4 Life-Changing Books to Add to Your TBR

One of the most valuable resources you can invest in is a book.

If I’m reluctant to spend money on a book, I ask myself, “Will I be X amount of dollars smarter?” The answer is almost always yes.

Oftentimes, you don’t even have to make an investment with your money (yay for libraries!), but you do have to make an investment with your time—this investment is more than well worth it too. I love listening to audiobooks as a way to read while doing chores, exercising, or driving. I had a group of friends who called audiobooks “car university,” and the term has stuck with me. These friends estimated that in a year, you spend close to the same number of hours in your car as it takes to get a degree, so why not spend that time reading, learning, and growing?

On my journey to writing and publishing my first book, Live Empowered. Lead Empowered., my favorite books were a vital part of the process. I have a notebook I consider my collection of gold: Every time I finish reading a book, I log it in my notebook. I write the title, the author, and the date I finished it. Then I jot down the quotes I highlighted throughout the book—now, they are all in one place. As I wrote my first book, I took this notebook and pulled out the quotes that were closest to my heart and have made the most meaningful impact in my life. It was a way for me to share my gold with others.

I want to share more gold with you today by telling you about some of the amazing books that have influenced my life, work, and journey to becoming the person I want to be:

1) Sometimes You Win—Sometimes You Learn: Life’s Greatest Lessons Are Gained from Our Losses by John C. Maxwell

This name might be familiar to you, as John C. Maxwell is a best-selling author and is considered by many to be a leadership expert. I would recommend any book by Maxwell, but this book in particular has helped me on the journey to breaking free from perfectionism.

One of the main points Maxwell makes is that you have to evaluate your mistakes instead of judging yourself for them. Instead of getting stuck in regret, you can use those mistakes to propel yourself forward. How many of us need to hear that message once in a while?

2) The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears by Mark Batterson

This book helped me answer a call that God put on my heart: to be a light in the dark for my neighborhood.

In The Circle Maker, Batterson references the Bible story of the fall of Jericho, where the people of Israel circled Jericho for seven days until the walls of the city came crashing down. Batterson talks about how in this same way, we need to circle our dreams with prayer. He invites us to physically walk circles while praying and claim the promises of God.

One of the things that used to discourage me about my neighborhood was the amount of litter it had. But Batterson’s words challenged me to claim my neighborhood and circle it in prayer—while picking up garbage. Now we do weekly “garbage walks” where we walk around the neighborhood and pray while picking up litter. What a way to reframe this problem for the glory of God!

3) Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown

Compassion and openness are two important values to me, but I’ve had to learn how to keep true to those values while also protecting myself and setting boundaries. Brown’s book showed me that this is not only possible, but it is also a way to show even more compassion to others: “Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They’re compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.”

Brown touches on so many of the things that are keeping us from becoming the best version of ourselves, including our willingness to be vulnerable and our tendency toward shame. I hope you pick up this excellent book or any other of her inspiring works!

4) Fear Is Not the Boss of You: How to Get Out of Your Head and Live the Life You Were Made For by Jennifer Allwood

I know I am reading the right book at the right time when I laugh and cry my way through it. I loved this book so much that I wanted more of Allwood, and I right away signed up for one of her business webinars.

Not only does Jennifer keep a Christ-centered message throughout her book, but she also caters to women trying to achieve something great, whether it’s writing a book, adopting a child, or launching a business. She gives straightforward, practical advice while also being vulnerable and sharing the struggles she has faced.

When we see people who are already successful, it can be hard to imagine they ever struggled. But Allwood shares her personal obstacles while helping you believe you can overcome yours too.