It’s that time of year again! Each year I collect my favorite reads of the year to share with others. And each year I beg contributions for next year’s reading list. (Drop your recommendations in the comment section, please, or comment on my Instagram or Facebook! I may not be able to read as much in the coming year. This past winter we got snowed in, and I did a lot of reading then! But I will still attempt to be purposeful.) These were my favorite books of 2021. You’ll see a fair mix of biographies, books on spiritual growth, parenting helps, and even books on history and economics. My goal for this year was to stretch my mind. I hope this list helps you as you discern which books are worth your time.
Something new for 2021? My series of mini book reviews! A fair number of these books will be linked to their reviews so you can read more about them. I also simply listed the titles of my favorite novels of the year in this post. An earlier post tells you much more about the best novels I read all year.
Need encouragement for making time for reading while your kids are still young? Read this article!
Anna’s Favorite Books of 2021
(This isn’t every book I read, but it is a list of my favorite books of 2021!)
Books for Spiritual Growth
The Holiness of God, by RC Sproul
A book about God’s holiness can seem unapproachable. Yet Sproul presents this book glorifying God’s holiness in a humble, friendly manner, as if he’s your favorite college professor who illustrates with concise stories and never loses track of the main point. I highly recommend this book. (See the rest of the review here.)
Charity and Its Fruits, by Jonathan Edwards
An exposition of I Corinthians 13. The book is a series of lectures, each expounding on one verse from the great Chapter of Love, called “charity” in the English of Edwards’ day. Sometimes this is tough reading—I read it in pieces over an 8-month period! But page after page gives gems for reflection. The last chapter alone, in which Edwards extols God’s loveliness and the value of pursuing heaven (the land of love, or charity), is heart-swelling in its call to adoration. (This book was my Puritan read for the year.)
Rediscovering Holiness, by JI Packer
Packer emphasizes that holiness can only come from a heart full of praise and adoration to God for Who He is and what He has done for us. I recommend chapters 2-8, particularly. (The afterword added in 2009, not so much.) Packer has such a straightforward and gracious way of urging us to seek God and choose holiness.
Growing Together, by Melissa Kruger
A wonderful book to help us move past small talk and into real Christian discipleship. See my review here.
Gentle and Lowly, by Dane Ortlund
One of my favorite reads of the last few years. Ortlund makes Puritan writers accessible, and he focuses on the merciful heart of Christ toward all of us sinners and sufferers in a way that’s greatly refreshing to those of us burdened by legalism and/or guilt. See more about the book, including both pros and cons, and read my favorite quotes in this review.
Love has a Price Tag, Elisabeth Elliot
A collection of Elliot’s articles from the Christian Herald magazine. Some of the articles are simply musings about her life, but many are profound reflections upon life, holiness, and godly womanhood. Worth picking up often to glean a phrase for reflection.
Alone with God, John MacArthur
Worth repeated, thoughtful readings. “When we pray in faith and in conformity to God’s will, our prayer is a sanctifying grace that changes our lives dramatically.” See my review here.
When Doctrine Divides the People of God, by Rhyne Putman
“In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity.” Read a fairly comprehensive review of this book on evangelical unity here.
Motherhood/Homeschooling
Mere Motherhood, by Cindy Rollins
Mrs. Rollins is known best for her championship of “Morning Time,” a homeschooling practice of reading and memorizing together as a whole family each morning. Read my review of her humorous memoir here.
Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full, by Gloria Furman
After reading this book, I scribbled in my journal: “Excellent! Approachable and Christ-exalting.”
This is Furman at her most honest and least pedantic. Her life experiences and dedication to studying Scripture in the midst of serving her family (including many littles and a husband with a physical disability) inspire me to seek Christ with fervor. I also found myself wishing Mrs. Furman lived next door.
Labor with Hope, by Gloria Furman and Jesse Scheumann
Rich, gospel-saturated encouragement for all mothers, whether biologícal or adoptive. Furman and Scheumann draw from Scripture to show how our pain in birthing and parenting helps us mirror God. (God is not like us, but we can be like Him, the authors reiterate.) Short chapters keep the reading pace fast.
Fit to Burst: Abundance, Mayhem, and the Joys of Motherhood, by Rachel Jankovic
“The mentality of sacrifice is not a mentality of sorrow. The life of giving is not an empty life.” (P.13) “They [our children] should see us laboring hard to make a beautiful life for them while not losing sight of them in it.” (P. 31) “Seeing that God is asking something of you—and delighting in doing it for Him—brings the kind of peace with the mundane that can seem unattainable….This is Christian discipleship.” (P. 43) Jankovic calls the stress of being tired (and slightly overwhelmed, although she doesn’t use the word) “the ambient noise of faithfulness.” (P. 95)
Awaking Wonder, by Sally Clarkson
Sally Clarkson’s educational philosophy and encouragement for moms who are educating their children. See my review here.
A Mom After God’s Own Heart, by Elizabeth George
I listened to this as an audiobook and found it so refreshing. Read my review of this one of my favorite books of 2021 here.
The Strong Willed Child, by James Dobson
Encourages firm but kind parenting and lets those of us with strong willed children know that we are not alone. (And that we are not terrible parents if our child is prone to tantrums. We are just parents who need endurance and faith.)
Miscellaneous Nonfiction
(Yes, I really am one of those people who writes “misc. nf” down on my booklists for the year. Don’t hate me! I used to work in a library.)
Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell
How much does the process of selection affect which athletes are considered talented? (Apparently, how early your birthday is matters, not just in athletes but in school!) How much does “luck” affect which people become the richest or the best in their field? Gladwell collects and distills fascinating statistics in his signature style. And whether or not you agree with his conclusions, you will be enthralled by his storytelling ability. (As I read, I couldn’t help but think of how confused people become when they don’t believe in the workings of divine Providence.)
The Whole Brain Child, by Siegel and Bryson
Is parenting a matter of simply understanding the brain? The authors wouldn’t make that claim, but they do believe that their findings on brain development and integration will help parents engage more effectively with their children. This book speaks mostly to parenting children from the toddler years to the preteen years, when neural connections are being formed and strengthened at incredible speed. Read more here.
Thunderstruck, by Erik Larson
A dramatic retelling of a famous murder and the development of the technology that proved the murderer’s downfall: Marconi’s wireless. This book gives remarkable insight into the Western world (particularly Britain) and its mores in the early twentieth century. I really enjoyed listening to Thunderstruck as an audiobook.
Freakonomics, by Steven Levitt
A fascinating (and a bit disturbing) examination of data used to answer questions about a variety of subjects, from crime rates to education to naming trends. (His proposition that Roe v. Wade caused a sharp decrease in America’s crime rate 20 years later, when those babies would have been potential criminals, was disturbing to me, as an ardent pro-lifer. However, he acknowledged that thousands more babies were killed than would have become murderers.)
The Unsettling of America, by Wendell Berry
This book makes a prophetic statement, reminding the reader of Thoreau’s work. It made me think; in fact, I wrote a reaction called, “Was Wendell Berry Right About Housewives?”
Evicted, by Desmond
This gripping, Pulitzer-prize winning work follows the lives of several Milwaukee families in deep poverty as they experience evictions and homelessness. Read more here.
Atomic Habits, by James Clear
“You do not rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.”
On changing environmental cues: “Be the designer of your world, and not merely the consumer of it.”
“…we’d rather be wrong with the crowd than right by ourselves.” (In encouragement to find a crowd that creates a good environment around you and practices habits you desire to have.)
“The road less traveled is the road of delayed gratification.”
On Reading Well, by Karen Swallow Prior
A delightful examination of virtues and some of the stories that help us understand more about those virtues. I loved reading this book, and so will you if you want to learn how to read more deeply! Read my review here.
The Bullet Journal Method, by Ryder Carroll
More than explanation of the author’s method of organizing your life, this book causes you to think about why you even choose to busy yourself with the things that fill your life.
The Enchanted Hour, by Meghan Gurdon
“A story is never wholly yours again once a movie has colonized your mind’s eye.” This book is a paean to the importance and beauty of reading aloud. Read my review here.
Decluttering at the Speed of Life, by Dana White
This book was a funny, practical help for those ready to make space in their homes. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s self-deprecating style, humorous examples, and incredibly simple 2-question approach to decluttering. I’ve read a number of books in this category now, and this is the one I’d recommend to moms.
Your Best Year Ever, by Michael Hyatt
Great advice about changing your mentality to one of success rather than scarcity. Read my review here.
A Different Shade of Green, by Gordon Wilson
What does Christian environmentalism look like? Gordon Wilson discusses the original “very good” God pronounced over His creation and asks us to consider what our role is in obeying His command to take dominion over creation. Read the rest of my review here.
Boundaries, by Cloud and Townsend
Pros: encourages healthy boundaries between family members and friends. Helps the reader stop reacting out of anger or guilt and start responding. You can read a more complete list of pros and cons in my review here.
Biography/Memoir – Favorite Books of 2021:
The Zookeeper’s Wife, by Diane Ackerman
This is the true story of a zoo-keeping family who used their position to hide several hundred Jews escaping Warsaw during the Nazi occupation of Poland. The author’s meticulous research and graceful, colorful writing captures the imagination. History comes alive and the reader sees the happiness and kindness that survived during a time of great horror and brutality.
Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back, by Janice P. Nimura
Just a few years after the American Civil War and not long after Commodore Perry forced a trade agreement with isolationist Japan, 5 daughters of samurai were sent to America to be educated. Three of them stayed for a decade. This book follows their lives. My review is here.
Everything that Remains, Joshua Millburn
Joshua Fields Millburn is 1/2 of The Minimalists, who have helped inspire the nation to live with less. This is his memoir. You can read my mini review here.
I Will Not Fear, by Melba Beals
Part memoir and part devotional. Dr. Beals begins her story with the part she played as one of the famed Little Rock Nine. She shares her grandmother’s wise words, which apparently often sustained her. The writing is not polished but is sweet and compelling.
Defying Jihad: The Dramatic True Story of a Woman Who Volunteered to Kill Infidels–and Then Faced Death for Becoming One, by Esther Ahmad
This is the story of someone who was once a radical Muslim who volunteered for Jihad and then converted to Islam. Her description of how the persecuted Pakistani Christians long passionately for church (in the conversation at the end of the book) was especially convicting as I think of the American way of taking this privilege for granted.
A powerful section of the book details the debates she had for a month as clerics and others attempted to win her back to Islam. Esther (once Zakhira) was given the words to respond courageously. She was given a platform to show the truth of God’s Word and the confusion of the Q’uran, which she had studied extensively as a devout Muslim. And she almost paid for her courage with death.
12 Years a Slave, by Solomon Northup
I listened to a beautifully read audio version of this book, and it helped make real the tragedy of losing 12 years of family life because someone decided to snatch a free man and sell him as a slave. Solomon’s dignity, strength, and evenhanded view of his several masters is clearly seen in this well-composed narrative.
The Egg and I, by Betty MacDonald
Laugh-out-loud humor fills the pages of this incredibly witty memoir of life on a chicken farm in the Pacific Northwest a generation ago. Many of the neighbors are remembered to be very foul mouthed, which unfortunately taints otherwise humorous stories.
Ida B. The Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells, by Michelle Duster
The first half of this book I found very well-written and well-compiled. Ida B. Wells stood up for the rights of many falsely accused or unfairly treated African Americans during the early 1900s. The second half was…well, you’ll have to read my pros/cons and favorite quotes from the book here.
We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled, Wendy Pearlman
The story of the Syrian revolution, in the words of Syrians. This was truly a powerful read. Read my review here.
Becoming Elisabeth Elliot, by Ellen Vaughn
A new favorite in my growing collection of biographies. Read a very brief review here. I highly recommend this well-researched and thoughtfully written book.
Give Me This Mountain, by Helen Roseveare
Dr. Helen Roseveare, missionary doctor to the Congo, wrote this autobiography with great humility and a sense of humor. This is a brief and convicting read. Here is my review: Roseveare.
Year of No Clutter, by Eve Schaub
The memoir of a Non-Minimalist who must subdue her clutter before it subdues her. Her self-deprecating wisecracks kept me chuckling. (Some bad language, so not for young kids.) My favorite quote: “If I keep everything, who’s going to know…what’s really important?” Also, it’s a reflection on our First World situation when she wonders in the introduction if she is “doomed to have everything while being able to find, use, and enjoy nothing.”
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, by Nabeel Qureshi
I learned so much about Islamic beliefs and culture in this story of a devout Muslim who attempted to disprove Christianity and instead became a Christian believer. The ending call to evangelism made me ready to mobilize! This book has been on my mental booklist for some time and finally made it to my paper list. It’s an excellent read for those wishing to not only read Mr. Qureshi’s story but also to get just a taste of the debates between Islam and Christianity. (And also the debates within a couple of Islamic sects.)
Gardening Books of 2021:
Gardening When it Counts, by Steve Solomon
Brusque, matter of fact advice. This is the book to read if you want to produce a lot of vegetables on a low budget. Read my review here.
Poetry
Devotions, by Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver has a way with words like very few others. Her incisive, beautiful descriptions of emotions and nature caused me to see the beauty of every little thing I see outdoors. She also writes of seeking after God, and I wonder if she ever found what she was seeking. Free verse poetry.
Favorite Novels of 2021
(Read more description of these beautiful reads here, in the full post. These are the novels I loved most among my favorite books of 2021.)
Before We Were Yours, by Lisa Wingate (my favorite novel of all this year!)
The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehesi Coates
The Hawk and the Dove, by Penelope Wilcock
Forever and Forever, by Josie S. Kilpack
We Hope for Better Things, by Erin Bartels
The Bird in the Tree, by Elizabeth Goudge
The Seamstress, by Allison Pittman
The Nature of Fragile Things, by Susan Meissner
A Tapestry of Light, by Kimberly Duffy
The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Tolstoy
Miss Grief and Other Stories, by Constance Woolson
The Invisible Man, by H.G. Wells
Honorable Mentions for My List of Favorite Books of 2021:
From Silk to Silicon, by Jeffrey Garten (educational)
Book Girl, by Sarah Clarkson (beautifully written)
You may also enjoy:
So what should I read next? I’m calling for recommendations via email, comments below, or Instagram! The book I currently have open is Tactics, by Greg Koukl.