HAPPY NEW YEAR! Last year, I covered books written before I was born, as well as, some of the latest must reads. I am feeling blessed to have the time and the desire to devour all of this talent. I will add some details to the books over time, but for now, here is the list of books I read in 2018:

All The Light We Can Not See: A Novel by Anthony Doerr

This I loved this one. The novel was published on my birthday in 2014 and it was an award winner – Doerr won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.

My mom’s book club recommended. It is beautiful. Simple to read. It’s two main characters a blind French girl and a German boy are over time brought together. Their two stories weave you through two different sets of reality, but both were kind hearted. The main themes center around science as wonder vs death, strength of character and hope. The book has great women characters and the french girls father made sure despite being blind, she could clearly see and perceive. Highly recommended. I cried. I was surprised. I was enlighten.

American Marriage: Tayari Jones

This is one of Oprah’s book club I purchased the book once I heard the author on NPR, she was amazing – and I was inspired to read the book.

It’s about love, race, loyalty and justice – well in this case, injustice in the criminal system in America. It centers on what happens when the unthinkable takes place to “normal” people. The main characters, a young African-American couple, golden in the eyes of society – marry soon after college graduation. Poised for success: he’s a successful corporate executive, she’s a promising artist. Then, on a visit Louisiana to see family, Roy is falsely accused of a murder that he did not commit. That his wife, and we readers know is not true. He is sentenced to 12 years in prison, and the story is the toll it takes on them both and the injustice and prejudice in the legal system today.

I highly recommend this book. It gets you thinking, and I love books that get you thinking. It felt very real reading it. I was angry, yet hopeful the whole way thru and it ended perfectly.

Awaken the Giant Within: Tony Robbins

Cello. Want a quick read, want to be pumped up. Want to be a better you but don’t know how to start. Or love how you are but want a professional breakthru? This one if for you. If you listen the audio book it is Tony himself. I listen to this book every year at least once.

Be Here Now: Ram Dass

I had never heard of Ram Dass until last year listening to one of Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday podcasts (don’t get me started on those LOVE THEM).

Boston Girl, Anita Diamant

Google books says “A story “about family ties and values, friendship and feminism told through the eyes of a young Jewish woman growing up in Boston in the early twentieth century. Addie Baum is The Boston Girl, born in 1900 to immigrant parents who were unprepared for and suspicious of America and its effect on their three daughters.” I really enjoyed this book. Fast read, was Madison’s (who lived in Boston) and she loved it, so I wanted to read too. Setting in Boston was wonderful, the daring transformation, and a great love story.

Brave: Rose McGowen

ClickFunnel DotCom Secrets: Russell Brunson

ClickFunnels Expert Secrets: Russell Brunson

You can get digital copies of the books free here – note you will be in his funnel, I think it is fun to see how he markets to you, and after you read the books, it will be really transparent – he is an incredible guy and has built a thriving technology business.

Compound Effect, Darren Hardy

Cooked: Micheal Pollan

Delivering Happiness, Tony Hsieh

As a boot-strap business builder, I loved this book. Zappos sold to Amazon for more than a billion bucks – and Tony created a culture, people would work, even if payroll was late, or in some cases not coming. He cared about his people, his products and it was a fast, fun read. Here are 3 great lessons about building an awesome company from his 2010 New York Times bestseller:

1. Company culture is more important than customer service.
2. Choose one thing you want to be best at, and then focus on that.
3. Invest $0 in marketing and everything in your product.

Try the book on for size below:

Do/Story by  Bobette Buster

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

This was the sleeper hit of my year reading. I loved every second reading this 1952 classic – it actually ruined me for a couple other books that I started and had to put down because this writing could not compare. Steinbeck’s sentences seep into your soul as you read them. This classic was my sister’s book I borrowed and may never give it back. Other reviews call it Steinbeck’s most ambitious novel – my take away, no matter how deep-rooted the sin, there is always a chance for redemption.

Looking for some Eden? Click below:

Eat, Love Pray, Elizabeth Gilbert

Everything Here Is Beautiful: Mira T. Lee

Finding My Virginity: Richard Branson

Getting to Yes: Roger Fisher and William Ury

Greatest Salesman in the World: Og Mandino

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women: Kristof/WuDunn

Half Truths, Adam Hamilton

Heal Your Past – Life Fears, Ainslie MacLeod

How to Analyze People on Sight, Benedict
Free digital copy here

How to Awaken Your True Potential: Paramhansa Yogananda

How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnage

I Will Not Die An Unlived Life: Dawna Markova

I Wrote this for You (incredible book of poetry): Thomas

Joy in Every Moment, Gover

Law of Success, Paramahansa Yogananda

Make Your Bed, William H. McRaven

Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankel

My Grandmother Asked me to tell you she is Sorry, Fredrik Backman

My Life on the Road: Gloria Steinem

Never Split the Difference: Negotiate Like Your Life Depended on It, Voss

Ninjago – 2 books with grandsons

Old Man and the Sea: Earnest Hemingway

Oprah’s Sunday Wisdom: Oprah Winfrey

Peak Performance: Brad Stulberg, Steve Magness

Perfect Day Formula, Craig Ballantyne

Red Sparrow: Matthews

Run Faster Run Less: Pierce, Ross, Murr

Scarlett Letter, Hawthorne

Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav

ShoeDog, Phil Knight

Surprised by Joy: CS Lewis

The 25 Biblical Laws of Success, Douglas and Teixeira

The Art of Learning, Josh Waitzkin

The Art of War: Sun Tzu

The Artist’s Way, Carmeron/Allen

The Big Leap, Gay Henricks

The Book of Joy: Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The Dance of Connection, Harriet Lerner

The Go Giver, Burg

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skoloot

The Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela

The Power of Now: Eckhart Tolle

The Prince, Macavelli

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k, Mark Mason

The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower: Stuts & Michels

The War of Art, Steven Pressfield

The Warren Buffet Way, Hagstrom

Tom Petty: A Rock and Roll Life: Thomas

Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss

Walden: Henry David Thoreau

What makes your brain happy and do the Opposite, David DiSalvo

William Booth/Story of the Salvation Army, Benge

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, Sincero

I read a few others that I did not enjoy, or could not finish 🙂 So this is my go to, best of 2018 list of books.  Over time I will try to add some notes about the best of’s but wanted to get this list put together since asked 🙂 Thanks for all the support, I could feel the love.

Be Your Own JoyMaster