2021 Reading List

I set a goal in 2020 to document every book I read, stating that I wanted to read 120 books. I just barely hit the goal, finishing 121 books on December 31, 2020. This year, I am going to continue sharing the books I finish. I noticed that as last year progressed, I was more willing to abandon a book if it didn’t grab my attention. It helped that most of the books were digital library books that had a three week loan period. This year, I’m less interested in the number of books read. I’ll be focusing instead on the enjoyment of reading, the mysterious nature of discovery, and exploration.

Notes:

  • Here is my 2020 reading list.
  • All links below are affiliate-free.
  • Some of these books were started in 2020 and finished in 2021.

January (11)

  1. Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives by Dan Millman
  2. The Death of the Artist: How Creators Are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech by William Deresiewicz
  3. Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up by Patricia Ryan Madson
  4. Unleashing the Artist Within: Breaking through Blocks and Restoring Creative Purpose by Eric Maisel, PhD
  5. Your Adventurous Life Awaits: 7 Coordinates for Living a Purposeful Life of Adventure by Maryann & Brian Remsburg
  6. The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America’s Wildlands by Jon Billman
  7. Why Smart People Hurt: A Guide for the Bright, the Sensitive, and the Creative by Eric Maisel
  8. The Prosperous Coach: Increase Income and Impact for You and Your Clients by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin
  9. True Indie: Life and Death in Filmmaking by Don Coscarelli
  10. Coaching for Breakthrough Success: Proven Techniques for Making Impossible Dreams Possible by Jack Canfield and Dr. Peter Chee
  11. Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley

February (7)

  1. The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone
  2. Selling 101: What Every Successful Sales Professional Needs to Know by Zig Ziglar
  3. Contact by Carl Sagan
  4. The Science of Selling: Proven Strategies to Make Your Pitch, Influence Decisions, and Close the Deal by David Hoffeld
  5. Called to Create: A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate, and Risk by Jordan Raynor
  6. You Are Beloved: Living in the Freedom of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Love by Bobby Schuller
  7. To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink

March (6)

  1. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
  2. The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
  3. The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage by Daymond John with Daniel Paisner
  4. Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff
  5. Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg, PhD
  6. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

April (13)

  1. The Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher’s Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient by William B. Irvine
  2. Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide by John Cleese
  3. Comemadre by Roque Larraquy and translated by Heather Cleary
  4. Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
  5. Messy: The Power of Disorder to Transform Our Lives by Tim Harford
  6. The Sweeney Sisters: A Novel by Lian Dolan
  7. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
  8. Eat a Peach: A Memoir by David Chang with Gabe Ulla
  9. Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz with David Ritz
  10. The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win by Maria Konnikova
  11. Like Streams to the Ocean: Notes on Ego, Love, and the Things That Make Us Who We Are by Jedidiah Jenkins
  12. Untamed by Glennon Doyle
  13. How to Write One Song: Loving the Things We Create and How They Love Us Back by Jeff Tweedy

May (11)

  1. The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
  2. The Abundance Code: How to Bust the 7 Money Myths for a Rich Life Now by Julie Ann Cairns
  3. Born To Do It: Becoming the Leader of a Business Niche Using Powerful Spiritual Techniques by Dr Rebekah Louisa Smith
  4. Right Place, Right Time: The Life of a Rock & Roll Photographer by Bob Gruen
  5. Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work by Timothy Keller with Katherine Leary Alsdorf
  6. The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks
  7. Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl
  8. Running with Monsters: A Memoir by Bob Forrest with Michael Albo
  9. Stuntman! My Car-Crashing, Plane-Jumping, Bone-Breaking, Death-Defying Hollywood Life by Hal Needham
  10. Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness
  11. Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most by Greg McKeown

June (7)

  1. The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life by Erwin Raphael McManus
  2. The Trials of Apollo, Book One: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
  3. The Practice: Shipping Creative Work by Seth Godin
  4. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle
  5. Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It by Bob Goff
  6. The Middle Finger Project: Trash Your Imposter Syndrome and Live the Unf*ckwithable Life You Deserve by Ash Ambirge
  7. The Artisan Soul: Crafting Your Life into a Work of Art by Erwin Raphael McManus

July (8)

  1. The Hollow Ones: The Blackwood Tapes Vol. 1 by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
  2. Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
  3. The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love—Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits by Judson Brewer
  4. Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by Jon Acuff
  5. Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life by Neil Strauss
  6. Create and Prosper: How to Find Your Dream Clients and Build a Freelance Business You Love by Matthew Essam
  7. The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists by Neil Strauss
  8. Endurance: My Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly

August (13)

  1. The Truth: An Uncomfortable Book About Relationships by Neil Strauss
  2. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
  3. You Are a Badass Every Day: How to Keep Your Motivation Strong, Your Vibe High, and Your Quest for Transformation Unstoppable by Jen Sincero
  4. Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad by John Eldredge
  5. Artemis by Andy Weir
  6. Intentional Living: Choose a Life That Matters by John C. Maxwell
  7. The Martian by Andy Weir
  8. Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal with Julie Li
  9. Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind by Judson Brewer
  10. Change Your World: How Anyone, Anywhere Can Make A Difference by John C. Maxwell and Rob Hoskins
  11. You’re Invited: The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence by Jon Levy
  12. The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace by Erwin Raphael McManus
  13. Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock ‘n Roll by Jay Jay French and Steve Farber

September (15)

  1. The New Farm: Our Ten Years on the Front Lines of the Good Food Revolution by Brent Preston
  2. Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing by Pete Davis
  3. I Am Brian Wilson by Brian Wilson with Ben Greenman
  4. Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future by Pope Francis with Austen Ivereigh
  5. Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger
  6. Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant
  7. Everything Is Spiritual: Finding Your Way in a Turbulent World by Rob Bell
  8. Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer
  9. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer
  10. Later by Stephen King
  11. Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness by Kristen Radtke
  12. Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small by Mark Batterson
  13. Mastering Fear: A Navy SEAL’s Guide by Brandon Webb and John David Mann
  14. See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valarie Kaur
  15. Just the Funny Parts: …And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking into the Hollywood Boys’ Club by Nell Scovell

October (20)

  1. Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller
  2. No One Succeeds Alone: Learn Everything You Can from Everyone You Can by Robert Reffkin
  3. Immortal Diamond: The Search for our True Self by Richard Rohr
  4. The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr
  5. Creative Authenticity: 16 Principles to Clarify and Deepen Your Artistic Vision by Ian Roberts
  6. Extreme You: Step Up. Stand Out. Kick Ass. Repeat. by Sarah Robb O’Hagan
  7. Misfits: A Personal Manifesto by Michaela Cole
  8. Things Worth Dying For: Thoughts on a Life Worth Living by Charles J. Chaput
  9. To Hell with the Hustle: Reclaiming Your Life in an Overworked, Overspent, and Overconnected World by Jefferson Bethke
  10. Hype: How Scammers, Grifters, and Con Artists Are Taking Over the Internet—and Why We’re Following by Gabrielle Bluestone
  11. On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old by Parker J. Palmer
  12. How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Katy Milkman
  13. No Pain, No Gaines: The Good Stuff Doesn’t Come Easy by Chip Gaines
  14. Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff by Chip Gaines
  15. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
  16. The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity by Skye Jethani
  17. Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone by James Martin, SJ
  18. How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds by Alan Jacobs
  19. Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith by Henri J.M. Nouwen with Michael J. Christensen and Rebecca J. Laird
  20. The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines with Mark Dagostino

November (8)

  1. Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty
  2. Do It Anyway: The New Generation of Activists by Courtney E. Martin
  3. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
  4. The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl
  5. Utopia for Realists: How We Can Build the Ideal World by Rutger Bregman
  6. Black Under by Ashanti Anderson
  7. The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson
  8. Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety by Henri J.M. Nouwen

December (3)

  1. Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir by Kwame Onwuachi with Joshua David Stein
  2. Listen Up!: Recording Music with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, U2, R.E.M., The Tragically Hip, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Waits… by Mark Howard & Chris Howard
  3. The Shining by Stephen King

Updated December 30, 2021