It’s a new year and a great time to take stock of my reading journey.
Interestingly, I read the least number of books in 2022 compared to the past 4 years. Here’s a breakdown.
- 2019 – 100 books
- 2020 – 96 books
- 2021 – 93 books
- 2022 – 51 books
You would have noticed the steep decline this year compared to other years, there are a few reasons for this:
- I didn’t read as many fiction books.
Confession time: I love books (obviously), especially fiction books of the chick-lit variety. Thankfully, I didn’t have as much time nor inclination to read fiction for most of the year, unlike in previous years.
2. I spent more time executing than just reading.
Many book lovers will tell you that they often get lost in the books. We end up consuming way more than we create or execute. This year, by the special grace of God, I did way more executing.
Without further ado, here are my:
Favorite (and most impactful) books from the year:
This book is a sounding gong for everyone who is passionate about Africa’s transformation. I started this book in 2019 but didn’t get far. However, I picked it up again early in the year and finished it in a day(just goes to show there are often specific times and seasons to read some books.
After reading this book, I was fired up, once again, to do my part in my country’s growth and transformation. I believe this book helped guide the rest of my year and prioritize my projects.
The author is a well-known speaker and educationist who is focused on equipping and inspiring the next generation of nation-builders and change agents.
You should know that I am a big fan of her incredible work, and I was so excited to meet her properly (a few months ago).
In the book, she describes a reformer as:
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- A Radical Love Carrier
- One who deals with root causes and finds solutions to deep-seated problems.
- A person who has good character – ‘unflinching integrity, undiluted honesty, and undeniable hard work’.
- One who can influence and collaborate. She further explains that the nature of this type of collaboration is different. It is one of sacrifice and death! Woosh!
Before my 2022 attempt to read this book, I had tried on two other occasions – in 2015 and again in 2021(and both failed woefully). I couldn’t even get past the first few pages. I remember wondering why the book was so popular. It didn’t make sense until I finally read it.
The difference? God (His perfect sense of humor and timing). I was now in the mind frame to understand the book and to practice the learnings.
Rich Dad Poor Dad will help you question long-held beliefs about investing and what it takes to truly build wealth. One of the key messages is to increase our financial literacy (which is different from what we learn in the educational system) and build our emotional intelligence.
A mantra: “Your home is not an asset.”
‘An asset puts money in your pocket, a liability takes money out of your pocket.’
You know you really like a book when you find yourself highlighting several sections at a time or stopping to ponder or marvel at the depth/beauty of what you’ve read.
I had that experience with this book.
It will make you rethink your ideas about living and what a true Christian life should look like in the 21stcentury.
Here are some of memorable quotes:
When your passion is comfortable with the destruction of others, it exposes the brokenness that has eroded your own foundation.”
“We cannot be silent when our faith beckons us to speak up, but we must never align ourselves with anything that uses carnal strategies for achieving convenient outcomes.”
“The world will change when people of conviction are more aware of the Lord than the storms that rage around them.”
This book broke me (in a good way).
I first learned about this book in a Marie Forleo interview with the author. The fact that she was in her 90s and still able to speak so lucidly piqued my interest. I did what we always do when we find something interesting, I googled her. Lol
I’m so glad I did.
The Choice was about her experience in a German concentration camp during WWII and what transpired decades after.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
“Each moment is a choice. No matter how frustrating or boring or constraining or painful or oppressive our experience, we can always choose how we respond.”
This was an unexpected book.
It was a free resource I came across on my iBooks. I almost ignored it as it looked like clickbait.
Now you understand my earlier skepticism. Lol
Thank God I still decided to read it.
This book is chock full of actionable strategies and insights. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it’s not a long read. You should be able to finish it in a few hours, though I will suggest you take your time.
Good for: Entrepreneurs, those looking to start a business, project, or a sales career.
Key tip: at the heart of any selling experience is the relationship. People want to know what is in it for them and want to know that you care. That will usually ensure a long and fulfilling business relationship with clients.
Bonus:
This book and The Choice were tearjerkers.
In some ways, I’m surprised this book made this list but thinking back to the book and the life stories the author shared, I knew I had to include it here. This book is real, raw, and life-enriching. It is a beautiful reminder that life is short and how we choose to live each day truly matters.
Going into a new year, it is easy to get caught up in our big goals and resolutions, but life is often in the small and easily forgotten moments.
Her narration of a friend’s sickness had me clasping my tissue tightly. I looked like one of those characters in a movie saying, “I’m not crying, you’re crying.”
Honorable mentions:
While I had to choose just 5 out of a potential 50, there were many other memorable and great books from the year, including:
- Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki
- Driven by Pamela Evans
- It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
- The Best Yes! By Lysa Terkeurst
- Daily Habit Makeover by Zoe Mckey
- The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum
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