My 2022 Q2 Reading List
It's that time again!!
I'm truly excited to share my reads from the last three months…
I read some great books!!
I took the last three months to mostly read books that I really wanted to read, not books that I felt like I had to read or was obligated to read – and wheewwww, such a good decision!
As I shared with you in my Q1 reading list, I stopped rating the books that I read because what I found to be personally life-giving may not be what you need most in this season. That said, there are several on this list that I will absolutely read again and highly recommend – 18, 21, 22, and 30.
On to the list… in order as read…
2022 Book 18: So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore
I don't know of a woman alive who wouldn't benefit from Beth's wisdom and transparency (for that matter, quite a few men would as well). We need our dignity back, and Beth provides the insights and guidance to make that a reality. Chapter 9 is deeply comforting and soothing.
2022 Book 19: A Kids Book about Anger by Fabian Ramirez
An extended family member who grew up in eastern Europe came to visit the USA for the first time a few years ago. His main comment about this country was how hostile everyone seemed to be. Yep – hostile. I feel it. Every time I drive anywhere in Austin, every time I'm in Costco, every time I'm waiting to park at the UPS store, every time I go on Twitter or TikTok. This is a kids book that really needs to be read by most American adults.
2022 Book 20: Find Your People by Jennie Allen
We've tricked ourselves into believing that we can make it through this life on our own. If you don't have a BFF or two who you can AND will call when the going gets tough, read this book.
2022 Book 21: Waymaker by Ann Voskamp
We live in a world that tells us that self-centeredness, selfishness is what will bring us joy and happiness – focus on yourself above all else. Ann shows us a world where selflessness, sacrifice, and suffering are the paths to true love, joy, peace, and happiness. As with two of her other books (One Thousand Gifts and The Broken Way) this will be a book I re-read regularly – truly life-giving.
2022 Book 22: Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller
Dr. Keller says that we take “good things” – things like money, sex, power, achievement, freedom, and strength – and turn them into “ultimate things.” Meaning that we place our identity, our security, our fulfillment, our safety, our significance in these good things, thinking they are our reason for being. Like Ann Voskamp's perspective, the antidote is self-forgetfulness – moving to a place of living simply, humbly, and sacrificially with a servant's mindset, where the good things stay good and don't become ultimate. I place this book in the category of revolutionary – if we lived this way, we would literally see our world changed for the better.
2022 Book 23: Forged in Crisis by Nancy Koehn, Ph.D.
Purpose. Integrity. Resilience. Thoughtfulness. Selflessness. Commitment. Courage. All characteristics of the five people Dr. Koehn brings to us – each one a true world-changer. These are the types of people we should be learning from and modeling our leadership after.
2022 Book 24: The Complete Enneagram by Beatrice Chestnut, Ph.D.
I've read several great books about the Enneagram, and this is the first one to really help me understand 'The Passions'. When I first took the Enneagram assessment and worked with a certified coach, everything indicated that I was a 5, but about 2 years after doing that work, and reading Ian Cron's book, I discovered that I'm actually a 1. BUT, I've really struggled to understand my “oneness” because although I have some perfectionistic traits, I also have big components of myself that are definitely not oriented to perfection. Dr. Chestnut's deep dive into The Passions helped me to sort it out and realize that I'm actually the Reformer style of a one and not the Perfectionist style. Her book is massive, but also massively helpful.
2022 Book 25: Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
There are quite a few 'life design' or 'life plan' frameworks that are good and helpful, including the one by my former employer, Building Champions.
What I most appreciated about Bill & Dave's approach is that it guides you through the process of identifying and addressing your “dysfunctional beliefs” (I call them “limiting beliefs” in my coaching), as well as helps generate ideas when your ideation capabilities have been impacted by your limiting beliefs. This is a helpful book for those who are feeling stuck in some aspect of life.
2022 Book 26: 339 Questions Jesus Asked by Bob Tiede
Questions help us learn. They help us to see things we may have otherwise missed. They help us question our assumptions. Bob provides a wonderful resource that can certainly help us learn, at the very least, what Jesus saw important for us to know.
2022 Book 27: Little Book of Big Leading with Questions Quotes by Bob Tiede
Asking and listening. Are you asking good questions? And then actively listening for what's really being said? Asking good, thoughtful questions is a learned behavior, as is being a good, active listener. Bob's book provides some great questions that will get you thinking, as well as help you to be a better question asker and better listener.
2022 Book 28: Hired Happens! by Jodie Boggess
This one is for all the parents of high schoolers and college students! Jodie is masterful at helping young people prepare for their careers! Is your kiddo not sure what to study in college or not sure how to find an internship or not sure how to prepare for job interviews?? Jodie and her guide are your absolute best starting place for all of those and more.
2022 Book 29: Praying Circles Around Your Marriage by Joel & Nina Schmidgall and Mark Batterson
Those of us who are married or have been married know that marriage should come with a warning label. It's hard! Sacrificing your desires and wants is not something that any of us do well. But as Joel and Nina point out, the best marriages, the happiest marriages are the result of daily moving from selfishness to selflessness.
2022 Book 30: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
I've read most of Brené's books and this one is still my favorite – it was birthed out of a painful season in her life and is full of good, simple, and practical insights. I will continue to re-read this one regularly.
2022 Book 31: 7 Women by Eric Metaxas
Earlier this year I read one of the best biographies that I've ever read (see #12 from my Q1 list), so I had to check out more by Eric and was led to this one with tremendous stories about Joan of Arc, Mother Teresa, Corrie ten Boom, Rosa Parks, and 3 other courageous women. Inspiring and motivating for sure!
2022 Book 32: Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch
It took me over a year to read this Pulitzer Prize winning book – not because it was bad but because it was so rich in historical detail (and over 1000 pages!). Sadly, I didn't know much about the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s before reading this book. It was eye-opening and heartbreaking! I do have to say that I am completely floored that this book, and the two others in the trilogy that covers 'the King years', were written by a white man who was a boy during those years – the respect, empathy, compassion, dignity, humility, and honor from and with which he writes are characteristics that we could all exhibit more of right now.
So, there's the Q2 list! Thanks for letting me share them with you!
If none of these appeal to you, all my reading lists from 2014-2022 are posted here. Or maybe one of the 7 books that literally transformed my life is more of what you need right now.
As always, please share your must-reads with me!!
Happy reading!
