With a new year comes the opportunity to start fresh, set new goals, and take time for reflection and development. But in a world full of self-help books, top 10 lists, and more information than we can possibly process, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to reading books that will challenge us and help us grow.
So, we asked some of our pastors what books they've read recently that they'd recommend. Here's what they said:
"I love Quiet by Susan Cain. I’m highly extroverted and I tend to see the world through this lens. Susan Cain does an incredible job in her book describing how introverts see the world, how they mentally and emotionally process, how they recharge, how they approach relationships, and how they contribute to our society. It was really eye-opening for me to gain this new perspective. In fact, it has helped me immensely in my marriage, as my husband is introverted. It has also helped me in the workplace where I interact with people that land in a variety of places on the introversion/extroversion spectrum."
–Claire Montenegro, Anoka Pastor of Ministry
"Scary Close by Donald Miller is a brilliant book and one I assign to all engaged couples when I do pre-marital counseling. It's about the risk and reward of dropping the act and finding genuine connection. I also love The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile. It's a great book that helps you understand yourself (and others) better—why you do what you do, your natural reactions to stressful situations, and so much more."
–Jon Taylor, White Bear Lake Campus Pastor
"One of my favorite books is Intentional Living by John Maxwell. It speaks to our longing for significance and outlines the steps to take toward a life that matters. An older book on leadership that I find easy to read and inspiring is Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels. Finally, the SLP team is finding it helpful to read Finish by Jon Acuff, a perfect book for first-of-the-year-reading."
–Steve Whicker, Spring Lake Park Campus Pastor
Ready to dive in? You can find most of these and many other Eagle Brook-recommended books at your campus' bookstore each weekend!
