6 Books I Recommend – December 2017
Here are 6 books I recommend from what I read in December. Once a month we share our current reading lists at Jennifer’s.
Books I Recommend
1. The Better Angels of Our Nature
Why Violence Has Declined
by Steven Pinker
Believe it or not, statistics show that the world is getting less violent, not more. This book is lengthy and detailed, but so worth the months it took me to read it. It’s one of my favorite 10 books of 2017.
2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman
This is the story of a plain-Jane young woman who works in an office by day, and keeps to herself at night. Little by little, the story unfolds about the horrific past she has survived. The book picks up speed once you get past the first few chapters and reels you in to caring about Eleanor.
3. The Gatekeepers
How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency
by Chris Whipple
Such an interesting look back on history through the eyes of the former Chiefs of Staff for the modern Presidents of the U.S. The story proceeds in a chronological fashion from both Republican and Democratic Presidents and the behind-the-scenes workings of government and personalities.
4. Building a StoryBrand
Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
by Donald Miller
This might be classified as a business book, but it’s really a book about communicating well. You can use it to apply to any area of your life, not just promoting a business brand. It’s another one of my top 10 books of 2017.
5. Ordering Our Affections
Advent
by Dr. Melissa McCrory Hatcher
Read more here on Ordering Our Affections: Advent
This compact Advent devotional is different. It gives you scriptures readings as you would expect, but it also gives you space to stop and breathe, suggestions to look at a specific painting or listen to a suggested hymn, you write a letter to a loved one, etc. I found these distinctions breathed new life into my devotional time for Advent.
6. Come, Let Us Adore Him
A Daily Advent Devotional
by Paul David Tripp
My review here of Come, Let Us Adore Him
This is another short devotional book that is wonderful for Advent. I don’t always appreciate his repetitiveness, but as is typical for Tripp, he does make me think more about God in all his beauty and glory.
Reading Now
- The Knowledge Illusion
Why We Never Think Alone
by Steven Sloman - Homo Deus
A Brief History of Tomorrow
by Yuval Noah Harari - What Unites Us
Reflections on Patriotism
by Dan Rather - The Daniel Dilemma
How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise
by Chris Hodges - The Trespasser
by Tana French - Blessed Are the Misfits
Great News for Believers Who Are Introverts, Spiritual Strugglers, or Just Feel Like They’re Missing Something
by Brant Hansen - American Grace
How Religion Divides and Unites Us
by Robert D. Putnam
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What good book have you read this month? Please share in the comments.
Related:
My books on Goodreads
Previous reading lists
- A Multisensory Devotional – Ordering Our Affections: Advent
- 5 Relationship Tools to Carry into 2018
Thanks, Lisa! As we dive into a new year, I’m looking for some good reads to add to my stack of books! Love the resources!
Glad to help, Stacey. 🙂 Reading is one of my greatest joys.
Thanks Lisa. Sounds like some good books here to pick up. I am about to start I Am Loved by Wendy Blight.
How fun to be starting a new book, Debbie. I started “The Hate U Give” over the weekend and am enjoying it so far.
Thanks for the recommendations, Lisa! I’ve heard good things from a friend about Come Let Us Adore Him and the Eleanor Oliphant book sounds interesting. Right now I am enjoying Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon. Hope you had a lovely Christmas!
We did have a lovely Christmas! Hope you did, too, Lesley. I got to read a lot the past few days so that’s been fun as well. 🙂
Surprisingly, Chip Gaines new book, Capital Gaines, was a thoughtful and interesting bit of inspiration …
How interesting! We never know where we’ll find a good read. Love Chip’s title; very clever. 🙂
I have not read a lot of Tripp, but I’ll make a note of that one for next Advent. Eleanor Oliphant sounds compelling. The one of the chiefs of staff sounds pretty interesting, too.
The Tripp book has been really good. I don’t always agree with everything he says, but enough of it to make it inspirational. I thought I would be finished with his book on December 25, but I’ve discovered it keeps going through December 31. 🙂
Now I just wish for more time to read! 🙂
Me, too, Carol! I would wish for less books and more time if I had to choose. I know I have enough books already to last a very long time. 🙂 It’s only time now that I need.
Thanks for the awesome book recommendations. I always hope to share what I’ve been reading, but I read so slow! Happy New Year!
Reading slow can be a great thing, Barbie. You probably retain a lot more than I do. 🙂
Wow… December? I’m guessing that grand baby is gonna cutting into your reading time before long!
Anything by PD Tripp is an inspirational read and study.
Yes, I am suspecting the grandbaby will cut out several books, which sounds like a wonderful trade to me! 🙂 I’ve already bought a few new baby books to read with her so maybe I’ll just switch genres for a season.
Currently reading This is our Time by Trevin Wax. Would highly recommend it.
Finished This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years. I bought this for my nephew, but really any age group can read it.
Those both sound like great books, Ashley! Thanks for sharing! I like when books are appropriate for several generations even if they’re targeted to just one.
Yes! As you know I loved Eleanor Oliphant so much and it was so good on audio, just one of those characters who won my heart. All the best for 2018.
I’m glad to hear Eleanor Oliphant was good on audio. I’m going to recommend it to my husband to listen to!
Great list! I’ve been wanting to read the Eleanor Oliphant book. Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year!
It took me awhile to get to Eleanor Oliphant. My library had a rather long hold list for the Kindle version. But when it finally became available, it was a quick read for me because it was good. Hope you get to read it soon yourself!
I can’t believe I haven’t read Eleanor yet! Hopefully soon. Happy New Year!
Eleanor has been in high demand from my library so I didn’t get to read it as soon as I would have liked. But I’m glad it finally became available! Happy New Year to you too, Nise’!