7 Books That Changed the Way I Live, Love, and Parent

Renovation of the Heart

by Dallas Willard

When you're reading a book, do you ever feel like if you could really understand it, it would change everything? That's how I feel about Dallas Willard. (Willard's words are so dense it takes me four times longer than usual to get through one page.)

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

by John Gottman

Gottman is the famed researcher who’s able to predict with 91% accuracy if a couple will divorce after observing them for a mere 5 minutes. Gottman fleshes out what successful relationships have in common, and shows you how to view your own relationship through a marriage counselor’s eyes. Investing in your marriage is easier than you might think.

Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art

by Madeleine L’Engle

This slim, conversational memoir articulated a lot of my swirling ideas about art and creativity. L'engle combines insights from her own journey with masterful storytelling to make her case for art as something necessary and vital, for Christians, for everyone. This book makes me want to do the work, and that's saying something. Read (and re-read) it slowly.

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder

by Carol Stock Kranowitz

This was my lifeline when we first heard the words "sensory processing disorder," and while it was crucial to shaping my understanding of SPD, it shifted my paradigm in more fundamental ways. Filled with practical wisdom that helped me understand that different kids have different needs, and my kid isn't trying to be difficult. Eye-opening and empowering.

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child

by John Gottman

This book is twice as long as it needs to be and the writing isn't stellar, but dig a little and you'll find fabulously practical advice buried in the cheesy examples and bad prose. Gottman teaches you how to coach your kids (or anyone's kids) to understand their own emotions and deal with them in constructive ways. To do this, you have to confront the unhealthy ways you were (probably) taught to deal with your emotions as a kid. Painful, but WORTH IT. This book deserves its own post.

Daring Greatly

by Brené Brown

This is the Brené Brown book best suited to the beach, and since you need to read at least one Brené Brown book in your lifetime, go ahead and throw it in your swim bag. Brown is a researcher and a storyteller: while she’s educating you about vulnerability and courage, you’ll find yourself thinking she’d make a great girlfriend. Funny, insightful, and wise.

The Talent Code

by Daniel Coyle

This book is all about how to get better at getting better—at anything, whether it's sports, music, math, or business. Coyle delves into the science of how the brain acquires skill, then shows dozens of ways top performers are putting those theories into practice every day. This book has changed how I work, and how I talk to my kids about their work and play.

7 Books That Changed the Way I Live, Love, and Parent

Renovation of the Heart

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child

Daring Greatly

The Talent Code

a gateway

to reliable joy this summer

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summer reading starts May 16th