18 Books I Loved in 2019

I read 65 books this year. My goal was 50 and I knew by March I would shatter it. My list is ever-growing and recommendations are always coming my way. I love this! I’m trying to organize my 2020 reads so I can cover more topics, and… I’m going for 100 books this year. That’s right, 100. Bring it! Here is a list of some books that changed my world this year, and I hope they make it on your 2020 list if you haven’t already read them.

6 min readDec 30, 2019

This book frightened me, shocked me, and gave me a lot to think about. My book club read through it together and grappled with the racism that it contained. It is a wild and intense read, and my first-ever Jodi Picoult book (somehow)! It will disturb you but it is an important read.

2. American Prison by Shane Bauer

Another disturbing read I read in early 2019. This is a memoir by Shane Bauer who works at a private prison as an investigative reporter. It will chill you to your core, but it’s a must-read to learn about a hellish industry that needs to be dismantled and done away with. Phenomenal journalism and an amazing book.

3. The Bassoon King by Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson, AKA Dwight Schrute is AWESOME. He is funny, wise, and deep, and I loved his memoir, The Bassoon King. You get to know a lot about who he is as a person which is fascinating, and it is full of insights from The Office. A light and fun read I highly recommend!

4. Living Gently in a Violent World by Jane Vanier

Jane Vanier, a contemporary prophet and one of my heroes, died this year. He is the founder of L’Arche communities that exist around the world. L’Arche is an international private voluntary organization that works for the creation and growth of homes, programs, and support networks with people who have intellectual disabilities. If you haven’t heard of them or of Vanier, look them up now. Vanier made our world better, and I will continue to read his works this year, starting with Vulnerable Communion.

5. Educated by Tara Westover

I devoured Educated by Tara Westover, as did everyone I know! It is jaw-dropping from start to finish. She is a courageous soul and incredible writer. I can’t recommend this enough. Buckle up for a wild ride.

6. Reclaiming Hope by Michael Wear

Michael Wear has emerged as a helpful voice in navigating faith and politics today. He worked in Obama’s White House and is well-versed in many hot-button issues occurring as the 2020 election approaches. Reclaiming Hope is painfully relevant and important for anyone navigating these topics wholeheartedly.

7. Becoming by Michelle Obama

This book made me cry as much as any other this year. It surprised me in that way- how vulnerable and moving it was. She is a brilliant thinker, writer, and leader, and I really recommend Becoming if you haven’t already read it. I waited months to read it and ended up listening to it as an audio book, with her reading it. That made it even more special.

8. There are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz

Phenomenal and heart-breaking. This details the lives of two boys growing up in Chicago in 1992. It gives fascinating insight into circumstances so unfamiliar to mine that can only lead to more empathy and compassion. If you read anything this year, read this.

9. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

Anything Brene Brown writes will make my list. She is just brilliant, and this book serves as a guide for authentic leadership. It is relevant for anyone, and I loved it and took away much from it!

10. An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor

Barbara Brown Taylor was my favorite author of 2019, and I read all of her books- Holy Envy, Leaving Church, and Learning to Walk in the Dark. This was the first I read, and I recommend them all. Her wisdom is unmatched; you can’t walk away from her books unchanged. They nourished my soul so much this year.

11. Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans

Ugh. I read this immediately after Rachel Held Evans passed away this year. She was the kind of writer and leader in the world that made people feel at home. I still grieve her loss every time I open Twitter, wishing her wisdom and comments on current events could still bless us. I can’t wait to read her other books this year, and it’s devastating we lost her so young. I highly recommend listening to this episode of The Daily about her: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/24/podcasts/the-daily/rachel-held-evans.html

12. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

I guess it’s obvious I needed a reminder this year of what a world leader can be. I didn’t agree with every policy or idea Obama had, and many didn’t, but I respect him so much. He is a phenomenal writer and thinker, and it is something to grieve where we are right now. His annual list of favorite books and shows encouraged me to do this myself. This was the second book of his I read this year, and it will surely inspire all who read it.

13. Last Chance in Texas by Jon Hubner

Amazing. Profound. You have to read this. The restorative justice model described in this book that is taking place for violent youth offenders in Texas should be the national model. I worry we lack the courage to do so, but you have to read this book. It’s inspiring, devastating, and everything in between.

14. Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor

Shout out to BBT, the only author to make the list twice! Again, I read all of her books this year so it was hard to choose only two to add to this list. This is an amazing look at her work as a world religion professor. It humbled and encouraged me as I read it, and I think we could all learn a great deal from her work.

15. Ohio by Stephen Markley

This was one of the few novels I read this year. It is harrowing and intense from cover to cover. It is so dark, eerie, haunting, and brilliant. Ohioans especially will love it. Add this to your list in 2020.

16. Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

We all know Trevor Noah is hilarious, but wow can he write! This was as much of a memoir as it was a history book of South Africa and Apartheid. Amazing book. It is on my 2020 radar to see him perform in whatever capacity I can- highly recommend.

17. Heavy by Kiese Laymon

This is a special one. I got to meet Kiese Laymon after seeing him speak at a conference in Savannah, Georgia this year. His writing is so honest, important, and well… heavy. This book tackles so many important issues in an authentic way, and Kiese was an awesome guy to meet and chat with. I highly recommend this and can’t wait to see what he puts out next!

18. The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

Many will be unfortunately scared away by the title, but Richard Rohr has been such a nourishing voice for me over the years. He is one of the wisest, most profound thinkers of our day. I can’t wait to see what else he writes this year, as he continues to push the boundaries of inclusive love in the world. I’m so grateful to have discovered him.

18 books I can’t wait to read in 2020:

I have to stop there or I’ll never finish! Here’s to 100 books in 2020.