My 2023 Reading List
2023's reading list took me to some really great books, including a couple that made their way onto my personal ‘all-time favorites’ list.
I spent the entire summer reading new books from women authors, covering a variety of relevant topics, and was able to interview each one of them for the Courage Becomes Her podcast, which was an absolute delight!
I only read one single business/leadership/management book, which was the right decision for my heart!
And maybe even more shocking, I read a novel!
Each year I publish this list with the hope that you’ll find a couple that are helpful to you and that you’ll commit to personal development through reading.
Happy reading, friend!
Q1
2023 Book 1: Good and Beautiful and Kind by Rich Villodas
A helpful and wonderful examination of trauma, contemplative prayer, healthy conflict, and forgiveness – all with the goal of being more loving. This is one of those books that, if taken seriously, could literally lead to a complete transformation of our culture.
2023 Book 2: The 40-Day Feast by Wendy Speake
A truly helpful book that inspires and guides us to create a habit and practice of reading God’s Word, The Bible, thus learning from God and being developed and transformed through wisdom.
2023 Book 3: Martin Luther by Eric Metaxas
A fascinating biography! I learned so much, not only about Martin Luther himself, but about the Catholic church and the Reformation as well. Though we take it for granted today, our ability to pick up a Bible and read it ourselves rather than waiting for a clergyman to read it to us is due in large part to Luther challenging the church leaders. His wife commented at one point that she believed he would change the world – and oh, how true that is!
BTW: The best biography I’ve ever read is also by Eric Metaxas.
2023 Book 4: A Prayer Journal by Flannery O’Connor
I shouldn’t be surprised that her journal reads like artistic, thoughtful literature sprinkled with her genius for dramatic, attention-grabbing words and figures of speech. Lacking in piousness, it made me wish for a bosom-buddy conversation with her, knowing that we would be fast friends. Her comments on struggle were particularly thought-provoking, “All our lives are consumed in possessing struggle but only when the struggle is cherished and directed to a final consummation outside of this life is it of any value.”
This biography of her is a must-read.
2023 Book 5: What Your Mind Needs for Anxious Moments by Holley Gerth
Anxiety is a hot topic and a critical conversation. Over the last two years I read a dozen books about worry, anxiety, and/or depression. This one is by far the best because it gets to the root cause and a sustainable solution. I think that has something to do with the fact that Holley has struggled with her own anxious moments and shares vulnerably about her experiences and what did and didn’t work for her as she faced them.
This is a ‘highly recommend’ and one that I will read again.
2023 Book 6: Women Who Risk by Tom and Joann Doyle
As we have seen, especially in the last 2 years, oppressive laws and customs continue to exacerbate the patriarchal gender roles, domestic violence, marital rights, discrimination, and human rights issues that women of the middle east face. Tom and Joann bring firsthand stories of women who are breaking free from these systems.
Malala Yousafzai’s story of being shot by the Taliban was incredibly eye-opening.
2023 Book 7: Judges for You by Tim Keller
God never desired for the Israelites to submit to the rulership of kings, He wanted the Israelites to trust that He would take care of them (as He had been doing for hundreds of years) through the use of stewards (aka judges). This study goes through the Old Testament book of Judges and does a deep dive on each of the judges/stewards that God put in place – who they were, what their background was, how they helped or failed the Israelites, and their personal characteristics (strengths and weaknesses). It is a fascinating look at history and human behavior, with learnings that are definitely applicable to life today.
2023 Book 8: The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream
I always enjoy seeing Biblical stories through someone else’s eyes; hearing what resonates or stands out, seeing something new or different than what I saw. Shannon shares thoughts and ideas that create curiosity and investigation and draws out themes and patterns of the stories that help them feel more relatable. Regardless of our beliefs, we can all learn from the lives of these women of history.
2023 Book 9: The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
My experiences of working for an international disaster response organization and being on the board of a human rights organization showed me the transformational healthy changes that can and do take place for families and communities when women are educated and championed. Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Kofi Annan said, “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.” It’s hard to believe that the stories Melinda shares are happening in the 21st century, but they are. Which makes me honored to personally support the work of organizations like Medical Teams International, Compassion, World Vision, and The Canby Center in their life-changing programs for women and girls.
2023 Book 10: All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore
I deeply love this woman – a sentiment I am by no means alone in. It is no exaggeration to say that Beth has impacted millions of women’s lives, she is the spiritual mother of nearly the entirety of Gen X women (not to mention many boomers and millennials as well). She has taught us, discipled us, prayed for us, protected us, advocated for us, and fought for us, and has done so at extreme cost to herself, her marriage, and her family. No amount of money or fame or notoriety or influence is worth what she has endured, but it has never been about any of those things to her (as anyone with an ounce of discernment can plainly see). Similar to the remarks I made after reading Michelle Obama’s memoir a few years ago, Beth’s memoir is a must-read for every western world woman, regardless of spiritual or political views.
2023 Book 11: The 40-Day Sugar Fast by Wendy Speake
A guided sugar detox with daily reminders that our dependence on and addiction to sugar is not actually about the sugar itself. I sincerely appreciated Wendy’s encouragement, willingness to share her own struggles, and wisdom to help us not only address the sugar itself but the challenges going on inside our hearts and heads that are causing us to reach for the sugar to begin with.
She also has a 40-Day Social Media Fast.
2023 Book 12: Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill by Sonia Purnell
Seeing how she was portrayed in The Crown, I was curious to learn more about Clementine Churchill, and this biography brought her to life. A privileged childhood lacking in warmth, nurture, and good role models led to an early adulthood and motherhood full of meltdowns and breakdowns. She seemed to finally find a healthy stride in her mid to late 40s. The comparisons that the author makes between Clementine and Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt are interesting – the two women seemed to learn from each other though both seemed too proud to admit so. The world owes a lot to Mrs. Churchill, though appearances would deceive us into thinking she was a typical 20th century housewife.
2023 Book 13: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
With four different guests (Drea, Stephanie, Ashley, and Erin) on the Courage Becomes Her podcast saying that this book transformed their life, I had to re-read it (over 20 years since my previous reading). I was humbled as it brought into focus my bent toward cowardice. I hope and pray for the bravery, resoluteness, patience, fortitude, compassion, and humility that she and her family exuded in the face of evil and danger.
Q2
2023 Book 14: What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days by Holley Gerth
You know how you can tell when someone has actually experienced what they’re writing about…like, deeply experienced it?! Well, that is the case with this book of Holley’s. Don’t let the hallmark-like cover fool you, this is a must-read when you’re going through a hard season. Her words are comforting and soothing in a meaningful way – not placating or just a band-aid, but truly helpful!
What Your Mind Needs for Anxious Moments (number 5 above) is the best book I’ve ever read on anxiety.
2023 Book 15: Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Written in the mid 1950s as a middle-aged woman, I found this powerhouse of a woman to be far more relatable than I expected. She grapples with issues of identity, marital challenges, finding and living her purpose, navigating the changing seasons of life, making time for friendships, taking care of herself, juggling motherhood and career pursuits, and more. One thing that really struck me was how she asked for help and believed that “it takes a village” – women today are really struggling with this, and we need to normalize living collectively rather than trying to conquer everything all by ourselves.
This is a wonderful book that I will read again.
She reminded me a lot of Sandra Day O’Connor (though more poetic) – I loved this biography about O’Connor and highly recommend it.
2023 Book 16: Life Whimsy by Wendy Conklin
Wendy shares her story of finding her creative self and leads us on a journey to do the same within ourselves. She is inspiring and encouraging, and is also pragmatic and practical. She also shares stories of the creative journeys of others. This is not just a coffee table book, but a thoughtful book that is informative and motivational.
I greatly enjoyed my conversation with Wendy on the podcast.
2023 Book 17: Free of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller
Over the last two years I’ve become aware that a posture of defensiveness had settled over me, causing me to feel like I must prove myself and guard my reputation. Sharon’s willingness to share vulnerably about her struggles with self-focus helped me to see how much stress I’ve added to my life by giving in to that same mindset. It has been and continues to be a journey, but it is hugely relieving and freeing to try to let go of focusing on myself.
Sharon’s book, The Cost of Control was one of the best books I read in 2022, and I’m so grateful that she joined me for a conversation on the podcast.
2023 Book 18: The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller
We all have an innate need to be valued and important. That need drives both our being and our doing – what we think and how we act. I have never read anything that so succinctly defines our need and meets our need at the deepest level. Because of the wisdom in this book, my life will never be the same.
I share about other books of Keller’s that I’ve read in this post.
2023 Book 19: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
I can’t tell you how many times this year I’ve heard clients minimize their pain, shame themselves for grieving, and belittle themselves for not being stronger. We are not being kind, loving, or gracious to ourselves or each other. This sweet and tender book shows us the way to empathy and compassion.
2023 Book 20: Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
Simply an incredible book with insights for anyone who has ever faced loss of any kind: death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job, unfulfilled dreams.
2023 Book 21: Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II by Daniel James Brown
Voluntarily off to war to fight for the country they called home, nearly 20,000 American soldiers were affronted from all sides because they shared racial ties with the men who attacked Pearl Harbor.
The stories of these men and the sacrifices that they and their families made (most of whom were imprisoned in concentration-like camps throughout the U.S. for as long as four years) gave me a lump in my throat and a sincere hope that we never repeat history.
It’s been 7 or 8 years since I read Daniel James Brown’s The Boys in the Boat, which is a must-read! I’m anxious to watch the movie and hope it does the book justice!
2023 Book 22: Stuff I’d Only Tell God by Jennifer Dukes Lee
You know what’s better than a journal?! A journal with prompts!!
Jennifer nailed it with this guided journal – it includes the fun, the silly, the nostalgic, the thought-provoking, the tear-jerking, and everything in-between. She leads us to a place of curiosity, reflection, introspection, and self-discovery. She leads us to a place where we can grow.
Listen to my conversation with Jennifer about her book.
2023 Book 23: Relentless Joy by Rachel Joy Baribeau
Depressed? Read Rachel’s book. Victim of domestic violence? Read Rachel’s book. Struggling to get out of addiction? Read Rachel’s book. Mourning the loss of a parent? Read Rachel’s book. God turned Rachel’s mess into a message - a message that will leave you inspired and encouraged.
Listen to my conversation with Rachel about her book.
2023 Book 24: Soul-Deep Beauty by Melissa L. Johnson
A heartbreaking look at the effects of commodifying women and women’s bodies, and how our culture connects a woman’s worth and value to the thinness of her body. Melissa’s courage to vulnerably share her journey through an eating disorder and body shaming helps us to change how we look at beauty.
Listen to my conversation with Melissa about her book.
Q3
2023 Book 25: I Won’t Shut Up by Ally Henny
A courageous telling of being silenced, as both a child and an adult, and trying to find her voice. Ally shares about her experiences with racist and toxic leadership, and the tipping point of realizing that she could assert her voice and speak out against racism. She shares how we can contribute in a meaningful way to liberation from racism by actively listening to the experiences of Black people, even when it challenges us or creates discomfort.
Listen to my conversation with Ally about her book.
2023 Book 26: Better than Okay by Brandi Wilson
Brandi courageously shares about how she navigated life after divorce one day at a time, including the days when she could barely get out of bed. She talks about what self-care looked like for her and how she leaned on her support system when she was tempted to isolate. She also talks about the pain of loneliness, and the importance of therapy and counseling to the process of healing. She shares about dating and dreaming again, and the unexpected blessings that she’s received and how life after divorce really can be better than okay.
Listen to my conversation with Brandi about her book.
2023 Book 27: Healing Rain by Sue Detweiler
Sue courageously shares about her experiences with chronic pain and sickness, and her healing journey. She talks about several strategies for healing and wholeness and talks about how self-pity is destructive to our ability to heal. She calls us to have courage to believe that we too can receive healing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Listen to my conversation with Sue about her book.
2023 Book 28: A Faith That Will Not Fail by Michele Cushatt
Somehow, I made it to middle age believing that the pain I’ve experienced in the last few years meant that I was being punished for doing something wrong or that God was angry with me or disappointed in me. Mercifully, God used a couple of people, including Michele, to teach me that my beliefs were completely false, and to guide me to a place where my faith has not only stayed intact but has transformed and grown into something richer and deeper than I ever imagined possible. To say that the wisdom Michele shares has been a lifeline is an understatement without exaggeration. If your world has fallen apart, this is a must-read.
Listen to my conversation with Michelle about her book.
2023 Book 29: The Hem of His Garment by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Words can and do hurt us, even if they’re not intended to. Pain caused by well-meaning people is a topic that I hear often from my clients, and I appreciate that Dr. Michelle confirms that those wounds can run deep. Dr. Michelle’s teachings from personal experience and knowledge, especially regarding what pain does to our bodies (including our brains), opens the door to healing and restoration.
Listen to my conversation with Dr. Michelle about her book.
2023 Book 30: Holy Unhappiness by Amanda Held Opelt
If you’ve felt disappointed by life or a general undercurrent of restlessness, Amanda’s book is a must-read. Somewhere along the way I bought the line that if I’m “good” and I “do the right things” that I am owed happiness. Amanda breaks down the underlying assumptions and beliefs about this transactional exchange and points us to a better path. This is a book I will re-read again and again – the wisdom and philosophy are sound.
Listen to my conversation with Amanda about her book.
2023 Book 31: Translating Jesus by Shauna Pilgreen
I have tremendous appreciation for the methodology that Shauna teaches – it is full of love and kindness and is something that we can all learn from for general relational health. She teaches us how to share the love and goodness of Jesus by noticing people, being curious, paying attention, being humble, listening well, getting out of our comfort zones, sharing our stories, and praying. Her reminder that all people are significant and loved by Jesus is something we seem to be forgetful of these days.
Listen to my conversation with Shauna about her book.
2023 Book 32: I Used to Be _______ by Ashley & Chuck Elliott
From personal experience with big and small losses, Ashley & Chuck help us process our losses when we enter the realm of what “used to be.” They teach us what it looks like to grieve, the downsides of unprocessed grief, and how feelings like anger are signals of grief. They point us to positive coping mechanisms and help us learn how we can neutralize the things that trigger grief within us.
Listen to my conversation with Ashley about their new book.
2023 Book 33: Free & Fully Alive by Karrie Garcia
Karrie strongly advocates for facing the hard parts of our lives and not just leaving the past in the past but surrendering our stories to the kindness and care of God. She doesn’t want us to settle for relief but wants us to find lasting freedom. She wants us to see that behavior modification is a false freedom, just a bandage over a still-festering wound.
Listen to my conversation with Karrie about her book.
2023 Book 34: Midlife Battle Cry by Dawn Barton
A thoughtful, funny, transparent look at the most talked about topics concerning mid-life: aging, our bodies, defining who we are and clarifying our purpose, caring for children and parents, loving ourselves, cultivating community, becoming a grandparent, financial planning, learning to forgive, letting go of bitterness, and leaving a legacy. Dawn wants us to know and believe that the second half of our lives can truly be the better half.
Listen to my conversation with Dawn about being the sandwich generation.
2023 Book 35: The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté, MD and Daniel Maté
I most appreciated Dr. Maté’s ideas about the origins of mental illness and his assertions that there is so much more that we need to learn about mental illness. His research and findings about the severity of PTSD that often comes from abandonment in early childhood were incredibly helpful to my understanding of my husband’s trauma journey.
This book has been the most helpful to me in understanding trauma.
2023 Book 36: This Must Be the Place by Jami Nato
I’m not exactly sure why, but for some reason I was expecting this book to be just another “discover your purpose” book with a repeat of information from similar books and little substance. Boy was I wrong!! Shame on me! Jami’s words are rich and thoughtful and are the doorway to real growth and transformation. I have already assigned her book as required reading for several clients and will continue to do so.
2023 Book 37: Women at Halftime by Shayne Moore and Carolyn Castleberry Hux
A helpful guidebook for women in mid-life who want to learn more about themselves and their gifts and talents, and are hopeful of discovering new dreams, purpose, and joy in the second half of life. Highly recommend, especially for women who are recently retired from a full-time profession or are on the cusp of retirement, and women who shelved their careers in order to raise children and now find themselves wanting to re-enter a career but aren’t sure where to start.
2023 Book 38: Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First by Laura Tremaine
We really do need coaching on how to have honest, vulnerable, authentic conversations, and Laura provides that coaching with this wonderful book of prompts that are filled with stories from her own life. I greatly appreciate her courage to model the way for us.
2023 Book 39: The Life Council by Laura Tremaine
I agree with Laura that we “don’t need a busload of besties”, but having supportive, kind, loving women in our lives really does make life better. Friendship often creates a sense of belonging that even motherhood or marriage don’t provide. Laura’s friendship philosophies are pure gold – lean into them and you’re sure to have more meaningful friendships.
Listen to my conversation with Laura about friendships in mid-life.
2023 Book 40: The Chronicles of Nai Nai by Mary Chen
A motivating and inspiring memoir of the founders of ChenMed. We can all learn from their determination, perseverance, and resilience. I love one particular quote from Mary where she says that instead of counting the breakdowns, she counts the rescues – this is a perspective of optimism that I want to have more of in my life.
2023 Book 41: Galatians for You by Tim Keller
There are several things that create continued sadness and disappointment for me about Tim Keller passing away earlier this year – one is that he had only written studies on a few of the books of the Bible and we really would have benefitted if he had been able to do more. I highly recommend this particular study for the book of Galatians!
Q4
2023 Book 42: The Watchmaker’s Daughter by Larry Loftis
A wonderful biography of Corrie ten Boom. He expands on many of the stories she tells in her own book, The Hiding Place (book 13 above) and adds additional information about her and her family. A worthwhile read.
2023 Book 43: Jesus, Career Counselor by Laurie Beth Jones
Laurie introduces a way of learning about ourselves, how we’ve been created and nurtured, that is similar to the DISC profile. A helpful book for general self-awareness.
2023 Book 44: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
I added this to my list of books to read after a friend said that it is one of the best novels that she has ever read and unlike me, she reads a fair bit of fiction. Then when I saw that there was a limited series show coming out, I decided that I wasn’t going to watch the show until I read the book.
I will definitely say that the story alone makes the book well worth reading. I don’t know that I would say the quality of the writing was Pulitzer-worthy, but again, I’m not much of a fiction reader, so I’m sure I don’t know what I’m talking about.
As a side note, I do not recommend the show - as I suppose is true of most books adapted to film, the series was immensely disappointing – every single character, save one German official, was radically distorted from how Doerr wrote them and nearly every major scene was dramatically changed for the worse – it could have been really good if they’d actually followed the book’s storyline.
2023 Book 45: Enough about Me by Jen Oshman
Are you worn out? Tired of creating your own destiny, reaching for the stars, making it happen, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, and trying to motivate yourself through positive self-talk? This book is a must-read for women who find themselves exhausted, burnt out, and struggling. I would suggest reading Free of Me (#17 above) and The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness (#18 above) as great follow-ons after reading Jen’s book.
2023 Book 46: Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund, Ph.D.
Without exaggeration, this book was incredible! I savored every chapter, reading it slowly and taking in its depth and richness. This is not only one that I will re-read regularly but is one that I highly recommend as one of the best soul care / spiritual development books I’ve ever read (it reminded me a lot of The Ragamuffin Gospel with deeper scholarship).
2023 Book 47: Mindsight by Daniel Siegel, M.D.
Dr. Siegel certainly expanded my awareness and understanding of our brains and how capable they are of healing, growing, and learning. I am confident that I have not fully grasped his assertions and will need to re-read this book to really take it all in. It reminded me that it’s time to re-read The Body Keeps the Score.
2023 Book 48: Counterfeit Gods by Tim 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. I place this book in the category of revolutionary – if we lived this way, we would literally see our world changed for the better. I will continue to re-read it regularly and highly recommend it.
2023 Book 49: The Life We’re Looking For by Andy Crouch
If you’re concerned, or even fearful, about AI (artificial intelligence like ChatGPT, Bard, etc), this is a must-read. I greatly appreciate Andy’s research and thoughtful guidance. His perspectives on the topic of usefulness absolutely floored me and made me come face to face with my small-mindedness.
2023 Book 50: Let There be Art by Rachel Marie Kang
We were created to be creative – our ability to express ourselves in the various mediums of art was intended for everyone, not just for the privileged. If you want to get your creative juices flowing, this book is a great way to do so.
2023 Book 51: Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love by Thomas A. Tarrants
A truly incredible memoir that should be seen as a cautionary tale for us and the hatred and anger that are overtaking us. As Thomas tells, it didn’t take anything more than wounded pride and bad ideology to move him to a determination to murder a fellow countryman, a fellow white man. But it didn’t take anything more than love to fix what was broken inside of him and move him to a place of compassion and respect for all men.
2023 Book 52: Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons
A beautiful and wise daily read for Advent.
2023 Book 53: 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 Proverbs that I re-read annually.
2023 Book 54: The Songs of Jesus by Tim & Kathy Keller
A daily reader/devotional of the entire book of Psalms with a scripture passage plus some thoughts and a prayer about that day’s scriptures from Tim and Kathy. It is a wonderful way to start each day. I will continue to read it annually along with the one above for the book of Proverbs.
2023 Book 55: A Year with C.S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works
A paragraph each day from some of the most popular of C.S. Lewis’ writings, like Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain, and A Grief Observed (which I read in 2022 and would highly recommend it to anyone grieving the loss of someone). I was struck most by the selections from The Weight of Glory and will look forward to reading that in its entirety.
2023 Book 56: Handbook of Spiritual Growth by Kenneth Boa
If you want to grow spiritually, this is an excellent guide to do so. The breadth and depth Dr. Boa covers is quite remarkable, and the scholarship is top rate. I read just a few pages each day to dwell on the learnings. Years ago a friend gifted me Dr. Boa’s two volumes of prayers (vol 1 and vol 2), which I have loved. My friend, Nancy, talked about Dr. Boa’s book in our podcast conversation.
2023 Book 57: Try Softer by Aundi Kolber
This quote from Aundi describes what I’ve heard from 90% of my clients and podcast guests, “…we’ve been so socialized, parented, and wired to overfunction that we don’t recognize when our bodies are stressed, traumatized, and exhausted until the consequences are dire.” I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t benefit from the wisdom in this book.
2023 Book 58: When Narcissism Comes to Church by Chuck DeGroat
I read this book in hopes of learning about what is happening in church culture and why we have seen such catastrophic failures in church leadership and systems, particularly in the last 25 years. In that regard the book was informative and insightful. What I found most valuable though was a greater understanding of narcissism in general, its spectrum (on which we all are, even though we’d like to think otherwise), its roots, and pathways to healing and transformation. With how significant a topic narcissism is right now, this is another book that I can’t think of a single adult who wouldn’t benefit from reading it.
You can always find my reading lists from previous years here.
As always, please share your must-reads with me!!
My 2024 reading is underway with several books in-progress and ~20 lined up, but I'd love to add your favorites for biography/memoir, spiritual development, soul care, and cultural thought-leadership.
