Reading Goals for 2020 (Q1)

These are my reading goals for Q1 (quarter 1 of 2020)…

I always start with the Bible. I just finished the year-long Bible Project plan, which was amazing. There are video intros to each book. Now I’m starting a deeper study into the new Testament. This study will go through one chapter a day, and it will remain within the New Testament. It will take all of 2020.

As far as last year’s study, I learned a few things. For one, I read 73 books. I’m pretty happy about that. I was able to find—in many ways and forms—a lot of wasted time to fill with something productive.

I also learned that I can stick to my goals better if I continue to do what I’ve done in the past and set quarterly goals. A year projection is nice, but not always the most effective. Either way, here’s what happened in 2019…

The Books I Read in 2019

1 Jan 19 – 31 Dec 19

I added a lot of extra books, while also not reading ones that were already on the list. That’s another reason I prefer quarterly goals to yearly goals. I didn’t do too well in the fiction area. I did great in finance, business, productivity, and theology, which is normal. I did pretty good in marriage and parenting books. I didn’t do so hot in many of the extrabiblical texts I wanted to read.

My Top 5 Books from 2019

1. Lord or Legend by Gregory Boyd – The historical and empirical evidence and reasoning for the existence of Christ, the truth of His ministry and the proof of such. This book was amazing in research and depth. I plan to read the academic version of this book, The Jesus Legend, throughout 2019, but it’s lengthy.
2. Deep Work by Cal Newport – An in-depth study and review of techniques that help eliminate distraction and get more work done in less time. This book was spot on for the topic; however, Cal’s other book, Digital Minimalism, wasn’t as worthwhile of a read.
3. Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger – This is the only fiction book I read in 2019, and it’s in my top 5 books. That alone should tell me something. It’s a great story of grace and dealing with tragic loss. William’s ability to build characters throughout the story was phenomenal.
4. Teach Your Child to Fish by Holly Reid – This is a great, quick read on teaching kids about money. I thought Holly included so many things that are important to know, while not overdoing it. I’d suggest reading it a few times to learn how you can teach your kids about money… or just wait for my book on the same topic to come out.
5. The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns – A logical and sensible way to look at the Bible. Though different from traditional conservatism, Peter explains his struggles with how he viewed the Bible and how he views it in light of what he’s learned.

I’d read those 5 again, and likewise with at least 20 of the other books I read in 2019. Here’s what I read…

I’ve set a goal to read 80 books in 2020; here’s my plan for Q1:

Reading Goals for 2020 | Q1

1 Jan 20 – 31 Mar 20

Business & Productivity

1. Blanchard & Miller, Great Leaders Grow (Paperback)
2. A. Grant, Give and Take (Hoopla summary/RB)
3. M. Hyatt, Free to Focus (Audible)
4. Patterson, Crucial Conversations (Paperback)
5. W. Wood, Good Habits, Bad Habits (audio)

Economics & Social Science

6. P. Diamandis, Abundance (Hoopla Audio)
7. R. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger (Hoopla Audio)

Fiction

8. D. Liss, The Coffee Trader (Audible)

Finance

9. C. Dacy, 10 Ways to Kickstart Your Financial Coaching Business (Kindle)
10. J, Godfrey, Raising Financially Fit Kids (Paperback)
11. G. Karlitz, Growing Money (Paperback)
12. R. Lieber, The Opposite of Spoiled (Paperback)
13. J. Soforic, Wealthy Gardener, The (Paperback)
14. A. Standley, How to Be Rich (Hoopla eBook)
15. T. Ferriss, 4-Hour Workweek (Re-read)

History

16. T. Whittaker, Origins of Christianity, The (Paperback)

Marriage

17. Dillow & Slattery, Passion Pursuit (Paperback)
18. D. Rosenau, Celebration of Sex, A (Hoopla eBook)
19. Stoeker, Every Man’s Marriage (RB)

Theology

20. N. Anderson, Victory Over the Darkness (Paperback)
21. G. Boyd, Benefit of the Doubt, The (Hoopla eBook)
22. — God of the Possible (Hoopla eBook)
23. G. Fee, How to Read the Bible for All it’s Worth (Hoopla eBook)
24. N.T. Wright, Lord and His Prayer, The (Hoopla audio)