Raising Youngins

December 2024

Readers are Leaders is a phrase my dad has repeated to my sisters and I all our lives. Someone recently asked me how I read all these books, and my answer was quick – I must read. Reading develops, inspires, distracts and encourages. I listen to books in the car, on a walk, when I’m sitting with my kiddos as they watch a show. I do listen to books pretty fast – about 1.7x speed. I’m trying to be better about physically reading books at night instead of looking at my phone. Kids will mirror what they see and I’d rather them reading books then focusing on TV. Easier said than done I know…

My 2024 book goal was 20 books and I knocked that out of the park with 33 books! I’ve listed my top 3 for 2024, all my books for 2024 and then my all-time favorites. The bold books are notable mentions that I still think about. Most of these books were listened to, but many were physically read – big Audible fan!!

Check out my lists below and share

1) your favorites for 2024 and 2) what’s on your list for 2025?

TOP 3 for 2024:

1. Consider the Lilies by Johnny Ardavanis
2. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
3. Tired of Being Tired by Jess Connelly

My 2024 Books:

1. Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill by Gretchen Rubin
2. If Our Bodies Could Talk by James Hamblin
3. Mother, Nature by Jedidah Jenkins
4. Addicted to Drama by Dr. Scott Lyons
5. Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
6. Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
7. Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
8. Oh Crap! Potty Training by Jamie Glowacki
9. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
10. Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
11. Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry
12. Andy Catlett by Wendell Berry
13. Remembering by Wendell Berry
14. Tired of Being Tired by Jess Connelly
15. Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt
16. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
17. You Are The Girl For The Job by Jess Connolly
18. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
19. The Women by Kristin Hannah
20. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
21. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
22. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
23. The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen
24. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
25. That Distant Land by Wendell Berry
26. Freefall by Kristen Heitzmann
27. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
28. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
29. The Road Back To You by Ian Morgan Cron
30. Tell Her Story by Nijay K Gupta
31. Consider the Lilies by Johnny Ardavanis
32. The Six Conversations by Heather Hullman
33. The Bible (NLT)

Top All Time:

1. The Bible (how could I not mention the B-I-B-L-E?!)
2. How To Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis (working moms – read this!!)
3. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (the ultimate love story)

Not sure what the next year holds, but here are some books that are on my radar to read…

1. Trust by Henry Cloud
2. Jesus Through the Eyes of Women by Rebecca McLaughlin
3. Rest and War by Ben Stuart
4. Fidelity by Wendell Berry
5. The Wilds Birds by Wendell Berry
6. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
7. The Story of You by Ian Morgan Cron
8. The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence by Scott Allender
9. Breaking Free From Body Shame by Jess Connelly
10. How It Went by Wendell Berry
11. Building a Resilient Life by Rebekah Lyons
12. Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury
13. Made for People by Justin Whitmel
14. There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurk
15. Wild and Free by Jess Connelly
16. Being a Sanctuary by Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez
17. Relaxed by Megan Fate Marshman
18. I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t by Lysa Terkeurst
19. Gospel-Shaped Womanhood by Sarah Rice
20. C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton

What were your favorite books this year?

Have any great recommendations for me to add to my list for next year?