This year I’ve decided to be more intentional with tracking my reading … which means I’ve started logging everything on Goodreads. I read five books in May. Here’s the list in order of when I finished them and my quick thoughts on each one:
Reimagining Church as Family by Rich Griffith and JJ Jones. I really appreciated and was challenged by this one; I think it’s an important book for any pastor and church leader to read, especially as the ‘traditional family’ becomes less and less common. You can read my full review here.
The Narcissist in Your Life: Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free by Julie L. Hall. This was a really fascinating book for me. I’ve been curious about it for a while, especially with the narcissists in my extended family life. What was most helpful was finding out so much of what I’ve experienced in the past was so predictable, which might sound weird, but it actually makes it feel less personal. It’s just how narcissists are. It’s still painful, but it makes it all make more sense. Definitely worth reading.
How to Be Married (to Melissa): A Hilarious Guide to a Happier, One-of-a-Kind Marriage by Dustin Nickerson. I got this one because I’m a fan of Nickerson’s comedy; he’s a former youth pastor turned comedian that is absolutely hilarious. I think I was expecting a comedy book … it is actually a marriage book with solid advice that also happens to be really funny. Fun read!
Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest by William Vanderbloemen. I got a copy of this one at the DYM100 conference I was at last fall. It’s super practical, strong advice on habits to be productive and grow as a leader. It gave me a lot to think about and some practices I want to get more intentional with.
Mental Health and the Church: A Ministry Handbook for Including Children and Adults with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Other Common Mental Health Conditions by Stephen Grcevich. I got this one after attending the Disability and the Church Conference that I went to recently. It’s a really helpful book for learning and growing and gave me some really tangible next steps that I’m already working, including changing some of my communication patterns with teens in general. Pastors and church leaders definitely need to be reading books like this to meet the growing needs in our country.
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