Books 2014

I know it's been a while since I posted. I've been down with the flu and am finally feeling better. A "Christmas and other stuff" post with new pictures is coming soon, but in the meantime, I'm going to do my list of books I read this year. Last year I didn't do one because I simply didn't read hardly anything new. I did a bit better this year, though I'm sure my list is not nearly as long as some other people I know (Gary, Kiersten, Cindy, I'm looking at you). I read 29 books this year, which is pretty good for me, especially since I mainly read fairly large non-fiction titles.

Here we go. I usually group this by month, but I don't have enough to see the point of breaking them up that much, so I'll just do one big list. Comments, if any, following titles. 

The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millenium by Robert Lacey

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

Seriously... I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond

    -One of my favorites of the year. Kind of a thick, intimidating book, but it was really good.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

    -Love, love, loved this book. Highly recommend to anyone. I actually read Seabiscuit just because I wanted to read something else she'd written, but Unbroken was, in my opinion, far better. 

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

    -This was really good too. I'm not an introvert, but I know of lot of them, of course. Great insight.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin

Switch by Chip Heath

   -Another one I recommend. It's about making changes.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

    -This was probably my quickest, lightest read. I loved it- it was like reading candy. I watched the movie too, which was completely terrible. 

Eve and the Choice Made in Eden by Beverly Campbell

    -Good too

The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why by Amanda Ripley

    -This book was fantastic and really well done. Might be my winner for the book I would recommend the most from what I read this year. It's the one I keep thinking about even months later. 

An Incomplete Education: 3,684 You Should Have Learned But Probably Didn't

    -Loved the concept of this book, but didn't like the book itself, sadly. 

The Child Whisperer by Carol Tuttle

    -Really disliked this book. Really.

What Doctors Feel: How Emotions Affect the Practice of Medicine by Danielle Ofry

I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring by Robert Eaton

    -Great, and not just because it's a "church book". 

Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roch

    -Fascinating. And hilarious. 

The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence by Gavin de Becker

    -A little difficult (emotionally) to read, because of the examples given, but very very good insights and tips. 

Hardwiring Happiness: The Practical Science of Reshaping Your Brain - And Your Life by Rick Hanson

Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson

Seabiscuit: An American Legend

Divergent

Insurgent

Allegiant

Four         by Veronica Roth

    -I really liked Divergent and Four. The other two I read just because I felt like I had to finish it out. 

Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, And Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average by Joseph Hallinan

    -Wins record for longest book title that I read this year. Pretty good book though.

The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History by Katherine Ashenburg

Flour Power: A Guide to Modern Home Grain Milling by Marleeta Basey 

Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things by Charles Panati

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

    -Loved it.