Favorite Books of 2015
In 2015, I read more books than ever in my life. As I've gotten older, I've found a strange desire to want to learn more. As a younger person, you think you have everything figured out. As you get older, you realize that you NEVER have anything figured out. Reading has given me a way to LEARN every time I pick up a book.Over many years, I've been fortunate to have developed friendships with many authors. Authors who have created some amazing pieces of writing. Authors who have challenged me, taught me, and inspired me. The list below is a look at my 10 favorite books from 2015.(In no particular order)
This book opened my eyes to why following Jesus should not mean we have to take a certain side on issues. And when there are moments where we disagree, we do it with a critiquing of opposing views in light of scripture rather than seeing the person you disagree with as the enemy or the idea as an argument to be won at all cost so we can be the one who was the most right. Wonderful read to help kick our faith in gear and help see others as people to love instead of people to judge.Favorite quote: "God have mercy on us if we do not love well because all that matters to us is being right and winning arguments."
Andy Stanley is one of my favorite speakers, teachers and writers of faith. I picked up this book in early November as I had been wrestling with a lot of different questions that needed decisions. Andy summed it up so easily in this book. I did a ton of note taking and even wrote a blog about the impact this book had on me.Favorite Quote: “I knew that one day I would look back and wish I had invested more time with the people I loved and less time with the hobby I loved.”
Brad is not only a tremendous leader and author, but he's also been a great friend and encourager to me this year. His book released in September and it's no coincidence that after reading his book, I had a ton of clarity on the direction of my work and my life. There's so much goodness in this book that I wrote a blog on it's 10 biggest pieces of wisdom. Please pick up this book and learn how to be a better leader with hustle, hunger and humility.Favorite Quote: "People would rather follow a leader who is always real versus a leader who is always right.”
Matt is all Jesus all the time and I love it. His book is a fresh look at how God is still very much alive and well in a world that appears to be losing it's faith. The stories he tells are compelling and inspiring. Matt's also become a good friend this year, and I do hope you pick up his book and support something we can all agree on --- that hope and faith are NOT dead.Favorite Quote: "We are called to represent Christ and his gospel through our love, our graciousness, and our humility. We are to sacrifice personal preferences and prefer others above ourselves---to truly care about people in our workplace, to truly care about our boss (wouldn't that be different than the world around us?). This is the kind of occupation Christ would have us bring about on the earth."
I've been a fan of Darrin for a while, following him on twitter for a few years. I met him at a function Super Bowl week in downtown Phoenix and really enjoyed our conversation. I remember him mentioning to me that he had this book on marriage coming out later this year. In October, the book was released, and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I've been married 16 years and thought I had this whole "I do" thing figured out and yet, there was so much I learned from Darrin's book. I loved how he would write a paragraph or two about a specific issue, and then his wife would come in and add her take with some female clarity and wisdom. For all guys, married or not, this book is exactly what every "Dude" needs to read.Favorite Quote: "Idolatry will kill us. Our god-substitutes leave us empty and powerless to be the men we were created to be. Our wives do not want our ultimate worship; they want husbands who know where their ultimate worship should go. They want men who know God, are led by God, and love like God loves. This is possible because of Jesus."
I've had this book for a good 6 months until I finally picked it up to read. I'd heard so many good thing from people but it took to until November when I finally picked it up and man was I treated with this delicious piece of writing. Donald is gifted, flawed, brilliant, broken, transparent and honest. This book showed me how important relationships are, and how difficult they can be to get them right. But when we figure out the simplicity in embracing the struggle and open ourselves up, relationships start to grow deeper and richer than we can ever begin to hope and true intimacy is revealed. Outstanding, outstanding book.Favorite Quote: "I believe God is a fan of people connecting and I think the enemy of God is a fan of people breaking off into paranoid tribes. And I think all the clanging pots in the kitchen to scare people from the territory we feel compelled to defend is playing into the hands of dark forces. I think a lot of the shame-based religious and political methodology has more to do with keeping people contained than with setting them free. And I'm no fan of it."
I've known Benjamin for a few years through work. He's always been someone I've admired. He carries himself with such grace and confidence off the field. He's pretty good on the field too, having played in the NFL for 12 years. Last year, when he wrote one of the more memorable Facebook posts I'd ever seen, I knew something bigger was happening to him. God was using his platform of football to allow him to share the great news of Christ to a global audience. His facebook post (863k likes, 471k shares) led to this amazing book on race and how we can all come together to make the world a better place, beginning with Jesus. Well done Benjamin.Favorite Quote: "So we all --- black human beings and white human beings alike --- must come to recognize our own sin. We must understand the just punishment we deserve. We must come to a place of personal brokenness and see our need --- our desperate need --- for God."
Matt's book came as a recommendation from a phone discussion I had with a friend in October about work and the calling God has on your life, both at work and home. Matt's book was pure gold. His simple message of bringing Jesus to work by loving your neighbor at the office is something our places of business are in desperate need of. This book takes Colossians 3:23 and expands it into a terrific read.Favorite Quote: "At the end of your life it isn't going to matter at all what other people say about you. The only thing that will matter is what God says about you."
Jon is one of the funniest people you will ever read. His wit and 1-liners go places I only wish my brain could imagine. Jon's book came out back in April, but I didn't get it until October. It was actually the very first AUDIO BOOK I'd ever listened to and it captivated me. Jon's book has so much goodness in it about career, family and how to re-charge and in some cases, re-start the life you live. This isn't just a book of funny, witty, humor though. It's a fantastic leadership and business book that offers great insight into getting things aligned at your workplace and in your home.Favorite Quote: “When a stranger criticizes your entire life because of one thing you posted on Facebook, that’s like someone driving by your house and yelling from his car, “Your yard is horrible, I bet your heart is too!”
You Win In The Locker Room First -Jon Gordon and Mike Smith
Jon Gordon is one of my all-time favorite authors. He's also a friend and someone who has a become a must-follow on twitter. I've read numerous books by Jon and have had the privilege of interviewing him on this very blog. He and former Falcons head coach Mike Smith collaborated to write this excellent book on leadership and how to build a winning team in business, sports and life. The funny thing about this book, although it's about winning, it really is about loving and serving the people you come in contact with each day at work and at home. I love this. Highly recommend to anyone, at any stage of life, who wants to live a better life.Favorite Quote: "If you want to build a winning team, you must show that you care. It sounds obvious and simple but too often we forget to show we care. We get busy, stressed, self-consumed and don't take the time to let others know we care about them. When you care about someone, you show them that they matter and make them feel important."
BONUS: 2 books I'm reading now that I hope make the list in 2016:
Help My Unbelief - Barnabas Piper
You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) - Jeff Goins