My Non Fiction Reads from 2023

A few weeks ago I shared my fiction reads from 2023. This week I’m sharing all my non-fiction reads from the year. I included some thoughts on each as well as my reading rating scale below for reference as well!

Rating Scale

5⭐ – This book was incredible and I will think about it for weeks if not months and years later (Harry Potter fits into this for me). I remember character names in these books.
4⭐ – I liked it while reading it and it was entertaining but probably already forgot the character names after the last page. Sometimes I forget what the story was about even a few days later. You’ll find a few of those below.
3⭐ – The book either had an odd story line or details that I didn’t understand and felt less logical and therefore didn’t entertain me much. I probably remember more about this one than the 4 star purely because I was annoyed that it wasn’t better.
2⭐ – I probably should have DNF’d it. But thought it may turn out better. I was wrong.
1⭐ – I likely only finished because it was short or someone recommended it and I decided to slog through. Likely poor judgement on my part.

2023 Non Fiction Reads

The Bible – This was absolutely the largest commitment for me this year but always so full of gratitude when I read through it. Also I’m not rating the bible because it’s too precious for a star rating. I’ll rate the rest though.
The Bible Recap – 5⭐ I have read this the last two years alongside the Bible. This was an absolute game changer for me when it comes to understanding the context of the bible.
Extreme Ownership – 5⭐ I’ve read this book 7+ times but this is Teddy’s first time through. We listened to it on audible together and had great conversations of how to apply this to our own leadership.
Make Space for Happiness – 4⭐ I read a few different books this year on the topic of living simply and I really enjoyed this one. It wasn’t just about going through drawers and getting rid of things but more focused on the psychology around why the things got there in the first place and how to deal with the actual internal issues before addressing the external issue. Well worth the read.
Waiting Here for You: An Advent Journey of Hope – 3⭐ It’s not my favorite advent book I’ve done, but overall enjoyable. I wanted to explore something different so I tried this one.
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity – 5⭐ My reminder in not judging a book by its cover. This cover is probably a least favorite but I have found incredible value from this book. This is where my morning pages and artist date practices have come from.
No Rules Rules – 4⭐ This is written by the cofounder and chairman of Netflix about the intentionality put into the culture and process to get there. It was well worth the read.
The One Minute Coach – 3⭐ I loved the concept of the book and the content of it. The part I had the biggest issue with was that it didn’t seem like it was proofread before publishing. Great content but in a unfinished package.
Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing – 3⭐ I was really hopeful about this book. But I let the cover dictate my excitement because it was so pretty. It felt like a book more on Dutch culture than on Niksen.
Messy Minimalism: Realistic Strategies for the Rest of Us – 4⭐ I really enjoyed this new take on minimalism and what it can look like to do so in a different way.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change – 5⭐ I read this initially a few years ago and then again early this year and later this year with my team. Five stars every time.
How to Make Good Things Happen: Know Your Brain, Enhance Your Life – 4⭐ I had never heard of this book before seeing it online at the library. I checked it out and was shocked how much it covered and how impactful it was. Highly recommend.
What Now – 1⭐ I know Ann Patchett is very popular but I really wasn’t a fan of this book. It was short enough I finished it but wouldn’t read it again.
Winning the Week – 4⭐ I really enjoy planning my week so thinking about different strategies to implement for this was worth the read.
Show Your Work – 5⭐ I really appreciate the books from Austin Kleon about creativity and art and this was another great read.
Leading with a Humble Heart – 5⭐ This was a leadership devotional I was gifted from a friend and I would read it in the mornings before work. It was so good!
A Spacious Life – 4⭐ I had never heard of this book prior to seeing it at the library but I really liked how it talked about space in different areas of life. Very fitting for my word of the year.
Art Matters – 3⭐ I found this one at the library hoping it would give similar vibe as the Austin Kleon books but wasn’t as good as I was hoping.
Love Prescription – 5⭐ My cousin sent me a podcast with the Gottman’s being interviewed and I really found their conversation valuable so I found this book at the local library and it was a great reminder of how to approach marriage and things to consider in the relationship.
Master of One – 5⭐ I became a huge Jordan Raynor fan this year. I read this one and his book Redeeming Your Time and have a few others on my list for next year including his new one!
The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success – 4⭐ Overall a really great read. The part that stuck with me most was the father son relationship he shared throughout the book.
All It Takes Is a Goal – 5⭐ Sign me up for anything Jon Acuff. I enjoy the way he writes as well as the concepts he shares. Soundtracks is still my favorite but I really enjoyed this one too.
Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers – 3⭐ Another Anne Lamott book that I didn’t really love. I like the concept but wasn’t really my thing.
Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again– 4⭐ This book further explored what it looks like to take shorter periods of rest as well as longer ones.
Preach to Yourself: When Your Inner Critic Comes Calling, Talk Back with Truth – 3⭐- I think I wasn’t as much a fan of this because I found Soundtracks or Winning the War in Your Mind to be a lot better.
You Are the Girl for the Job: Daring to Believe the God Who Calls You – 5⭐ This one I read when it initially came out and then reread twice this year.
Own Your Past Change Your Future: A Not-So-Complicated Approach to Relationships, Mental Health & Wellness – 4⭐ I really enjoyed this one when reading through it. I liked the perspective on relationships that he digs into.
The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated – 4⭐ This book was good, but since all the information could fit on a notecard, some chapters were longer than needed.
Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers – 4⭐ I love Parks and Rec but I have never read any of Nick Offerman’s books prior. I learned about some new people and bought a few books from authors he recommended.
Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters – 4⭐ I enjoy hearing what practices others have when it comes to living intentionally. This was worth reading.
Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work That Matters – 4⭐ An entertaining read by Acuff.
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life – 5⭐ Another book. I recommend everyone reads. So helpful as you approach boundaries.
I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working – 3⭐ I have enjoyed Shauna Niequist’s books but this one wasn’t my favorite.
Find Your People : Building Deep Community in a Lonely World – 4⭐ There were a few specific pieces of the book that really resonated with me including how she talks about how family groups lived historically. I find myself thinking about it often.
Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are – 2⭐ Reading Boundaries by Henry St. Cloud is far better than this one. I had to force myself to finish.
The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change – 3⭐ Jon Gordon books are fairly simple stories but enjoyable. This one was okay but not my favorite.
The Positive Dog – 3⭐ Another from Jon Gordon and I’m sure really impactful for some people but wasn’t my favorite.
Chess Not Checkers: Elevate Your Leadership Game (The High Performance Series Book 1) – 4⭐ This is the first of a series from Mark Miller where he talks about hiring, connecting, leading, and winning. They’re short books and worth the read.
Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe – 5⭐ This book really convicted me in a powerful way. Specifically one of the prayers in it I prayed this year and in the process learned a lot about obedience.
The Carpenter: A Story About the Greatest Success Strategies of All – 4⭐ Another John Gordon! This was one of my favorites.
The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work – 4⭐ And another.
Juliet’s School of Possibilities: A Little Story About the Power of Priorities – 3⭐ I had been really into the leadership fables from John Gordon and Mark Miller this year so read one from Laura Vanderkam who wrote Tranquility by Tuesday and it didn’t do much for me.
An Effective Life: Inspirational Philosophy from Dr. Covey’s Life – 3⭐ A great substitute if you don’t plan on reading the 7 Habits but if you already have, this is just a short summary and may not be as impactful.
Stick Together: A Simple Lesson to Build a Stronger Team – 3⭐ Another John Gordon but not a favorite.
Redeeming Your Time: 7 Biblical Principles for Being Purposeful, Present, and Wildly Productive – 5⭐ This is the first book I read from Jordan Raynor and has led to me purchasing all of his others. So impactful in how we think about time with a biblical perspective.
Culture Rules -4⭐ This was another Mark Miller book that came out this year. If establishing culture intentionally at work is a new concept for you, you will love this. If you’re already pretty familiar on what it takes, it may not resound as much.
Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else – 4⭐ I liked this one enough to purchase the workbook that goes along with it.
The Psychology of Money – 5⭐ Such a great perspective on how we think about money. I think of quite a few of the concepts in it regularly.
Space: An Invitation to Create Sustainable Rhythms of Work, Play, and Rest – 4⭐ This is a devotional that I had found and aligned with my word of the year. I started out the year with this one and really enjoyed it.
The Stories We Tell: Every Piece of Your Story Matters – 5⭐ I adored this book. I will likely reread it because I loved how the story was told but also the story Joanna Gaines shared about herself throughout.
The 6 Types of Working Genius – 3⭐ I absolutely love the concept of Working Genius. I have listened to almost every eposide of the podcast which is why I rated this one a 3. If I had never heard of the concept this would have been a 4 or 5 star read.
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are – 4⭐ I had this one on my shelf for years and had never read it so I finally did and it was excellent.
Row the Boat: A Never-Give-Up Approach to Lead with Enthusiasm and Optimism and Improve Your Team and Culture – 4⭐ Since meeting Teddy, I have tried to get further into college football. P.J. Fleck coaches at Minnesota and I really found it to be a simple yet enjoyable read. I highlighted a lot in a small amount of pages.
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative – 5⭐ Another Austin Kleon book that was really enjoyable to read.
Win Every Day: Proven Practices for Extraordinary Results – 4⭐ Part of the Mark Miller high performance series mentioned earlier. This one specifically about getting results.
Win the Heart: How to Create a Culture of Full Engagement – 4⭐ Also part of the Mark Miller series. If you are curious about creating employee engagement, this Is worth the read.
Leaders Made Here: Building a Leadership Culture – 5⭐ My favorite of the series which talked about how to intentionally build a leadership culture and the steps to do so.
Talent Magnet: How to Attract and Keep the Best People -4⭐ Another in the Mark Miller series specifically focused on hiring.
Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters – 5⭐ This book inspired quite a few blog posts this year. While the title isn’t my favorite, it had incredible content and is absolutely worth reading.
Elevate: Push Beyond Your Limits and Unlock Success in Yourself and Others – 4⭐ An easy read from Robert Glazer.