My dad always told me growing up,
Five years from now, you're the same person except for the people you've met and the books you've read.
He got that quote from John Wooden, and to be honest, I never thought it was true.
Really? The books I read will change me that much?
Really, they will.
Last year, I took the challenge of reading 12 books in 12 months. I ended up reading more than that, and I am a completely different person because of it. If I do this 12 in 12 for the next 5 years, I am incredibly excited to see how my life will change! Dave Ramsey always says, "He with the most information and the most patience wins." Usually he is referring to getting the best deal on an item you want to purchase, but I think it applies to reading books as well.
He with the most information and most patience really does win.
This February, I want to focus my free time on reading. It's a small goal, but a step in the right direction to set the tone for this year. Will and I both have some substantial goals regarding books in 2012, so my hope is to read a little every morning, a little every night, and to fill my free time with reading a few pages as well. If I take Winston to the vet? I bring a book. If I take a road trip? Bring a book. If I run errands? Maybe even listen to an audio book. Hopefully lots of little time reading will result in much accomplishment!
I'd like to share one of my favorite Pinterest Boards I've created : Books Worth Reading. These are books that I have read and highly recommend. In one way or another, they changed me, my habits, or one important area of my life. I don't post every single book that I read onto this Board - only the ones that have had an impact on my life. Or maybe I really enjoyed a good novel, and I feel you would enjoy it too.
Since I never officially gave a recap of my 2011 Books, here is a summary of the books I read : 15 Total
The Mesh
The Forbidden
The Parting
The Longing
The E-Myth
Be the Pack Leader
Heavenly Man
Love and Respect
Saving CeCe Honeycutt
Stuff Christians Like
Thou Shall Prosper
Good to Great
Boundaries
The 4 Hour Workweek
The Bible
Out of that list, I would say my top 5 include : The E-Myth, Boundaries, Thou Shall Prosper, Heavenly Man, and The 4 Hour Workweek. (Obviously the Bible is #1!) I hope that my 2011 reading list, as well as my Books Worth Reading Pinterest Board, will inspire and motivate you to become a reader. Or perhaps, just become more of a reader than you already are.
•••
February Goals
Spend more of my free time reading
12 in 12 : Read Kisses from Katie
Meet with my health coach to layout a plan for my 1/2 marathon training
Continue to wake up at 6:30am each workday + add Sundays to that routine
Clean out the Garage
Design + Order the last wedding albums from 2011
What are some of your favorite books?
Awesome post! so thrilled about what we’re going to read this year.
I just finished kisses from katie and blogged about it. i really enjoyed reading it, and walking away with encouragement that the Lord does powerful things when we seek Him!
I just finished “The Seed” bu Jon Gordon – he has a good weekly blog too. I’ve heard good things about the 4-hour work week and came across the praying wife over the weekend. Off to the library this weekend!
I saw you read Jon Acuff…..his newest book Quitter is one you’ll love as you’re setting goals!
Hi Nancy! I love reading your monthly goals posts – they always inspire me to look ahead and set some solid goals for the upcoming weeks. Have you ever used goodreads.com to keep track of your books? They have a great system where you can create and name your own “shelves” based on what you want to read and what your favorites are. I also read the 4 Hour Workweek and the Mesh last year. One of my to-read books for this year is the E-Myth! Today I registered for a marathon in June – training starts on the 12th of February! My goal for the month is to stick to my training plan and run 5 days a week (I’m using a Hal Higdon plan). It’s awesome that you are going to be running a half this year! February, let’s DO THIS!
I hate to add another to your already awesome list, but Safely Home is another good one. I served as a missionary in China for a while and that book really shows you the truth about underground church through an amazing story. A friend of mine wrote the forward or part of it for The Heavenly Man. She was then kicked out of China for doing so……fascinating stuff I tell you. Anyway, just thought I would mention.
nancy, i really enjoyed “drive” by daniel pink. happy february!
…and play catan with justin and molly
A few from my reading list for 2012 include: The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, Miracles and The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, Kisses from Katie (like you’ve mentioned above) and One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp…I think I’ll also read at some point, Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge… Thanks for sharing your list as there’s a few I see that I’ve never read before and might look into! Happy Friday!
Hi Nancy! I found you via Lara Casey and love your work! I especially love how you write your monthly and yearly goals. I think I may “steal” this idea to keep myself accountable. Such a great idea! I have 4-Hour Work Week on my phone but would love to actually read it! Love engulfing myself in your work!
xo
Bridgett
Hey Nancy! If you haven’t read it yet, Radical by David Platt will definitely change your life, especially if you try his challenge at the end of the book. It is especially awesome if you get a group of people to read it together and try to live out the challenge together. It may seem a little…well… radical, at first, but he really lays his heart out and makes valid points. After the first chapter, I wanted to say, “he’s going a little over the top” but I pushed through and I am so glad I did.