Empowering Encounter Reads

101 Essays that will Change the way You Think by Brianna Wiest | Read in 2024

Not a typical book. This book is hard to categorize. However, it fits most closely with this category. There are many things in this book that are probably commonplace to your sphere of influence. That does not take away from their impact. Additionally, if someone has not heard them before it could be transformative for them. Some feature quotes that stuck out are below.

"You don't want what you want, you want what you know." "Don't confuse broken dreams with a broken future." "Create physical solutions for emotional problems."    "Your problem isn't not having, but not recognizing what you do have."                                                                    "Your daily life: work, paying bills, laundry, etc is where your freedom is."

Spurgeon's Sorrows by Zack Eswine | Read in 2024

The category for this book could have been CCR. However, it seems to fit better in this category with the empowering words it gives. Many people today suffer from depression. Some may say it is an epidemic. To find that one of the great men of God who was known for great preaching and words of wisdom, Charles Spurgeon suffered from depression is very interesting. Then to find how he coped and things we can learn from that and what Christ brings to our lives in the midst of our depression is a huge relief to many. Anyone who suffers or knows someone who suffers from depression should read this book. "It is an act of faith to be sad about sad things." Too often people equate sadness with depression or as a bad thing. People need to readjust their view. Additionally, the greatest quote from this book is: "It is Christ and not the absence of depression that saves us."

Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl | Read in 2024

You won't expect what is in this book. It takes an interesting look using psychotherapy and Frankl's time in a concentration camp to analyze man's search for meaning. Frankl covers logotherapy which is the meaning of life. This he speculates is the main reason for living. Logotherapy is in stark contrast to other popular psychologists even today. He lays out several ways people can find meaning even in the worst and hardest of situations such as a concentration camp. It is an inspiring, empowering, and emboldening read. Pertinent to today, maybe more so than ever, due to its departure from the selfish and temporal nature of people's actions.

The Sacredness of Secular Work by Jordan Raynor| Read in 2024

Another fantastic book for this section! Especially if you are struggling in your work regardless of where it is. Or if you are seeking answers of where you should work. Raynor uses many great verses and stories from the Bible to illustrate what the name says, the sacredness of secular work. The only negative thing I have to say about it is that I do think that he takes some liberties with how some verses and stories are used. However, overall it is very solid and I don't think there is any harm done nor any blatant heresy. This book is very encouraging and will give you great purpose while doing good work as unto the Lord.

Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham Jr.| Read in 2024

I WANT EVERY FATHER AND HUSBAND TO READ THIS BOOK! No joke. The things that you will learn in this book may be things that you have already heard or known. This book will push you though and give you even more reason to do what you need to do. It will also give you more tools to use that will help you do what you need to do. In today's world it is getting harder and harder to have a handle on your family, wife and children. It is more imperative than ever that we not only lead by example but that we lead them through with us. Too many times fathers and husbands will read the Bible or pray or go to church without their families. This book will help you get your family back and on the same page!

Atomic Habits by James Clear | Read in 2024

James Clear has some great resources beyond this book as well that I recommend checking out. He also references the book "The Power of Habit." I really liked that book as well. This book while referencing the other, is very different. I felt that this book gives a much more hands on approach as the other gave a much more theoretical approach. The other was interesting while this one was practical. They both are great and I highly recommend them both. There are several things that I changed in my daily life that came from this book that have helped me dramatically.

Why Should I be the First to Change by Nancy Missler | Read in 2024

First book I finished in 2024. It was very short. It did have some good biblical references. However, I was not expecting it to basically be her story. There was not much more to the book. It was mainly her story and some scriptures sprinkled in to show why it is a good idea to be the first to change. Somewhat different from the usual self-help or inspirational books I was used to. I didn't find it particularly interesting or helpful. Basically the title was enough.

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday | Read in 2023

A pretty good but not outstanding book. I enjoyed the book as I was reading it and learned a few things from it at the time. However, as time goes on I remember less and less of it. It is worth a read. There is great truth and great biblical truth to be learned in not shying away from obstacles or trials when they come our way. The immense amount of lessons we can learn as we go through these are invaluable in the rest of our life. I do recommend it.

How Not To Get Promoted by Emily Kumler | Read in 2023

This book was not very helpful. I don't really recommend it. Instead of talking about what the title says I felt like she often just went to sexist things that happen in the workplace that "keep women from getting jobs." Maybe this book is older but I know that in the companies I have worked for in the last decade they have done nothing but talk about getting women in management and women in various roles "normally held by men." I have seen such an influx of women in management. One woman in upper management even told me she was almost certain that the main reason she was hired for her last promotion was because she was a woman and not because of what she brought to the table. Anyway, this book offers very little in the way of actual things to stop doing that could be hurting your chances of getting promoted.

Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David | Read in 2023

Patrick Bet-David outlines some great insights to business, sales, and life in this book. There are things in here that I will long remember. He also talks about the counsel in his head to help guide him from Hill's book "Think and Grow Rich". One of the best stories in here is when he learned that not every job is a fit for him. I feel like this is something everyone must learn at some point in their life and definitely something I've had to deal with. Additionally, another great point is that not everyone is an entrepreneur. He addresses what he calls intrepreneurs. Intrepreneurs are people that work in a company but want to work their way up to upper management or stock status. This was another great insight because many people don't feel like they can be entrepreneurs or even have an idea to build on. Definitely a book I recommend for anyone who is feeling stuck in their job or wanting to make moves.

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman | Read in 2023

Taken from studies done at the Gottman institute it was a much needed book and I can assume much needed for many others as well. The number one thing from this book is that it is not about how often couples fight or argue but how they argue that determines the success of their marriage. This was huge for my marriage and gave me great hope. The book reads a lot like a work book. It is hard to listen to on audio because there are so many lists and questions that it wants you to ponder and answer. (Just a warning) So I suggest getting a copy and reading it with your spouse. It is made to be read as a couple. There are several tests, many fun, and some informative and helpful, to assess your marriage. These were great for our marriage and honestly we had a lot of fun with it, even the harder one's we made fun in our own weird way. Highly recommend for any couple even if you think your marriage is perfect.

25 Ways to Win with People by John C. Maxwell | Read in 2023

Honestly not a lot I can say about this book. I didn't feel that it was as manipulative as "How to Win Friends and Influence People", however, I still felt it was on the same track. At some point I feel like if you have read one of these you have read them all. There is no substitute for being a genuine person and caring about people. Now on a micro level some things might be helpful if you didn't realize that in friendships or coworker relationships that you were talking too much or something like that. This is where a book like this may come in handy or just having good friends or family that will be honest with you and help you out. They may say they noticed that in conversations you do something that is causing an adverse reaction that is hard to realize yourself.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill | Read in 2023

A mix between "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "The Game of Life and How to Play it" I was very skeptical of this book. However, despite its obvious things I did not like, it did have some things I was surprised by. There were some principles and interesting thoughts that I will definitely take with me throughout life. He adds more things that I believe are helpful than the previous books. It is important for us to have the knowledge and to do the work necessary and this does require thinking about how we want to "grow rich". In a sense it does go far beyond Shinn's book and the word of faith practice. Additionally, I have seen his counsel repeated in other books now as well. It is something I have had a conversation with other people about. Even if it is not imaginary conversations or interviews, I think having a group of wise people that you can't physically talk to that you wish to learn from can be helpful.

The Science of Being Great by Wallace D. Wattles | Read in 2023

This book was interesting. At first it seemed to be in the same line of the sort of book "The Game of Life and How to Play it" is, however upon further reading it actually had some better insights. Some of them may seem obvious and simple, but they were good reminders nonetheless. I think the main thing that it boils down to is a lot of what Jordan Peterson talks about a lot. The thing is to not try to do great things but to do little things great. Once we continue to do little things great in every day life we will soon find that we have led a great life. This is in keeping with the scriptures as well where in different parts it talks about being responsible for and stewarding what you have. Then when you are faithful in that you will be rewarded more. Likewise, in Galatians it talks about not getting tired of doing the little things because eventually it will bring about good things.

The Game of Life and How to Play it by Florence Scovel Shinn | Read in 2023

What to say about his book? It comes from a line of weird books that are mind over matter, self help, new age "Christian", word of faith kind of spew. Listed as a "Prosperity Classic" I'm not even sure why I read this book. There is a little truth in the way we put positivity into our lives and about learning and believing positive things. However, I think it has more to do with focus and persistence than words of faith or imagination. This book is full of stories that offer real life examples of how the author has helped people think and speak their way to money, health, and prosperity. I say focus on what you need to do and work hard on those things and that is the positivity you need.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey | Read in 2023

I consider this book to be the book everyone should read instead of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. This book, much like Jordan Peterson's "12 Rules for Life", gives very effective things one should do to be better at almost anything and everything. I recommended it to several people after reading it and they too were enthralled with its timeless wisdom. The biggest takeaway for me was the section on quadrants. The ability to prioritize things in life will be extremely beneficial in every area and cross over from business into personal life as well. For instance prioritizing which family events are more urgent and important than business matters will allow you to be effective in both leaving you happy with your job, your job happy with your performance, and your family happy with your time. I highly recommend this book!

12 Rules For Life by Jordan B. Peterson | Read in 2023

A man who seemingly burst onto the scene, Jordan Peterson has been controversial to say the least. However, I fail to see what is controversial about this book. God forbid we flip the normal self indulgent, self help, narcissistic spew on its head. Rules such as "stand up straight with your shoulders back", "compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today", and "pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient", to name a few of my favorites. This book goes into great explanations of how these should be and are effective ways of making your life better. Maybe not now but definitely in the future. After all that is what we are after, or should be. This is one I highly recommend.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie | Read in 2023

The tactics listed in this book I have very mixed feelings about. On one hand I feel they should be somewhat obvious and standard ways to deal and interact with people on a daily basis. If you are selfish, uninterested, and forgetful this will not bode well even with friends. On the other hand I feel some of the tactics in this book can be used to manipulate people to a great degree. There is a fine line between influence and manipulate. Especially when it comes to friends I feel the most strongly that this book should not be used. It seems to me like more of a sales book or intermediate management 101. Friends can tell if you are being fake and forcing these things to gain their friendship or whatever.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki | Read in 2023

One of the first books I read on this journey because I found it in a book giveaway. It is inspiring and has some great money information. However, I do know that as a Christian it does directly clash with the Dave Ramsey and frankly biblical model set before us. Rich Dad Poor Dad seeks to change the way we think about money. Kiyosaki says that all money is debt and that since the gold standard is no longer, that the only way to leverage being rich as opposed to being poor is to obtain debt and assets. I think even as a Christian there can be things to learn from this model of money management. The main problem with this is that most people are not in this camp, so they do a little debt then don't do the work necessary to make that debt actually work for them. This is what ends up happening to most Americans and why we need people like Dave Ramsey. All in all, it is a good but dangerous book.