appreciated the expository style and the application relevant for readers today. There is still so much for us to learn and grow from and be encouraged by through the life of the biblical prophet Elisha, if only we'll take the time to do so.

Dumbing Us Down -25th Anniversary Edition: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling - 25th Anniversary Edition

By John Taylor Gatto

Written from the author's experience and observations as an American public school teacher, this book isn't for the faint of heart. With startling honesty and directness, John Taylor Gatto shares some of the problems inherent in the structure of the institutionalised school system as we know it. For those looking for a way to more clearly articulate their objections to mass schooling, or wondering why we can't just reform the curriculum, this book is the answer. Definitely one of my favourite reads for the year.

Fighting for Life: Becoming a Force for Change in a Wounded World

By Lila Rose

Ever since I became aware of Lila Rose and her work I've admired her. I was excited when I learned she was writing a book, and it didn't disappoint! Fighting for Life doubles as both the story of Lila's own journey, and as a guide for those who dream of following in her footsteps and Becoming a Force for Change in a Wounded World. From filming undercover in Planned Parenthood clinics all over America, to founding Live Action, America's largest pro-life organisation, and becoming one of the world's leading pro-life voices, Lila already has a pretty incredible life story. It was fascinating learning how she first got started on the journey, and how she got her plans underway before any of the support or connections afforded by a large organisation.

You're Not Enough (and That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love

By Allie Beth Stuckey

In this countercultural work, well-known conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey counters popular lies of self-love culture with the truth. Despite constant messaging that we're enough just as we are, deep down we all sense that really, we aren't enough. And Allie's here to tell us that actually, that's okay, because God is enough. If you're looking for the solution to your inadequacy and insecurity, this book is here to help you find it. 

This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years

By Jaquelle Crowe

I was really impressed to see a modern, young author writing with such calibre when I read this book. As a teenager, Jaquelle penned this excellent work with skill, wisdom, and sound theology. This Changes Everything is all about how the gospel transforms our whole life in every area. I'll be grabbing a few extra copies to have on hand for when I need a teen gift.

Love Riot: A Teenage Call to Live with Relentless Abandon for Christ

By Sara Barratt

Sara Barratt has caught a vision for living all-in for Christ, and she's here to share it. There's no "Sunday Christianity" here, no quick ticking off the Christian to-do list -- attend church? Done; share a Bible verse on social media? Done; youth group? Done.--and then live the rest of the week as though none of that was relevant to the rest of life. Sara's here to challenge readers to a higher standard; to a life lived all-in for Christ, in every area and no matter the cost. 

The Right Kind of Strong: Surprisingly Simple Habits of a Spiritually Strong Woman

By Mary Kassian

Being a "strong woman" isn't necessarily a bad thing, in fact, it could be a very good thing. It really depends on whether that's culture's idea of strong, or God's idea. In The Right Kind of Strong, Mary Kassian uses 2 Timothy to identify simple habits that help women become truly strong, as God defines it.

Those are my favourite titles from my 2022 reading list, and I look forward to enjoying many more great works throughout 2023 and beyond. I think my "Books I Want to Read" list is growing faster than my "Books I Have Read" list! 

Favourite Reads of 2021

Looking back, I am surprised at how many books I actually managed to complete last year. Intentionally using brief moments of free time, such as breaks at work, to read a few paragraphs here and there certainly paid off! I covered a variety of topics; some of them recent publications and others much older. I read some books that were recommended to me, some that I had wanted to read for quite some time, and some that I came across and just looked interesting. I focused more on variety than on material I would love, and accordingly fewer made it to my favourites list. There were some that I found well worth the time though, and I'll highlight them here.

If you love the sound of these books you can click on their pictures to purchase your own copies.

The Power in Prayer

By Charles Spurgeon

Perhaps the greatest power available to us today is accessible through prayer. But while most of us agree prayer is important, few of us actually have vibrant prayer lives, marked by unceasing, passionate, and answered prayer. In this excellent book, Spurgeon helps us rediscover a love for prayer. Sharing God's promise to hear our prayers and teaching us how to pray, he leaves readers inspired to improve their own efforts and equipped to do so. An excellent resource for every believer.

Blackout: How Black America Can Make Its Second Escape from the Democrat Plantation

By Candace Owens

Political commentator and founder of #Blexit, Candace Owens shares with readers her journey from lifetime Democrat voter to the political right, and some of the research that led her to shift. Candace presents such intelligent and well-researched arguments in this book that I absolutely loved reading it! This is so worth reading for people of any colour; I passed it around my family as soon as I was done with it and I absolutely encourage everyone to get hold of a copy to enjoy a well!

Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life

By Anne Bogel

This was an interesting one. The author and I disagree strongly on several things so there were a few parts that really grated on me. More pleasantly, it also helped explain why I can sometimes make big decisions very quickly but get stuck with indecision on relatively small things. (I love it when things make sense, and this gave me an ah-huh moment.) I've also taken away some strategies for future decision-making, which is simplifying life and I'm grateful for that. If you'd like to spend more time doing and less time just thinking (and re-thinking) all the possibilities, this might be worth checking out.

One Woman Against the Reich: The True Story of A Mother's Struggle to Keep Her Family Faithful to God in a World Gone Mad

By Helmut W. Ziefle

The youngest of the family, Helmut writes of his family's experiences during World War II. Usually when researching WWII we focus on the horror stories: the Jews slaughtered or those who hid them hauled off to concentration camps. However, this book gives a fascinating glimpse into the life of an "ordinary" German family, just trying to keep going as best they could while war raged on around them. When Hitler's commands opposed God's, who would they follow? This is an inspiring, true story of hope and conviction.

Undaunted: Daring to Do What God Calls You to Do

By Christine Caine

I'm always intrigued to discover the life stories of people who accomplish incredible things. Tackling the huge, international problem of human trafficking and founding a major anti-trafficking agency is a pretty daunting challenge. How did Christine find the strength to do it? This book weaves together Christine's story and truths we can apply in our own lives too.

Read my full review here: Undaunted || Book Review

An updated version of this book is available cheaper here: Undaunted: Daring to Do What God Calls You to Do

Rescuing Ruby

By Linny Lee Saunders

Rescuing Ruby is an incredible, real life story of a little girl born in Uganda who was abused horrifically and left to die in the burning sun, but instead lived on to do what doctors said would be impossible. Today she's a joyful little girl in a loving family with lots of adopted brothers and sisters. Ruby's story gives us a powerful glimpse of what becomes possible if we put our own fears, ease, and comfort aside to depend of God and follow His incredible plans for us.

Read my full review here: Rescuing Ruby || Book Review

The Life of Elijah

By A. W. Pink

Pastor and Bible Teacher Arthur W. Pink walks readers through the life of the prophet Elijah, sharing many lessons that are still so relevant and important for the Church today. This book is absolutely packed with truth and I just loved reading it.

The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer

By Joel Salatin

There are the farms we all grew up with in picture books: haystacks, baskets of eggs, and a rooster crowing good morning. And then there are the modern-day industrial farms: huge sheds, endless chemicals, and oh, the stench! But what exactly leads to such differences? This book explains the huge contrast in paradigms, and the incredible joy than can come from farming in a way the industrial food industry describes as lunacy. A hilarious, inspiring, and empowering read.

Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity

By Alisa Childers

Whether you've heard the term "Progressive Christianity" before or not, you will have come across its claims at some stage. Progressive Christianity is quickly becoming widespread, and we should be ready to tackle it with the truth. Alisa's journey of deconstruction followed by reconstruction demonstrates a refreshing determination to search out the truth, and how doing so can actually lead to a stronger faith. An excellent book that all of us can use to better equip ourselves.

Read my full review here: Another Gospel? || Book Review

ZVI: The Miraculous Story of Triumph Over the Holocaust

By Elwood McQuaid

This really is an incredible story. Can you imagine being a young Jewish boy and finding yourself all alone during the holocaust? That was Zvi's (pronounced Ts-vee) early life. Readers follow along as he tries to survive in a world full of dangers and close calls, witnessing scenes no child should, and somehow, makes it through. Then we follow him to his homeland Israel where he again finds himself alone in unfamiliar surroundings, this time with some level of freedom to build a life for himself. Will the pain of the past be too much, or will he make it through? How?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them I will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I only link to products I've found helpful in my own life and think you will too.

Favourite Reads of 2020

Every year I try to maintain some level of regularity and variety in my literary consumption. Most of the time I have a book or two I'm reading through. Some are read quickly from cover to cover; others are taken a page or two at a time. Some are easy to read, others are heavier going. Some are practical, some are thought-provoking, some are educational, and some are inspiring. Some get passed around the family after I finish them. Some are old, and others are new publications. Let's take a look at some of my favourite titles read throughout 2020.

 

The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

By Timothy Ferriss

I'm almost in two minds about including this one. My worldview is in many ways different from the author's, and I disagree with some of the main premises (such as everybody wanting to reduce or eliminate work as much as possible), BUT there are so many practical suggestions that I find myself implementing and successfully improving my own time management, so I've decided to go ahead and include it. As the title suggests, this book is about learning to finance your life with minimal time spent working. Mostly this is discussed in terms of drop-shipping type start-ups, but there are suggestions relevant to other career paths as well. I particularly appreciated the author's distinction between work and things that only look like work, something I still consider somewhat regularly. If you feel like you're always busy but never really moving forward, this book may provide useful insight.

Next Door Saviour: Near Enough to Touch, Strong Enough to Trust

By Max Lucado

Mum gave me this book and I thought it looked less intellectual than I felt like reading ha! I was right, but once I got into the swing of it, I did end up enjoying it. Max Lucado reminds us of Jesus' humanity, and how He experienced many of the things we do, and can relate to us. Great reminder and encouragement if God feels distant or difficult to talk to.

 

God's Crime Scene: A Cold-Case Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe

By J. Warner Wallace

This book's author, J. Warner Wallace, grew up an atheist. Later in life he decided to apply his training as a cold-case detective to examine the claims of Christianity. This book lays out the results of his examination in a clear and easy to follow format with plenty of illustrations. Such a fascinating read. Highly recommend!

Wrestling Prayer: A Passionate Communion with God

By Eric and Leslie Ludy

Do we just "say a prayer" now and again, or is real prayer a regular part of our lives? What would it take for us to communicate as closely with God as biblical heroes of old? Or to see miracles worked in answer to our prayers? Eric and Leslie Ludy share some biblical principles of prayer that are mostly forgotten in modern culture.

Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us

By Donald Trump Jr.

Plenty of language I'm not fond of used in this to communicate some important concepts we would do well to remember. Also interesting personal anecdotes from the campaign trail and elsewhere. I didn't realise Don Jr. had grandparents in Czechoslovakia and spent childhood summers visiting them there, but he draws some relevant insight from those experiences.

 

Practical Christianity

By Arthur W. Pink

Probably one of the oldest books I had read for a while, Practical Christianity was heavier going and took longer to get into. Once I did though I discovered it to be a treasure trove of information. So good, and so convicting.

The Devil's Nightmare

By Ray Comfort

When it comes to evangelism, God's way works far better than anything flashy and glittery that we can dream up. Funny that.

Unborn. Untold.: True Stories of Abortion and God's Healing Grace

By Ruth Coghill and Sara Davison

I saw this mentioned in a few places and eventually decided to grab myself a copy and see what it was like. So glad I did! This recent publication compiles some absolutely incredible true stories of abortion. Refused by some, chosen by some, survived by some. Powerful and important testimonies that need to be shared. Although heart-wrenching in places, this book is woven through with hope.

The Final Choice: End of Life Suffering - Is Assisted Dying the Answer?

By Caralise Trayes

Kiwi journalist Caralise interviewed a number of people on both sides of the euthanasia debate, in New Zealand and abroad for this book. This is a great resource for learning what's in our new legislation, and what all the debate surrounding its introduction was about.

 

Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done

By Laura Vanderkam

If that subtitle doesn't describe my ideal, I don't know what does. This is relatively quick to read, and another book with practical ideas I'm applying to my own life with success. I've spent more time relaxing and reflecting since I read this, and kept up with demanding commitments and knocked my goals off one by one at the same time. Are you practicing alignment?

Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to do with You

By John MacArthur

Meet the apostles like never before. Who did Jesus choose to continue His ministry? No one we would've selected. This was such an amazing book to read. John MacArthur digs into the gospels and other historical records to find out who these twelve men were, in far greater detail than I've previously been aware of. Interesting, easy to read, and relevant to us today. I came away feeling like I needed to get into the gospels and compare them myself.

It's hard to believe I read some of these titles almost a year ago; they still feel so recent. I enjoyed some pretty amazing books during 2020 and looking over this list brings back good memories. I'm glad I made time to acquire and read all of these.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them I will receive a commission, at no extra cost to you. I only link to products I've found helpful in my own life and think you will too.

2019: Favourite Books

Reading has long been a favourite pastime of mine and it is something I still strive to make time for in my busy schedule because I find it to be a great source of both relaxation and learning. Throughout last year I completed a dozen titles -- significantly fewer than a decade ago, but more carefully chosen and many of them thoroughly enjoyed. I'll share some of my favourites here.

The Walls Are Talking: Former Abortion Clinic Workers Tell Their Stories 

By Abby Johnson with Kristen Detrow 

I've mentioned Abby on my blog before. For a number of years during and after college she worked for Planned Parenthood, working her way up the ranks from volunteer to clinic director. In 2009 she left abruptly, and several years later she set to task of compiling some of her own stories as a Planned Parenthood employee, as well as stories other former PP employees shared of their own experiences. The book is all written in first-person for an easier flow, and reads well. The accounts are raw, real, and horrific. Don't ever defend abortion without reading The Walls Are Talking.

You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir 

By Melissa Ohden

Melissa lived a happy childhood with a loving adoptive family. You Carried Me follows her journey of discovering she was an abortion survivor, the trauma of realising that the very people to give her life had also tried to kill her, and the search for answers and peace. We read of her efforts to locate her birth parents--what a rollercoaster ride! Later we follow Melissa's own journey into parenthood, along with the unique challenges and perspectives such a history brings. This biography puts a face to choice and is both encouraging and thought-provoking.

Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design 

By Stephen C. Meyer

This book is thick and intellectual. If you're wondering how Darwinism stacks up next to modern scientific findings, this is for you. I had read briefly on many of these topics before and enjoyed going deeper.

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place 

By Andy Crouch

I keep a list of books I want to read at some stage, and this one managed to make it onto that list twice! I expected it to be good but wasn't sure how relevant it would be to me. As it turns out, The Tech-Wise Family was both better and more relevant than I expected. Every chapter is short, and is further divided into brief sections, making this book very easy to read in short snatches of time here and there. If you think technology is a great tool but a terrible master, read this for tips to keep it in its place. If you ever feel like technology is more trouble than its worth, read this. If you sometimes reminisce that life was easier before technology became more pervasive, read this. If technology is a regular part of your life, then please read this. I can't recommend it enough.

The Unforgotten Babies: The inspiration behind the Buttons Project

By Marina and Peter Young

This is really a booklet more than a book, but I am going to go ahead and include it anyway. I've met New Zealanders Marina and Peter in person and they're both so lovely. Here, they share their own story and what brought them to begin The Buttons Project. Through their own grief they've searched for answers and hope, and now they're on a quest to help others find hope as well. 

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

By Gregory Koukl

Ever wondered what it takes to be good at conversation? Or how to deal with that person who never answers the question and jumps all over the place when you're trying to discuss something? How to manage a conversation when you don't know everything about a topic? Grab yourself a copy of Tactics and familiarise yourself with the content. So glad I purchased this book. 

Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setback and Difficult People

By Bob Goff

I may or may not have read most of this in one evening. This book is easy to read but also incredibly challenging and inspiring. How should we love those around us? Surely we can pass by that person, right?! Bob challenges us by his own example to love Everybody, Always.

What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings--And Life

By Laura Vanderkam

I don't know about you, but I am always trying to pack more into my life than seems to fit. Although my priorites are different than many of the people surveyed for and discussed in this short book, I was really fascinated by the unique ways they managed to fit everything into their lives--like a mosaic. I had already implemented some of the strategies Laura mentions, but others were new to me. I love her way of organising a balanced life into weekly rather than daily routines; think 168 hours instead of 24. 

Well, how's that? 2/3 of my yearly reading material made it to my favourite list! I enjoyed reading these titles and while some were heavier than others, I look back at the time I spent in them and am content that it was time well spent. 2019 was a good literary year for me, and I am looking forward to exploring more great reading material during 2020.

How about you? Have you read any great books recently? Have you read any of the ones I've listed here?

10 on 10

Wow, yesterday was absolutely PACKED! I knew I wouldn't be home for long so I dutifully carried my camera around with me all day :P 

As it turned out, I didn't have time to stop and artistically capture the craziness of my day, but during brief breaks and things I did manage to record a much more relaxed version of my surroundings lol.

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10 on 10 is a collection of 10 images posted on the 10th of the month, captured the day before. No "special" session, just taking my camera with me as I go about my day and capturing art in everyday life, training my creative eye.

#1

: : Making the most of mandatory work breaks : :

 #2

: : These trees look decidedly less summery than I was trying to make the day : :

#3

: : You might be a homeschooler if your adult life involves more packed lunches than your childhood. : :

 #4

: : Where did all those leaves suddenly appear from? : :

 #5

: : Just some light reading : :

 #6

#7

#8

#9

#10

: : Now that looks like a LOT of biscuits : :

May Memories

: : Behind this scenes at Caleb & Rebecca's Wedding : :
This image and next courtesy Mrs. Paterson 

: : May have had a few nerves :P : :

: : It arrived!! : : 

: : Nature walk : :

: : Just check our driveway for our entire life history : :

: : Coffee to finish the work day : :

: : Laura's first time in my car : :

: : Kind of a lot of garlic : :

: : Let's ignore that I'm in shorts and bare feet please : :

: : Dedication : :

: : Sorry kiddos, that isn't a salad : :

: : Quick shopping trip : :

: : How long will this last? : :