6 Books I Recommend—March 2024
“A compelling and delightful practice I’ve developed over the years is to read many books at once. This way, they cross-pollinate and begin to speak to each other.”
– Mark Nepo
Here are 5 nonfiction books + 1 novel I recommend from what I finished reading in March 2024.
[See previously recommended books here]
NONFICTION
1. Glimmer of Hope
How Tragedy Sparked a Movement
by the Founders of The March for Our Lives
This is a beautiful but tragic collection of essays written by the high school survivors of their school shooting on Valentine’s Day 2018 in Parkland, Florida. If you have doubts about the next generation, this book will help change your mind. These teens channeled their sadness and anger into productive action. May we adults follow suit and be willing to create legislative change for the schoolkids following them too.
2. The Light We Give
How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life
by Simran Jeet Singh
I don’t know much about the Sikh religion. But when I heard Simran Jeet Singh speak at a conference last January about relationships and unity (he said, “When we have a choice between ego and love, always choose love“), I saw several overlaps between Sikhism and other world religions. Simran grew up in Texas and faced bigotry then and now because he wears a turban. His sweet spirit and loving response you’ll find in his book will inspire you to be a better person, regardless of religion.
3. Build the Life You Want
The Art and Science of Getting Happier
by Arthur C. Brooks
I didn’t expect much from this book because the title sounded overpromising. But I was pleasantly surprised! It was full of wise advice about getting happier, such as:
- Don’t choose happiness as a destination but as a direction.
- Empathy really can lessen other people’s burdens.
- Happiness isn’t the absence of unhappiness—you can have both at the same time.
I highly recommend this one!
4. Gunfight
My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America
by Ryan Busse
Ryan Busse worked for 30 years as an executive for a gun manufacturer. Until he couldn’t stomach it any longer. He shares his experiences about seeing the industry pivot from guns for hunting animals to guns for hunting humans, and his distaste for it. Very interesting (and troubling) to hear an insider’s perspective.
5. Executing Grace
How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It’s Killing Us
by Shane Claiborne
I attended an online vigil for Kenny Smith on January 25, hoping for a stay of execution. But Alabama executed him anyway using nitrogen hypoxia, a first in American history. Kenny’s final words: “Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards. I’m leaving with love, peace and light.” Yes, he was guilty of his crimes. But we still need to ask if we’re adding more crimes with our punishment choices.
Shane Claiborne makes a strong case for abolishing the death penalty in this book, approaching it from every angle. Whether you’re for or against the death penalty, this is a powerful book I’d recommend you read.
FICTION
6. The Lost for Words Bookshop
by Stephanie Butland
On a (little bit) lighter note, this novel is about a young woman named Loveday who works in a bookstore in England. She had some serious trauma in her childhood but made peace with it through her sweet job in the bookshop, until her past comes back to haunt her in the present. (I just discovered there is a sequel: Found in a Bookshop.)
WHAT I’M READING NOW
- Supercommunicators
How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
by Charles Duhigg - Cloistered
My Years as a Nun
by Catherine Coldstream - Say Good Night to Insomnia
by Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs - Oath and Honor
A Memoir and a Warning
by Liz Cheney - It Starts with Us
by Colleen Hoover
What good book have you read lately? Please share in the comments.
wow as always love your list. And that Mark Nepo quote! so true. After reading your list I always to my library page and have requests. Thank you!
My library list is so long that I can’t see the end of it. I realized the past few years that I’m already old enough to never read all the books on my to-read list. Coming to grips with that.
Great quote by Mark Nepo. That Brooks-Winfrey book sounds really good! Visiting from the Crazy Little Love Birds link party.
The Brooks-Winfrey book surprised me the most. I did expect it to be good, but not as good as it was! 🙂
Love your variety of book reviews, Lisa. I know that the fiction one would be first on my list but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t read your other recommendations. Thanks so much for sharing at the #WeekendTrafficJamReboot and have a lovely weekend. x
I do like to keep one fiction book going at all times in my stack. I need it to balance out my non-fiction books that can get too heavy at times. (Not that all novels are breezy either though; they can be just as heavy!)
HI Lisa, I agree that non-fiction can become heavy. My daughter does the same as you – she keeps a balance between the two and is enjoying just reading for pleasure rather than for self development. Thanks for joining us at #WOYBS? I hope you can join us next month. x
You always highlight such thought provoking non-fiction reads! These all sound fabulous.
For every book I do read, there are so many more thought-provoking ones that I’d love to dig into! But we’re all bound by time, unfortunately. 🙂
These sound like fantastic books. Glimmer of Hope sounds wonderful but sad and I do like the sound of The Lost for Words Bookshop.
Yes, Glimmer of Hope was sad, yet at the same time very encouraging to hear how motivated and hopeful these young people are in creating change!
Hey, Lisa, these sound great. Jotting a few down so I don’t forget.
Visiting today from Crazy Little Love Birds 31 #5&6
xo
I have so many book titles that I jot down here and there, too. I just need more time to read them all! 🙂
I definitely will add Lost in a Book Shop to my list! Everything else I am currently reading is a bit heavy with the exception of one book…so a bit of lighter reading would be good!
I think you might enjoy that one too, Dianna! I like reading books that are set in bookstores.
These books all look interesting, but The Lost Words Bookshop and Build the Life You Love are especially appealing. Thank you for the suggestions.
Those books were two of my favorites, too. The Lost Words Bookshop was free on Kindle Unlimited, and the Build the Life You Love book was a library book. 🙂
I love the sound of the fiction book – Lost for Word Bookshop. Might have to add that to my wish list
It was a good read. It had some very serious parts, but a lot of lighthearted moments too that I really enjoyed.
Fab round-up of books Lisa! There’s a couple I will be checking out.
Lovely to have you back at #MMBC. 🙂
Build the Life You Want would definitely fit with my word of the year. Lost For Words Bookshop sounds great too. Thanks for linking up.
Great list of books. I put the super communicators on my list to read
What an interesting list of books you’ve read Lisa, some seem a bit heavy but so intriguing too! Your fiction read sounds fun :). Thanks for joining us for #WOYBS.