My 2022 Reading List
This year’s reading took me to some phenomenal biographies, quite a few books on anxiety and insecurity, a handful focusing on business and leadership, and numerous self-care and soul care centering on prayer, grief, forgiveness, trust, humility, and restoration.
Each year I publish this list with the hope that you’ll find a couple that sound like they would be helpful to you and that you’ll commit to personal development through reading.
On to the list…
2022 Book 1: A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
One of the key aspects of having and maintaining emotional health is acknowledging and allowing grief, in all its forms.
It should go without saying that we have all sustained unexpected losses over the last two years, and that we’re each handling those losses in different ways, one might say somewhere within the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance).
In the weeks following the loss of his wife to cancer, Lewis writes openly about his grief, wrestling through it honestly and transparently.
I’m of the belief that if we would all follow Lewis’s example and talk candidly about our grief, at least with a trusted friend, that we would move toward much greater emotional health.
2022 Book 2: South and West by Joan Didion
There has been a photo of Joan Didion hanging in my husband’s office for most of our marriage. I’d never heard of her until I met him. I suppose most people would think it strange to have a photo of someone you don’t know hanging in your house, but to Corey she was a mentor – his vision for his writing. Hearing of her death brought a grief for me that I wasn’t expecting – I had so hoped that there would be an opportunity for Corey to meet her, but I suppose he’s already met her countless times through her words.
2022 Book 3: Hardwired to Be a Great Leader by Dr. John Wilson & Dr. Thomas Tavantzis
As a result of the 12,000+ hours I’ve spent coaching business executives and entrepreneurs, I can honestly say that the most successful and fulfilled leaders are the ones who genuinely know themselves – have correctly identified their skills and abilities, and who don’t try to tell themselves (or sell to others) a narrative that is beyond or outside of the truth of who they are and what they’re capable of.
I love that Dr. John and Dr. Tom identify self-awareness and self-leadership as the foundation upon which excellent leadership is built – their philosophy is spot on!
Their insights and guidance in this straightforward and practical e-book are worth following.
2022 Book 4: Scary Close by Donald Miller
Donald says, “We will never feel loved until we drop the act, until we’re willing to show our true selves to the people around us.” We are all desperate for love and friendship, but a big part of making that happen in a meaningful and lasting way is to discover who we really are and then live authentically.
Donald’s willingness to share openly about his personal struggles gives the boost of courage we need to stop pretending and speak openly about our insecurities, fears, and doubts.
2022 Book 5: Kill the Spider by Carlos Whitaker
A gentleman business friend recently said to me that if men don’t share their struggles openly, that those struggles will destroy them and hurt others as well.
Carlos nearly lost his marriage and his family because he was believing false narratives and then self-medicating, which was only bringing temporary comfort and ultimately, making things worse. He said, “Nobody can know about the mistakes we made, so we don’t tell anyone and keep up the façade. One lie leads to another, and then we find ourselves trapped…”
Carlos shares how he came clean about his struggles, worked through the lies, stopped self-medicating, and found a way out of the trap.
2022 Book 6: When Strivings Cease by Ruth Chou Simons
A vulnerably written story and study of what grace looks like for someone who struggles with believing they are enough. For those who experienced a legalistic upbringing, this is a helpful deep dive into grace.
2022 Book 7: Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio
Somewhere in recent years we’ve succumbed to the thinking that the negative voices in our head must be there, that we don’t have a choice about their presence in our thoughts. Louie tells us, in no uncertain terms, that this is not true, “You don’t need to listen to the voices of fear, rage, lust, insecurity, anxiety, despair, temptation, or defeat.”
Louie gives us wisdom and insights (similar to Jennie Allen’s book, Get Out of Your Head, #14 on my 2021 reading list) to not only combat negative and toxic thinking but to free ourselves of it completely.
2022 Book 8: Almost Everything by Anne Lamott
What I love about Anne, even though I don’t know her personally, is that I’m certain that she is the same person in real life as she is in her writings. Her authenticity is shocking – which is honestly a sad commentary because life would be so much better if we were that willing to let our true selves be seen. In this book she helps us learn how to let go of anger and resentment by practicing the attributes of the Serenity Prayer.
2022 Book 9: The Wisdom of Tenderness by Brennan Manning
I’ve heard so many people comment that they have a more difficult time being kind to themselves than they do being kind to others.
For anyone in that place, Brennan guides us to a place of being able to be more kind and loving to ourselves.
2022 Book 10: Capturing Loyalty by John Larson and Bennett McClellan
Founder & CEO of Building Champions, Daniel Harkavy, says that one of the 7 most critical aspects of leadership is ensuring you know your customer and what’s important to them.
Most of us, according to John Larson, and his decades of customer satisfaction work with companies like Ritz-Carlton, Staples, & Panda Express, are aiming at targets that our customers could care less about.
If your Net Promoter Score (NPS) or your customer retention numbers aren’t where you want them, read this book, and then hire John and his team to help you identify what really matters to your customer.
2022 Book 11: The Terrible Speed of Mercy: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O’Connor by Jonathan Rogers
An exceptional biography!
My husband, Corey, has long been influenced in his own fiction writing by O’Connor, but never having read her works myself I didn’t know just how similar their philosophies are. Multiple times throughout, I honestly could have been convinced that I was reading a biography about my own husband – a truly eerie feeling! If you are a fan of O’Connor’s writing, I humbly ask you to read Corey’s novel, Concerning the Dust, in all its despair and depravity.
2022 Book 12: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
At 39 years old Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German citizen from a prominent German family, was murdered by Adolf Hitler because he valued human life and human dignity for all people, including Jews and others whom Hitler was adamant to exterminate. I learned so much from this incredible biography that I was not aware of, including the large numbers of Germans who opposed Hitler’s ideology and actions – many of whom, like Bonhoeffer, were killed because of their opposition.
2022 Book 13: Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Groeschel
Toxic thinking and obsessing on negative thoughts are issues that are growing in our culture by the minute. Craig presents a very straight-forward how-to approach to overcoming toxic and obsessive thinking – his approach may not work for everyone, but it’s a worthwhile starting place.
2022 Book 14: Say Yes by Scott Erickson
Last year, a vocational dream of mine died, resulting in an unexpected season of grieving. Parts of the grieving process have been slow and other parts had nearly immediate peace and acceptance. I have rested on kind, encouraging, and wise words from trusted friends and from people who have had similar experiences – people like Scott.
Scott’s words particularly on comparison, contribution, and vulnerability helped to usher in peace, and to help me accept what I knew to be true even in the midst of the death of my dream – “I can be a conduit of Love when I allow myself to be the medium that an idea, a passion, a dream, a desire, a thought, an action, a perspective, an intuition comes through.”
2022 Book 15: The Hard Good by Lisa Whittle
Americans don’t do pain and suffering very well. We hide from it and we’re pretty good at pretending and faking that everything is just fine. We’re also radically uncomfortable when other people talk about their challenges in life.
Somehow, we’ve come to believe that it’s virtuous to hide and pretend, which is a real tragedy and is creating even more guilt and shame in our culture.
Lisa walks through how to look at the hard things in life through a different lens – I especially appreciated and learned from her chapter on forgiveness.
2022 Book 16: The Genius of Jesus by Erwin McManus
Absolutely fascinating!
Concepts and ideas that I have genuinely never thought about in the way Erwin presents them. I especially love the emphasis on the attributes of servant leadership in the power chapter.
2022 Book 17: Leadership is Leadership by Tonya Banks, Ph.D.
I love seeing my friends share their gifts and bring value to others. Dr. Banks uses a practical metaphor to bring leadership to life with solid Biblical examples and straightforward principles of positive leadership.
I highly recommend her book for high school and college students in leadership, business, biblical studies, and project management classes and programs.
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), 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). Candidly, 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, and honor from which he writes are characteristics that we could all have more of right now.
2022 Book 33: Now That’s a Great Question by Bob Tiede
Do you ask great questions and continually show yourself to be a curious person? Bob’s books will certainly help you to do so.
2022 Book 34: Fortune 100 Book of Questions by Bob Tiede
My favorite of Bob’s books!
2022 Book 35: Bittersweet by Susan Cain
The past 18 months have held considerable grief for me. As I’ve shared some of it publicly, the responses have confirmed Susan’s findings that we (westerners) are very uncomfortable experiencing and talking about grief, sadness, and sorrow. I appreciate her opening the conversation in the mainstream and am hopeful that by her doing so, we will inch our way closer to being comfortable with the hard parts of life and being able to share more vulnerably with each other.
2022 Book 36: Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot
I recently asked a mentor, who has lived with chronic fatigue for over 30 years, how she has dealt with her ongoing suffering. She said that Elisabeth Elliot’s teachings that all our experiences and circumstances are intended for our good and our benefit, have encouraged her through the more difficult seasons. So, I’m now asking myself to look for the good in all things.
2022 Book 37: C.S. Lewis: A Life by Alister McGrath
My thinking on several topics, including grief (see book #1), has been significantly informed by C.S. Lewis, so it was past time for me to read a biography about him. As I expected, because of McGrath’s incredible research prowess, I learned quite a few new insights and facts about Lewis. The most meaningful was seeing how Lewis dealt with relationship challenges with family, friends, and work relations all while continuing to contribute to humanity – a thoughtful example of work-life integration.
2022 Book 38: The Ambulance Drivers by James McGrath Morris
Even though Hemingway is one of my husband’s top 5 literary influences (see this year’s #11 for one of his top 3), I can’t say I know much about him and even less about Dos Passos. This biography was a unique view into each of their lives and their friendship. A worthwhile read if you want to get to know either of them.
2022 Book 39: The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
Want or need to be a better manager, or what Building Champions calls a “coaching leader”? It starts with being curious and asking great questions, and then practicing active listening. Learning and utilizing Michael’s 7 questions will create meaningful relationships with your team members and growth for you as a manager/coaching leader.
2022 Book 40: Co-Active Coaching by Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House, Phillip Sandahl, and Laura Whitworth
CTI is one of the top coaching programs in the world. If you want to become a certified coach, you should certainly consider them. But, if you don’t have the desire to be certified or don’t have the budget for the program, they put their entire process in this book, including helpful role play scenarios. An excellent resource for anyone considering becoming a professional coach.
2022 Book 41: Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning
Holy moly! I thought I couldn’t love any of Brennan’s books more than The Ragamuffin Gospel (see my 2018 reading list). My counselor often asks me where in my body I feel my emotions and feelings. As I read Brennan’s words clarifying the real message of Jesus, I found myself exhaling deep sighs of relief and gratitude, like how I feel when singing the 1920’s hymn, “Why Should He Love Me So.”
2022 Book 42: The Inner Voice of Love by Henri J.M. Nouwen
We are a people being overtaken by insecurities, fears, and doubts. What is most troubling about that fact is not that it is happening, but that we are hiding it, running from it, trying to ignore it, and/or pretending that it’s not true or that we’re exempt from it. I can’t help but wonder what life and our world would look like if we took a page from Henri’s book and admitted the truth of what is happening in our hearts and participated in a community that helped nurture us to health.
2022 Book 43: Free of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller
A healthy dose of humility over the last several years, including my boss telling me that I needed to stop being defensive, has really helped me to see how much stress I’ve added to my life over the years by making almost everything about me. It has been hugely relieving and freeing to try and take the focus off myself, and not look for happiness through my reputation, the opinions of others, or success.
2022 Book 44: Prayer by Timothy Keller
We tend to have an ethereal view of prayer, like it’s only for the pious or for use as a last resort. Enter Keller, who helps bring meaning and clarity to this form of communication through a study of the historical roots of prayer, the different types of prayer, and several models of prayer. Jesus himself showed us and told us that prayer is for everyone and should be our first strategy in any and all things. This book is one I will absolutely read again and again.
2022 Book 45: I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist
I honestly can’t find words to say how grateful I am for this book! Every woman, who is deconstructing, reconstructing, reawakening, and/or reinventing in one way shape or form, will find this book soothing and calming, and will absolutely be comforted to learn that she is not alone in her journey of change and transition. The minute that I finished it, I started reading it again.
2022 Book 46: Celebrities for Jesus by Katelyn Beaty
If I could sum up the restoration work that has been happening to me and my identity over the last 16 months, it would be that what I truly desire is a quiet, humble life that is rich in real friendship and focused entirely on serving and loving others with no credit, fame, or attention for myself. Katelyn’s book puts an exclamation point on this desire by showcasing people who have damaged themselves and others by trying to live the attention-getting, important life that I thought I wanted for so many years.
As a side note, Katelyn is incredibly brave for writing this book; it’s truly disappointing that no white men with positions of prominence or popular platforms had the guts to start the conversation about this destructive issue. I do hope that they will at least support her and stand up for her and the message she is bringing because it needs to be heard and heeded by many.
2022 Book 47: The Reinventors by Jason Jennings
2022 Book 48: Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
2022 Book 49: The Innovator’s Manifesto by Michael E. Raynor
2022 Book 50: The Innovator’s DNA by Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and Clayton M. Christensen
One of the best ways to attract and retain great employees is to be an organization that is constantly adapting, flexing, innovating, reinventing, disrupting, and growing. Loyalty from employees is achieved because they see a vision that is compelling and dynamic, and that gives them opportunities to personally grow because the company is growing. Look at the companies that are receiving awards and certifications because of their impressive employee engagement (like ChenMed, Jobot, and Chick-fil-A) and you find growing companies.
It was fun and interesting to re-read these four books to see how their predictions and ideas have panned out since they were written 8-10 years ago.
2022 Book 51: The Cost of Control by Sharon Hodde Miller
You may remember that back in 2012/13 I started going to counseling because I realized that I was living the life of a control freak; that I was forcing situations and conversations in the vain attempt to eliminate personal discomfort.
My counselor, Jan Proett, and her book (one of the 7 books that literally transformed my life), helped me to realize how much damage I was doing by trying to control everything.
With the pandemic forcing us to realize how little we actually have control over and the anxiety that realization has created for the world at large, Dr. Hodde Miller’s book took my personal learning to a whole new level and couldn’t be a more timely and important topic for us to talk about.
2022 Book 52: Come Sit with Me by (in)courage
Forgiveness. Pain. Suffering. Heartbreak. Loneliness. Toxicity. Envy. Rejection. Disagreement. Hurt. 26 women bring beautiful and loving perspectives to some pretty difficult topics. In a culture that is all about canceling whatever we disagree with, I love finding the women who are leaning into the hard topics and challenging conversations with the goal of honoring, respecting, and embracing each other because of and regardless of our differences.
2022 Book 53: Encounters with Jesus by Tim Keller
Am I loved? Am I forgiven? Does my life matter? What is evil? Why is there suffering?
Tim Keller dives into the deep end of the questions that nag and trouble us, and he answers them through rich vignettes of the life of Jesus Christ and the interactions he had with specific people like the marginalized, the wealthy, and the religious.
A very thoughtful book with answers that bring comfort and gratitude.
2022 Book 54: Outrageous Obedience by Rachelle Starr
One of my greatest joys is seeing someone live into their God-given potential – seeing someone embrace their gifts and talents and use them to make a difference in the lives of others. Rachelle’s story is exactly this – she saw how she was uniquely created and took the steps to cultivate her gifts and use them to bless others. A beautiful story of faith and trust.
2022 Book 55: What If It’s Wonderful? by Nicole Zasowski
There is so much that I love about Nicole’s book – some real wisdom, with insights that I sincerely believe most of us hardly ever think about.
One that really hit home for me is her concept of savoring. Slowing down and utilizing our senses to enjoy each moment, each interaction, each conversation.
Many years ago, a professor remarked to me that we are human ‘beings’ not human ‘doings’, that we were created to ‘be’, meaning to exist, to belong, to have identity, and not to just get things done.
Nicole emphasizes this by saying, “…the present moment is worthy even if we have nothing to show for it—no check marks by the items on our to-do list, no additional money in our bank account, and no emails cleared from our inbox.”
Wow! What a gift to be reminded that our moments and our lives are valuable, regardless! And that our moments and our lives are meant to be savored! What a gift!
2022 Book 56: Chase the Fun by Annie F. Downs
We need to give ourselves permission to do something that has no purpose, no expectation, and is meant to simply be enjoyed. In this great little book, Annie walks us through how to give ourselves permission to have fun, to have hobbies, and to be creative.
2022 Book 57: Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion
A ‘collected works’ with essays Didion wrote between 1968 and 2000 covering subjects ranging from her admission rejection from Stanford University, her introduction to writing, her philosophies on writing, her time at Vogue magazine, her thoughts on Ernest Hemingway’s writing, and her thoughts on Martha Stewart. Her writing style is simply magnificent and makes me wish that I’d had the opportunity to talk with her.
2022 Book 58: Nomadland by Susan Bruder
Waves of sadness, panic, cynicism, and anger swept over me as I read this book. While I don’t agree with all of her assertions, there is one thing that is crystal clear to me: the American belief that you can “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and be a “self-made man” has created a false sense of security that is destroying our country and the people in it.
2022 Book 59: God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life by Tim & Kathy Keller
A daily reader/devotional through the book of Proverbs that is incredible! Each day’s meditation is enlightening, often with insights and perspectives that I haven’t previously considered. A wonderful guide through the Proverbs that I will re-read annually.
2022 Book 60: Hidden Christmas by Tim Keller
A handful of years ago I was burnt out and disappointed by Christmas. It had turned into a season of sadness rather than the joy-filled time that it was intended to be.
This book truly brought meaning back to Christmas for me. I’ve re-read it every Christmas for the past 4 years and each time I rediscover joy and learn something new about this season of hope.
2022 Book 61: He is There and He Is Not Silent by Francis Schaeffer
The fact that we don’t require a basic philosophy and a basic logic class for every high schooler in America is part of the reason why we find our culture in such dire straits today.
This book is a foundationally necessary philosophical look, through the lens of metaphysics, morals, and epistemology, at the question of whether or not God exists.
You can always find my reading lists from previous years here.
And the books that literally transformed my life are here.
As always, please share your must-reads with me!!
