Top Books of 2023
Here we are, squarely in the year of 2024, and I have compiled for you a list of book recommendations: my favorite books I read during the past year! This year I completed 42 books which is low for me (in all the years since I began tracking this) – but life is only getting busier, and I’m also making an attempt to read more slowly in order to think about and savor the books I do read. Because of all that, I doubt that I will again reach 60 or 70 books read in a year anytime soon, but that is quite okay. Having the Life Of A Reader is much, much less about the number of books read and much, much more about choosing to read consistently, enjoying the process, and thinking about what was read. And – surprise, surprise – the same is true for our children.
May I ask you, what is your goal in teaching your children to read? Or your goal in assigning literature for them to read? Is it for them to get a good grade in their class? Is it simply to “get through” a certain number of books before they graduate? That has been my thinking at times in the past, but it is short-sighted and will not serve them well in the long run. Perhaps a better goal could be this: to raise a child who chooses to read consistently, who enjoys the process, and who thinks about what was read. Yes – the same goal for adults who want the Life Of A Reader, because children are born persons. And yes, as I am finding for myself, that might involve reading fewer books but enjoying them more.
*climbs off soapbox*
Also exciting for me (probably not for you) is that this is my first blog post written on WordPress – the platform to which I switched all my content at the end of last year. Old posts are still here, though chronologically out of order, but we’re moving on!
On to the book recommendations, that is! I have a lot for you this year, which is a good sign, because it means that SO MANY of the books I read were excellent and I could not choose between them.
14 Best Books I Read Last Year (In No Particular Order)
No Longer Little by Hal and Melanie Young
By this point I have read a boatload, a shipload, of books regarding babies, toddlers, and the little years in general. This was the first one I’ve read about the pre-teen/teen years, and it was so helpful! Sometimes I forget that our older boys are, indeed, no longer little, and that our parenting needs to change as they change. I also appreciated their perspective of grace and love as they encourage the reader to be understanding of all of the physical and hormonal changes that go on during this time period.
The Life We’re Looking For by Andy Crouch
I loved Andy Crouch’s first book on technology and this one, again touching on the effects of technology, was also a winner. He has a way of getting to the heart of the matter that makes you think about what matters most in life and I also love his emphasis on the importance of relationships.
The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family by Patrick Lencioni
Of course, I don’t like to/want to think of our family as frantic, and I bristled a bit at that title (“Umm, that’s actually the opposite of what we’re trying for!”) BUT his way of asking questions regarding family priorities and organizing them into actionable steps was truly helpful for us. I’m a fan of anything that helps us to be more intentional about how we use our time!
M is For Mama by Abbie Halberstadt
I read both of Abbie Halberstadt’s books this year, and they were very encouraging. There is the generic sort of encouragement that comes from “seeing” someone with literally twice as many kids as I have and then thinking, “Wow, I guess five is not so hard after all!” – but she also excels at a more specific type of encouragement that is grounded in the wisdom of scripture and seasoned with much grace and life experience.
Old Fashioned On Purpose by Jill Winger
This was a fun read, mostly in the “wishful thinking” category, as we are nowhere near the homesteader lifestyle and most likely never will be; based on how long it’s taking me to talk my husband into getting a puppy, farm animals are probably a no-go! In spite of that, I appreciated her section on “old fashioned” parenting and also the foundational idea that newer/faster/more efficient is not always best and that working hard with our hands is good and meaningful.
Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer
Another book that was better than I expected, hooray! I feel like sometimes apologetics material can just be a bunch of “this is completely and totally bad, and here’s why” which is depressing at best and untruthful at worst, but in this book she began each section by asking the question, “What is true or good about this movement/idea/theology/etc?” I love that so much because 1) there’s always something, even if it is only the motives behind the people involved and 2) you cannot truly refute or dissuade someone from an idea unless you understand where it comes from and why people would agree with it in the first place. So yes, I felt like she approached the topic with grace and sensitivity but also wisdom in helping our own little “bears” navigate the world we live in.
And There Was Light by Jon Meacham
This was my one biography for the year, and I enjoyed it very much. Lincoln is such a fascinating figure, and the focus of this biography was Lincoln’s view of slavery and whether or not he truly opposed it. I don’t want to leave you in suspense, so I will give it away and tell you that YES, Meacham’s conclusion is highly favorable of Lincoln. From all appearances, he was truly an admirable character who did the best he could for the time in which he lived – may that be said of us all!
52 Ways To Walk by Annabel Abbs-Streets
This book was fascinating! It’s packed full of research and the science behind why walking is excellent in so many surprising ways. The book encouraged me to get out and walk more, and also showed that a simple (and cheap!) form of exercise can be extremely effective.
Raising Boys Who Respect Girls by Dave Willis
This one I feel is a must-read for anyone with boys (or who is married to a boy, or knows a boy, or is a boy… you get the idea). He dives into not only physical respect but also emotional and mental ways in which our culture puts down girls or views them as “less.” It was a sobering and saddening read in some ways, but the problem cannot be fixed until it is acknowledged.
The Whole And Healthy Family by Jodi Mockabee
I think there is wisdom in learning from people in many different stages of life. Older mothers whose children are grown and gone have a long-term perspective that is invaluable when we can’t yet see that for ourselves, while mothers who are still in the thick of parenting but maybe just a few years ahead of us can give practical wisdom as we navigate the same cultural time period, and also a different sort of encouragement because they have not yet forgotten what these years felt like. Jodi Mockabee falls into the latter category for me, and I’ve appreciated the wisdom she has shared on social media as well as in this book.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Okay, so last year I said I was going to read more Dickens, and I did: five of his novels, to be precise. They were all thoroughly enjoyable but this one was probably my favorite – and the ending was so surprising! I will NOT give this one away in case you have not yet read it. You have to read Dickens’ novels carefully to keep track of all the characters and plot twists, but if you can do that, it’s worth the effort!
The Doorstep Mile by Alastair Humphreys
This is the sort of book that makes you think, “Wow, I need to get out on an adventure RIGHT NOW.” His enthusiasm is contagious and I agree with his perspective that if you wait for the “perfect” time to do that thing/adventure/leap of faith you’ve always wanted to do, it will never happen.
Modern Miss Mason by Leah Boden
With this book, Leah Boden made Charlotte Mason’s ideas – written over one hundred years ago in a very different culture than ours – feel understandable and accessible. I love that, and I appreciate her encouragement that every family can apply these timeless ideas in slightly different and unique ways.
Mothering By the Book by Jennifer Pepito
This is a unique twist on parenting/mothering advice: Jennifer Pepito shares some of her favorite books that either were read-alouds in her family, or that she read herself, and then explains how that book helped her in her mothering journey. It’s an uplifting read about the power of stories and reminded me that reading aloud is really one of the most important things that we do together – not just for the kids, but for me too!
There you have it – fourteen book recommendations to start your new year off with a bang! I hope something here piques your interest, and please leave me a comment with your favorite reads so I can add them to my own list!
