Featured Friday:2020 Non-Fiction Books Of The Year

I set myself the goal of reading 20 books off of my "to-read" shelf, the physical one and the one on Goodreads. At this time, I have two more to go and I think I'll get there since I'm in the middle of two right now :)

Get Out Of Your Head by Jennie Allen - I am a thinker. I lie awake in bed at night, not able to fall asleep, because I'm thinking (and writing blog posts in my head :) I'm an internal processor. This is not a bad thing except it means I get caught in thought spirals. This book was great to help me recognize and start to take ownership. Identify lies, replace them with truth, and chose to believe that truth.Quest For Love by Elisabeth Elliot - I will pretty much read any book with her name on it. This woman is such an inspiration to me. She married three times (her first husband was murdered, the second died of cancer) so she knows a lot about love and marriage AND her "dating years" with her first husband were... intense. I don't take anyone's word as laws that must be followed but her thoughts are valuable in figuring out what works for you.

Quest For Love by Elisabeth Elliot - I will read anything with her name on it. She inspires me and encourages me. She's my "book mentor". Having been married three times (her first husband was killed in the mission field and her second died of cancer), she knows a thing or two about love and marriage. Her "dating years" with her first husband were also... intense. While I never advocate for taking anyone's advice as law (they don't know you and your situation, after all), Elisabeth has wisdom that we'd be wise to listen to and consider.

I Was Blind (Dating) But Now I See by Stephanie Rische - This book was one of those times where God had to have set up the timing of me reading it. Stephanie shares the questions she asked about herself and dating in general and they are the same questions I've asked myself!!! One of the best books on dating I think I've read for that reason. What's funny is that in some ways, her book is the exact opposite of Elisabeth Elliot's. Both are excellent.

How Do You Kill 11 Million People by Andy Andrews - The title sounds horrible, I know, but basically we are looking at the question of how do you end up with a Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc? The first section is a fascinating look at that question and then the rest of the book is documents from the founding of America. The Founding Fathers had some remarkably keen insights.

Hinds' Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard - I've always kind of been afraid of allegories because they can be so hard to understand. This one is not. It is clear and straightforward and man, it hit me close to home. Hinds' Feet is a beautiful book that deserves to be treasured and sat with.

Uninvited by Lisa TerKeurst - I read this as a book club read of sorts with two friends and we put our thoughts on each chapter in a GoogleDoc. It was really fun! Writing this list, I'm realizing how many books I read this year that dug into my heart and soul and helped me grow. God used these books to expose things in my life that I needed to work on and in reading with friends, I realized I am not the only one who deals with these things.

All That's Good by Hannah Anderson - Discernment. It's been a theme I've been learning about for two-ish years now. Learning discernment has helped me understand how Christians can make such different choices. This is a clear book on the subject and walks through Philippians 4:8. Discernment should be listed in the Fruits of the Spirit, for only by walking with Him can we discern what is good, noble, right, true, etc...

Church History In Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley - My nerdy book for the year :) I cannot believe I found this book at the library (booksale or bookstore. Cheap either way) and it was fascinating. I wouldn't call this an in-depth look but neither is it just a surface level summary. If you like history and want to learn more about how Christianity has gotten to where we are today, this is a great book. I was saddened by a lot of our history, but we are human after all.

Radical by David Platt - I met with a friend to ask her about discipleship and I left with homework!  :) I'd heard of this book before, we may have even owned it at one point, but I'd never read it. Certainly stretching and challenging.

Follow Me by David Platt - If I had to pick a favorite of the two, this is what I'd pick. Where Radical looked at the church more, this one focuses in on our faith walk. Both books had me looking at my plans and dreams and evaluating them, as well as looking at my current season of life and the way I'm living my faith now.


Bonus: Growing Together by Melissa B. Kruger - This is a bonus because I am not done with it but currently in the middle. The subtitle is "Taking Mentoring Beyond Small Talk & Prayer Requests". I lead a group of 10 middle and high school girls and specifically disciple/mentor four of them. I've been feeling the need to take things deeper but didn't really know how. I'm so excited for this book and to take some of the principles (or maybe the whole book!) to deepen these relationships.


Have you read any of these books? Are you wanting to read some after reading about them?