7 Books I Recommend—March 2021
+ My 1-Minute Video Book Review
A peasant that reads is a prince in waiting.
– Walter Mosley
Below are 7 books I recommend from those I finished reading in March + a 1-minute video review.
[See previously recommended books here]
Nonfiction
1. Caste
The Origins of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson
Caste is a must-read for those who want to better understand the divisions in America. I highly recommend it. Even if you’ve read other books you think are similar, read this one anyway.
Here’s my 1-minute video review of Caste.
2. Journey to the Cross
A 40-Day Lenten Devotional
by Paul David Tripp
I’ve been reading these 40 devotionals during Lent. They’re short enough to be read daily, but long enough to be meaningful. I’ll keep the book to read again in a few years.
- Read more about Journey to the Cross:
“It’s the Season of Spiritual Poverty”
3. Irresistible
Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World
by Andy Stanley
Why was Christianity so irresistible to many in the first century, and yet so repellant to many in our century? Andy Stanley suggests we need to return to the roots of Jesus. Jesus is the real draw. I appreciate Stanley’s message.
4. Faith after Doubt
Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do about It
by Brian D. McLaren
Read this book for a four-stage model of faith development that you may be experiencing yourself and seeing around you. Brian McLaren walks you through each stage from Simplicity to Harmony. This isn’t a book for everyone, but for those willing to question their old beliefs, this book is refreshing.
- Read more:
Book Review—Faith After Doubt
5. Chatter
The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It
by Ethan Kross
We talk to ourselves all day long. Are we saying the right things? This book helps us have a better conversation with our inner voices. I really found it helpful.
- Read more about Chatter:
“How to Harness the Voice in Your Head”
6. The Power of Writing It Down
A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life
by Allison Fallon
This book helps you see the importance of having a personal, daily writing practice, not so you can publish a book, but so you can understand your life. It motivated me to start again.
Fiction
7. Meet Me at the Museum
by Anne Youngson
I enjoyed this novel written as a series of letters between farm-dwelling Tina in England and Professor Anders from a Danish museum. I alternated between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook (depending on if I was at home or driving). I recommend both versions.
Reading Now
- The Sum of Us
What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together
by Heather McGhee - Freeing Jesus
Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence
by Diana Butler Bass - Salt to the Sea
by Rita Sepetys - Effortless
Make It Easy to Get the Right Things Done
by Greg McKeown - Storyworthy
Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling
by Matthew Dicks - Time Management Ninja
21 Rules for More Time and Less Stress in Your Life
by Craig Jarrow
What good book are YOU reading this month? Please share in the comments.
My books on Goodreads
More books I recommend
Freeing Jesus is also on my list.
And I love your 1 minute reviews! Great job!
Thanks, Michele. The videos stretch me. lol. I’m trying to read slowly and carefully in Freeing Jesus. I appreciate Diana Butler Bass’s writings.
The Unwelcome Stanger, & The Road to Ravenna by Valerie Cullers
Counselor by Ann Aschauer
Some interesting titles, Barb! It looks like you read more than one book at a time too. 🙂
You had some great reads this month, Lisa! Caste sounds fascinating. As does The Power of Writing it Down. This is something I do, but I love to read the experience of others and I love books about habits. I read Meet Me at the Museum in February. I had mixed feelings about it.
Have a great April!
I actually had mixed feelings about Meet Me at the Museum too! I really enjoyed it as I was reading along. But when it ended, I felt unsatisfied. But after a few days looking back on it, I decided I liked it enough to recommend. I wonder if our mixed feelings are for a similar reason; I didn’t want to ruin the ending here by explaining. lol
Wow, Lisa, another wonderful list of recommended books. Thank you!
It’s my pleasure, Martha. 🙂 It’s fun to share the books that I have learned from or have simply enjoyed just for the pleasure of it.
Again, I love your book recommendations, Lisa. I already wrote down Irresistible from your 4 Somethings post. I think I need to read Chatter too! Thank you for these helpful reviews.
You’re welcome, Laurie. I have been practicing some of the tips from “Chatter”, like talk to yourself in the 3rd person if you need advice. 🙂
Lisa, thank you for your book review summaries and recommendations. Blessings.
You’re welcome, Paula. It helps me remember what I’ve read when I look back over the books to see what I should recommend.
So many good reads! I am amazed. I’m trying to incorporate more fiction lately, finding it helps me unplug from overthinking (although Bogel’s book about that was a pleasantly helpful surprise to me this month!) I shared my reads for March this week too!
As a heavy non-fiction reader myself, I try to keep a novel going at all times too. I agree with you: it helps me unplug from overthinking and the Lord knows I need to do that more often! 🙂 Going to your site now to see your books….
“Pinned.”
Thanks, Susan!
Chatter sounds like an interesting read.
Chatter turned out to be a very interesting and helpful book. I was intrigued by the title, and it really delivered. Sometimes books do, sometimes they don’t. I was thankful this one did.
Caste sounds fascinating. I’ll have to look it up. I hope you have a great April!
Thanks, AJ. It’s hard to believe it’s already April. Caste was very good; I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Caste is on my list!
Caste was on my list for awhile before I finally got it from the library. It was worth the wait!
This is another interesting collection of books. I’ve recently begun journalling again after not doing it much over the last few years, so the book about writing it down particularly caught my eye and Chatter sounds good too.
That’s great that you’re journaling again too, Lesley. I’d forgotten how valuable it can be in helping me to sort out my everyday thoughts.
I enjoyed your video book review, Lisa … your presentation style is very calm and engaging. 🙂 I’m getting close to the end of “Gentle and Lowly,” and just began “Prayer in the Night.” I absolutely love the first book, but am having some trouble getting into the second one. I’m not ready to give up on it yet, though. 🙂
Thank you for your kindness, Lois. I don’t particularly enjoy doing the video reviews, but for some reason I feel compelled to share about books “in person,” so to speak, instead of just in print. 🙂
I keep hearing good things about Gentle and Lowly. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
You sound like me in hanging on to books just a little longer just in case they get better as you go. 😉
I love this post! I bought Caste by Isabel Wilkerson after I loved The Warmth of Other Suns so much. . . but I haven’t yet read it. Thank you for inspiring me with your one-minute review (what a fantastic idea, and what a good job you do with that!!).
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!
And I still haven’t read The Warmth of Other Suns. ha. The length intimidated me, but after making it through Caste, I need to go back and read the other one too. 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement and for featuring my book post at your linkup, Richella!
What a great reading roundup, Lisa! I LOVED Meet Me at the Museum. Such a sweet story of friendship. And I will need to read that Lent devotional next year! I loved Tripp’s Advent devotional and love his writing in general. This Lent, I read Behold the King of Glory by Russ Ramsey, which is a 40 day devotional that follows Jesus’ earthly ministry and culminates with Holy Week. It was powerful!
I will link my recent reads, if interested!
Thanks for sharing about Behold the King of Glory. I’m glad there are so many great resources to help focus our minds on Christ through all the seasons of the year!
I 100% agree with you that Caste is an essential though uncomfortable read. Thanks for your other recommendations, too!
Caste was difficult, but yes, even though some books are uncomfortable, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t read them if they’re important. Thanks, Ruth.
How fun that you do 1 minute book reviews.
Caste is already high on my
Ooooh – The Paris Dressmaker sounds super interesting – while I have read alot of ww2 novels, I haven’t read any about the resistance of the fashion industry so I’m super intrigued.
I’m hopping over here from the MMD Quick Lit post – here’s what I (and my family) have been reading which is a bunch of books to escape into including romance, fantasy, and historical fiction.
https://www.everyoneslibrarian.com/blog/quick-lit-april-2021TBR – thanks for pushing it up even more!!
I’d had Caste on my list for awhile before it finally became available (and honestly, it was probably awhile before I even put it on hold). I knew it would be a challenge, but it was worth it! Thanks for sharing your list too, Lis. Quite a lot of interesting titles there.