2017 Books

Below is the list of books that I read for 2017. It seems that the year was about organization, kids, and discovering option-b (with a mix of spiritual encouragement here and there). I enjoyed this set of books and look forward to seeing what 2018 hold.

	Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life’s Storms by Tim Tebow Tim Tebow has achieved big victories and plunged the depths of failure, all while never letting go of his faith, even in the face of doubt and disappointment. In Shaken, he explains why neither the highs nor the lows of his life can define him. He reveals how to find confidence in your identity and know who you are. Tebow pulls back the curtain on his life, sharing the vulnerable moments of his career that have shaken him to his core—while also teaching the biblical principles that will enable you to keep the faith, no matter what comes your way.
	Option B by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant After the sudden death of her husband, Sheryl Sandberg felt certain that she and her children would never feel pure joy again. Her friend Adam Grant, a psychologist at Wharton, shared concrete steps people can take to recover and rebound from life-shattering experiences. We are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. It is a muscle that everyone can build.  Resilience comes from deep within us and from support outside us. Even after the most devastating events, it is possible to grow by finding deeper meaning and gaining greater appreciation in our lives. Option B illuminates how to help others in crisis, develop compassion for ourselves, raise strong children, and create resilient families, communities, and workplaces.
	Parenting Without Borders by Christine Gross-Loh Research reveals that American kids lag behind in academic achievement, happiness, and wellness. This book takes us across the globe and examines how parents successfully foster resilience, creativity, independence, and academic excellence in their children. Christine Gross-Loh discusses issue such as how co-sleeping may promote independence in kids, “hoverparenting” can damage a child’s resilience, Finnish children, who rank among the highest academic achievers, enjoy multiple recesses a day, and our obsession with self-esteem may limit a child’s potential.
	I Am N by The Voice of the Martyrs I ran across this book a month ago at Hobby Lobby. When I saw it, I was intrigued. I picked it up and read the first few pages. This book is about the every day risks and persecutions Christians face in ISIS controlled areas. In the beginning, many were faced with three choices: convert to Islam, pay an extremely high tax, or death. However, in more recent days, the choice is simply convert or die.
	Think Like A Freak by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner In Think Like A Freak, they offer a blueprint for an entirely new way to solve problems, whether your interest lies in minor lifehacks or major global reforms. The topics range from business to philanthropy to sports to politics, all with the goal of retraining your brain. Along the way, you’ll learn the secrets of a Japanese hot-dog-eating champion, the reason an Australian doctor swallowed a batch of dangerous bacteria, and why Nigerian e-mail scammers make a point of saying they’re from Nigeria.
	The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines The Magnolia Story is the first book from Chip and Joanna, offering their fans a detailed look at their life together. From the very first renovation project they ever tackled together, to the project that nearly cost them everything; from the childhood memories that shaped them, to the twists and turns that led them to the life they share on the farm today.
	How To Worship A King by Zach Neese Worship is more than music. It is the impetus for everything we do as Christians. It is expressed through every action of our lives and helps us become more Christlike. When we learn to worship God through our life, we become better Christians, ministers, musicians, parents, and mechanics.This book unfolds a holistic view of worship so that you can experience peace, joy, and the richness of living in God’s presence.
	Another Wave of Revival by Frank Bartleman Frank Bartleman was a man of passion and deep burden. His prayers literally open the heavens. But he was more than an intercessor. He was a man of vision – a prophet. He perceived the deeper significance of what the Holy Spirit was after in revival and called upon God’s people to go on to that ultimate. (This book was recently retitled to “Azusa Street”).
	Work Clean: The life-changing power of mise-en-place to organize your life, work, and mind by Dan Charnas Every day, chefs across the globe churn out enormous amounts of high-quality work with efficiency using a system called mise-en-place – a French culinary term that means “putting in place” and signifies an entire lifestyle of readiness and engagement. In Work Clean, Dan Charnas reveals how to apply mise-en-place outside the kitchen, in any kind of work.

Honorable Mentions

Below are a list of books I read partly or quickly for one purpose or another that didn’t merit me writing my thoughts on the book.

• The Wild Diet – Get Back to your Roots, Burn Fat, and Drop up to 20 Pounds in 40 Days, by James, Abel
• Primal Fat Burner – Live Longer, Slow Aging, Super-power your Brain, and Save your Life With A High-fat, Low-carb Paleo Diet, by Nora T. Gedgaudas
• The Paleo Solution – The Original Human Diet, by Robb Wolf
• The Danish Way of Parenting – What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids, by Jessica Joelle Alexander
• Make your Kid A Money Genius (even If You’re Not) – A Parents’ Guide for Kids 3 to 23, by Beth Kobliner
• Leaders Eat Last – Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t, by Simon Sinek
• Hashimoto’s Protocol – A 90-day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting your Life Back, by Izabella Wentz
• Clean Gut – The Breakthrough Plan for Eliminating the Root Cause of Disease and Revolutionizing your Health, by Alejandro Junger
• The Disconnected Kids Nutrition Plan – Proven Strategies to Enhance Learning and Focus for Children With Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Disorders, by Dr. Robert Melillo