This is 50!
I celebrated the big 5-0 recently. It’s been a joyful season of surprise parties and trip planning. I would’ve never guessed I’d already have four beautiful grandchildren around the table with me.
It’s also the 15th anniversary of Stellar Communications Houston! There’s a lot to be thankful for as I reflect on the lessons of 2025 and ring in 2026.
Celebrating my 50th with my family
One thing I’m reflecting on is the nonfiction books that have shaped me in the past year.
Want some ideas for your next read?
Here are five of the books I read – and one takeaway from each.
The Case for Christ
Lee Strobel was a skeptic who investigated Christianity with the same journalistic rigor he brought to his work as a legal editor at the Chicago Tribune. Each chapter cross-examines experts in history, science, and philosophy, seeking credible evidence for Jesus’s life, claims, and resurrection.
The takeaway:
It’s a masterful example of using compelling “hooks” to draw in readers. Strobel begins every chapter with a real-life criminal case he reported on during his career, illustrating that seemingly open-and-shut cases can reveal surprising truths. It’s a gripping read that brings a complex study to life.
Glass Castle
This bestselling memoir by Jeannette Walls recounts her unconventional childhood with eccentric, nomadic parents. She remains vibrant even in dysfunction, enduring poverty and eventually becoming a successful journalist in New York City.
The takeaway:
It’s tempting to tell a life story from beginning to end in one straight line of details, with a few interesting moments interspersed. But The Glass Castle opens with the author on her way to a glamorous party when she sees her homeless mother rooting through trash on the side of the road. Walls shows how to bring the most compelling life moment to the top of a book to stun and stir curiosity right away.
On Writing
Stephen King combines his personal life story with a masterclass for aspiring writers. He begins with his memoir and ends with practical insights on the craft of writing.
The takeaway:
Aside from his great writing advice (like his instruction to begin with a lead sentence followed by more detail, which applies to everything from books to emails), Stephen is the king of vivid storytelling. He shares how he’s never been as pleased as with his mother’s response to his first writing. How he made a killing selling copies of one of his stories at school – until he was caught and forced to return all $9. And how he struggled later through addiction and a devastating accident. He connects the dots of memories to prove why he’s among the most successful writers of all time.
The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel van der Kolk combines scientific research with clinical case studies to explore how trauma reshapes the brain and body. It details how trauma gets “stuck” in the body and mind, and it presents innovative ideas for healing and recovery.
The takeaway:
Although this was a heavy read with sobering stories of people crippled by trauma, I picked it up because it’s the best title I’ve seen in a while. The subtitle does its duty with the right keywords: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. But if you’ve ever reacted strangely on the anniversary of a traumatic event, then you know that the body does indeed keep the score.
The 4-Hour Workweek
The self-help book by Timothy Ferriss challenges the traditional 9-to-5 job in favor of “lifestyle design.” It teaches how to use the Pareto Principle and Parkinson’s Law to enjoy luxury and freedom now, without waiting for retirement.
The takeaway:
Some of the resources he mentions are outdated because the book is 20 years old, and the audiobook is a slog because he reads every URL he recommends. But the chronology of his life is worth it alone. His style is eclectic and out-of-the-box, and his anecdotes are audacious. It reads like someone free of self-imposed limitations.
Happy New Year!
Have you read a great book that changes how you think or write? Hit reply and let me know about it! I’d love to check it out.
Here’s to a wonderful new year of books and business communication!