First Line Friday #5: Don't Overthink it.

Thanks to Carrie at
Reading is My Superpower
for the Link-up

 

Book:  Don't Overthink It
Author:  Anne Bogel
Genre:  Self-Help / Mental Health

 

 

 〰First Line〰

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I'm scheduled to depart for Nashville in 27 hours, and I can't stop refreshing the forecast.
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Synopsis:  (From Goodreads:

We've all been there: stuck in a cycle of what-ifs, plagued by indecision, paralyzed by the fear of getting it wrong. Nobody wants to live a life of constant overthinking, but it doesn't feel like something we can choose to stop doing. It feels like something we're wired to do, something we just can't escape. But is it?

Anne Bogel's answer is no. Not only can you overcome negative thought patterns that are repetitive, unhealthy, and unhelpful, you can replace them with positive thought patterns that will bring more peace, joy, and love into your life. In Don't Overthink It, you'll find actionable strategies that can make an immediate and lasting difference in how you deal with questions both small--Should I buy these flowers?--and large--What am I doing with my life? More than a book about making good decisions, Don't Overthink It offers you a framework for making choices you'll be comfortable with, using an appropriate amount of energy, freeing you to focus on all the other stuff that matters in life.

 〰First Thoughts〰

I saw a brief review of this book on Bibliophage Book Bingo and found the subject matter interesting...and applicable.  I'm reading the audio book version, so my first impressions are a bit mixed.  I started listening to the book on Axis 360, where the description lists the author as the narrator.  Sometimes that works; sometimes it doesn't.  In this case, the jury is still out.  Hoopla Digital's listing stated that someone else was narrating their copy, so I tried that version.  To my dismay, the listing is incorrect; Anne Bogel is narrating this version as well.

As I said in one of my reviews, many authors do an excellent job of narrating their own material.  However, some are better writers and speakers than narrators.  To me, this is the case with this volume.  Her dramatic breathy tone mixed with someone in the studio not having the good sense to give the poor lady a glass of water is making the read difficult (but not impossible).  The book is less than five hours long, so I can manage. 

So, what's the first line of the book you're currently reading?

2023 Treat Yo' Shelf Reading Challenge: Introduction

For all of my declarations that I was going to slow my reading down in 2022, the results of the Book It Reading Challenge belied them. After saying that I would slowly and thoughtfully read one book a month (12), I ended up reading my largest yearly total of volumes (65).  Yes, some of them were slowly and thoughtfully read, while others were adequately absorbed. 

Note:  I only had two "Ain't nobody got time for that" books in 2022. 

For this year's challenge, I'm just going to go for broke and set a goal of reading 60 books.

I make no promises that I will review a certain number of books.  My teaching schedule cranks up again in February.  If I have time between grading papers and studying content for my courses, I'll write a review.  If not, you'll at least have a list of what I read.  If you feel so inclined, be sure to check out my "First Line Friday" posts.  Also, if you'd like to follow my reading progress, see my Goodreads page.

Like my other reading challenges, this one doesn't have any specific instructions or types of required books.  However, some books may be part of various categories.  Examples include:

• Kiddie Lit -children's books.  Hey, just because I'm 50 doesn't mean I can't enjoy a good (or bad) children's book.
  
• Recommended Reads - books recommended by what I hope are trustworthy sources.
• Glorious rereads - books I enjoyed so much that I'm reading them again.
• Everybody's Reading It - books that everybody and their grandma read that I'm just now getting to.
• Nobody Admits to Reading It - books that others have said to stay away from (whether they've read them or not).
• Impulse Reads - Books I bought, borrowed, or checked out of the library for no other reason than "hey, this looks interesting."
• "Potty" Books - No, not that kind of potty book.  I noticed that I was spending my extended visits in the potty scrolling on my phone and/or playing a game (at least it was Words With Friends, so I was feeding my brain somewhat).  Don't act shocked; I know some of y'all do it too.  Before the days of cell phones, I used to keep books and magazines in my bathroom for those times.  I want to see how many books I can read during those times.  I see enough screens during the day, so I'm reading paper books.
  

My rating systems is as follows:

✮✮✮✮ = Outstanding
✮✮✮ = Pretty good
✮✮ = Could have been better / could have been worse.
✮ = Not so great.  What the heck did I just read?  I'm finishing this one purely out of spite.
Zero stars = Ain't nobody got time for that = DNF (did not/would not/could not finish)

Whether you read one book or 100 this year, I would enjoy some company.  Drop in a comment once and a while to let me know how it's going. Yes, I know I say this every year...I mean it every year.

So, what are your reading goals for 2023?
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Books Read and Reviewed:

Completed books will be marked as a link to the review or Goodreads comments.

Book 01 - A glorious reread
Book 02 - A glorious reread
Book 03 - A glorious reread
Book 04 - A glorious reread

Read, but Not Reviewed:

1. The Dark Tower and Other Stories by C. S. Lewis  ✮✮
2. God is in the Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer  ✮✮✮✮
3. Hinds' Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard   ✮✮✮
   
4. Win At Work and Succeed At Life by Michael Hyatt  ✮✮
5. The Way of the Shepherd by Dr. Kevin Leman and William Pentak  ✮✮✮✮
6. Practice Resurrection by Eugene Peterson   ✮✮✮✮
7. Have a New You by Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman  ✮✮
8. Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel ✮✮✮
9. When Your Best Isn't Good Enough by Dr. Kevin Leman ✮✮
10. When I Don't Desire God by John Piper ✮✮✮✮
11. Tell It Slant by Eugene Peterson ✮✮✮
12. The Romantic Rationalist by John Piper et al ✮✮
13. Conversations With My Dog by Zig Ziglar  ✮✮✮
14. Never Go Back by Dr. Henry Cloud  ✮✮✮✮  
15. Win the Day by Mark Batterson ✮ (If I could give it zero stars, I would)
16. Desiring God by John Piper ✮✮✮
    
17. A Hunger for God by John Piper ✮✮
18. How to be a Best Friend Forever by Dr. John Townsend ✮✮  
19. When the Darkness Will Not Lift by John Piper ✮
20. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson  ✮✮✮✮
21.  Detox Your Thoughts by Andrea Bonior  ✮✮✮✮
22. Calvin's Letter to Sadoleto by John Calvin  ✮✮✮✮
23. Exactly What to Say by Phil Jones  ✮✮✮
24. Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton  ✮✮✮✮
25. Business for the Glory of God by Wayne Grudem  ✮✮✮
26. Healing the Soul of a Woman by Joyce Meyer ✮✮✮
27. The Hidden Life of Prayer by David McIntyre  ✮✮
28. Faith and the Marketplace by Bill Winston  ✮✮✮✮
29. Living a Life You Love by Joyce Meyer ✮✮✮✮
30. How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell ✮✮✮ 
31. A Diary of Private Prayer by John, Bailie (a glorious reread) ✮✮✮✮
32. Run With the Horses by Eugene H. Peterson ✮✮✮
33. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer.  ✮✮✮✮
34. Jesus Himself by Andrew Murray ✮✮✮✮
35. The Magic of Thinking Big by Dr. David Schwartz ✮✮✮✮
36. Praying by J. I. Packer  ✮✮
37. Everyone's a Theologian by R. C. Sproul ✮✮✮✮
38. Taking God Seriously by J. I. Packer ✮✮✮
39. The Church by C. S. Lewis ✮✮✮
40. Reflections on the Psalms by C. S. Lewis ✮✮
41. Basic Christianity by John Stott ✮✮✮✮
42. The Simplest Way to Change the World by Dustin Willis and Brandon Clements ✮✮✮✮
43. B.L.E.S.S. by Dave and Jon Ferguson✮✮✮✮
44. Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton ✮✮✮
45. St. Francis of Assisi by G. K. Chesterton ✮✮
46. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller ✮✮✮
47. The School of Obedience by Andrew Murray ✮✮
48. Saint Thomas Aquinas by G. K. Chesterton ✮✮
49. Rediscovering Holiness by J. I. Packer ✮✮✮
50. Prayers to Start Your Day by Crisswell Freeman  ✮✮✮
51. Excellence in Online Education by Kristen Ferguson  ✮✮✮
52. George Muller:  My Journal by George Muller  ✮✮✮
53. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson  ✮✮✮✮
54. The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott (a glorious reread) ✮✮✮✮
55. Shepherd's Abiding by Jan Karon  (a glorious reread)  ✮✮✮✮
56. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (a glorious reread)  ✮✮✮✮
57. Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin (a reread) ✮✮

 

First Line Friday Entries for the Year:

#2   #6   #10   #14

#3   #7   #11   #15

#4   #8   #12   

#5   #9   #13  

Ain't Nobody Got Time for That!:

Wow!  None for 2023!

First Line Friday #4: Have a New You By Friday

 

Thanks to Carrie at
Reading is My Superpower
for the Link-up

Book:  Have a New You By Friday
Authors:  Dr. Kevin Leman
Genre:  Self-Help

〰First Line〰
                                                                          

Have you ever seen the hilarious Bob Newhart Show?   I used to love watching the show in its original run and sometimes catch the reruns now on Nick at Nite.

                                                                          

Synopsis:  (From Amazon.com):

How many times have we tried to change our own habits, only to find that changing ourselves is even harder than trying to change someone else? Now, what the bestselling Have a New Kid by Friday has done for families and Have a New Husband by Friday has done for couples, Have a New You by Friday will do for individuals. With his signature wit and commonsense psychology, Dr. Kevin Leman will walk readers through their own personal five-day action plan. Readers will come to

-accept the truth about themselves
-boost their confidence by identifying the lies they're telling themselves--and putting them to rest for good
-change their lives by concentrating on becoming who they really want to be

Based on content from The Real You, Have a New You by Friday is the way to a happier, more fulfilling life.

So, what's the first line of the book you're currently reading?

First Line Friday #3: The Way of the Shepherd

Thanks to Carrie at
Reading is My Superpower
for the Link-up

Book:  The Way of the Shepherd
Authors:  Dr. Kevin Leman & William Pentak
Genre:  Leadership

〰First Line〰
                                                                          

In my lowly role as cub reporter, I had just returned from covering my third ribbon-cutting ceremony of the week. That’s when I found the pink While You Were Out slip, with Christina Nickel’s name on it. This book is the result of her unexpected call to the Texas Star’s newsroom.

                                                                          

Synopsis:  (From Goodreads):

A heartwarming, contemporary parable, The Way of the Shepherd offers a fresh perspective on the art of leadership in this account of a cub reporter who lands the interview of a lifetime with the most respected CEO in America. Through the interview, the businessman shares seven proven management principles that, while ancient in origin, are readily applicable in today’s fast-paced, high-tech world.Compelling and challenging, these uncommon, age-old principles require leaders to focus on their own hearts, character, and priorities, and to give their best in order to receive the best from others. Readers also discover insights and techniques for engaging and energizing their workforce, and for leading people in a way that helps them see their work as a calling rather than merely a job, as a place to belong rather than just a place to work. A concise story that’s full to the brim, The Way of the Shepherd is a must-read for busy leaders at all levels who want to call forth greatness from the people around them by cultivating it in themselves. 

So, what's the first line of the book you're currently reading?

First Line Friday #2: Hinds' Feet on High Places

Thanks to Carrie at
Reading is My Superpower
for the Link-up

Book:  Hinds' Feet On High Places
Author: Hannah Hurnard
Genre:  Christian Fiction:  Allegory

〰First Line〰
                                                                          

This is the story of how Much-Afraid escaped from her fearing relatives and went with the Shepherd to the high places where perfect love casteth out fear.

                                                                          

Synopsis:  (From Goodreads):

'Hinds' Feet on High Places' is Hannah Hurnard's best known and loved book; a beautiful allegory dramatizing the yearning of God's children to be led to new heights of love, joy, and victory.Follow Much-Afraid on her spiritual journey through difficult places with her two companions, Sorrow and Suffering. Learn how Much-Afraid overcomes her tormenting fears as she passes through many dangers and mounts at last to the High Places. There she gains a new name and returns to her valley of service, transformed by her union with the loving Shepherd.

So, what's the first line of the book you're currently reading?