During my ten years as a bookseller and 30 years as a parent, I was always on the lookout for good books for children. 

Even though The Penderwicks showed up on my radar when my kids were teens, I’m a huge fan. I think this timeless series appeals to all ages, probably starting about age 5. 

The four sisters that start out in the first Penderwicks book are the kind of girls you’d want to live next door to. They’re full of personality, they relate well to each other and the adults in their lives. They embody the healthy, happy kids who know they’re loved. 

But what do you do when you’re done with the series and you’re looking for something similar? 

My top picks if you’re looking for more books like The Penderwicks are Adventures with Waffles, Wonder, Cheaper by the Dozen and The Great Brain. 

They are uplifting stories with a classic timelessness.

Morally Commendable, Well-Crafted Stories

The Penderwicks books are morally commendable and well-crafted. Both are important qualities for family read alouds or books to hand to independent readers. 

(Note: the pictures of book covers are Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and purchase a percentage will support this site.)

The War That Saved My Life  by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

“Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.

So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?” — from GoodReads

Great story.

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

” Doug struggles to be more than the “skinny thug” that some people think him to be. He finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer, who gives him the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Schmidt expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.”– from Amazon

Excellent book. LOVED it. 

Deals with so many important themes.

Abusive parent. War veterans. Learning disabilities. Young love. Poverty. Predjudice.

Recommended for older kids, beginning about age 10.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 

I consider C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia to be the pinnacle of children’s literature. These stories can be appreciated at all ages (beginning around age 5), maturity levels and intellects. They can be classified as fantasy, yet the truths they portray are real. In the midst of stories of talking animals, Lewis manages to paint realistic pictures of human nature and personality. They can be reread multiple times. 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first in the series that Lewis wrote, though some people like to start with The Magician’s Nephew which tells the story of the creation of Narnia. I recommend starting with Wardrobe and view The Magician’s Nephew as a prequel. 

“Fantastic creatures, heroic deeds, epic battles in the war between good and evil, and unforgettable adventures come together in this world where magic meets reality, which has been enchanting readers of all ages for over sixty years. The Chronicles of Narnia has transcended the fantasy genre to become a part of the canon of classic literature.”– from GoodReads

Lewis tells compelling stories with an amazing economy of words.  He weaves timeless truths into  tales that highlight the classic conflict between good and evil.

I can’t recommend them highly enough.

If you’re wondering about Christian themes and symbols in the Narnia books, read my post Are the Chronicles of Narnia Christian?

A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.

–C.S. Lewis

The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien

One of literature’s ultimate hero’s journeys, the story of Bilbo Baggins resonates deeply, even if you’re not a homebody. Bilbo certainly wasn’t out looking for adventure, because hobbits are fond of regular meals and the comforts of home. 

But, if there’s a wizard and a dragon, a quest, danger, travel companions to help and hinder, a magic ring and some treasure, it all adds up to a satisfying tale with uncanny parallels to life as we know it. 

Lovable, Relatable Characters

If your story is peopled with lovable, relatable characters, it’s hard to go wrong. The challenge of growing up is the one we all face. Why not walk the trail with literature’s most beloved?

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

Caddie Woodlawn is perhaps an under appreciated classic.

Caddie is the spunky spirited heroine growing up during the Little House on the Prairie era. 

My husband has fond memories of hearing this read aloud by his teacher in elementary school. He remembered the story, but forgot the title of the book. Stumbling across it decades later felt like reuniting with an old friend. 

Adventures with Waffles by Maria Parr

Lena and Trille are next door neighbors and best friends, coconspirators in mishaps. While getting in and out of scrapes, they learn a lot about friendship, family and life. 

Although recently published, this book has the timeless feel of a classic. 

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

What if you grew up in family of twelve children?

The authors of Cheaper by the Dozen draw from the memories of their childhood days in a big family.

Laugh out loud stories and heart warming tales about the love and logistics of a large family.

The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald

Hilarious antics and adventures of a clever boy growing up more than a century ago. 

His ability to connive, wheel and deal, get in and out of scrapes and come out on top is impressive and amusing.

Based on the memories of the author and his older brother, Tom’s childhood days growing up in Utah. 

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne is a herione universally loved by girls and remembered fondly by women. Of course, so much of the charm is Anne herself–spunky, competitive, fiercely loyal, throughly human. 

And who can resist Gilbert Bythe who shows his affection in the manner of red blooded boys everywhere?

But some of the appeal of Anne is the wistfulness of small town community where the gossips whisper and pass judgment and the sons and daughters marry their neighbors and hearts are broken never to see healing through the decades. And underlying it all is the deep longing for home and family. 

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

I’m fond of E. B. White’s classic, Stuart Little, but Charlotte’s Web comes out on top for me. Maybe it’s that (spoiler) Charlotte’s death made me cry when I first read it as an eight year old. 

It never occurred to me before that this is a redemption story, but so it is. Charolotte the spider’s mission is to save her friend, Wilbur the pig, from the butcher’s block. Warm and wise and full of truth just like all the best children’s literature. One of my favorite scenes is when Fern’s mother seeks out the doctor’s advice because her daughter claims to have conversations with the barnyard animals and the doctor is open to the possibility that maybe she does communicate with animals. 

Feel Good, Compelling Story Line

One of the main reasons I read is for that feel good, satisfied feeling that comes when you finish a great book. Unfortunately, not all books make you feel that way. So when you come across them you have to hold on. I think we’re born with the desire to see the bad guys pay and the good guys come out on top. We want to see our favorite characters win and it just feels good when they do. 

Frindle by Andrew Clements

I love Frindle for the same reason I love Harold and the Purple Crayon. Because it teaches us to believe in possibility. 

Nicolas Allen was a fifth grader who believe he could make an impact. First on his classroom, then on his school, on his community and beyond. It took an idea, a belief and someone who believed in him. Heart warming story for all the dreamers of the world. 

A tribute to the power of imagination, Frindle asks the question, What if a fifth grade boy can change the dictionary? 

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgeson Burnett

One of my lifetime favorites, A Little Princess tells the story of Sara Crewe leaving India and her beloved father to go to boarding school in England.

A girl of vivd imagination and story telling gifts, she leans on those gifts to survive heartbreak and tragedy.

Begin reading this book immediately following this link to the complete ebook at Project Gutenberg  A Little Princess by Frances Hodgeson Burnett

The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

What if you lived in a small kingdom where the prince chooses his bride from the graduates of the Princess Academy?

What if you had the chance for an education that would never be possible otherwise?

I loved this middle grade novel for telling a tale of what could be, the power of knowledge, friendships and courage.

One of my favorite parts of Princess Academy was how they snuck in principles of Commerce and Negotiation. It was fun how that played out.

There were a few weird and whimsical twists, but every fairy tale needs a little magic.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

What a great book!  Highly recommended for all ages.

I love the way it tackles head on mega topics: embarrassment, shame, discouragement, rising above difficult circumstances, the elements of a true friendship.  

August Pullman is a likable fellow.  If he were a jerk, this story wouldn’t have worked.

It strikes at the very heart of what it means to be a person.  Where do you fit into society.  How does society react to you?

It’s not just an overcomer story.  It’s a family systems story.  Our family of origin matters so much when it comes to what we believe about ourselves.

I love the middle school principal in this story.  I love the way he has such a deep understanding of kids.  I love how he can see what is happening beneath the surface.  A great book for teachers, administrators, youth pastors, everyone who deals with kids as well as kids, themselves.

Looking for more book lists? Read More Books Like Anne of Green Gables and Best Family Read Alouds.

Anne is a lovable, chatty Cathy who loves big and dreams with child like faith. She rides the emotional roller coaster of high highs and deep despairs. She’s part of a tight knit community. She’s longing for belonging, to be part of a family, to have a home and people to call her own. 

If you loved Anne of Green Gables, and you’re looking for a read alike, my top picks are Hannah Coulter and Pride and Prejudice for adult fans, Pollyanna and A Little Princess as stories with belonging themes and The Chronicles of Narnia or The Penderwicks for a family read aloud that pleases all ages. 

(Note: The pictures of book covers in this post are Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and purchase, a percentage will support this site.)

To those of us who fell in love with Anne growing up, I have good news. There’s wholesome classics that are as engaging and compelling to adult readers as Anne is to young people. 

These are well-written novels with relatable protagonists that don’t trample on traditional values. 

Wholesome Classics for Adult Fans of Anne of Green Gables

Pride and Predjudice by Jane Austen

It’s hard not to like Lizzie Bennet. She speaks her mind, she’s unfazed by social regulations, she’s fiercely loyal. And no one can articulate matters of the heart like Jane Austen. 

Five girls growing up in one household is certainly a recipe for matchmaking dilemmas. 

Certainly other Austen titles have won hearts, but Pride and Prejudice often is recognized as standing above the rest. 

Peace Like a River by Lief Enger

Told through the eyes of an eleven year old boy, the novel is not about a span of time, it mostly just covers one year.

Rueben is the eleven year old, Swede, his younger sister, and Davy their older brother. They live with their father out west, growing up in a modest life. 

Circumstances dictate a quest to the west, search for answers to a reality that doesn’t add up. 

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

“The unforgettable story of four orphans who travel the Mississippi River on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression.”—from Amazon

The story is told through Odie O’Banion’s adolescent eyes. 

It’s his quest for home, family and the meaning of life. Along for the ride are his brother Albert and his friends Mose and Emmy. 

The human experience is more complicated than most novelists are able to express. There’s the complexity of human nature and relationships, the complexity of our belief system and how our experience influences our beliefs. I feel like This Tender Land wrestled with that complexity and won. 

It doesn’t downplay the true depravity of man. It has lots of plot twists.

It reminded me of Peace Like a River. I’ll want to read it again and again. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I made it 49 years without reading To Kill a Mockingbird. I’m glad I didn’t wait any longer.

Scout and her brother have a front row seat to watch their attorney father stand for his principles against prejudice in the South. 

So glad I finally made time for this classic. 

I’m not sure if I’ll tackle the sequel or not, since reviews were mixed and many negative.

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

Hannah Coulter takes the panoramic view of a person’s life, the progression of a lifetime. 

Sometimes when we sit down to a novel, we are looking for perspective, to find meaning for the daily grind. We need to see that what we do day after day matters. Hannah Coulter gives us a clue. For many women, all those meals cooked, all the time serving and caring others adds up to a lifetime of meaning. 

Then there’s the small town, rural community. I think our deep longing for community resonates with what happens in small, rural towns where people know each other and care for each other, where lives intertwine in romance, conflict, partnership, friendship and commerce. And no man lives as an island, no matter how solitary they choose to live their lives.

Finally, there’s the strong female protagonist in Hannah Coulter. You might not realize she’s strong. Not at first. She’s the type of woman that is the glue of a community. Keeping her family together. Working the long hours to grow, process and prepare the food that keeps the whole engine running. She tends to the sick, stands by her man and brings up her children. She’s the backbone, the unsung hero. Being unassuming makes it hard to recognize her as strong.

Check out more books like Hannah Coulter.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

A classic for a reason, generations have grown up with the escapades of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy.

Patterned after the author’s own home life, the stories of the four sisters ring true. Each sister is endearing in their own way. 

The book contains not so much a plot as a journey as each one reaches to fulfill their destiny. 

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Several years ago when I was noodling about what quality of the Anne story fans find universally compelling, I concluded it’s her desperate urge for home and family, a place to belong. She found it all in Green Gables, in Avonlea, with Matthew and Marilla, and, as an added twist, they found it with her. Three people essentially alone in the world created a family as endearing as any in fiction. 

Tapping into that primal human drive builds a foundation for a novel that connects at an emotional level. 

Top Reads with Belonging Themes for Anne of Green Gables Fans

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

A Single Shard is a uniquely compelling story appealing to young and old alike.

Tree-ear is an orphan who lives with Crane-Man under a bridge. He’s fascinated by the work of a  potter in the village and dreams of the day when he can throw a pot on the wheel. Twelfth century Korea sets the stage for an inside look at the art of pottery, honorable poverty and the cries of an orphan boy’s heart.

There’s so many positive life lessons taught in the story: The value of work, instead of stealing or begging. Take care of each other. Give to those in need. Preserve the dignity and honor of others. Don’t give up on your dreams. Be loyal to friends and family. Don’t take ideas that you learned from stealth or thievery. 

Highly recommended for all ages, beginning about age 6 or 7 as a read aloud. 

I loved it on audio read by Graeme Malcolm. The listening length is 3 hours and 12 minutes. 

Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

Pollyanna’s story parallels Anne’s in many ways.

She’s sent to live with sour old Miss Polly and sweet hard-working Nancy. She’s a captivating motor mouth who’s learned to look on the bright side. I forgot how much I liked this book and got sucked in recently. I have to admit the ending is a little trite, but that’s a small price to pay for enjoying Pollyanna’s company.

Start reading the story immediately by clicking on the link to the full text at Project Gutenberg.

 Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgeson Burnett

One of my lifetime favorites, A Little Princess tells the story of Sara Crewe leaving India and her beloved father to go to boarding school in England. A girl of vivd imagination and story telling gifts, she leans on those gifts to survive heartbreak and tragedy.

Begin reading this book immediately following this link to the complete ebook at Project Gutenberg  A Little Princess by Frances Hodgeson Burnett

Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter

Another of my top picks is the story of Freckles, a handicapped boy who found his purpose and meaning living close to the earth. 

Butterflies, birds, trees and plants. These are all Gene Straton Porter’s domain and she is a master at making them as much a part of the story as the humans and animals themselves.

Clearly a student of human nature as well as a naturalist, she is able to capture the emotions and relationships in clear detail that is a joy to read.

The War That Saved My Life  by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Nine-year-old Ada’s twisted foot is the shameful secret that causes her mother to confine her to their small apartment. When her little brother Jamie is sent out of London to escape the war, Ada plays stowaway to escape her own life. 

Her life in the country and her relationship to the mistress of the farm opens her eyes to new ways of living and believing. 

Great story.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

I can’t remember the last time a novel made me cry.  This one did.

Ove is near the end of his life, but this novel takes us back to his family, his first love and his losses. It is a bittersweet exploration of what really matters in relationships and what gets in the way.

Love, friendship, community and social awkwardness.  It’s the recipe for a great novel.

It demonstrates in brilliant colors that no man is an island.

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Every adult on the planet has their own coming of age story.

And every human in the formative years is creating their own.

Experiencing novels as a family read aloud enriches the experience. The Anne series aren’t the only books that can make that magic. I’ve listed some of my favorites that serve to “make lasting and meaningful connections with your children through books” as Sarah Mackenzie says. 

Top Family Read Alouds for Anne of Green Gables Fans

Adventures with Waffles by Maria Parr

Lena and Trille are next door neighbors and best friends, coconspirators in mishaps. While getting in and out of scrapes, they learn a lot about friendship, family and life. 

Although recently published, this book has the timeless feel of a classic.

 I enjoyed it even without kids in my life right now to read it to. 

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

What if you grew up in family of twelve children? 

The authors of Cheaper by the Dozen draw from the memories of their childhood days in a big family. 

Laugh out loud funny, winsome characters, appealing for all ages beginning around age 8. 

The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald

Hilarious antics and adventures of a clever boy growing up more than a century ago. 

His ability to connive, wheel and deal, get in and out of scrapes and come out on top is impressive and amusing.

Based on the memories of the author and his older brother, Tom’s childhood days growing up in Utah.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 

I consider C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia to be the pinnacle of children’s literature. These stories can be appreciated at all ages (beginning around age 5), maturity levels and intellects. They can be classified as fantasy, yet the truths they portray are real. In the midst of stories of talking animals, Lewis manages to paint realistic pictures of human nature and personality. They can be reread multiple times. 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first in the series that Lewis wrote, though some people like to start with The Magician’s Nephew which tells the story of the creation of Narnia. I recommend starting with Wardrobe and view The Magician’s Nephew as a prequel. 

If you’re curious about Christian themes and symbols in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, read my post Are The Chronicles of Narnia Christian? 

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

5 Stars!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this whimsical story. (That’s a lotta love.)  I read it to the teens in my carpool, and gave it to my nieces and nephews.

Four motherless girls on vacation with their father.  Their romps with pets, neighbors and each other:  a simple, but satisfying plot.

I loved the uplifting, engaging characters.  Real heroes.  Great values.   Whimsical.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

I’m fond of E. B. White’s classic, Stuart Little, but Charlotte’s Web comes out on top for me. Maybe it’s that (spoiler) Charlotte’s death made me cry when I first read it as an eight year old. 

It never occurred to me before that this is a redemption story, but so it is. Charolotte the spider’s mission is to save her friend, Wilbur the pig, from the butcher’s block. Warm and wise and full of truth just like all the best children’s literature. One of my favorite scenes is when Fern’s mother seeks out the doctor’s advice because her daughter claims to have conversations with the barnyard animals and the doctor is open to the possibility that maybe she does communicate with animals.

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

It’s almost hard to imagine why the story of a shipwrecked family on a deserted island is so fascinating, but it is. The mom and dad and four boys survive, they build, they entertain themselves. Simple and satisfying. 

Follow this link to begin reading the free ebook version on the Project Gutenberg site Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

For more book recommendations for reading with (or without) kids read Best Family Read Alouds and Where to Start

For more great books for adult readers, read Books Like Pride and Prejudice.

Looking for another book like Unbroken? 

My top picks if you’re looking for unbelievable true adventure are Endurance and Into Thin Air. If you love a riveting deep dive into one person’s life try Educated or Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. If heroes from the World War II era is your thing, read We Were the Lucky Ones or The Hiding Place. 

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand tells the fascinating, incredible life story of Louis Zamperini. Starting with his early years striving for Olympic fame as a runner, then all the twists and turns of his military career in the South Pacific and finally his return to civilian life and redemption. 

Which characteristics about Unbroken do you find most compelling?

Do you want another riveting, well-told narrative about one person’s life?

Does World War II history fascinate you? Would you like to read another book about survivors from that era? 

Or are you drawn to death defying adventure stories that pit man against overwhelming odds? 

There’s more for you! My top picks are in these three categories. 

But first, a recommendation that doesn’t fall into any of the three: Seabiscuit.

Laura Hillenbrand does incredibly extensive research before crafting her books. The seeds for Unbroken were sown while scouring newspapers tracking the incredible horse racing career of Seabiscuit. The marriage of copious research and masterful story weaving are evident in both books. If you like Laura Hillenbrand’s writing style, check out Seabiscuit.

(Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. If you click on a book cover and make a purchase, a percentage will support this site.)

Books Like Unbroken: True Adventure

If you enjoy the true life adventure stories that defy death by overcoming the odds this is your place. The epic battle of man and survival, battling the elements, fighting nature and winning. Modern life doesn’t often pit us against the elements any more since we tend to live a more temperature controlled life. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from and appreciate those who have. 

In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

Tracing the journey of the the captain and crew of the the whaling ship, Essex, the author employs extensive research of the mostly Quaker community on Nantucket, to whaling in the 1700s and background on the 20 men aboard the Essex. 

Interesting from a leadership and psychological standpoint, it chronicles the different choices man makes in his most desperate hours. 

The journey was supposed to take 2 to 3 years, so the community wasn’t alarmed but they didn’t know the turn of events that faced the captain during his first command and a partially green crew. 

The writing style moved the story along even while providing informative comparisons to others in similar situations. Another interesting tie in was the influence this journey had on Herman Melville as an inspiration to write Moby Dick. 

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Maybe this true story can’t be classified as death defying, but the nine men who chased Olympic Gold in 1936 certainly displayed unusual courage as they fought their own battles.

Tracing the background of some others on the champion rowing team puts you in the boat with the rowers and has you cheering with the crowds on the shore.

The pathos of the story draws you in.  Joe Rantz is an almost Dickensonian hero.

I love the real life lessons of leadership and teamwork as well as the unique challenges of that era of history.  So much to glean from this book.

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

The story of Ernest Shackleton’s leadership to bring his whole crew out alive after their vessel is lost in the South Pole Seas is inspiring.

It’s a good study in leadership and teamwork. It’s an amazing triumph over the elements, even though the primary mission wasn’t accomplished. The feat was bringing back everyone home alive.

The difficult decisions faced, the feats of survival, the human interaction: these are the elements of the story that draw you in and keep you turning pages.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

In 1996, eight mountain climbers lost their lives while attempting to summit Everest.  Jon Krakauer is a journalist and climber who survived and wrote about it.

There’s a lot of competing forces at play:  people who spent a lot of money to summit, the commercialization of summiting, magazines that would pay a lot for the story, advertisers looking for heroes.

No one seemed to know that there was a storm blowing in.

One of the critical factors in the deaths was the enforcement of the turn around time. Hall, the team leader, had been so strict about that for other teams, but with this one, he wasn’t.  He didn’t communicate clearly whether the turn around time was one o clock or  two clock.  On the actual summit day, people were summiting at 4 and 5 o clock.

Should a leader be making decisions that are unquestioned?  Does that actually put his team at greater risk because they don’t follow their own wisdom?  Actually, the genius of Hall’s leadership was to make the decisions ahead of time, not in the heat of the moment.  And the actual breakdown came in not following through with those wise decisions.

The safety net wasn’t there when it needed to be.

Touching the Void by Joe Simpson

“The true story of one man’s miraculous survival after a mountaineering mishap high in the Andes of South America.”

I’ve been on the prowl for another great family read aloud, along the lines of Endurance and Unbroken.

There’s a lot of climbing terms and concepts that I didn’t understand and it took a while before the story became compelling.  If I hadn’t known what was coming, I’m not sure I would have stuck with it.  The account is a testimony to the human will to survive.  Although it was only given a passing reference, it’s also a testimony to the prayers of Joe’s mother.

It’s fascinating to me to analyze the decisions you make in the face of death.  What motivates you to keep going when it’s hopeless and what motivates you to give up?

Books Like Unbroken: Riveting Accounts about One Person

Unbroken is a biography, but this list includes memoir and even some fiction. What they have in common is the riveting story of one person’s life, spanning the decades. 

Educated by Tara Westover

I found myself thinking about this book long after I finished it.

“Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills bag”. In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father’s junkyard.”– from Amazon

How do you earn a doctorate without attending school till age 17?

This question drives the book, but there’s so much more: mental illness, brainwashing, belief systems accepted and rejected, family dynamics, isolationism and, mostly, confronting your history honestly without bitterness.

There’s a few heroes I love in this narrative, in addition to Tara herself who confronts her own story with transparency and courage. She dares to travel the road not taken.

Since I’ve read it, it continues to haunt me (in a good way) and intrigue me and fascinate me.

Highly recommended.

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was gratuitous language.  Sometimes language in a dialogue can prove a point, but there’s no good reason for it to be in the narrative.

That being said, I love the social analysis wrapped around a boot-strapping overcomer’s story. J.D. Vance emerged from an impoverished childhood to graduate from Harvard and become a successful lawyer.

I love the positive impact and stability the author’s grandparents brought to his life.

My heart breaks for the young people in this country, especially for the homes that so many grow up in–for the poverty–not of money so much as love, stability, education and faith.

The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton

What would it be like to be convicted of a murder you didn’t commit and then spend 30 years on death row?

Amazingly, Anthony Ray Hinton is not an angry, bitter man even though it would be the logical reaction for an extreme injustice.

What’s it like for the men sitting on death row?  How would you feel?  What would you think?  How do you make it every day?

This is an inside look and, incredibly, a hopeful look.

Fearless by Eric Blehm

Navy SEALS are often lauded for superior teamwork. What makes them so effective?

Fearless tells the story of one SEAL from the elite Team Six, Adam Brown. 

His journey to becoming a highly decorated SEAL is certainly not conventional. This traces the story from before he began rigorous training to become a SEAL, through the time when he was involved in perilous missions up until his ultimate sacrifice. 

Of special note on the subject of teamwork is the way Navy SEALs operate, a process that Daniel Coyle highlights in his book and plays out in Adam Brown’s team.

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

Hannah Coulter takes the panoramic view of a person’s life, the progression of a lifetime. 

Sometimes when we sit down to a novel, we are looking for perspective, to find meaning for the daily grind. We need to see that what we do day after day matters. Hannah Coulter gives us a clue. For many women, all those meals cooked, all the time serving and caring others adds up to a lifetime of meaning. 

Then there’s the small town, rural community. I think our deep longing for community resonates with what happens in small, rural towns where people know each other and care for each other, where lives intertwine in romance, conflict, partnership, friendship and commerce. And no man lives as an island, no matter how solitary they choose to live their lives.

Finally, there’s the strong female protagonist in Hannah Coulter. You might not realize she’s strong. Not at first. She’s the type of woman that is the glue of a community. Keeping her family together. Working the long hours to grow, process and prepare the food that keeps the whole engine running. She tends to the sick, stands by her man and brings up her children. She’s the backbone, the unsung hero. Being unassuming makes it hard to recognize her as strong.

Books Like Unbroken: WWII Era Heroes

The advent of World War II and the fight against evil globally gave rise to heroes that still inspire us. As the generation that faced those horrors have almost completely left the planet, their courage, ingenuity and perseverance remain to inspire us to face the giants in our place in history.

Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

A Jewish teenager hides with her family and family friends during the German occupation of the Netherlands. She starts journaling as a record of her life and thoughts during the two years of their self-imposed captivity. 

She has an incredible ability to articulate her inner life as well as tell the story of the unusual circumstances they are living. Clinging to hope, fighting off boredom and despair, the usual conflicts and alliances that exist between family and friends. 

Another fascinating look at how people react to adverse circumstances. Not just an academic study, though, because Anne is such a human relatable heroine. 

We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

“Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds.” —Amazon

The Kurcs were from Radom, Poland, but in the course of the war, three generations are spread throughout Europe and beyond, fleeing the German regime.

I am in awe of this story. It is a light in a dark time and highlights the triumph of love, family and the will to survive.

Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy

Thousands of women worked on breaking codes during WWII. The government began by recruiting and training at women’s colleges, sending secret letters to students in the fall of their senior year.

Then they started recruiting teachers.

The work took special skills, and they didn’t always know what they were.

Intercepting and understanding enemy communication proved to be the critical strategy for the allies to win the war.

Thousands of American women working secretly to break enemy codes turned the tide.

This is the untold story of those women.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

A Christian family in Holland hides Jews from the Germans during World War II.  Corrie Ten Boom’s incredible story of espionage, imprisonment and forgiveness.

The Ten Boom family takes their faith seriously.  They believe the Jews are God’s Chosen People and risk their lives to protect them.

They continue to trust God in spite of horrific circumstances and they see His hand at work.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Viktor Frankl was a prisoner in a concentration camp in Germany. As a psychiartrist, he analyzed the fellow prisoners, the ones who had given up hope and died and the ones who had the will to live.

He concluded that everyone needs to find their own reason for being on the planet: their life’s work.

Focusing his thoughts on finishing his book and seeing his wife again sustained him during the horrific experience of the concentration camp.

Looking for more great book recommendations?

Check out my other read alike posts Books Like Hannah Coulter and Books Like Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.

If you’re looking for more books like Pride and Prejudice, which experience do you want to repeat? 

If you’re looking for another literary masterpiece, try Peace Like a River or Hannah Coulter. If you’re drawn to novels that excel in character and plot, read The Widows of Malabar Hill  or The Virginian. If you’re intrigued by the era of swishing skirts, pick up Little Women or Sense and Sensibility.

Some books rise to the top, even within an author’s own body of work. The right idea and the right characters hit at the right time in history to catapult a literary work to the top of the heap.

Pinning down the reasons why a certain book captures the collective imagination of readers for generations can be a slippery business. There’s mystery and magic behind it that can’t be bottled and sold, no matter what the writing experts say. 

What is it about Pride and Prejudice that we love so much? 

Certainly it’s the likability of the main characters. Who can resist opinionated, impulsive, fiercely loyal Lizzie Bennett and aloof, misunderstood, hiding a heart of gold Mr. Darcy? Really, they’re people you’d like to have move in down the street to become your best friends. In addition, the plot and pacing of the novel works well. 

I think modern women are also drawn to the time and place: the era of swishing skirts. There’s something compelling about the notion of chivalry and defending a woman’s honor. A time and place when society dictated different roles and expectations for women than exist now. I think it intrigues us. 

Then, it’s also beautifully written, a literary masterpiece. The courtly, formal language, the gorgeous prose and the depiction of human nature so vivid we can pull from our memories acquaintances who resemble Jane Austen’s characters. 

The qualities you love most about Austen’s classic determines which list you choose for your next great read. 

Another Literary Masterpiece

Some writers create such gorgeous works that you have to call them art. All the elements of greatness capture the admiration of readers across decades and centuries. 

Only a few can pull it off. Even fewer can do it repeatedly. 

When you stumble across a literary masterpiece, all you can do is stand in awe and admire it like an exquisite painting. 

I made a list of my favorites. The time periods vary. The characters and stories vary. What they have in common is beautiful writing. 

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

Eleven year old Rueben narrates this novel. He lives with his father, his older brother Davy and younger sister Swede in Minnesota. 

When crisis hits, the family strikes out on a westward journey in search of family, faith and healing. 

Just the prescription needed to restore your faith in humanity and the supernatural. A story that transcends the mundane of daily life. Brilliant. Currently my favorite novel.

 Jewel by Bret Lott

Jewel is one of my favorite novels of all time. Based on the story of the author’s grandmother, it’s one of the best literary depictions I’ve found of a mother’s fierce love for her child in the midst of prejudice and ignorance. 

“It is 1943 in the backwoods of Mississippi. In the land of honeysuckle and wild grapevine, Jewel Hilburn and her husband Leston – whose love for his wife is the surest comfort she’s ever known – are truly blessed. They have five fine children who embrace the world as though it were a sumptuous table set for a feast; and when Brenda Kay is born, Jewel gives thanks for yet another healthy baby, last-born and most welcome.”

“Bret Lott has created one of the finest and most indomitable heroines of contemporary American fiction.”–Goodreads

I think it resonates with every mother who has struggled to help a child navigate a lonely and little understood journey. Mothers make sacrifices for their kids as a rite of passage. 

Bret Lott describes this journey and it’s ripple effects so beautifully for me it was soul-touching. 

Beautifully crafted. A pleasure to read.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is captivating and compelling. It’s hard not to love Francie Nolan. It’s hard not to get emotionally involved with her. 

Just like all the great novels, if this one is for you, your own world melts away and you’re transported to turn of the century Brooklyn. You can feel Francie’s embarrassment, her financial insecurity, her need to be protected from the dregs of society. 

 Francie Nolan develops the grit and humanity she needs to survive her tumultuous life.

Francie lives and breathes as surely as all the brilliantly written heroines of fiction. 

Masterfully written.  A joy to read.

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

Hannah Coulter takes the panoramic view of a person’s life, the progression of a lifetime. 

Sometimes when we sit down to a novel, we are looking for perspective, to find meaning for the daily grind. We need to see that what we do day after day matters. Hannah Coulter gives us a clue. For many women, all those meals cooked, all the time serving and caring others adds up to a lifetime of meaning. 

Then there’s the small town, rural community. I think our deep longing for community resonates with what happens in small, rural towns where people know each other and care for each other, where lives intertwine in romance, conflict, partnership, friendship and commerce. And no man lives as an island, no matter how solitary they choose to live their lives.

Finally, there’s the strong female protagonist in Hannah Coulter. You might not realize she’s strong. Not at first. She’s the type of woman that is the glue of a community. Keeping her family together. Working the long hours to grow, process and prepare the food that keeps the whole engine running. She tends to the sick, stands by her man and brings up her children. She’s the backbone, the unsung hero. Being unassuming makes it hard to recognize her as strong.

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

So many of the elements of Hannah Coulter are in Jayber Crow, even the same rural small town with the same citizens.

The complexity of human relationships is a theme here and where one fits in the pecking order of society.

The main character, Jayber, is a likable character and the story traces his earliest years to his latest. He loses his parents early in life, and even though he moves away, an almost magnetic force brings him back to the community of his roots.

I admit feeling conflicted the first time I read this novel. I liked it better the second time.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

Chaim Potok brilliantly captures the internal struggles of two boys growing up in Jewish homes in New York City beginning in the 40s.

There’s clashes with their fathers, wrestling with what they believe about faith, community, family and their own future. Potak so vividly paints the world he grew up in, it feels like you were dropped onto the sizzling New York City asphalt yourself.

It contains less a plot and more a journey.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

I can’t remember the last time a novel made me cry.  This one did.

Ove is near the end of his life, but this novel takes us back to his family, his first love and his losses. It is a bittersweet exploration of what really matters in relationships and what gets in the way.

Love, friendship, community and social awkwardness.  It’s the recipe for a great novel and demonstrates in brilliant colors that no man is an island.

Novels that Excel in Character and Plot

One of the great literary debates is whether a novel is plot driven or character driven. 

Maybe it’s an overgeneralization, but novels from the last century tend to be rich in characters with slow moving, almost non-existent plot. 

Novels from this century tend to be about action, what happens, without worrying too much about developing rich, deep, well-rounded characters. 

What if a novelist can do both equally well? I consider that a real feat and I stand in awe. Relatable well-rounded characters that show growth from the beginning of the novel till the end plus an unpredictable, well-paced and sufficiently complex plot makes an over-the-top winner in my book. 

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

Based of the life of the first female lawyer in Bombay.

Not only does this fictional account weave a riveting tale, it highlights the culture and customs of 1920’s India.

Limited educational opportunities, arranged marriages, gender segregation and inequalities.  These were real obstacles.

Navigating that world and winning is a real feat.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Maise Dobbs is a detective in Vitorian London. Coming from modest means, she is indebted to her benefactors for her education and mentoring.

The work of a sleuth is different in the days before cell phones and fingerprints. An ability to understand human nature and get to the truth are the skills that are needed.

Independent and likable, Maise Dobbs is a heroine to cheer for and skillful plotting of the story keeps you turning pages.

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

Reese first meets little Annie Stephens at her lemonade stand. It doesn’t take long to see that she’s fighting serious health issues while fiercely holding to a dream of a long and healthy life. She’s lost her parents and lives with her aunt. 

Reese is hiding from his past life in the medical profession. 

The plot could be considered predictable, but the journey to get there is so enjoyable. Charles Martin has the magic touch to draw you in and practically force you to fall in love with his characters. 

Christy by Catherine Marshall

The setting is rural, but can hardly be called small town. Set in the mountains of Kentucky, Christy is the school teacher to children who don’t always wear shoes, who don’t always have the means to pack a lunch.

Confronted with a culture so different from the one she grew up in, Christy is forced to examine her own beliefs about life. She also discovers deciding who to love can be difficult.

Classic for a reason, Christy will draw you in to the pathos and the drama of the human condition.

The Virginian by Owen Wister

Owen Wister has been credited with starting the genre of the Western, with his story of the unnamed cowboy, the Virginian.

Wister explores the justice of the newly settle West, the relationships, the quest for man to build their own kingdoms and fence them. The country was captivated by the tales of the people who lived untamed lives on untamed land.

The Era of Swishing Skirts

I think there’s something appealing about any era when expansive, floor-length dresses were part of daily life. 

Certainly men’s and women’s roles were different in those periods of history. Even though women’s opportunities were restricted, there’s something that resonates with a culture where fathers, brothers and uncles defended a woman’s honor and improprieties were scandals. Maybe we like the idea that there was a society where virtue was prized, whether that reality actually existed or not. 

Part of the appeal of fiction is the ability to slip into a world more beautiful than where we currently live. Maybe it’s a longing for heaven. 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Austin fans often agree that Pride and Prejudice tops the list as the author’s greatest work. What comes in the number two slot can be debated. Some prefer Emma, others Persuasion. 

I vote for Sense and Sensibility. 

After the death of their father, the three Dashwood sisters, Elinor, Marianne and Margaret and their widowed mother must leave the family estate and dwell in a humble cottage. 

Of course, the suitors come to call. Finding income to sustain the family is a constant challenge. Each of the sisters navigates their way in the midst of the challenge. 

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

This is a wildly funny story. Written as a play, it has great characters plus an interesting plot. The dialogue is so engaging, little narration is needed. 

Young adults who wrestle with matters of the heart and older adults who counsel them but also struggle with secrets of the past. The story is filled with lovable caricatures of real people who espouse theories so ridiculous it makes you chuckle. 

Young people in love and decades old secrets set the stage for a good story. Hilarious dialogue and intriguing subterfuge add the ingredients for Wilde’s masterpiece. Sometimes a great work of art is just a matter of  having all the pieces of the puzzle. This one has it. 

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

A classic for a reason, generations have grown up with the escapades of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy.

Patterned after the author’s own home life, the stories of the four sisters ring true. Each sister is endearing in their own way.

The author seems to plumb the depth of virtually every human emotion from humiliation to fierce devotion to utter despair. Timelessly relatable.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne is a herione universally loved by girls and remembered fondly by women. Of course, so much of the charm is Anne herself–spunky, competitive, fiercely loyal, throughly human.

And who can resist Gilbert Bythe who shows his affection in the manner of red blooded boys everywhere?

But some of the appeal of Anne is the wistfulness of small town community where the gossips whisper and pass judgment and the sons and daughters marry their neighbors and hearts are broken never to see healing through the decades.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Mr. Walter Hartwright, a drawing master, is employed by the Fairlie family to teach the two young ladies of the house. En route to his assignment, he has a strange midnight encounter with a mysterious woman dressed all in white.

The setting is 1800s England, where social class, nobility, fortunes gained and lost and rural community gossip rules the day. 

Maybe because I have an overdeveloped sense of moral justice, I found this novel to be satisfying. 

I wouldn’t say that the characters were highly developed, but by the end they were relatable and certainly honorable. It fully satiated my desire to sojourn in the era of swishing skirts. 

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Valancy Stirling, age 29,  lives with her mother and aunt. She’s stifled by the expectations of her relatives and her coping method is to build a dream castle in her imagination.

One day she receives unexpected news that radically changes her outlook. With new freedom, she throws off convention to begin living her own life. 

Throughly relatable to anyone who’s ever daydreamed and wished they could walk away from stifling convention.

Have you read the other posts in the Read Alike series?

Find more great books in Books Like Hannah Coulter.

And check out Books Like Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.

Also, how can you stock your own library with books you love? Check How to Get Hard Copy Books for Free (Almost Free).

Happy Reading!

In the avalanche of self-help books, Atomic Habits stands out from the pack. James Clear communicates clearly about habits, routines and systems making profound observations about the science of transformation.

If you’re looking for books like Atomic Habits, my top picks specifically about habits are The Power of Habit and Million Dollar Habits. About focus and productivity? Deep Work and The One Thing. And more ground breaking books by thought leaders? The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Four Thousand Weeks.

There’s several reasons why Atomic Habits is such a great book. First of all, is the depth of understanding of how habits work in our lives and how powerful they are for life change. 

Another reason is the power of habits to increase focus and productivity in our lives. 

The third reason is that it’s a ground breaking book from a thought leader that challenges the status quo. 

The good news is, there’s other books out there with those same characteristics. 

Note: All pictures in this post are Amazon affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you a percentage of any purchase you make through those links will support this site.

Books Like Atomic Habits: Morning Routines and Life Changing Habits

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

“In The Power of Habit, award-winning business reporterCharles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. Distilling vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives that take us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to the sidelines of the NFL to the front lines of the civil rights movement, Duhigg presents a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential. At its core, The Power of Habit contains an exhilarating argument: The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, being more productive, and achieving success is understanding how habits work. As Duhigg shows, by harnessing this new science, we can transform our businesses, our communities, and our lives.”– from Amazon

Not many books fit in the category of life-changing.

This one does.

The Power of Habit changed my life.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

7 Habits is a classic for a reason.

The seven habits are highly actionable.  They permeate everything you do, giving you a framework for your life.

Covey fully explains the seven habits as well as fleshing out practical implementations with some of the best stories in all of self-help literature.

The seven habits:

• Be Proactive.
• Begin with the End in Mind.
• Put First Things First.
• Think Win/Win.
• Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.
• Synergize.
• Sharpen the Saw.

The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod

Hal Elrod tells his incredible story about fighting back from the brink, not once, but twice. The first time physically, recovering after a near fatal accident. The second time was financially, after being on the verge of financial collapse.

He also studied the morning habits and systems of successful people and identified the common factors. He distilled them into 7 principles and invented an acronym to aid in memorizing each one.

What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam 

So much of the habits and success literature focuses on morning routines. There’s a good reason. Taking control of your day, starting in the morning, paves the way for a successful life.

Laura Vanderkam has studied many people and the way they use their time. She most often looks at a week at a time: 168 hours.

For me, this has been a paradigm shift. I think it’s easy to think about how busy we are Monday through Friday from 7 to 5, and forget about all the hours during the evening and weekends. It’s also easy to forget that we’re managing our energy as much as our time and that following the rhythms of the week rather than fighting them works to our advantage.

It helps to look at your week as a whole and do some evaluation to find the time leaks. It helps to challenge the thinking that is working against us.

Million Dollar Habits by Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy has written an impressive body of work. But, more importantly, he’s gained a lot of wisdom and has learned how to communicate it clearly and concisely.

He has actively sought out successful people to learn from their success and put into practice what he’s learned.

This book covers habits for business, health, money, relationships and so much more. This is a digest of how successful people live and the principles they live by.

Books Like Atomic Habits: Focus and Productivity

The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

Now I know what all the rave reviews are about.  This is a GREAT book!

It addresses the problem of distracted focus and the importance of lasering in on your most important work in order to achieve excellence.

A huge light bulb moment for me reading The One Thing was the idea of chaos derailing you and distracting you from your one thing.

Chapter 17, The Four Thieves of Productivity hit me hard.

The Four Thieves are:

1. Inability to Say “No”
2. Fear of Chaos
3. Poor Health Habits
4. Environment Doesn’t Support Your Goals.

Wow. These were so good and right on the money.

“The One Thing explains the success habit to overcome the six lies that block our success, beat the seven thieves that steal time, and leverage the laws of purpose, priority, and productivity.” –from Goodreads

Margin by Richard Swenson

“Margin is the space that once existed between ourselves and our limits. Today we use margin just to get by. This book is for anyone who yearns for relief from the pressure of overload. Reevaluate your priorities, determine the value of rest and simplicity in your life, and see where your identity really comes from. The benefits can be good health, financial stability, fulfilling relationships, and availability for God’s purpose.”– from Amazon

Eat that Frog! by Brian Tracy

Eat That Frog! is a quick read.  It is a compilation of wisdom from many gurus of time management, self-management and motivation.  The subtitle is “21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time.”

If I have one beef with the book, it’s that he doesn’t attribute his ideas to the original authors.  But, the content is gold.

Simple and profound.  So why isn’t everyone doing it?  Because it’s hard.  At least, it’s hard to start.He does tackle the psychological side of motivating yourself to do difficult things.

It is a book full of action points, laced with a few stories to illustrate the effectiveness of the principles he advocates.

The whole “eat the frog” analogy comes from Mark Twain who said that “if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long.”

Talking ourselves into doing difficult things instead of avoiding them gets us ahead.

Deep Work by Cal Newport

Newport first builds the case for the importance of deep work, then he expounds on practical steps to accomplish it.  Simply put, what is needed is focus and discipline.

I agree with Newport’s main premise:  we are doing worse work because we’re distracted.  I see it all the time in the low quality of books that are published and the huge vacuums that exist in many genres for high quality work.

Newport is a college professor.  Publishing in scholarly journals is the deep work he needs to accomplish.  I think the principles apply to all writers, and probably all knowledge workers in general.

I think the most profound books are ones that are simple common sense:  ones that people agree with and see the wisdom of, but didn’t take the time to articulate themselves.  It seems so simple.  So obvious.  And, yet, it wasn’t done before.

It is the path of least resistance to fritter away our time.  When we are careful about every working minute and rest well away from work, we accomplish so much more.

I was intrigued by the end of the day ritual.  For sure, it is the lingering worries of work that sap your peace and relaxation when you’re away from work.  Learning to wrap things up at the end of the day and be at peace with where you’re leaving them is critical for resting well.

His chapter, “Quit Social Media” is a little misleading, because he doesn’t really advocate that you quit social media.  Some would argue that if you want to write, you have to leverage social media.  But, the irony is that social media is keeping you from doing your best work, because you become a consumer instead of a producer.

The instant gratification is a problem, as well.  The instant distraction, the problem of never being bored.  If you’re never bored, then you never think.  You don’t create to fill the hole of that boredom.  You don’t wonder, daydream, imagine.  That vacuum is filled.

Books Like Atomic Habits: Paradigm Shifts from Thought Leaders

Atomic Habits challenges the thinking that goal setting and goal achievement is the way to make your life what you want it to be. He proposes that habits and systems are the way to make your life what you want it to be. He also proposes that environment is more important than willpower. 

What does it take to be a thought leader?  Well, you have to have some original thoughts. Actually, to start out with, you just have to think. That becomes harder and harder to do in our noisy world. 

Clear thinkers are rare. 

Thought leaders often challenge the status quo. They will be swimming upstream. The amazing thing is that if they remain firm and consistently preach the same message, they can turn the tide, change the trends of people’s thinking and lead the charge of the new accepted belief. 

The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi

The Lazy Genius Way is the best book on life management since The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. 

It’s a different way of looking at life management. 

The principles are universal. 

Front and center is the idea that you need to name what matters. You can’t organize your life until you’ve established your unique priorities.

The Lazy Genius Way is in a class by itself, but there are other books that challenge popular myths and give unusual insight into life management. 

High on practical application and low on guilt, The Lazy Genius Way feels like a giant exhale, because Kendra Adachi gives us all permission to stop doing all the things. We don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. She likes to say, “Just do you”.

I’m a big fan. 

Find more books like The Lazy Genius Way.

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

Oliver Burkeman challenges us to think differently about our lifespan and our view of time. 

Ponder the brevity of life. If you live to be 80, that’s a little over four thousand weeks.

It’s similar to Laura Vanderkam talking about 168 hours in a week. We are more familiar with 24 hours and 7 days.  We normally measure a lifespan in years rather than weeks. That alone gives us a different viewpoint.  

He challenges status quo thinking in several ways. 

First of all, we don’t own time to spend how we please. It doesn’t actually belong to us, but it is who we are. 

He challenges the philosophy of time management that says make every minute count, hyper schedule your time to achieve your goals and have a successful life. 

He advocates the importance of doing nothing and NOT being productive every minute. 

His discussion about distractions is worth reading. There’s no doubt we are easily distracted. How do we deal with it? 

Embrace the truth that you can’t do it all. If you choose one career you say no to others. If you accept one life partner, you are closing the door to all others. 

The old adage says life is like a coin. You can spend it anyway you want, but you can only spend it once.

Most of the book is philosophical with ten proposed action steps coming at the end.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Have you ever wondered why some teams can accomplish incredible feats and others can’t accomplish anything?  What if there were a way to diagnose the problems and solve them?  Now there is.

Five Dysfunctions is a leadership fable.  It is a page-turning quick read fiction, for the very reason a good movie is:  it’s full of conflict.

“The characters in this book ring true, are completely recognizable, and fully-realized. The book itself is well-written, and, I believe, ranks with the best of the genre.” –Jack Covert, co-author with Todd Sattersten of 100 Best Business Books of All Time

Five Dysfunctions identifies the major obstacles that keep a group from functioning as a team.  There are repeatable patterns that keep a team from reaching it’s goals.  By identifying these patterns and working to change them, the team can move forward and accomplish it’s goals.

What are the Five Dysfunctions?

1. Absence of trust
2. Fear of conflict
3. Lack of commitment
4. Avoidance of accountability
5. Inattention to results.

Lencioni is spot on in his analysis and his resolution.  This book is life-changing.

Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Out of all the financial gurus out there, why listen to Dave Ramsey?  What sets Dave apart is his understanding of human nature and the emotional roadblocks that keep people from make good financial decisions.

Part of his signature advice is the “debt snowball”.  Arranging your debts from smallest to largest doesn’t necessarily make sense, except, you need the encouragement of seeing progress, of seeing a debt paid off . . . “sometimes motivation is more important than math”. This encouragement keeps you on track to meet your financial goals.

Another thing that sabotages a good plan is an emergency expense.  Planning for emergencies is a bedrock principle for success financially, according to Dave.

He suggests two ways to do this.  First is a small emergency fund.  Later, a larger fund is created in preparation for a financial tidal wave.

It takes an intensity and focus to succeed financially. Dave calls it “gazelle intensity”.

The book oozes with stories of people who have overcome significant obstacles to achieve financial freedom. These serve as an inspiration and encouragement to those in the trenches.

Dave advocates each step as the way to financial peace.  He also testifies that the Prince of Peace is the only way to true peace.

The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

It’s hard to say who was the first, but Tim Ferriss was among the first to say that you can make a living without the 9 to 5 corporate job. The internet has opened up new types of commerce and information jobs that weren’t possible three decades ago.

Many people will tell you that a literal four hours a week is a misnomer and that you can’t skip over the 90 hour weeks it takes leading up to the point where you can make passive income.

But, there are others who will give testimony to their own 10 to 15 hour a week journeys to earn a full-time income based on repeatable principles of building an online business.

The point is that Tim Ferriss was a front runner in proclaiming to the world that there was a new way to to make money and finance your life.

Hannah Coulter is one of the best novels I’ve read this decade.

For me, it checks all the boxes. It’s well-written. It rings true. It feels like a slice of life. It’s also hopeful and touches at the level of our deepest emotions and desires. I wish there were a hundred more like it.

Identifying what I liked about this book helped me choose 21 favorites that are similar in one of three categories.

Want the short answer about which books are like Hannah Coulter? Here it is. One person’s life? Read A Man Called Ove or Jewel. Rural community? Try Jayber Crow or The Virginain. Strong woman? Maisie Dobbs or The Widows of Malabar Hill

There’s so much to love about Hannah Coulter.

First of all, it’s brilliantly written. Truly a work of art.

Then there’s the panoramic view of a person’s life. Seeing the progression of a lifetime, how the grandparents affected their kids and grandkids and then how their kids and grandkids grew up.

I think this perspective gives us a unique look at a character’s life, especially one that is brilliantly portrayed. So many times when we sit down to a novel, we are looking for some perspective, looking for some meaning to the daily grind. We need to see that what we do day after day matters. How better than to examine a life as a whole. Like sitting at a funeral. How does one life matter? How does the way I spend my days and hours matter? What is the big picture of my life? Hannah Coulter gives a clue. For many women, all those meals cooked, all the time serving and caring for people adds up to a lifetime of meaning.

Then there’s the small town, rural community. I think our deep longing for community resonates with what happens in small, rural towns where people know each other and care for each other. Where lives entertwine in romance, conflict, partnership, friendship and commerce. Where no man lives as an island, no matter how solitary they choose to live their lives. I know I’m drawn to literary depictions of that type of community. Maybe you do, too?

Finally, there’s the strong female protagonist in Hannah Coulter. You might not realize she’s strong. Not at first. She’s the type of woman that is the glue of a community. Keeping her family together. Working the long hours to grow, process and prepare the food that keeps the whole engine running. She tends to the sick, stands by her man and brings up her children. She’s the backbone, the unsung hero. Being unassuming makes it hard to recognize her as strong. She’s loyal, she serves her family day after day, year after year. Leans on her faith to get her through hard times. Lives close to the earth and close to her progeny.

Panoramic View of One Life

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

I can’t remember the last time a novel made me cry.  This one did.

Ove is near the end of his life, but this novel takes us back to his family, his first love and his losses. It is a bittersweet exploration of what really matters in relationships and what gets in the way.

Love, friendship, community and social awkwardness.  It’s the recipe for a great novel.

It demonstrates in brilliant colors that no man is an island.

 Jewel by Bret Lott

“It is 1943 in the backwoods of Mississippi. In the land of honeysuckle and wild grapevine, Jewel Hilburn and her husband Leston – whose love for his wife is the surest comfort she’s ever known – are truly blessed. They have five fine children who embrace the world as though it were a sumptuous table set for a feast; and when Brenda Kay is born, Jewel gives thanks for yet another healthy baby, last-born and most welcome.

JEWEL is the story of how quickly a life can change; how, like lightning, an unforseen event can illuminate our lives and set us on a course without reason or compass.”– Goodreads

Jewel fights the odds of prejudice and ignorance with a mother’s fierce love.

“Bret Lott has created one of the finest and most indomitable heroines of contemporary American fiction.”

Beautifully crafted. A pleasure to read.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

“The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness — in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience. “–Goodreads

Rightly labeled a literary work of art.  Francie Nolan develops the grit and humanity she needs to survive her tumultuous life.

Masterfully written.  A joy to read.

These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

“A moving, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the author’s own family memoirs, these words belong to Sarah Prine, a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a harsh, unfamiliar frontier. Scrupulously recording her steps down the path Providence has set her upon–from child to determined young adult to loving mother–she shares the turbulent events, both joyous and tragic, that molded her and recalls the enduring love with cavalry officer Captain Jack Elliot that gave her strength and purpose.

Rich in authentic everyday details and alive with truly unforgettable characters, These Is My Words brilliantly brings a vanished world to breathtaking life again.”–Goodreads

Unpredictable.  Well-written.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

C.S. Lewis has always been one of my favorite authors and The Chronicles of Narnia the pinnacle in children’s literature, in my opinion. Even though I knew the basic facts of the love story between Lewis and Joy Davidman, Becoming Mrs.  Lewis fleshed out the story in a probable narrative of their relationship.

I came to see her as an unsung hero in Lewis’ life.

There’s nothing like an inside peek at the life of one of the world’s greatest writers.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you a percentage of your purchase will go to support this site.) 

Small Town Rural Community

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

So many of the elements of Hannah Coulter are in Jayber Crow, even the same rural small town with the same citizens.

The complexity of human relationships is a theme here and where one fits in the pecking order of society.

The main character, Jayber, is a likable character and the story traces his earliest years to his latest. He loses his parents early in life, and even though he moves away, an almost magnetic force brings him back to the community of his roots.

I admit feeling conflicted the first time I read this novel. I liked it better the second time.

Peace Like a River by Lief Enger

Told through the eyes of an eleven year old boy, the novel is not about a span of time, it mostly just covers one year.

Rueben is the eleven year old, Swede, his younger sister, and Davy their older brother. They live with their father out west, growing up in a modest life.

Circumstances dictate a quest to the west, search for answers to a reality that doesn’t add up.

Girl of the Limberlost  by Gene Stratton-Porter

I heard about a genre of fiction called eco-fiction on the What Should I Read Next? podcast. I think A Girl of the Limberlost would fit into that category with it’s beautiful descriptions of nature.

Gene Stratton Porter weaves a fascinating story around so many details of flora and fauna. She was a naturalist before she became a novelist, before she became a film maker.

I’ve seen the house she built in Northern Indiana, a work of art that stands in all it’s glory more than a century later.

If you enjoy a “close to the earth” novel, this one’s for you.

Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter

Another of my top picks from Gene Straton Porter is the story of Freckles, a handicapped boy who found his purpose and meaning living close to the earth.

Butterflies, birds, trees and plants. These are all Gene Straton Porter’s domain and she is a master at making them as much a part of the story as the humans and animals themselves. Clearly a student of human nature as well as a naturalist, she is able to capture the emotions and relationships in clear detail that is a joy to read.

Christy by Catherine Marshall

The setting is rural, but can hardly be called small town. Set in the mountains of Kentucky, Christy is the school teacher to children who don’t always wear shoes, who don’t always have the means to pack a lunch.

Confronted with a culture so different from the one she grew up in, Christy is forced to examine her own beliefs about life. She also discovers deciding who to love can be difficult.

Classic for a reason, Christy will draw you in to the pathos and the drama of the human condition.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne is a herione universally loved by girls and remembered fondly by women. Of course, so much of the charm is Anne herself, spunky, competitive, fiercely loyal, throughly human.

But some of it is the wistfulness of small town community where the gossips whisper and pass judgment and the sons and daughters marry their neighbors and hearts are broken never to see healing through the decades.

All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot

James Herriot follows the life and career of a country vet in England, with whimiscal stories of quirky farmers and engaging animals.

As a master storyteller, you can feel the cold cobblestones and smell the manure. His stories are often humorous and paint vivid pictures.

The Virginian by Owen Wister

Owen Wister has been credited with starting the genre of the Western, with his story of the unnamed cowboy, the Virginian.

Wister explores the justice of the newly settle West, the relationships, the quest for man to build their own kingdoms and fence them. The country was captivated by the tales of the people who lived untamed lives on untamed land.

Strong female protagonist

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

 Based of the life of the first female lawyer in Bombay.

Not only does this fictional account weave a riveting tale, it highlights the culture and customs of 1920’s India.

Limited educational opportunities, arranged marriages, gender segregation and inequalities.  These were real obstacles.

Navigating that world and winning is a real feat.

Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart

Fascinating novelized account of the country’s first female sheriff.

Three sisters living alone in the country manage to get on the wrong side of some shady characters.  Tell how they defend themselves, throw in some family secrets and end up with the a female sheriff.  Well played.

Stewart writes in an engaging style that kept me flipping pages.

I was glad to see the author follows the sisters’ story in another book.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Windspear

Maise Dobbs is a detective in Vitorian London. Coming from modest means, she is indebted to her benefactors for her education and mentoring.

The work of a sleuth is different in the days before cell phones and fingerprints. An ability to understand human nature and get to the truth are the skills that are needed.

Independent and likable, Maise Dobbs is a heroine to cheer for and skillful plotting of the story keeps you turning pages.

Mrs. Mike by Nancy and Benedict Freedman

Sixteen year old Maggie O’Flannon is shipped off from her home in Boston to an uncle in Calgary for her health. What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love, with the frozen white north and with a Mountie.

Beautifully told, the harsh and beautiful life of rural Canada captures the heart and the imagination.

Pride and Predjudice by Jane Austen

It’s hard not to like Lizzie Bennet. She speaks her mind, she’s unfazed by social regulations, she’s fiercely loyal. And no one can articulate matters of the heart like Jane Austen.

Five girls growing up in one household is certainly a recipe for matchmaking dilemmas.

Certainly other Austen titles have won hearts, but Pride and Prejudice often is recognized as standing above the rest.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

A classic for a reason, generations have grown up with the escapades of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Patterned after the author’s own home life, the stories of the four sisters ring true. Each sister is endearing in their own way.

The book contains not so much a plot as a journey as each one reaches to fulfill their destiny.

So, that’s the list. Find a category that resonates with you and pick up a new one or re-read an old classic. What books would you add that are similar to Hannah Coulter?

Have you read the other posts in our Read Alike series?

Check out Books Like Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.

Also, how can you stock your own library with books you love? Check How to Get Hard Copy Books for Free (Almost Free).

Happy Reading!

The books we love give us clues to finding our next favorite. It helps to stop a minute to think about why I loved a book so much and what other books are similar.

My top six picks for you if you liked Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus fall into three categories. If you like riveting memoir, I recommend Educated by Tara Westover and Hillbilly Elegy by J.D.Vance. If you’re interested in intellectually investigating the claims of Christianity, try Cold Case Christianity by J. W. Wallace and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. If you like exploring a radically different world view, read The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun and Paul Hattaway and Bruchko by Bruce Olson.

In 2017 I wrote 55 book reviews for my blog. The best book I read that year was Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi. I heard him speak at my daughter’s graduation from Biola University in December of 2016. At that time he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, which took his life in September of 2017.

If you don’t know much about him, here’s an overview of Nabeel’s life and impact.

I did expand each category in the lists below, for a total of 13 books. Happy Reading!

I loved the account of the raw, treacherous journey that Nabeel Qureshi took to find faith in Jesus. The sacrifices he made, the intellectual, emotional and relational barriers that kept him from finding faith in Jesus and the story of overcoming those barriers.

Statistics are one thing.

One person’s story is something else altogether. What difference can one person’s story make?

Why do we need to know Nabeel’s story?

There are millions of devout Muslims on the planet. If we understand Nabeel’s story, we come closer to understanding the Muslim mindset.

Understanding opens the door to greater compassion. We share the same humanity. Our desires and dreams are common to the human experience.

In looking for a read-alike to Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, it matters why you liked it, and what you’re looking for in your next read. Do you want another riveting memoir? Or are you fascinated by exploring a radically different world view? Or maybe you’re interested in investigating the claims of Christianity?

I highlighted my top picks in each category.

Riveting Memoir

If you love riveting memoir, there’s some great ones out there. 

From my point of view, there’s a few elements that make memoirs riveting. 

First of all there’s the question, what is it really like to live that life? How did they do it? 

Secondly, did they articulate it well? If they did the hard work, the reader’s job is effortless. 

Educated by Tara Westover

I found myself thinking about this book long after I finished it.

“Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills bag”. In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father’s junkyard.”– from Amazon

How do you earn a doctorate without attending school till age 17?

This question drives the book, but there’s so much more: mental illness, brainwashing, belief systems accepted and rejected, family dynamics, isolationism and, mostly, confronting your history honestly without bitterness.

There’s a few heroes I love in this narrative, in addition to Tara herself who confronts her own story with transparency and courage. She dares to travel the road not taken.

Since I’ve read it, it continues to haunt me (in a good way) and intrigue me and fascinate me.

Highly recommended.

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was gratuitous language.  Sometimes language in a dialogue can prove a point, but there’s no good reason for it to be in the narrative.

That being said, I love the social analysis wrapped around a boot-strapping overcomer’s story. J.D. Vance emerged from an impoverished childhood to graduated from Harvard and become a successful lawyer.

It has some similarities to Ben Carson’s story in Gifted Hands.

I love the positive impact and stability the author’s grandparents brought to his life.

My heart breaks for the young people in this country, especially for the homes that so many grow up in–for the poverty–not of money so much as love, stability, education and faith.

One thing that struck me is that the author wasn’t able to find much help in counseling, but research, learning and understanding about himself and his formative years brought a measure of peace.

The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton

What would it be like to be convicted of a murder you didn’t commit and then spend 30 years on death row?

Amazingly, Anthony Ray Hinton is not an angry, bitter man.

It would be the logical reaction for an extreme injustice.

What’s it like for the men sitting on death row?  How would you feel?  What would you think?  How do you make it every day?

This is an inside look.  Incredibly, a hopeful look.

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Blue Like Jazz is reminiscent of an Anne Lamott memoir.  They’re both off the charts in honesty, transparency and authenticity.  We identify with those inner insecurities that we can’t even admit to ourselves, much less to others, committing them to black and white and hurling them to the world.

I’ve read Donald Miller’s memoir several times. I have also read Scary Close, which is somewhat of a sequel, but it doesn’t have the same punch as Blue Like Jazz.  Growing up fatherless is an underlying theme of Blue Like Jazz.  By the time Scary Close was written, Miller has resolved many of his emotional issues and experienced a lot of healing.  So, it’s not driven by the same pain.

I believe writing in itself is therapeutic.  As is sharing your story.  I heard Miller recently talk about the desire people have to be heard and seen and known.  He’s been there, done that and now has no more need to be seen and heard and known.  He’s heading a successful company now called StoryBrand that helps businesses tell their story .

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Note: Heads up for language.

I didn’t really understand apartheid until I read this book.

Seeing how it played out in people’s lives is sobering.

Trevor Noah has a white father and a black mother.  In South Africa, it was illegal for his father and mother to procreate.  His very existance was against the law, hence the title, Born a Crime.

It’s mind-blowing to think about the world and the life that Trevor Noah was born into. It’s a cautionary tale, especially for those who have a vote in their government’s laws and leaders.

I liked Noah Trevor’s personal and relatable writing style as well as the occasional political commentary.

Different World View

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus gives us the inside view of a devout Muslim home. Nabeel grew up in the U.S. But, his parents were from Pakistan and they were devout Muslims. The traditions, rituals and beliefs of Muslims differ from that of other faiths. 

Having a different world view affects everything. All your decisions are influenced by what you believe about God, man, humanity, eternity and society.

So many times, we’re not even aware of our own world view until we see life through someone else’s eyes.

The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun and Paul Hattaway

Brother Yun’s story highlights the incredible religious persecution of Christians in China.

The verses of scripture they cling to are not the same ones that are familiar to us because they live a different reality.

It’s good to have that world opened up to us and to spend some time thinking about it.

Christians throughout history have been imprisoned and tortured and persecuted and martyred for their faith. The fact that it’s still happening today often doesn’t impact us.

Bruchko by Bruce Olson

Nineteen year old Bruce Olson left the United States to bring the gospel to a stone age tribe of Indians in Columbia.

He learned their language and fully integrated into their culture. The contrast between their way of life and his upbringing in Minnesota is stark.

He paints such a vivid picture you can almost feel the creepy crawlies. At great personal sacrifice, he accomplished his mission.

Something Needs to Change by David Platt

After listening to Annie F Down’s interview with David Platt on her podcast about his book I knew I needed to read it.

Platt traced his one week trek through the Himalayas and the impact it had on him to see such a dark place first hand.

He recorded in his journal the people he met, the scripture he read on the trip and his thoughts and emotions in response.

He witnessed human trafficking, extreme persecution of believers, children in isolated mountain villages without the most basic education and scores of people who had no knowledge of Jesus.

Platt was overwhelmed by a first hand experience with a dark corner of the world in desperate need, spiritually as well as physically. He eloquently invites believers into his pain as the first step to impacting the world.

The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken with Gregg Lewis

Nik and Ruth Ripken (not their real names) left Kentucky and moved with their family to Somalia to serve God.  They encountered a shocking world of spiritual warfare and the persecution of Christians.  

Nik Ripken pulls back the curtain to this world. 

Believers who are imprisoned and tortured and martyred for their faith.  Those who sing to Jesus and can’t resist sharing him with others, no matter the price. 

Human life is not valued.  Women and children are not valued.  Freedoms and dignity are not valued.  All stemming from a world view so foreign it is difficult even to conceive. 

They have since interviewed 600 believers in 60 countries to give voice to their stories. 

These are their stories and Nik Ripken and Gregg Lewis share them so well. 

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

A Christian family in Holland hides Jews from the Germans during World War II.  Corrie Ten Boom’s incredible story of espionage, imprisonment and forgiveness.

The Ten Boom family takes their faith seriously.  They believe the Jews are God’s Chosen People and risk their lives to protect them.

They continue to trust God in spite of horrific circumstances and they see His hand at work.

A Skeptic’s Investigation of Christianity

Nabeel didn’t set out to prove Christianity to be false, but he did seriously investigate principles he had been taught as a devout Muslim against the claims of Christianity. 

Other people have set out to prove Christianity false and made a 180 in their beliefs. 

It’s eerie how similar some of the stories are. 

Cold Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace

“In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs.”

Homicide detective and former atheist J. Warner Wallace used his skills to examine the claims of the New Testament.

Wallace treated the claims of the New Testament as a cold case investigation. Step by step he applied his technique to the search. 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Lewis has a way with words. He wrote a lot of them. His own conversion to Christianity was after an intellectual struggle that only a university professor could engage in.

C.S. Lewis lost his mother as a child. He lived as an academic agnostic until, as an adult, he re-examine the claims of Christianity. Many of his friends were believers and after an intellectual investigation, he concluded that the claims of Christianity were true.

He concluded the claims of Christianity to be true. 

More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell

More Than a Carpenter is mostly a Christian Apologetic. Josh starts with his own story of searching in chapter 1, but then spends the next 10 chapters on the arguments of the biblical claims, including whether the Bible itself is a reliable document. 

For decades, Josh McDowell’s book has become a classic history of skeptic converted to Christianity.

Every person in the world grows up with a belief system, whether it’s been intentionally taught to him or one that he’s absorbed by observing and investigating. 

Takeaways from Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

Every person in the world needs to evaluate that belief system for themselves and embrace the beliefs they choose as an independent person. 

Taking that journey with Nabeel is instructive. This is everyone’s story. It’s painful. It takes courage. It impacts relationships. Taking the journey with him increases our compassion and empathy for every human and the courage it takes to live with integrity. 

Finally, there’s the question of faith. 

No matter what you believe, at some point there’s always a leap. Some point when you say, okay, this is what I believe.  

Once you get past the investigating and the wrestling and the struggling. Then you choose. You land somewhere and you have peace. 

Or else you continue to live life in the struggle not sure where to land. Or you live life in a fog, doing everything you can to stop from thinking. 

So, to a certain extent, we can identify with everyone’s coming of age story. To become human means to own a belief system and world view that will serve you in adulthood. 

It helps us to see where someone else broke the trail through the deep snow. We could choose to follow behind and save ourselves a little trailblazing. Or we could veer off across the virgin plain and ease the way for the traveller behind us. 

Now that you’ve added some new books to your TBR, what next?

How do you find the time to do the reading you want to do?

Where can you get the books you want to read?