Books I Read - 2024

My disclaimer - I don't read fiction - I explain more at this link!

You can also see the books I read in 2023 - here.

For most of these, click on the picture of the book to go to Amazon (or the site where it can be found for more information or purchasing).

Also, they are mostly in order of when I read them/started them (not in order of recommendation, preference, or anything else). I made a list of books through the year as I went along.

I did try to separate them into a few categories.

My books of 2024:

I ended my post last year with these 2 as I was still reading them, so seems right to have them at the top - they are really good books:

Purchased in 2023, and I did start reading it in December - I am passionately pursuing prayer and going hard after it this year.

The author said this striking quote on Instagram last year, "Prayer is the subject of Jesus’ most audacious promises to us. And yet, the worst-kept secret in church history is that most Christians don’t particularly like prayer." Oh, may it NOT be so!!!

And I will go ahead and say a book on my list for this year is Tyler Staton's new book, The Familiar Stranger.

Last year, when I wrote about this book, I had no idea how much more I'd know it a year later - from going deeper in practices, developing a rule of life. This is a great book and it certainly helped me "be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did." So much goodness.

This is a very interesting one for me. I believe the body is important. This has stories and is a very interesting explore between stress and stuff going on in our body. I have not finished it all the way, but have enough to share!

Another interesting read - I love reading things on the body, health, exercise, and nutrition. I do believe we have more control than we think, but I don't love how this book claims to know "the true cause of illness." Nevertheless, it has great principles.

This book might be the one I read in 2024 that is most life-changing for me. I grabbed it up soaked through it this summer and then re-read with better context later this fall. It has rekindled my zeal for Jesus, and I am more unapologetic about taking my faith, practicing my faith and living my faith out more seriously. It is out of print but you can get used ones on Amazon (especially in the US) at a good price very often.

I first heard about this book through Caroline Leaf's podcast with the author titled, "What to do and east to reduce cognitive decline." It was so fascinating. When I saw this book at the library, I grabbed it up. I loved reading it - it is filled with research. And the foods he is convincing us to eat - are really and truly actually great for living the life we have now too! Love this book and eat these genius foods!

All about the 24-7 Prayer Movement. It is such a great read. It fuels my prayer, hope, and excitement for what is going on in Europe (especially) and all over the world. This book puts extra sparks in my fire for prayer.

A sequel to Red Moon Rising, which was so great, I was ready to jump right into Dirty Glory. Continues the narrative of 24-7 prayer, and I love hearing what the Lord is doing throughout the world when His people pray. I am onboard and want to go where my best prayers take me.

A 3rd book by Pete Greig on prayer! I listened to this book 3 times while driving to and from SC caring for my mom ( long road trips, lots of road trips). I was praying so many things and felt near to God but tempted to stop praying because I just felt like over and over, "I've already prayed and prayed and don't have an answer and don't know what in the world to do..." and this book helped me to believe truth and keep praying even during times I thought I might be "prayed out."

I am on a wonderful journey learning about the Order of the Mustard Seed. This journey is so beautiful in my life, and I am thankful for this guide. I am learning to be true to Christ, kind to people, & take the Gospel to the nations. No link for this one - but you can learn more about the Order of the Mustard Seed here.

I first got this book out of curiosity...then quickly knew it would be a good companion since moving and change is very familiar to me. This book has helped me see decision making very differently.

Dallas Willard - all his stuff is so good. I have to read this slowly. I got it as I was studying through the Sermon on the Mount in the fall. This book shows me more beauty of Jesus sermon to his followers and the crowds - life changing ways to walk with God daily. I just have to read this slowly, so it will take me a while to soak in it. Have read enough to highly recommend it!

MORE FROM THE LIBRARY...A few others to mention, but not particularly passionate about:

We lived .5 miles from a library while in the US for our furlough...and it was beautiful weather and just a brisk lovely walk through the woods to the library. most of our days, I checked out and skimmed a lot of other books to mention:

Rethink Your Position - I read everything I could find of this Katie Bowman's in 2017 when I was working to correct and heal my core -diastasis recti and alignment. So much goodness. loved going through this book to remember and realign ;). I really recommend her other book, "Alignment Matters" if you can find it.

The Hidden Life of Trees (poetic, light-hearted, nature, and beautiful) - my family might have thought I was cuckoo the way I started talking and thinking about trees on our walks outside.

Beyond Codependency - I have used Codependent No More and it's workbook in counseling for a while, so obviously I picked this up to go through (and a few other counseling books not to mention and not to explain).

Calm Your Mind with Food - not as good as Genius Foods and lacking for things I might have hoped for. I felt like I knew most of this information, but if "food is medicine" especially when it comes to how you feel, this does have good stuff. Genius Foods is by far better, but this is good - especially if you are new to the idea of how eating can help/hurt how you think and how your mind works.

These 2 are Bible studies:

Didn't exactly read it, but I reread and went through it again as I recorded a set of workouts in the Spring!

I did the original in 2018, but I purchased this one towards the end of the year and got started. The Sermon on the Mount is so good and it is worth your time, study, and attention. There are a good many studies and commentaries out there, but I love this one by Jen Wilkin - very practical and the video teachings come through the book! Started in the fall...and finished the beginning of 2025!

I wonder how many years in a row these 2 books will stay on my reading list:

I actually "know" this book really well at this point. I still list it yearly as I love leading others through it and it is as if I am re-reading and re-reminding myself to stay in it! If you want to get free & obedient in your food and/or fitness--get this! I would be SO honored to journey with you!

I am leading a group through this book right now. I definitely recommend you read this book, and I would be honored if you'd go through it with me. I'll lead another group this fall.

I completed these 2 Certification Courses and Read the BIG Manuals: Not that many of you are looking at this post to go get CEs for certifications/training, but I still want to highlight these. One because they are very big books with a lot of pages and a lot of reading time!!! haha Also, I choose my certifications and trainings very meticulously. These are some of the best trainings I've done. They benefit me personally and in multiple domains of my life (counselor, friend, health coach, fitness professional for sure).

I became a LiveWell Health Coach in 2024 through Revelation Wellness. This is a great certification of how to be a healthy, whole, integrated, and faith-based health coach. This certification teaches so many great principles beyond a health coach. I am honored to be a small group leader and swim in this material (so I'm reading it again in 2025) and get to know it more and more and be a part of a team sending out health coaches with godly approaches!

In the fall, I completed a Menopause Coaching Specialist Certification through Girls Gone Strong. This was helpful and informative for myself, but also such a great tool to help me help women with much more confidence.

Enjoy!!! And if you have non-fiction books you highly recommend, send them my way!

brandygainor@gmail.com