It’s that time of year where we close the book on one year, and open the pages to another. 2021 has been written, and the book of 2022 awaits with its many pristine, untouched pages. We each get to write our own story and leave our own piece of history behind. 

As we write our own stories, we are inspired, informed, and influenced by the words and wisdom of others that came before us. The history of others can become our future through the books we read. 

I always see books as growth opportunities, so you’ll only see non-fiction books on my lists. If I’m not growing from what I read then I lose interest in it, and close that book for another. 

Books were not the only place I sought growth in this year. Many of the books I read were from recommendations from the people I surrounded myself with. Through my church, Generation Church in Jupiter, I received book recommendations from the men’s group and Bible study groups I participated in. My wife and I also did a marriage group that we loved being a part of, and got a few more book recommendations from there as well. 

My brother Andrew and I also continued our Conscious Leadership coaching program through this whole year. This uncovered more books and resources we dove into. 

Successful people always seem to give the same advice, “If you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people,” or some variation of that message. Most people write-off that advice because they don’t think it’s possible for them to rub elbows with success. They don’t realize how much knowledge and accessibility there really is through books, blogs, and podcasts. This is the surrounding I encourage people to do to at least start somewhere. Surround yourself with their words and their wisdom. 

I read 40 books in 2021 and it was tough to narrow down my favorites to a Top 10. 

So here it is, my Top 12 Books of 2021. 

Each year I try to read some classic books that have escaped my radar previously. Because I thoroughly enjoyed all 4 of these “classics” I didn’t have the heart to leave a single one off the list, so it expanded my Top 10 to a Top 12. 

12. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

By Joseph Murphy

In previous years I’ve recommended books by author Dr. Joe Dispenza, who has some really cool work on the power of your mind. This is the book that appears to be the foundation to his work. It was published in 1963. I’m amazed at how timeless and yet fitting the advice on training your mind can be used in today’s world.  

11. Strength to Love

By Martin Luther King Jr.

I’ve watched many sermons from church pastors from all over the country this year. I think we are so fortunate to live in a time that you can access churches all over the world and watch their sermons. I watch 2-3 sermons every week in addition to our local church services. I can’t go back in time to watch Martin Luther King Jr. give a sermon but that’s exactly what this book is. It’s powerful. The man had a gift to preach and every opportunity to hear his words should be taken. 

10. The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

By Gary Chapman

Through all the times I’ve heard about the love languages, I figured I knew enough about them without actually reading the book. I’m really glad I read it because it gave me much more insight into my marriage and what I can do for my wife to be a good husband. I’m looking forward to using this book even more to open more conversations between us to make our relationship even stronger. 

9. The Power of Positive Thinking: 10 Traits for Maximum Results

By Norman Vincent Peale

I loved this book because of its connection to Bible scripture. It truly is a timeless book, like The Bible, even though it was written 70 years ago. I’ve incorporated the book’s advice like daily prayer and constant inventory of my thoughts. Peale says, “Master faith and you will automatically master fear.” I wish I had this book 20 years ago to teach me that. 

8. Dad Tired and Loving It: Stumbling Your Way to Spiritual Leadership

By Jerrad Lopes

I really liked this book because I felt a strong connection to the author in being at a very similar place in life with a son and daughter of almost the same ages. I could relate very much to his stories and family life. There needs to be more dads in this world becoming spiritual leaders in their families and communities, myself included, and this is a great book to help us get there. 

7. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness

By Eric Jorgenson, Jack Butcher, and Tim Ferriss

First thing every morning, I spend 30 minutes doing Bible reading, prayer, gratitude journaling, and stoic reading. The bits of wisdom in this book are modern day stoicism. There is endless wisdom in this book. One bit of wisdom that I think my readers here will appreciate, “The harder the workout, the easier the day.”  …So true.

6. Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine

By Robert H. Lustig

A few years ago if you would have asked my opinion on processed food companies or big pharma companies, my response would be somewhat indifferent. This book combined with the pandemic of the last two years, has helped me realize it’s very much everyone’s problem to stop feeding (pun intended) into their massive control over our collective health. As with any massive change, it starts at home, with our own bodies, and Lustig gives two simple principles. Protect the liver and feed the gut. That sounds so simple, so if you want to learn more, read more. 

5. Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative In Good Times and Bad

By Austin Kleon

This book is a must have for every creative person. If you ever have writer’s block, have this book handy. I don’t allow myself to be creative enough in my daily life and this inspiration and/or approval to be more creative from this book was much needed. I read it at just the right time for me, so it hit the top 5 for me. Austin’s books have a very unique, easy to read, style that are great to have sitting out to revisit frequently. 

4. The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer

By Steven Kotler

I’m glad this book wasn’t a bunch of “life hacks” and nor was it bogged down in science speak that might get too confusing. I loved how it really dove into the WHY behind human behavior, and how we can change what we do for different results. It’s a very actionable book. And it was also very straightforward to tell you the downright importance of sleep and exercise. Says Kotler, “This is also why gratitude, mindfulness, exercise, and sleep are nonnegotiables for sustained peak performance. The nonnegotiable part is key. When life gets complicated, these four practices are typically what we remove from our schedule. But the research shows this is the last choice we should make. Instead, lean into these practices, as they’re how you get the creativity needed to untangle the complicated.”

3. Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling

By Matthew Dicks and Dan Kennedy

Over the past 4 years I’ve kept a journal. When I look back to 2017 I find entries that were entered about 1-2x a week. Now I write every single day. Before, I thought I didn’t have enough to write about, but after reading this book, I realized how many “5 seconds moments” I’m lucky to experience every day. So while this was a book about storytelling, to me it was really a book about story-recognizing. That time you saw how beautiful your wife looked, the time your kids amazed you with something genius, the time you realized how God had moved in your life. You will stop overlooking, and start appreciating all the little moments in your life when you read this entertaining book. 

2. Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small

By Mark Batterson 

After sharing my dream of writing my own books with a friend, he gave me this book. What an inspiring read and a great use of scripture to inspire present day action. I had to go out and buy more copies for people I wanted to pay it forward to. This is definitely a book that I will read again in the future, and continue recommending to others for years to come. Here is some wisdom from this book, “You don’t start over every day; you build on the day before. Obedience earns compound interest. God honors a lifetime of faithfulness. Most dreams die not because they’re the wrong dream but because the timing is wrong. Dreams aren’t just born; they are sometimes born again. When the time is right, dust off the dream and rededicate it to God.”

1.Will

By Will Smith, Mark Manson

Will Smith has been one of my favorite actors for as long as I can remember. I’ve watched him since “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air”.  His story about how this show came to be in Chapter 10, almost gets him the #1 spot here on that chapter alone. 

Will’s start in acting happened at an audition at a party, an audition he almost refused to do. But the advice from his grandma Gigi rang in his ear, “Don’t block your blessings.” 

He goes on to tell the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, in his own paraphrased words, which are hilarious.  

Will says, “Jesus had to walk two hot and dusty days from the other side of the river Jordan. He was exhausted. When he got there he saw the rock was still in front of the tomb.

‘So let me get this straight, y’all made me walk fifteen freakin furlongs, excuse my language, to hot daggone Bethany, with the Pharisees and the Sadducees running around here like roaches just waiting for a chance to take a pop at me, to perform the miracle of raising your patriarch from the dead, restoring your family to blessed wholeness and light, and y’all can’t even move the rock from in front of the tomb? If I’m gonna raise the boy from the dead, the least y’all lazy jokers can do is move the daggone rock!!’”

Will goes on to explain that God and the universe wants us to have our miracles but we have to move the damn rock first. Moving the rock is our sign of faith. We have to have faith in the magic that can happen, and then surrender. 

This story was so inspiring, as were many others throughout this book. My one complaint would be the cursing in this book, it is NOT suitable for family car rides. Which I was letdown by, because Will could rap his whole career without curse words but couldn’t put a book out without a whole bunch of them. 

I highly recommend this book even if you aren’t a huge Will fan like I am, with this disclaimer about the explicit language. There are still so many lessons to gain from it. It’s up there with Matthew McConnaughey’s book “Greenlights” that made my Top books last year. 

Full Book List 2021 

Hardcover (9):

Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most

By Greg McKeown

Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative In Good Times and Bad

By Austin Kleon

Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small

By Mark Batterson 

The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time

By Jim McKelvey

Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us

By Seth Godin

The Four Laws of Love: Guaranteed Success for Every Married Couple

By Jimmy Evans

The Future Is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies Are Disrupting Business, Industries, and Our Lives

By Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler

The Richest Man Who Ever Lived: King Solomon’s Secrets to Success, Wealth, and Happiness

By Steven K. Scott

Strength to Love

By Martin Luther King Jr.

Kindle (23):

Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine

By Robert H. Lustig

Dugout Devotions: Inspirational Hits from MLB’s Best (Stars of the Faith)

By Del Duduit

Out of the Cave: Stepping into the Light when Depression Darkens What You See

By Chris Hodges and Rick Warren

The Perfect Day Formula: How to Own the Day and Control Your Life

By Craig Ballantyne

Shepherding a Child’s Heart

By Tedd Tripp

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

By Gary Chapman

$100M Offers: How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No

By Alex Hormozi

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

By Joseph Murphy

Finite and Infinite Games

By James P. Carse

Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step StoryBrand Guide for Any Business

By Donald Miller and Dr. J.J. Peterson

Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling

By Matthew Dicks and Dan Kennedy

The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer

By Steven Kotler

The Nemechek Protocol For Autism and Developmental Disorders: A How-To Guide to Restoring Neurological Function

By Dr. Patrick Nemechek and Jean Nemechek

Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life

By Craig Groeschel

The Mental Toughness Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Facing Life’s Challenges, Managing Negative Emotions, and Overcoming Adversity with Courage and Poise

By Damon Zahariades

You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment

By Thich Nhat Hanh

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness

By Eric Jorgenson, Jack Butcher, and Tim Ferriss

Profit First for Microgyms: A System for Healthy Cash Flow

By John Briggs and Mike Michalowicz

The Power of Positive Thinking: 10 Traits for Maximum Results

By Norman Vincent Peale

Gym Owners Handbook: Everything You Need To Know About Running A Successful Gym

By Chris Cooper

Eat Smarter: Use the Power of Food to Reboot Your Metabolism, Upgrade Your Brain, and Transform Your Life

By Shawn Stevenson

The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery

By Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

By Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams

Audible (8):

Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success

By: Gary Vaynerchuk

Will

By Will Smith , Mark Manson

Dad Tired and Loving It: Stumbling Your Way to Spiritual Leadership

By Jerrad Lopes

The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage

By Mel Robbins

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism

By Naoki Higashida

Kingdom Man: Every Man’s Destiny, Every Woman’s Dream

By Tony Evans

How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success from the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs

By Guy Raz

The Practice: Shipping Creative Work

By Seth Godin