I love books. Truly though, that's an understatement. Ever since I was a small child, I have devoured books. My earliest memories are of sitting on my grandfather's lap in his rocking chair while he read aloud to me when I was only two years old. We read "The Little Engine That Could" hundreds of times, and eventually, I had memorized it. I think it's safe to say that that book had a profound impact on my life and development in many, many ways!
I still read dozens of books every year. Granted, many of those are of the scholarly variety these days because of my academic goals, but I try to fit in a purely pleasurable read every now and then as well.
What follows is a list of some of my favorites organized by genre. This list will continue to grow whenever I recall a favorite read that I want to share, and you can always find what's currently on my nightstand over in the right-hand sidebar.
I hope you find something new to read from this list and something to add to your own list of favorites. And, if you have a recommendation, I'd love to hear it!
Scroll through the entire list that follows, or choose one of these specific genres to jump forward to that section:
Fiction
Non-Fiction:
Home & DIY
Recipes & Cooking
Health & Wellness
Autobiographical
Travel & World


Fiction

Dumplin'
by Julie Murphy

Their Eyes Were Watching God
by Zora Neale Hurston

Prodigal Summer
by Barbara Kingsolver

Non-Fiction: Home & DIY

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave
by Joanna Gaines
Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff
by Myquillyn Smith
A Touch of Farmhouse Charm: Easy DIY Projects to Add a Warm and Rustic Feel to Any Room
by Liz Fourez

Non-Fiction: Recipes & Cooking
The Gluten-Free Vegan: 150 Delicious Gluten-Free, Animal-Free Recipes
by Susan O'Brien
Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering
by Joanna Gaines
Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats
by Allyson Kramer

Non-Fiction: Health & Wellness

The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer
by Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn & Dr. Elissa Epel

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
by Matthew Walker

Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide
by Deepak Chopra

The Incomplete Book of Running
by Peter Sagal

Non-Fiction: Autobiographical

Becoming
by Michelle Obama

The Magnolia Story
by Chip & Joanna Gaines

Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff
by Chip Gaines

Handcrafted: A Woodworker's Story
by Clint Harp
No Biking in the House Without a Helmet: 9 Kids, 3 Continents, 2 Parents, 1 Family
by Melissa Fay Greene

Non-Fiction: Travel & World

Kissing Kilimanjaro: Leaving It All on Top of Africa
by Daniel Dorr

Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal
by Conor Grennan