Joy
Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
Simplicity is my new favorite word. It’s best friends with the Silence and Solitude. Shauna Nieguist writes about all three gifts in Present Over Perfect. We have the power to make our lives what we want them to be, and I want my life to glow with mercy. If you’re looking to trade a frantic lifestyle for a more soulful way of living, this book is for you.
To Read: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Chloe
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
The Brothers K contains many of the elements I love in a novel – a setting in the American West, in depth character development spanning decades, a hint of allegory, and a unique point of view. I picked it up after many recommendations and so far am not disappointed. It is the story of the Chance brothers and their upbringing by their defunct baseball-playing father and zealot mother. In their home, you either worship God or baseball. Told in 10 year-old Kaid’s voice, the story is at turns tragic and at others hilarious. I am rooting for this family and looking forward to seeing where Duncan takes them through the years.
To Read: On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moor; Loving Luther by Allison Pittman
Adam
The Birds of America by John James Audubon
I became interested in birds as a kid after receiving a bird picture book from my grandma with a pair of toy binoculars. After growing up, I didn’t think about them much over the years until a few years ago when I moved to an area near a large waterway and forest preserve. In one day over the summer I counted 20 different species of birds. Birds of America is probably the most well known bird related book in American history, and even though it was first released 1838, its illustrations and descriptions are still relevant today. And while I’ve been able to identify all the types of birds I’ve observed because of this book, it says nothing about how sometimes a flock of wild turkeys might block your street and make you late for work.
To Read: Rule of Law by Randy Singer
