9 Books I Recommend—January 2024
“Shakespeare said the eyes are the windows to the soul, but we readers know one’s bookshelves reveal just as much.”
– Anne Bogel
Here are 7 nonfiction books + 2 novels I recommend from what I finished reading in January 2024.
[See previously recommended books here]
NONFICTION
1. For Such a Time as This
Hope and Forgiveness after the Charleston Massacre
by Susan Risher
Reverend Sharon Risher’s mother was one of the 9 African Americans killed during a Bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015. She writes about how her mother’s shooting affected her own life from the moment she got the news about her death and through the following years.
2. Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops
by Shaun Bythell
This is a witty book written by a bookseller in Scotland about the customers who come into his shop. It’s a lighthearted read but also a telling book about the type of people who frequent bookstores (I’m more of a library person myself).
3. Feel-Good Productivity
How to Do More of What Matters to You
by Ali Abdaal
Abdaal says that the secret to productivity is joy, not more self-discipline. (I find I still need a bit of both.) His book is full of practical ideas on how to feel happier about your work so you can increase your productivity.
[See 9 Ways to Be Happily Productive, my review of Feel-Good Productivity]
4. Practices for Embodied Living
Experiencing the Wisdom of Your Body
by Hillary L. McBride
This is a book to do, not just to read. McBride gives page after page of suggestions to better inhabit and enjoy the body you’re in, not one you wish you had or used to have. Her chapters range from exercises on stress and trauma, body image, illness, oppression, and more.
[See But What If Our Bodies DO Matter?, my review of Practices for Embodied Living]
5. Forgive for Love
The Missing Ingredient for a Healthy and Lasting Relationship
by Fred Luskin
Like Luskin’s first book Forgive for Good, this one—Forgive for Love—also lays a practical foundation for holding space for differences between humans. This one is centered around the steady flow of grace that partners in a relationship need to extend to each other on a daily basis, not just about their large issues but the smaller ones, too.
6. Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change
How to Understand and Respond to Climate Science Deniers
by John Cook
This fun illustrated book is about the serious topic of climate change. The intended audience might be for someone younger, but I found it appropriate for my level of understanding on the both broad and deep matters of climate science. Hopefully the more we understand it, the quicker we can collectively turn away from the multiple ways we’re making things worse for each other.
7. When Religion Hurts You
Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion
by Laura E. Anderson
I personally know many people who have religious trauma from their past, myself included. In this book Anderson helps us understand what that trauma can look like (it’s not always the huge issues you hear about in the news), and importantly, the ways we can begin healing from it.
[See Help for the Complexities of Religious Trauma], my review of When Religion Hurts You]
FICTION
8. The Leavers
by Lisa Ko
This novel is about a young undocumented Chinese immigrant who comes to America, raises a son here for 11 years, then suddenly disappears without a trace. While it is fiction, it’s disturbing to realize these things actually do happen in real life.
9. The Silent Patient
by Alex Michaelides
Alicia Berenson is a famous painter in love with her husband. But one night when he returns home late from a fashion shoot, she shoots him five times in the face. Then goes completely silent for years in a mental hospital. The plot centers on the criminal psychotherapist who tries to get her to talk again. The story contains a fabulous twist, which I love in a novel.
WHAT I’M READING NOW
- The House in the Cerulean Sea
by T. J. Klune - Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!
Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens
by Kate Bowler - What You Should Know About Politics . . . But Don’t
A Nonpartisan Guide to the Issues That Matter
by Jessamyn Conrad - Not the End of the World
How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet
by Hannah Ritchie - The Light We Give
How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life
by Simran Jeet Singh - No Bad Parts
Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
by Richard C. Schwartz - Fight Right
How Successful Couples Turn Conflict into Connection
by Julie Schwartz Gottman, John M. Gottman
What good book have you read lately? Please share in the comments.
Read More:
I just finished Amanda Held Opelt’s Holy Unhappiness. I spent almost as much time taking notes during and afterward as I did reading a library copy. It’s the kind of book that you want for your very own. It’ll be on my 2024 Best Reads list for sure.
So discerning and wise and applicable … deep yet easy to read.
I’m reading Jessica Hooten Wilson’s examination of Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage—her unfinished novel.
Your choices always make me curious…
Okay…so when I saw this list on IG there was one that caught my eye and I think I even commented on it, but after reading here and seeing a little about each one there are a couple more that are definitely going on my wish list.
Numbers 3, 4, and 5 are going on the list. Thanks, Lisa!
Seven Kinds of People… sounds like it would be a really fun read! I also enjoyed The Silent Patient and the unexpected twists.
I don’t read nonfiction as fast as fiction and haven’t finished that many this year (4) and almost finished with 2 more. I am going to link my top 5 nonfiction from 2023 and my top reads from 2023. https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2024/01/top-5-nonfiction-books-of-2023.html
My top fiction favorites: https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2024/01/top-ten-tuesday-favorite-books-of-2023.html
I have not read this book I cite yet, but am close to finishing another book and will get to it. It was recommended to me by a friend who just retired as acquisitions editor for Zondervan and she reads as many books as you, Lisa, each month. This book I cite is by the senior acquisitions editor, just retired, at Zondervan and I linked up with him at Linked in which brought him to ‘me’ as a FB friend. Next – to read his book! “The Beautiful Madness of Martin Bonham: A Tale About Loving God” by Robert Hudson.
Re: Climate Change
I just heard a disturbing report on the news today that weather stations, that the so-called experts follow, are all placed on concrete surfaces, like airports, downtown areas, and other places known to create more heat naturally due to the sun. I’ve just about had it! I’m so sick and tired of being lied to. Also, my step-son has done some research and says that our recycling efforts mostly end up in landfills due to contamination of the so-called recycled items.
I’m over what the media tells us, and am leaning on God for the deep and true answers.
Blessings, Lisa!
You might enjoy “Not the End of the World” about climate science. (I’ve almost finished it; will review soon.) It debunks some of the common myths that circulate widely but aren’t true, and explains the more serious problems that we should be focusing our efforts on. It helped me stop feeling guilty about using plastic straws, for example. 🙂
I just got my copy of Feel Good Productivity last night, Lisa. Thank you for writing about it and inspiring me to get it. Will let you know once I’ve read it.
Wow, Lisa, all of those books sound fabulous. Here are my recommendations for the month. https://alwayswrite.blog/2024/01/31/wq-158-activities-and-hobbies-inspire-us-to-lead-more-fulfilling-lives/. I’ll link your post on this WQ activities post for this week. That way I don’t lose these great recommendations.
Thanks for sharing those titles, Lisa.
Lisa, Thank you for your weekend coffee share and book recommendations. That’s a good number of books you read in a month.
Definitely adding the bookshop one to my list. I appreciate you sharing what you’re reading and recommendations with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.
Wow. Nice list, Lisa. I always enjoy seeing the many topics you read about.
Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops sounds like a fun read! The Leavers is on my TBR shelf and I am looking forward to reading it. Thank you for the recommendations! I hope you have a great week and happy reading!
I have just finished “How to bake Pi” by Eugenia Cheng, which really bowled me over.
You’ve recently recommended two books that really caught my eye:
– “The Science of Stuck” by Britt Frank
– “Practices for Embodied Living” by Hillary McBride
I find these kinds of books — workbooks? — hard work, even when I like them. It took me ages to get through “Better than before” even though I got a lot of help from it. I’m currently languishing a few chapters into “Body Connections: Body-Based Spiritual Care” by Michael Koppel — same.
WOw. SEveral of those sound really good. I love when everyone shares what they’re reading. Right now I’m reading a cozy mystery called Hammers and Homicide, and another called The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.
“Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops” sounds really cute!
The Silent Patient sounds SO intriguing!
Seven Kinds of People you Find in Bookshops caught my attention and I’ll definitely be adding to my TBR list. Thanks so much for joining us at #WOYBS? Lisa and sharing your reviews. I’ve just finished The Tale of Two Cities for our Book Club and The Collector by Daniel Silva which I enjoyed.
The Silent Patient sounds interesting – as does Seven Different Kinds of People You Find In Bookshops. Thanks for linking up with us.
Hi, Lisa – These all sounds like truly fabulous reads. It would be very hard to choose among them. ‘Practices for Embodied Living’ does sound like a great place to start. I am off ot see if my library has a copy.
I love a book about book shops, so have put Seven Kinds of People…. on my list. I already have The Silent Patient on the ever growing list. Thanks for the recommendations.
Thanks for joining us for WOYBS Lisa and sharing these great reviews. Such an interesting collection!! I read The Silent Patient and found it very twisty and couldn’t put it down.
I confess I don’t read non-fiction so I’ve only read The Silent Patient of these (and Michaelides latest as well).
I read another review about the Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops somewhere so must check that out.
Ohhhhhh, The Silent Patient sounds intense. And, honestly, so does The Leavers. I’m all about psychological thrillers and both of these look like they hit the spot.
Great list – I’d love to see more of your fiction reads (since I read the ones you recommended already).