Best Books of 2020
Mason Cooley quipped, “Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
What a great thought for 2020! While we were shut down and sheltered in place for a big chunk of the year, reading opened us to new possibilities.
I hit most of my reading goals pretty early in 2020. Actually, I just discovered that isn’t quite true. I set goals for reading a certain number of books all the way through—and I met that. But I also set a goal to read a quantity of books from the Blinkist app, and I just saw I am a few short. I’m working on it now! By the way, would anyone recommend a better book review app than Blinkist?
How was your reading in 2020? And what is the best book you read this year?
HERE ARE MY TOP FOUR BOOKS FOR 2020:
1. “Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It and What You’re Going to Do About It” by Bob Goff.
My granddaughter, Hannah and I worked through this book together. That’s why it is my number one!
2. “You’re Doing Great: And Other Reasons to Stay Alive” by Tom Papa.
Comedian Tom Papa released this book in May. It’s a light and funny read on not taking life too seriously. His chapter on coffee is one of the best I have ever read.
3. “Loser Think: How Untrained Brains are Ruining America” by Scott Adams.
Scott Adams is the creator of Dilbert. He begins this way: “Despite evidence to the contrary, we all use our brains. But most of us have never learned how to think effectively.”
4. “The Vision-Driven Leader: 10 Questions to Focus Your Efforts, Energize Your Team, and Scale Your Business” by Michael Hyatt.
“Vision-Driven Leader” might be the best step-by step training I have ever seen on how to develop a clear and compelling vision.
That’s my list. What’s yours?
Feel free to send me your list of top books of 2020 at JDPearring@gmail.com. We will add your ideas and try to keep the article updated.
Happy Reading!
Here are some of the “Best Books” sent in by contributors. Hopefully you can add a few of these to our 2021 reading list.
Lori Pearring, Marriage and Family Therapist, Elk Grove, CA
“Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia: ‘Experiencing Dementia--Honoring God’"
by John Dunlop MD
“Redefining Anxiety: What It Is, What It Isn't, and How to Get Your Life Back”
by Dr. John Delony
Paul Taylor, Lead Pastor, Rivers Crossing Community Church, Mason, Ohio
“Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones.” by James Clear
Alan Adler, Church Planting Administrator Transformation Ministries and Excel Network
“The Dichotomy Of Leadership: Balancing The Challenges Of Extreme Ownership To Lead And Win” by Jocko Willink
David Bennet, Expand Financial Group, Burleson, TX
“The Art of Optimism: Your Competitive Edge” by Jim Stovall
The churches and businesses which prosper are the ones who see opportunities in catastrophe.
“Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business” by Gino Wickman
Simple steps for entrepreneurs to the next level. Practical. Great thinking exercises.
Geoff Wells, Excel Board Member, Elk Grove, CA
“The Harbinger II: The Return” by Jonathan Cahn
Ken Hendrix, Church Planter and Pastor, Clarksville, Tennessee
“Revival Starts Here: A Short Conversation on Prayer, Fasting, and Revival for Beginners Like Me” by Dave Clayton
Stephen Fussle, Pastor of The Awakening Church, Maui, Hawaii
“You Could Write for Amazon: Beginning Steps For Beginning Authors (Pastors as Authors Book 1)” by Ralph Moore
Dave Elshaug, Director of the Loving Utah Network
“Intentional Churches: How Implementing an Operating System Clarifies Vision, Improves Decision-Making, and Stimulates Growth” by Doug Parks and Bart Rendel
Mark Bargaehr, Church Health Lead at Transformation Ministries
“21 Days of Breakthrough Prayer: The Power of Agreement” by Jim Maxim , Cathy Maxim, Daniel Henderson and Jim Cymbala
Joe Shutts, Lead Pastor, New Freedom Church, Lebanon, Ohia
“People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality Is Not Just an Issue” by Preston Sprinkle and Wesley Hill
It helped me to better understand how to navigate the gay and lesbian discussion and land mines that it presents for church leaders.
David Ordaz, Lead Pastor, One Church San Diego
“Grown-up Faith: The Big Picture for a Bigger Life” by Kevin Myers and Charlie Wetzel
Tricia Chen, Missionary
"Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation" by LaTasha Morrison
"I Wanted Fries with That: How to Ask for What You Want and Get What You Need" by Amy Fish
"Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You're Going to Do about It" by Bob Goff
Waison Chen, Missionary
“God at War: The Bible and Spiritual Conflict” by Gregory A. Boyd
Scott Pearring, Seek First Financial
“Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine.” by Mike Michalowicz
Joe Guynes, Lead Pastor, The Redeemer’s Place, South Florida
“21 Servants of Sovereign Joy” by John Piper:
A wonderful collection of short essays about great Christian leaders
“Brothers, We are Not Professionals” by John Piper
A great book to pastors about their role as shepherds of their church.
“Evangelism in the Early Church” by Michael Green
A deep historical assessment of evangelism in the early church giving light to the methods and techniques of the early church’s explosive growth
Bob Bixby, Church Planter and Pastor, Redeemer Church, San Jose, CA
“Analog Church: Why We Need Real People, Places, and Things in the Digital Age” by Jay Y. Kim and Scot McKnight
Possibly one that I will hand out to new church members as a quick description of what I believe about church. It's particularly poignant since it was written from the Silicon Valley and published just as we all went digital with lockdowns!
Tim Pearring, Lead Pastor, Journey Church Elk Grove, CA
“The Lifegiving Parent: Giving Your Child a Life Worth Living for Christ” by Sally Clarkson and Clay Clarkson
Nicci Pearring, Elk Grove, CA
“Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as If Your Life Depended On It” by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz
Jake Pearring, Product Manager, Encinitas, CA
“The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World” by John Mark Comer
Gionna Pearring, Encinitas, CA
“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
“The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World” by John Mark Comer
Charles Stevens, Senior Pastor at Transformation Church of Sacramento
“The Trap - Overcoming in Grace” by Leslie Ricks
“Church is a Team Sport” by CJ Johnson
“The Color of Compromise” by Jemar Tisby
Ben Finney, Teaching Team, Journey Church Elk Grove CA
“Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Take Hold and Others Come Unstuck” by Chip Heath