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17 Best Fiction Books for Men in 2024

Whether you’re looking for a compelling series of audio books for your commute, a quick pick to take on vacation or a recommendation for a male reader in your life, this list compiles the best fiction for men.  

What do these stories have in common?  Male protagonists facing overwhelming odds, strong heroes in the face of danger and compelling story lines.

My top picks for best fiction for men are A Time for Mercy, The Kremlin Conspiracy and Peace Like a River.

Note: Book cover pictures are Amazon affiliate links. Clicking through to purchase will generate commissions for this site. 

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Wow. What an incredible story. 

Although technically listed as fiction, since not everything could be verified and dialogue had to be re-created, the book is based on the real life of Pino Lella.

As a seventeen year old and eighteen year old living in Italy during the German occupation of 1944-45, Pino did what he could to oppose Hitler’s regime. He guided Jewish refugees over the Alps to safety in Switzerland. He accepted a German military uniform and continued to help the resistance from inside the ranks. 

I continue to be amazed at the courage of ordinary people in the face of evil. It’s an inspiration for us to be like the boy with his loaves and fishes and offer the little we have when faced with great need.

A Time for Mercy by John Grisham

This novel features the lawyer Jake Brigance who captured hearts in the legal thriller, A Time to Kill. The setting is 1990 in Mississippi. Jake defends 16 year old Drew Gamble, accused of murder.  

John Grisham’s genius is being able to portray a whole community, down to it’s interwoven relationships, systems and culture. The diner scenes, the friendships between the players in small town America and the intricacies of how the legal system serves justice along with the possibility that justice will not be served. 

The Kremlin Conspiracy by Joel C Rosenberg

This is the first book of five (so far) of the Marcus Ryker series, international intrigue at it’s finest. Rosenberg takes on the hotspots of the world and is able to articulate the culture and motivations of the major players. 

For fans of Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne.

Sackett’s Land by Louis L’Amour

If you’re new to Louis L’Amour, I recommend starting with the first book in the Sackett series. There’s seventeen books in the series that follows the Sackett family from their roots in England to their descendants populating the New World.

Louis L’Amour weaves compelling tales that has you turning pages. 

If you’re looking for a stand alone, try Hondo. 

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Blake Crouch’s books are often called mind bending sci-fi. 

In Dark Matter, Jason Dessen is abducted from his life and wakes up in an alternate reality. No longer married with a family. No longer a physics professor. His personal history has been replaced and he doesn’t know how or if he can get it back. 

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

One of my husband’s favorite novels that he re-reads every five years or so. 

Imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, Edmond Dantes learns of the hidden treasure on the Isle of Monte Cristo. He plots his revenge on the men responsible for his unfair incarceration. 

The epic drama contains a host of characters and story threads that are expertly woven to a satisfying conclusion. 

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

The hobbits Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Sam are unlikely heroes in a quest for power that encompasses five armies. But, as guardians of the ring of power, they find themselves in the epicenter of the conflict. 

This drama is immersive as Tolkien has created a world complete with languages, history and the epic clash of good and evil. 

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Not only does Jack London paint vivid pictures of the great white north, he also has a way of telling animal stories. Survival against the elements is the perfect back drop to tell the story of the relationship between dog and man. 

To start reading the free ebook version at Project Gutenberg, click here: The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

What if you were nobility in Russia in the nineteen twenties who is under house arrest at a posh hotel stripped of titles and wealth? Could you still build a life for yourself? Make the human connections and community that everyone needs to survive? 

This is a slow moving book, especially the first half. It took me two or three tries to get all the way through it. I don’t think I would have stuck with it if it hadn’t come highly recommended from people I respected, but I’m glad I did.  

I didn’t love Towles’ Rules of Civility, but I did like The Lincoln Highway, which is another near miss for Commendable Lit.

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 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 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.

The novelist deals with the most delicate of subjects in an inoffensive way. 

There was one element of the book I didn’t care for, but it wasn’t enough to ruin it for me. 

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

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

“Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?”–from Amazon

All the elements of a great survival story as well as science fiction at it’s best. I loved it.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 

The story is about a young man trying to make his way in life and wrestling with all of life’s big questions: love, loss, meaningful work and what really matters. 

I found this parable intriguing.  More a life philosophy than novel, there was a lot of great food for thought.  Why do we keep pursuing our dreams?  How do we keep going after loss?  What is true treasure in life?  What is worth the sacrifice?

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.

Don’t miss True Adventure Stories that are Page Turners

and More Books Like Atomic Habits.

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Bibliotherapy, My Life

3 Steps to Teach Empathy to Kids with Books

teach empathy to kids

When you teach empathy to kids, you solve a host of other problems.

Have you ever wondered how to get kids to share? How to get them to be kind to one another? How to stop bullying? The missing character trait here is empathy. So the next question is how to help kids develop empathy and what do books have to do with it?

  1. Teach empathy by choosing the right books
  2. Teach empathy by asking questions
  3. Teach empathy by stepping into the characters’ shoes

Teach Empathy to Kids by Choosing the Right Books

I wrote an article with a book list about How Stories Develop Empathy in Kids.

In that post I talk about how stories we tell kids today have changed from when I was a child. I’m not saying all change is bad, but I wonder if we’re robbing kids today of the chance to develop real compassion and empathy because our stories are tamed down.

Among stories written in this century, I recommend the books of R. J. Palacio about Auggie who has a facial deformity. These books are characterized by realistic struggles with emotional pain.

Wonder is written for school aged kids and We’re All Wonders for preschoolers.

Note: Book cover picture is an Amazon affiliate link. Clicking through to purchase benefits this site.

Teach Empathy to Kids by Asking Questions

Michele Borba wrote the book Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World. In it, she outlines three steps to interact with stories to teach kids empathy. 

Step 1: Ask “What if.” 

Stop reading occasionally to pose questions. What if that happened to you? What if you had to decide?    

Give kids a chance to stop and think about what it’s like to be that character.                                   

Step 2: Ask “How would you feel?” 

An important task here is teaching emotional literacy. Help kids learn a vocabulary for emotions. 

Start with basics like happy and sad, and move on to more complex emotions like frustrated, angry, excited and afraid. 

When reading picture books, point out body language and facial expressions. 

Identify what the character is feeling and relate that to feelings they’ve had. 

Step 3: Ask them to think about “you” instead of “me.”

A critical step in teaching empathy is the shift in focus from self-centered to other-centered. 

It’s natural to think about ourselves, our thoughts, needs and feelings. It takes effort (maybe even supernatural help!) to think about others. 

Note: Book cover picture is an Amazon affiliate link. Clicking through to purchase benefits this site.

Teach Empathy to Kids by Stepping into the Characters’ Shoes

Kids are concrete and literal learners. It helps to have a visual and tactile object lesson to drive home a lesson. 

In Michele Borba’s book she shares the example of a mom in Liverpool who helped her kids step into the shoes—literally— of the characters from Charlotte’s Web. 

She wrote the names of the characters— Wilbur, Charlotte, Fern and Templeton— on sticky notes and put them on her husband’s shoes. The kids loved standing in each shoe and describing what that character was thinking and feeling. 

Looking for great lists of chapter books for kids? Browse these lists– Books Like Hatchet and Books Like The Penderwicks.

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21 More Books Like Hatchet

This list is broken into three parts, each focusing on different elements of the Hatchet story that I find compelling. 

First of all, it’s a survival story. If the popularity of the reality TV show Survivor is any indication, battling the elements and living off the land is a challenge worth witnessing. 

The survival books on this list include fiction and non-fiction written for adults and mature teens. 

It’s also a story about courage and self-discovery.  Victory over adversity is empowering. Dire circumstances can serve as a catalyst to unearth inner courage. The section of the list that highlights courage are also written for kids. One of the best thing about books is that we can borrow the courage of our heroes, fictional or real, and wield it in our every day lives. 

Finally, there’s a section of adventure stories, appealing and apropriate for all ages. 

In my list of top picks some are stories of surviving alone on an island, but there’s also courage, adventure or survival in other settings as well. 

My top six picks for Books Like Hatchet

  1. Island of the Blue Dolphins
  2. Wonder
  3. Project Hail Mary
  4. Robinson Crusoe
  5. Swiss Family Robinson
  6. Peace Like a River

Books Like Hatchet for Adults: Survival

If you enjoy adventure stories that defy death by overcoming the odds this is your place. Some are true, some invented, all contain the epic battle of man and survival, battling the elements, fighting nature and winning. Modern life doesn’t often pit us against the elements since we tend to live a more temperature controlled life. But there is something compelling about survivor stories. 

Note: Pictures of book covers are Amazon affiliate links. Clicking through to purchase will benefit this site.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

“Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?”–from Amazon

All the elements of a great survival story as well as science fiction at it’s best. I loved it.

Endurance 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 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.

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. 

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.” (from Amazon)

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?

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

“Robinson Crusoe is a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published on 25 April 1719. The first edition credited the work’s protagonist Robinson Crusoe as its author, leading many readers to believe he was a real person and the book a travelogue of true incidents. Epistolary, confessional, and didactic in form, the book is presented as an autobiography of the title character (whose birth name is Robinson Kreutznaer)—a castaway who spends twenty-eight years on a remote tropical desert island near Trinidad, encountering cannibals, captives, and mutineers, before ultimately being rescued. The story has since been thought to be based on the life of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish castaway who lived for four years on a Pacific island called “Más a Tierra”, now part of Chile, which was renamed Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966, but various literary sources have also been suggested.”– from Amazon

I was impressed by the spiritual themes explored in this book that you don’t see in modern literature.  That is our culture’s loss.

To Build a Fire by Jack London

A novella with the classic story of man against the elements. No one can paint the great white north like Jack London. This story intrigued me as kid and I never forgot the impact a simple story can make. Even though it’s short it packs a punch. 

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

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. 

Books Like Hatchet for Kids: Courage

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

“The Newberry Medal-winning story of a 12-year old girl who lives alone on a Pacific island after she leaps from a rescue ship. Isolated on the island for eighteen years, Karana forages for food, builds weapons to fight predators, clothes herself in a cormorant feathered skirt, and finds strength and peace in her seclusion. A classic tale of discovery and solitude returns to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for its 50th anniversary, with a new introduction by Lois Lowry.” –from Amazon

Much like Hatchet, Karana faces the challenge of survival alone on an island. Unlike Hatchet, this story is based on the true events of a real person.

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.

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

William, Edmund and Anna are siblings who are evacuated from London to the country during World War II. Their deep desire for home and family drive the story, even while they aim to be family to each other. 

A love of literature is integral to the story and revisiting my childhood favorites was fun. There’s echoes of Narnia throughout as well as nods to other classic children’s lit.  

I wish I hadn’t read the story synopsis before reading this sweet, heart-warming story.

Don’t read the reviews. Just dive in. 

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.

Holes by Louis Sachar

Stanley Yelnats has been unfairly sentenced to juvenile work camp at Green Lake. The boys are required to dig holes in the desert sun. 

But there’s something mysterious going on connected to a decades old events that transpired before the lake dried out. Can Stanley and his friends get to the bottom of it before the perpetrators take revenge? 

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.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Another well-known classic that is still loved today. Jim Hawkins stumbles into the world of Pirates and buried treasure. Treasure maps marked with an X, one legged pirates with parrots on their shoulders and other pirate lore can be traced back to the masterful story telling in Treasure Island. 

Click here for the audio version of Treasure Island at Project Gutenberg.

Books Like Hatchet for All Ages: Adventure

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

What if you were marooned on an island with your wife and family of four boys? How would you survive? What would you do for food and shelter? Maybe stories of survival intrigue us because we’re all ultimately on a survival track. 

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. 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

“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

In my opinion, it doesn’t get any better than Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia for middle grade.

But, not only middle grade. Narnia appeals to every age.

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.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

No one can make the great white north come alive like Jack London. Buck is a kidnapped dog taken from California to the Yukon during the the Klondike Rush of the 1890’s. Man and beast fight agains the elements, greed and each other. 

Peace Like a River by Lief Enger

One of my lifetime favorite is told through the eyes of an eleven year old boy. The novel doesn’t cover a long span of time, mostly just a 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

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

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

Phineas Fogg is a man of precise ritual. All his days look the same until he makes a bet that he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. In the 1800s, travel by ship and steam engine and even elephant is fraught with disaster and delays. 

Are he and his trusty valet up to the challenge? Can they escape the dangers and beat the clock?  

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Bibliotherapy, My Life

22 Exceptional Books Focused on Life Change

Looking for a life changing book? In my half century of passionate reading, I’ve encountered 22 exceptional books. Often profoundly simple, the ideas in these books have germinated and spread. 

My top five picks for life changing books are The Alchemist, Margin, Atomic Habits, The Five Love Languages and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I pulled these five from my list of 22 titles in five categories. 

I’ve read and recommend every book listed here. Pictures of the book covers are Amazon affiliate links which earn commissions for this site.

Philosophy of Life

1. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Vicktor Frankl wrote Man’s Search for Meaning after surviving a stint in a German concentration camp.

With a background in psychiatry, he studied the people in the camp looking for why some survived and why some gave up and died.

He found that those that had the will to live felt they had a mission in life to complete. In his own case, it was to finish the book he was writing and to see his wife again.

“Man’s search for meaning is the primary motivation in his life and not a ‘secondary rationalization’ of instinctual drives. This meaning is unique and specific in that it must and can be fulfilled by him alone.”

“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone’s task is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.”

But, what Frankl proposes is not just general, but a specific, unique mission only possible to be fulfilled by an individual.

2.The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The story is about a young man trying to make his way in life and wrestling with all of life’s big questions: love, loss, meaningful work and what really matters.

I found this parable intriguing.  More of a life philosophy than novel, there was a lot of great food for thought.  Why do we keep pursuing our dreams?  How do we keep going after loss?  What is true treasure in life?  What is worth the sacrifice?

3. The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck

Originally published in 1978, this book based on M. Scott Peck’s experience as a psycharistrist highlighted the attributes needed for self-fulfillment. The title of the book comes from Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken.

He covers the difference between love and dependency, becoming a more sensitive parent and achieving personal fulfillment. The first sentence of the book is “Life is difficult”. Were truer words ever spoken?

Practical Everyday Change

4. 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

When we live without margin, we live on the edge. We live on the brink of breakdown because of the overload.

Swenson argues that we need that cushion of unclaimed resources as a buffer for times of crisis. We need margin in our lives in the areas of emotional energy, physical energy, finances and time. Using the maximum of every resource increases our stress and pain. Leaving some unused margin in our resources reduces our stress and pain and allows us to rest.

5. 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.

6. Atomic Habits by James Clear

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. 

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. 

On his website, James Clear lists his top 100 recommended books, many in the areas of personal development and life change.

7. 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 car accident. The second time was 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.

8.The 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”.

Stories of people who have overcome significant obstacles to achieve financial freedom serve as an inspiration and encouragement to those in the trenches.

9. The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Kondo’s little book is getting a lot of buzz, for good reason.

She attacks the problem of decluttering with her signature question when faced with whether to keep or not. “Does it spark joy?”

Kondo attacks common myths, such as do a little every day. Simple, profound principles to help you get your living space in order.

10. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

 Every person in the world knows pain and heartache.  And every person can number their blessings.

Ann Voskamp challenges us to be intentional about looking for and expressing gratitude.  It colors my thinking to this day.

I understand that her poetic prose doesn’t appeal to everyone.  Grammar Geeks beware.  But the message is universal and important.

If you’re looking for more books on practical, everyday change take a look at my post Books like Atomic Habits

Better People Skills

11. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Classic for a reason, Dale Carnegie’s advice is needed today more than ever. People build relationships virtually with less relating going on face to face.

Covering basic profound truths about interacting with people, resolving conflict and leading without offending, it has become the go to handbook for human interaction. Since human nature hasn’t changed since the book was first published in 1936, the principles that worked then work today.

12. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Gary Chapman proposed the idea that there are five main ways people express and receive love. Most people identify most strongly with one of the ways and feel loved when love is expressed in that way.

The five ways are words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, physical touch and gifts.

Knowing the love language of the people closest to you prepares you to express your feelings more effectively.

13. The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron

What’s all the buzz about the enneagram?  Why is there such a following for an ancient system of personality typing that seems to have no research behind it?

I put it in the same category as The 5 Love Languages.  It gains a following because it rings true.

Of course.  I should have seen it all along.  But, of course, we didn’t.  But now it seems so obvious when it’s all laid out.

Yes.  That is what I’m like.  That’s how my friends and family tick.  It all makes sense now.  I get it.  And because it rings true, it gains a following and creates a buzz.

14. 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.

Life Change at Work

15. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D.

Spencer Johnson wrote a business fable featuring talking mice who run mazes to get cheese.

He outlines the strategies that different people use to achieve success and which ones are most effective. 

Brandon Gaille produced a concise overview of the book with clearly articulated takeaways. Read the summary here.

16. The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss

Tim Ferriss popularized the idea that you can make a living without a 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. 

17. Purple Cow by Seth Godin 

Seth Godin is a thought leader who has written scads of books. It was hard to pick just one. But, Purple Cow has a simple, profound principle, which like so many of the thought leaders seems obvious when you hear it and makes you wonder why no one else has articulated it. 

In order to succeed in marketing, your product or service has to be remarkable. It has to stand out from the pack and make an impression. 

In business speak, this is called the unique selling proposition. Even though that term has been around for decades, Seth Godin drives it home. 

Seth’s strength is being able to observe and analyze simple, profound truths and articulate them clearly. Seems like that should be an easy task, but it’s not.

18. 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.

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 much more.

Paradigm Shifting Research

19. Mindset by Carol Dweck

Even people who aren’t aware that there is a book called Mindset are aware of the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.

Carol Dweck, a distinguished Stanford University psychologist introduced the concept of new ways to look at talent and ability. Rather than seeing talent and ability as inherent, we can look at it as something that can be developed and grown. Adopting this paradigm has far reaching implications.

20. Grit by Angela Duckworth

In a landscape where everyone is looking for the recipe to success, Angela Duckworth has identified a surprising ingredient: Grit. 

She defines grit as perseverance and passion for long-term goals. It includes the determination and motivation to continue on in spite of setbacks and failures. 

In her research as a psychologist, she was able to isolate this characteristic as the best predictor of success. Other resources, such as talent and financial backing did not correlate as the best predictor. This breakthrough research opens the door to a better understanding of how successful people succeed. 

21. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Brené Brown is the poster child for courage.

She gathers data.  She tells stories.  She uncovers the uncomfortable secrets of whole-hearted living.  And she believes in her own research.  Even when it’s not what she wants to find.

Vulnerability, she discovered, was a critical element to whole-hearted living.  So she became vulnerable.

Her first TED talk went viral, when she talked about her breakdown/ spiritual awakening.    She was so transparent that she had a “vulnerability hangover” for 3 days afterwards.

In contrast to those who tote their own personal experience or anecdotal evidence, Brown’s writing carries the weight of her research behind it. 

Brené emphasizes the critical element of human connection, the torture of psychological isolation, and the shame that prevents us from connecting.

Dealing with negative emotions is part of the puzzle.  Actually feeling them, instead of letting them fester and numbing them with addictions.

It all rings true.  Even the uncomfortable parts.  Especially the uncomfortable parts.

The transformation in Brené’s  life as a result of believing the research is as fascinating as the research itself.

22. Do It Scared by Ruth Soukup

Ruth is breaking new ground by introducing the 7 fear archetypes. This is a different way to understand yourself: based on your natural fear tendencies.

Ruth shares compelling stories from her own life and inspirational stories from others.  There’s an free online assessment you can take to identify your predominant fears.

Take the assessment here.

In spite of good information and insight in this book, I’m not sure it will get the reception it deserves. My guess is there’s only a small percentage of the population that really wants to face their fears. Most of us would rather hide.

**************

Great books focused on life change can stimulate monumental transformation in our lives.

But, what if you’re having trouble finding time in your busy life to read? Check out my post How to Start a Reading Habit for Stress Relief

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Purple Crayon

How Do You Create a Relatable Character in Historical Fiction?

I’m so excited to have Amy Lynn Green on the blog to give us a peek behind the curtain on how to create relatable characters in historical fiction.

Trust me, not every writer can do this.

And to be fair, maybe some aren’t trying.

I love the three questions she starts with to create her characters.

  1. “Who is the right person for the story I want to tell?”
  2. “What about this character will be interesting to readers?”
  3. “How is the character going to grow?”

Great place to start. And then you need to flesh it out.

Amy’s book, Things We Didn’t Say, is due to release in November 2020.

The setting is World War II era, but on American soil.

“Johanna Berglund didn’t want to return to her small Midwest town for any reason, and certainly not to become a translator at a German prisoner of war camp. She arrives to find the once-sleepy community exploding with hostility toward the prisoners and those who work at the camp. Her friend Peter Ito, a military intelligence instructor, encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance, and as Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their mail, she begins to see the prisoners in a more sympathetic light. But when the men her country is fighting become the men she is fighting for, she must decide who to trust—and whose side she’s truly on.”

thingswedidn'tsay

I got a sneak peek at the first chapter of Things We Didn’t Say.

Halfway into that first chapter, I connected with Johanna. That rarely happens, especially early on in a story.

It made me curious. Wow. How does an author do that? What’s the secret? So I asked Amy and she agreed to dish to my readers.

*******************************************

Beth wondered if I could answer this writing-related question: “How do you create a relatable character in historical fiction?”

I love this question because it’s so rich with interesting angles. Rather than lump my answer all into one, let’s break it down, shall we?

“How do you”

One thing I always like to start by saying is that every person’s writing process is unique. I’ll be talking about some of the principles and processes I use when creating characters, but my way is by no means the best way, the only way, or the right way for you. For example, I know authors who create characters by:

  • Filling out detailed questionnaires about their appearance, personality, and history
  • Finding inspiration with photos that have the right look for their characters
  • Having a mock interview with their leads to learn more about them
  • Following a story structure outline that maps characters’ goals and fears
  • Using personality tests like Myers Briggs to make sure they vary the types of characters they use

Any of those methods may work for you. That said, there’s a lot to be learned by eavesdropping on another writer’s process. The steps I go through might help you, but even if they don’t, there are some great general principles to get you thinking.

“Create a relatable character”

When I think back to some of my favorite books, sure, there are some times when I said, “This person is just like me!” Anne of Green Gables, for one, or Samwise Gamgee. More often, I’ve thought, “I wish I could be like that person,” like Inspector Gamache in Louise Penny’s mystery series or John Ames from Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Occasionally, I’ve been hooked by a story even when I didn’t think I’d personally get along with the protagonist if we actually knew each other, like with Sherlock Holmes.

So when I think of making a character relatable, I don’t try to craft a blank-slate everyman/woman who will be universally adored.

Question One

I usually start with “Who is the right person for the story I want to tell?” While I’m not even close to a detailed outliner, I often have a central theme or plot point I know my novel is moving toward, or at least an idea of where the story begins. With that in mind, I decide on a general type of person, like a HR manager hiring someone for the job.

Only…I look for someone totally unqualified for the task in front of him or her.

In Things We Didn’t Say, I knew my story would be about a translator who had the delicate task of maintaining strained relationships between German prisoners of war and residents of a small Minnesota town who did not want them there.

So, I described Johanna Berglund, a brilliant language prodigy who A. had burned a lot of bridges with people in her small town, B. was blunt and self-described as “terrible with people,” and C. wanted to get away to Oxford as soon as possible.

See? Lots of potential for conflict. At this point, I’m just taking big-picture notes, not getting down to the details unless the details hook into the plot in some way.

Question Two

Once I have a general profile of my character, I move on to “What about this character will be interesting to readers?” Some of that might already be in place, but here’s where I develop things like the character’s…

Relationships: Sometimes they’re complicated (the former best friend with an unaddressed grudge), sometimes they’re supportive (a father who’s willing to sacrifice his political future to stand by his family), sometimes they’re downright hostile (the newspaper editor actively looking for dirt and rumors). A mix of all three is usually good.

Personality and Values: These are more tied together than you might think. We act out our values. Introverts often value deep conversation and alone time. The class clown values attention. The detailed micromanager values organization and efficiency. And so on. I like to jot these down in connecting columns. In Things We Didn’t Say, Jo has always felt a little lonely and left out, so she cares about underdogs, defending and befriending them despite her tough exterior.

Dialogue: This includes sense of humor (dry wit, exaggerated sarcasm, self-deprecating whimsy?), speech quirks (analogies, education level, regional dialect), and sentence length (wordy or concise?). I once heard that if you have a somewhat unlikeable character at the start (and Jo has a strong personality, so I worried about that), be sure to make them funny. So that’s what I did.

Backstory: Sometimes this fits into other categories, but we want to understand why the character acts the way she does, or why he looks at the world in a particular way. Past life experiences help with that. For Jo, I included an unrequited romance with the pastor’s son right after Pearl Harbor, who then died in the war to explain her reluctance to risk loving others and her faltering faith.

Passions and Hobbies: All of the character’s dreams and hopes for the future and what makes them get out of bed in the morning are obviously the most driving, but even minor talents and quirks can set a character apart or give them relevant skills in a time of crisis. For Jo, this includes referencing nerdy classical literature, writing footnotes in her letters, knowing nothing about sports, and participating in her father’s made-up holiday Thawing Day.

Fears: Often, these are the most interesting and relatable aspect of a character to readers. They also give you as an author a great idea of how to exploit your character’s personality for plot drama. Jo lives for being competent and in control…so, of course, I put her in a place where she is personally responsible for disaster she never saw coming. And then gets thrown in prison.

(See how each category adds one more relatability aspect to the character? It’s word magic, I tell you!)

To be honest, for me, some of this comes in the edits. I always read over a draft at least twice with just the main character in mind, trying to make sure he or she is consistent. Does his level of education match how long his sentences are? Can you see her supposed personality flaw come out every time she’s under pressure and not just when it matters to the plot? Have I given him enough interesting aspects, or does the sidekick upstage him in every scene? Attention to those details really pays off.

Question Three

Finally, I end with, “How is the character going to grow?” This one is key for me. There have been some characters in others’ books I stared out liking only grudgingly, if at all, but the reason I loved the book by the end is because those characters grew and changed. (Austen’s Emma, for example, or Steris from Brandon Sanderson’s Wax and Wane series.)

On a big picture level, I think about where my character is starting, especially their flaws, weaknesses, and lies they believe. Then, I think about what I want them to learn or how I want them to change.

To be clear: you shouldn’t make your novel a moralizing sermon. But story is driven by change. There’s a huge emotional impact in victory, overcoming, and even taking a small step of growth (or, if you’re writing a tragedy, in loss and the consequences of a person’s choices, see Wuthering Heights or the musical Hamilton).

In Things We Didn’t Say, Jo starts out as a prickly bookworm who has decided that everyone in town misunderstands her and that there’s no use trying to change that. Even though she has a hidden soft spot and a passion for justice, that’s concealed under a sharp wit and a detached determination. She’s brilliant and bold…but also arrogant and selfish.

By the end of the book, she’s realized a number of things, including, most devastatingly, that she’s made some terrible and foolish choices. Her perspective on the importance of friendship has grown, and she’s willing to take risks to care for others. She has a hard-won empathy where before she was full of impatience, and she’s even willing to give her struggling faith another chance.

To me, that’s what makes a character relatable, because even if I’m not a secret wizard or a revenge-seeking daredevil or a brilliant detective, I know what it’s like to wish I could fix a broken relationship, grow out of a bad habit, or conquer a fear. I relate to the overcomers, because I’m on a journey toward overcoming too (even if my odds don’t look great at the moment—it just means I’m mid-story, right?). That’s what I want readers to feel when they walk alongside my characters through my book.

“In Historical Fiction”

Here’s the part I love. My characters, while they share a wide range of universally human experiences and emotions with me, will have a totally different frame of reference and worldview than I do. Because I write WWII fiction currently, I was born about 70-90 years after my characters. Beyond just the window dressing of costuming and slang, if I want them to come across as realistic, I need to make sure they have time period appropriate:

Social Norms (Ex: What was considered polite or rude? How wide was the gap between rich and poor? How did men and women relate to each other in public or in private?)

Values (Ex: How did people view the elderly? How common was church attendance? What did the ‘ideal’ man or woman look like and why?)

Prejudices (Ex: Were certain occupations looked down on? Who was excluded from everyday life and how? What assumptions would people make about someone with a foreign accent?)

Fears (Ex: What major regional, national, or international events would concern people? What change was starting to come that would threaten a way of life? What were the most common causes of death?)

Pop Culture (Ex: What references would a young person make compared to a middle-aged person or an elder? What was popular at the time that’s all but faded from memory now? How did advertisement influence lives at the time?)

But, if I want them to be relatable, I have to keep in mind that my historical stories are being read by a 21st century audience.

To be honest, that part isn’t hard for me. Interesting character traits and situations are universal, but even some of the WWII-specific situations Jo and others wrestled with have application to current day questions. Pastor Sorenson asks the question, “Does ‘love thy neighbor?’ apply to unwanted foreigners?” Peter Ito wonders how to trust a government he felt had betrayed him. And Jo has to decide what she’s willing to risk to stand up against prejudice.

See what I mean? Those situations are about the treatment of Geman POWs and the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, but in another way, they are the same questions we wrestle with today.

As a writer, we all want our characters to connect with our audience—to be memorable, original, and thought-provoking. And I think the best way to do that, whatever steps you take to get there, is to remember the beautiful complexity of the people around you and let that influence your writing.

Let’s go out there and write something amazing!

***************************************

Thanks, Amy!

Have you ever pre-ordered a book, that is to say ordered a book before it’s release date?

As a former bookseller, let me tell you those pre-orders are critical and so easy to do. I wrote a post about it you can read here.

I bring it up now because there’s still time to pre-order Things We Didn’t Say. Don’t miss your chance to order before release.

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Bibliotherapy

The 19 Best Project Gutenberg Books (with links to begin reading immediately)

Black Beauty

I’d heard about Project Gutenberg’s vast digital library, but wasn’t sure if PG would have any books I’d like. When I finally checked it out, I was overwhelmed by the selection of great books that are still loved today. Which ones are the best?

Click the links listed to begin reading Project Gutenberg’s free ebooks immediately, even if you don’t have an Ereader. Included in my top picks are timeless classics: Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Predjudice, Little Women, Wind in the Willows, Black Beauty and The Virginian.

A blessing and a curse our age is the avalanche of information at our fingertips. We can’t begin to absorb the smallest fraction of it. 

The problem is overload. 

We don’t know where to start. 

There’s too many choices. 

It reminds me why my favorite grocery store is Aldi.

I love the low prices, but the best thing for me is the limited choices. There’s only one option for white sugar and only one option for white flour.

Decision fatigue is a real problem for me. It helps to have fewer choices.

The same problem exists for Project Gutenberg. With more than 62,000 full length pieces of classic literate available instantly, how do you know what to read? How do you know what you will like? 

That’s why I’ve made a list of the best of the best. 

Of course they’re my favorites, but I kept in mined whether or not they were popular to a broad audience. 

You can certainly browse the vast library at Project Gutenberg and find your favorites. But maybe it would help to start out with a short list.

Many are familiar titles and familiar stories with screen and play adaptions, lots of editions and fans that continue today.  

How to Get Started with Project Gutenberg

There’s times when it helps to have access to the full texts of great books. When the library’s closed or bookstores have shut down or are too far away. When your book budget is spent or you have time to kill but no transportation. When you’re quarantined. 

Lots of great reasons to jump into Project Gutenberg.

When you click on a link, you will be given options of different formats for downloading the book.  The first one, html, allows you to read it right on your computer, with no need for an app or ereader. 

Tip for reading: if you choose html and read on your computer, shrink your window with the arrow in the bottom corner so that you’re not reading lines clear across your computer screen. Shorter lines feel a lot less awkward and closer to what you would read in a printed book

Search the vast digital library by author or title or category. Find your next great read. 

Even the best resources can be confusing in the beginning. I found these tips and tricks to be helpful. 

History of Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg was started on July 4, 1971 by Michael S. Hart when he keyed in the U.S Declaration of Independence to the main frame computer at the University of Illinois. With that humble beginning, the first electronic book was created and the world’s oldest digital library was born.

Michael Hart later stated the mission of Project Gutenberg “to put at everyone’s disposal, in electronic versions, as many literary works of the public domain as possible for free.”

Today the collection contains more than 62,000 books, with more added daily. 

Best Project Gutenberg books, Black Beauty

Which books do I enjoy the most? 

Of course these picks are biased. 

They are all books that I know and love. 

They have all earned the rank of classic, they’ve all stood the test of time and are as much loved today as ever. 

There’s lots of good reasons to read old books. 

Sometimes the language is richer with a broader vocabulary. Oftentimes there’s more commitment to traditional values. 

My personal opinion is that older books tend to be more character driven than plot driven. Some of the books published today feel like they are all plot, with not much thought at all given to developing character. 

Why re-read classics?  Because you already know you like them. Because you have changed since the last time you read them. Because there’s more there that you didn’t catch or understand or see last time. 

Great literature improves with a re-reading.

How Can You Find the Books You Love? 

Not every one of my picks is going to float your boat. But there’s enough good ones here that have been loved by a lot of people for a lot of years. 

Which are the best PG books for me? Which ones will I like the best? 

That depends on what you like and what you’re looking for. 

Light, easy breezy read? Pollyanna

A deep dive into literature that changes public opinion? Uncle Tom’s Cabin

The inner world of animals? Black Beauty

The beginning of the Western genre? The Virginian 

So much good stuff here. No better time to find out what all the fuss is about on titles you’ve heard of or reread a favorite you haven’t enjoyed for awhile.

  1. Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahme

Kenneth Grahme’s classic has delighted readers for more than a century. Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger are friends who adventure together, explore true friendship and stage interventions. It is a universal commentary on human nature, because we all know someone like Toad, an enthusiast always jumping into the next great thing and landing in a heap of trouble. The original edition can be appreciated by older kids and teens. Adults will likely engage at a different level.

2. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

This is a wildly funny story. I’ve seen the play version and the movie version. Great characters, interesting plot. It’s written as a play, but 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 caricatures of real people who espouse theories so ridiculous they make you chuckle.

A true masterpiece.

3. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Connon Doyle

Sherlock Holmes is one of fiction’s most iconic characters. Exceptionally brilliant and socially clueless, he leans on his sidekick and friend Dr. Watson to fill in the gaps. Holmes solves the most puzzling mysteries using his highly developed powers of observation and deduction. 

4. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

The beginning of Dorothy’s adventures in the magical land of Oz with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. Like all enduring classics, it highlights recognizable principles of human nature. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is actually the first book in a long series about Oz. I read it to my kids and my son enjoyed it so much he took off reading more books in the series. 

5. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

This is not a light and entertaining read. It’s a heart breaking look at slavery and the evils associated with it. At the same time, the author was able to create characters so relatable and compelling that the story captured the imagination of the American people and turned the tide of popular opinion. 

6. 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. 

7. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Another well-known classic that is still loved today. Jim Hawkins stumbles into the world of Pirates and buried treasure. Treasure maps with an X, one legged pirates with parrots on their shoulders and other pirate lore can be traced back to the masterful story telling in Treasure Island.

Click here for the audio version of Treasure Island.

8. 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.

Click here for the audio version of Anne of Green Gables.

9. 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.

10. 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. 

Click here for the audio version of Pride and Prejudice.

11. Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey

Total Disclosure: I haven’t read this one, at least not that I remember. But my husband puts his stamp of approval on it. He’s a solid John Wayne fan and likes Louis L’lamour books as well as Zane Grey. Besides being a great story, Project Gutenberg includes an audio option for this one.

Click here for the audio version of Riders of the Purple Sage.

12. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

I don’t know when writers started writing horse stories, but Black Beauty has to be among the first, published in 1877. The story is told from the horse’s point of view. Black Beauty’s world was a time before cars when the horse played a different role in society than today. Whether or not you love horses, you can still appreciate a tale of man and horse in a simpler time.

13. The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Not only does Jack London paint vivid pictures of the great white north, he also has a way of telling animal stories. Survival against the elements is the perfect back drop to tell the story of the relationship between dog and man.

14. Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

Enter sour old Miss Polly and sweet hard-working Nancy and the captivating motor mouth Pollyanna, who’s learned to look on the bright side. I forgot how much I liked this one 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.

15. 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.

Click here for the audio version of A Girl of the Limberlost.

16. 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.

17. Heidi by Johanna Spyri

The simple, well-loved story of Heidi growing up in the mountains with her grandfather continues to touch generations of readers. The story is a great example of character development winning out over plot.

18. 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 more of a journey than a plot as each one reaches to fulfill her destiny.

19. 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.

Looking for more recommendations? Check out Trent Hamm’s list of 50 favorites.

Obviously, there’s so much more. Take a look at Project Gutenberg’s Top 100 for more great classics.

Happy Reading!

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Clean Books

Why Don’t Books Have Ratings Like Movies?

age appropriate books

There’s several reasons why books don’t have ratings like movies. Movie ratings developed during the 37 years that film was not protected by the first amendment. There are more than 2000 times as many books published annually than the number of movies produced. Opposition cites fear of censorship. There’s a lack of funding and support for a rating system. Some insist that parents should monitor children’s reading and every reader should decide for themselves. There are independent rating systems for a limited number of books, but they don’t have wide spread support.

What purpose do movie ratings serve? 

They protect children from inappropriate material and to provide shortcuts for parents to assess the thematic and offensive elements of a movie. 

A fundamental underlying question is why does there need to be a book rating system? To protect children? For all ages to make informed decisions about their reading? As a short cut for choosing books?

The question remains: Why don’t books have ratings like movies?

Books Protected by the First Amendment but Not Movies

I found the history of the movie rating system fascinating.

A 1915 United States Supreme Court landmark decision firmly established that censorship could be applied to film. Mutual Film Corporation was a newsreel company that was getting annoyed by the fees and slow turn around time on what they could show and couldn’t show. They insisted that film should be protected under the First Amendment, freedom of speech, and should not be subjected to censorship. The Supreme Court disagreed. In Mutual v. Ohio Industrial Commission, Chief Justice Edward White wrote, “the exhibition of moving pictures is a business, pure and simple, originated and conducted for profit like other spectacles, and not to be regarded as part of the press of the country or as organs of public opinion within the meaning of freedom of speech and publication.”

The movie industry created their own organization, The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America to combat government censorship. They lobbied Washington for freedom to make the movies they wanted, at the same time they coached movie makers on how to stay away from objectionable material, eventually acting in collaboration with religious organizations.

In 1952, the Supreme Court reversed their decision and included movies in the protection of free speech and free press guarantee of the first amendment. But, by that time movie ratings were already part of the picture. They continued to evolve, expanding and changing as landmark movies came along to challenge the status quo, leaving us with the ratings that we have today (G, PG, PG-13, NC-17, R and X)

Just like the disastrous experiment of Prohibition, America eventually reinforced it’s commitment to freedom. At the same time, it surfaced the need for society to curb the most destructive elements of the culture.

Enough members of society were concerned about offensive content that limited information, in the form of ratings, are provided for people to make a more informed decision about the movies they watch.

too many books

There’s Too Many Books

More than 300,000 books are published annually in the U.S. according to information of the day’s website.

Wide circulation movies are released at the rate of roughly 130 a year. That means an influx of more than 2000 times as many books than movies.

The sheer enormity of the task makes it a logistical impossibility. On the other hand, if 30,000 people rated 10 books a year, it would be an easy assignment.

One idea is that the publishers themselves rate the books and give reasons for the rating. The big problem there is that makes the ratings biased and you don’t have any type of standard for comparing one book to another. 

The Problem of Funding 

Who’s going to pay the expenses for reviewers to rate 300,000 books a year? The book industry? Publishers and distributors? Consumers? Independent funding? 

Ultimately, someone would have to pay the cost. 

But, without book ratings, I think we’re paying the price, regardless. And the price is high. 

In the movie industry, the movie makers themselves can absorb the cost of ratings into their budget.

Could publishers do that as well? They could. At least the big houses could. It might be a problem for self-published books, or those released by small publishers with limited resources.

Fear of Censorship

The National Coalition Against Censorship says, “book ratings are not such a good idea and would inevitably lead to censorship.”

According to the American Library Association,

“Librarians employ objective professional judgment through selection, cataloging, classification, and readers’ services to make available the information that library patrons want or need. Cataloging decisions, labels, or ratings applied in an attempt to restrict or discourage access to materials or to suggest moral or doctrinal endorsement is a violation of the First Amendment and Library Bill of Rights.”

So the battle over book ratings and censorship covers a much deeper issue: what are appropriate themes for kids and young people? What are we teaching our kids through our literature? 

How can we help them develop the values that they need? 

How can we protect the rights of the parents to teach what they believe is best, and not leave it to the educators and the government? Religious and sexual education are the responsibility of the parents. Educators and governments should not undermine beliefs taught at home and church. 

Governments should protect the rights of the family and the church to educate children, not destroy those rights. 

Some would argue that that’s not the case at all, that book ratings are just information in order to make a more informed decision. Some would call it a short cut. 

I think it’s a valid point. Just because a book is rated for content doesn’t mean it’s singled out for censorship. 

Some books aren’t appropriate for young children and weren’t written for them. Nadine Brandes, an author of YA books expounds.

Authors want to reach their intended readers. For me, that’s young adults and adults who like clean, but sometimes gritty Christian dystopian. I frequently tell parents, “I recommend my book for ages 15-and-up.” This helps readers know if the book might be for them. A parent isn’t going to give it to their 7-year-old (I hope.)

book ratings to help adults find age appropriate books for kids

Belief that it’s the Parents’ Job to Monitor Kids’ Reading

Pre-reading everything a young person reads is a logistical impossibility, even for parents who really care and are in touch.

What if you have a voracious reader who’s 10 and one who’s 14? They don’t have a job or adult responsibilities. They want to read the hot new books that everyone’s talking about. There’s no way you can stay ahead of them.

There’s a lot to be said for free reading and letting your children choose their own books. But you can control the pond they fish from, even if they’re checking out books from school and the public library. You can also teach them to be discerning and show them how to find good books. 

Granted there are plenty of kids who don’t have parents monitoring their reading. The parents are too busy, too preoccupied, too sick, working too much, too stressed, fighting addictions or just focused on survival instead of parenting. 

Teachers, coaches, social workers, school counselors and administrators stand in the gap for at risk children. Sometimes they have the kids’ best interest at heart. Sometimes they don’t. 

some books are rated

Book Ratings Exist For a Limited Number of Books

There’s been some momentum to create a national book rating system, but it hasn’t gained much support. 

Karyn at Teach Beside Me started a petition in 2015 at change.org for the American Library Association to develop a national book rating system. The petition garnered 63 supporters before it closed. 

Even though there’s not a universal rating system, there are some sites rating book content.

Common Sense Media currently has 5961 rated book reviews for kids and teens. 

Rated Reads also has it’s own system which includes rated book reviews for kids and adults.

Compass Book Ratings is another site that rates the content of books.

There are other websites and book review blogs that also address the problem by including content ratings along with book reviews.

But these independent websites don’t use a universal rating system. Each one has it’s own. 

Whose rating system are you going to use?

There’s so many variabilities associated with age and maturity levels. Choosing an arbitrary age for appropriate material is hard. Maturity doesn’t equal chronological age. Reading level often doesn’t correlate well with chronological age, either. 

In spite of all the drawbacks of the movie rating system, it still serves it’s purpose and is reliable within it’s limitations. It works as a shortcut to watching the whole movie. 

A book rating system gives you a shortcut so you don’t have to read through the whole book. 

books as art

Trusting a Person Sometimes Works Better than Trusting a Rating System 

I believe the scarcest commodity today is trust. 

There are a plethora of book bloggers out there. They can give you the inside scoop of books without giving spoilers.

There is an advantage to following one person and going with their book recommendations. It comes down to an issue of trust. If you trust a person and agree with their world view, then you’ll be aligned with their values and the chance of their picks being winners for you is going to be high. 

My top two people to trust for kids’ books are Sarah Mackenzie of Read Aloud Revival and Sarita Holzmann at Sonlight Homeschool Curriculum.

You can also check out my list of top picks for babies and for toddlers.

An independent list of recommendations, like Read Aloud Revival or Sonlight Curriculum works well for young children. They can’t buy books or check them out from the library. 

But, at some point they will be able to choose their own books and obtain them for themselves. 

Which leads us to the next question—

Should Books have Content Ratings Like Movies?

I say yes. 

Information is not censorship. 

If you’re a Muslim parent, you don’t want your children to be secretly indoctrinated as Christians.

If you’re opposed to the LGBTQ agenda, you don’t want your children to be secretly taught that it’s the only acceptable moral code. 

Children’s books shouldn’t have hidden agendas. 

Adult readers should not be blindsided by offensive content. It ruins the pleasures of the reading experience. 

There simply is not enough time to personally preview every full length book out there. 

We need the shortcuts of ratings. 

And what happens without them? This is the danger I see.

The Problem of Hidden Agendas

Many people would like to impose their world view on all children.

This is a problem, no matter who’s doing it. 

It’s a problem is LGBTQ activists are doing it. It’s a problem if Muslim activists are doing it. It’s a problem if Christian activists are doing it. 

It violates our freedoms. 

Most people don’t want someone else’s world view forced on their child. 

Again, a violation of our freedoms. 

If we truly believe in freedom of religion, then we can’t expect our beliefs to be tolerated and someone else’s persecuted. 

You can’t have it both ways. 

People shouldn’t be hiding their agendas in books for children and young people. They should be upfront about what they are espousing. 

If you want me to give you freedom to believe what you want, then you need to extend that same courtesy to me. 

Are you aware that book censorship has changed? Read my post Banned Books: How Censorship has Shifted, Why it Matters and What to Do About it.

Check out my top books for babies and toddlers by clicking here.


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Purple Crayon

How To Find Good Clean Books And Why It’s So Hard

I reached a point when I wondered if there were any good books left. You know, masterfully written page turners that sucked you into the story and left you feeling satisfied at the end.  Books that you weren’t embarrassed to be seen reading and could recommend wholesale. I wondered if there were any left because I couldn’t find them.

Turns out, I just needed to look harder. There are ways to find good clean books.

  • Follow book review sites
  • Join groups of like-minded readers
  • Install apps
  • Download booklists
  • Check out award winners  

But, before we dive into all that, why is it so hard to find good, clean books?

1. There’s no universal book rating system

Movies have them. Books don’t.   Apparently, there’s too many books published to make this possible and the American Library Association is opposed to it.  

Some bloggers have established their own rating systems, and rate and review books on their sites.  Of course, these systems are built on the philosophies of the reviewers, which may or may not align with yours. 

2. Everyone has a different definition of clean

Some readers don’t want profanity or sex scenes, others don’t want violence or triggers of abuse.  Even the word diversity can mean different things to different people.  So one person’s clean book might not be clean for someone else. 

3. The term book rating has two different meanings

Sites like Amazon have a 5 star product review rating system where consumers can vote on how well they like the product.  Of course, this includes books.  

Some book reviewers use book rating in the sense of judging whether or not it has offensive content.  

4. What’s your definition of good?

Is the book well-written?  Is it predictable?  Are the characters flat?  Is it excellent quality? 

An absence of profanity and sex doesn’t mean it’s a well-written story.  And therein lieth the rub.  How good is the book?

5. A book that is appropriate for adults might not be appropriate for young readers. 

And here we get into lots of gray areas.  What should 14 year olds be reading?  How about 11 year olds?  How about advanced readers who are only 8?  You see the problem.  

This is a judgment call.  Who’s going to make it?  The parents?  The schools and libraries?  The young person?  

The rest of this post is divided into finding good clean books for adults and finding good clean books for young people.  

How to Find Good Clean Books for Kids 

Sonlight Curriculum

Sunlight homeschool curriculum puts out a highly curated list for their literature based education. 

I used Sonlight Curriculum for two years of homeschooling. I love their philosophy of education. Although I haven’t read every book on the list, I haven’t found one yet that I couldn’t wholeheartedly endorse.  

Besides carrying wholesome content, their picks show high standards for good literature and high quality illustrations. 

Books about Books

Note: The following Amazon links are affiliate links which earn commission for this site.

Buy now from Amazon

Sometimes it helps to have an expert showing the way. There’s so many books out there for kids, how can you know which ones are great?

Three authors have published books with curated booklists on top of articulating a well-developed philosophy of reading to kids: Gladys Hunt, Jim Trelease and Sarah Mackenzie.

Buy now from Amazon

Sarah Mackenzie is the newcomer to this game. Jim Trelease’s book, The Read Aloud Handbook, is in it’s eighth edition. Gladys Hunt’s book, Honey for a Child’s Heart, is in it’s fourth edition. With that many revisions, newer books have surely been added since the time they published their first one.

Buy now from Amazon

I believe investing time finding great books for your kids or grandkids pays off dividends.

Pick up a copy of these books. I can recommend all three when searching for wholesome, well-written books for kids.   

Read Aloud Revival’s BookList

I believe in The Read Aloud Revival’s mission. I believe you can make meaningful and lasting connections with your kids through books and reading aloud is a great way to do it.

I personally love Sarah Mackenzie’s picks.  They’re almost always winners for me. 

The booklist is actually a collection of lists, broken down into categories based on age or interests.  

Teach kids to be discerning readers 

Here’s a new thought:  teach kids to be aware of what they’re reading and make good decisions about what to read and what to avoid.  

Parents don’t always have time to preview everything their child is reading.  There’s too many books published every year for book review sites to keep up with everything. 

Kids need to be taught what their family values are and when a book is not aligned with them.  Obviously, this process will vary greatly depending on the age of the child and their relationship to their parents.  

Trust Christian publishers as a safe bet for kids

As a general rule, Christian publishers don’t publish books with profanity or sex scenes.  So advanced readers who are reading adult fiction can head for the inspirational section with relative confidence.  

Zondervan, Baker, Bethany House, Thomas Nelson, Waterbrook, Revell and Tyndale are Christian publishers who are committed to putting out clean books.  

Of course, we’re back to the varying definition of clean, but the overall selection is going to be more trustworthy. 

Have you ever wondered Why Books Don’t Have Ratings Like Movies? Me, too. That’s why I did some research to find out why.  

How to Find Good Clean Books for Adults 

Check out my post How Do I Find Books I Like? Most of the ideas there will work if the books you like are good clean reads.

Check out the Christy Awards winners

If you’re worried about the quality of Christian fiction, consider the books in the genre that have received the Christy Award.

The award is named after Catherine Marshall’s classic, Christy, and is given to the books lauded as the best in the genre.

If you’re looking for a relatively short list The Christy Awards Winners and Finalists should do the trick.

Check out the Literature Map

This is a way to fine authors similar to the one you lik

Type in a favorite author’s name onto the literature map’s website.

The map will generate names of authors surrounding your favorite, with the closest matches near the center and more removed matches towards the edges.

Click on an author’s name in the map to see more authors similar to them.

Join the Clean Reads Group on GoodReads

Aside from getting lots of ideas for your next great read, you can read reviews about the books that interest you.

Plus it’s a good way to find bookish kindred spirits. You can interact with other readers– discuss and ask questions about particular books.

When you read reviews about a book, you don’t always get the information you’re looking for. In a discussion group, you can ask specifically about the qualities you need in a book to make a good decision about whether or not it’s worth your time to read.

Consider a book app to help you in your search

I’ll admit I’m slow to jump on band wagons. It takes a while for this old dog to learn new tricks. But some apps are helpful for book searches.

Epic Reads by HarperCollins published a list of 6 of the best ones.

On that list of six, Litsy is one that is new to me. LibraryThing created the Litsy app. LibaryThing is a website that offered a previously paid membership (now free) for readers to discuss their favorite books with other readers.

Serial Box is another new idea emerging for the changing way we interact with the world.

What is the best way to keep good clean reads coming?  

Support your favorite authors. 

Post a review of their books on retail sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook.com or Walmart.

Another great way is to post of picture of you with their book on all your social media accounts. Helping an author and their works to become better known no longer requires a huge marketing budget. Just a few dedicated fans who are willing to help spread the word.

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Purple Crayon

10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy Bestsellers

10reasonsbestsellers

  1. You can check them out from the a library instead.
  2. Your taste in books is individual.  Just because the masses like it, doesn’t mean you will.  The masses can be deceived.readcool
  3. Bestsellers aren’t necessarily the best books.  They might be well marketed.  They might have been released during  a “dead spot” with no significant competition.
  4. New authors need your support more than established authors.
  5. Get book recommendations from someone you trust, rather than a bestsellers list. (Modern Mrs. Darcy, Read Aloud Revival)                                                AnneBogel
  6. Read what your friends are reading.  They’re your friends for a reason– you have common interests and values.
  7. Check out Amazon and Goodreads reviews to find favorites in your favorite genre and books similar to your favorites.
  8. Take a good look at the people endorsing the book.  If you trust them, you can buy with more confidence.girlreading
  9. Best selling hardback books will eventually come out in paperback and sometimes, more economically, in mass market paperback.  If you are patient and vigilant, you might be able to catch the e-book on sale.
  10. Some bestsellers you will love.  Some are well written and sell lots of copies for good reasons.  Just be choosy.
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