Books Read in 2024

Not being someone who usually made New Years Resolutions, I however did make one at the beginning of 2024: to read more non-fiction to better myself spiritually, physically and emotionally. I did just that. Overall, I read 22 non-fiction books on a number of topics but tried to keep the majority focused on my faith. Last year was my first year working my new job, which I really enjoy, but which once a week includes an hour+ drive to Rhode Island. You might think 'Ugh, that's a bummer' but to be honest, I look forward to these drives. Aside from devouring the podcast "The Green Room" put out by the charismatic mission's organization Idris Global, a group of folks who are insanely connected to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I also listened to some amazing books. 

Now, I have reviews of most of these books on my goodreads account, so if you want to know what I liked specifically, or didn't, you can look at all of them at https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1536728-daniel-g-keohane?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=read

All of the books below were great in some way (if not I would have stopped reading, which I did for some and thus did not list here), the ones I felt were the MOST POWERFUL are:

Phase 6: A Map of Discipleship out of the Church Building by Holman, Martin

Birthing the Miraculous: The Power of Personal Encounters with God to Change Your Life and the World by Baker, Heidi

Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times by Eldredge, John

Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Rohr, Richard

The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Job Matters for Eternity by Raynor, Jordan 

As I mentioned, the books on the spiritual life I also enjoyed and finished last year, from which I did gain a number of great things for myself, let's call them runners up:

And the Place Was Shaken: How to Lead a Powerful Prayer Meeting Franklin, John
Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History Dickson, John
The Knowledge of the Holy Tozer, A.W.
How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease Greger, Michael
Thin Places: A Memoir DeMuth, Mary E.
Kingdom Writers: Move Forward in God's Call to Write Hitz, Shelley
The Attentive Life: Discerning God's Presence in All Things Ford, Leighton
Miracles Today Keener, Craig S.
The Connection Codes: The Blueprint & Tools for Creating the Relationships You Crave Hill, Glenn
Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life Taylor, W. David O.
The Return of the Gods Cahn, Jonathan
More Than You: Becoming who God designed you to become Yuhasz, Bill
The World of the End: How Jesus' Prophecy Shapes Our Priorities Jeremiah, David
Raising Boys With ADHD: Secrets for Parenting Healthy, Happy Sons Forgan, James W.

I also began to read some books on writing to try and kickstart my writing career. I began with my favorite, making it my fourth times reading, but these two others I also enjoyed and got a lot out of:

Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You Bradbury, Ray (fourth read, this one)
How to Write Pulp Fiction (Bell on Writing) Bell, James Scott
Be a Writing Machine: Write Faster and Smarter, Beat Writer's Block, and Be Prolific (Author Level Up Book 3) Ronn, M.L.

Of course, let's not lose sight of fiction! I love Adrian Tchaikovsky's writing. He's imaginative, consistent with his science and at times very humorous. I always listen to the audiobook because his reader is phenomenal. Was also excited to read Paul Tremblay's newest book - and give credit to his publisher who recognizes the man's stories do not run the usual path but are so much better because of that. I've also become a major fan of Brandon Sanderson these last couple of years.

My favorite fiction books of 2024:

Eyes of the Void (The Final Architecture, #2) Tchaikovsky, Adrian 

Horror Movie Tremblay, Paul 

The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3) Sanderson, Brandon 

We Are the Light Quick, Matthew 

Joyland King, Stephen 

Lone Women LaValle, Victor

Leviathan Falls (The Expanse, #9) James S. A. Corey

My runners up: 

Saga, Volume 4 Vaughan, Brian K.
The A.B.C. Murders (Hercule Poirot, #13) Christie, Agatha - My first Christie book, and she is amazing!
Night Fall (John Corey, #3) DeMille, Nelson
This Present Darkness (Darkness, #1) Peretti, Frank E.
Don Quixote Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de - this book is a gabillion pages so I read about half and realized the rest would just be repeating the same patterns, fun as they had been, it was time to move on.
The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2) Sanderson, Brandon
Our Endless Numbered Days Fuller, Claire
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet No. 46 Grant, Gavin J.
Project Hail Mary Weir, Andy
Bear Phillips, Julia