5 Books I Read That Changed My Life

My husband and I like to play a game called “top five things.” You just ask someone a question like, “What are your top five favorite musicals?” Then you have to choose. Simple, yes, but it’s a fun game to play and it makes you think. It’s the game that inspired the blog post below, 5 Books I Read That Changed My Life. I encourage you to think about the five books that have changed your life.

1. The Bible

Okay, so this one might seem cheesy to some readers, but it is true. The #1 book I have read that changed my life is the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Scripture cuts through me in the best way.

2. Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

One of the first chapter books I ever read was Mandy. I will never forget the day my mom walked me over to a new part of the library and pulled this book off the shelf. It was a big moment for me. Mandy is a book about a little orphan girl who finds a cottage to make her own. It’s a beautiful tale and well worth the read and re-read.

3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I didn’t have the privilege of reading Little Women until I was an adult, and it still shocks me. Why did no one give me this book when I was a teenager? I could have really used its wisdom. Little Women is the story of four sisters, how they love one another and find their place in the world. It’s a beautiful story that everyone should read. Not just women. Everyone.

4. Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

Shauna Niequist is by far one of my favorite authors. I’ve read Present Over Perfect almost a dozen times. I started with the audio book, but found myself listening to it so much that I bought the book so I could highlight passages. Her book is about exact that it sounds like, choosing to be present instead of perfect. It’s about being in the moment and savoring the little things rather than getting caught up in your to-do list. Buy it. Highlight it. Thank me later.

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by JK Rowling

The last book in my list of the top 5 Books I Read That Changed My Life is Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by JK Rowling, though I suppose I should include the entire series. My mother read the first two Harry Potter books to my sister and I. Then I read the rest on my own. Harry Potter opened up a whole new world to me, as it did with so many others. It’s a labyrinth of story so intricate and beautifully written, I can’t help but go back over and over again. The fact that JK Rowling could create so much in her mind inspires me to do the same.

Thank you for reading 5 Books I Read That Changed My Life. I hope you found a few essentials for your home library. For more book recommendations, check out the blog posts below:

My Favorite Books About Hygge Living
12 Classic Children’s Books to Read With Your Kids
The Top 5 Favorite Best Books for Young Married Couples
6 Books You Should Definitely Re-Read in 2020

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Love always,