Showing posts with label Think This Not That. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Think This Not That. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Favorite Nonfiction of 2024

Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. by Andrew T. Le Peau & Linda Doll




The history of evangelicalism cannot be understood apart from the authors and books that shaped it. Over the past century, leading figures such as pastor-scholar John Stott, apologist James W. Sire, evangelist Rebecca Manley Pippert and spiritual formation writer Eugene Peterson helped generations of readers to think more biblically and engage the world around them. For many who take their Christianity seriously, books that equip them for a life of faith have frequently come from one influential publisher: InterVarsity Press. Read my review.


One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry




One Prayer Away invites you to begin in the brokenness and finish with more faith. Whether you are struggling or seeking, flying or failing—God is with you. You can trust Him to hold you through it all. He is right there, closer than you know, ready to hear from your heart. Read my review.


Think This, Not That by Dr. Josh Axe




Unlock your potential by cultivating self-awareness and curating a fulfilling life full of self-improvement, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset. Leadership expert and entrepreneur Dr. Josh Axe teaches 12 revolutionary mindshift transformations to beat the grind and reach the life you've always wanted. Redefine success and replace the limiting beliefs of yourself with the healthy mental toughness to think this, not that. Read my review.


Thursday, October 3, 2024

September 2024 Reading Recap & October 2024 TBR

 My September 2024 Reads: 

Wow! I read more in September than any other month this year! Two were novellas and one was a nonfiction I'd been reading for months, but the others were full length novels. 


  1. Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved this book... right up until I didn't. I knew the *thing* was coming, but I surely cried when it happened. An excellent debut novel. Review to come.

  2. The One with the Kiss Cam - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Absolutely loved the romance in this one. Read my review. 

  3. Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review available 10/08/24.

  4. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - A self-help read with lots to consider. Read my review.

  5. To Catch a Coronet by Grace Hitchcock - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - An average Regency romance that was a fun way to spend a few hours. Read my review.

  6. Her Surprise Vacation Date by Liwen Y. Ho - ⭐⭐⭐½ - An easy, fun romcom with bookish vibes. 

  7. The Gentleman's Confession by Anneka R. Walker - ⭐⭐⭐½ - Review to come.

  8. The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson - ⭐⭐½ - A second chance romance set amid the Christmas season. Short enough to read in an afternoon, but also short on character depth and plot build up that the story needed.




Expected October 2024 Reads:
  1. The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese - My local book club's October selection.

  2. The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar - Can't wait for this one!
  3.  
  4. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!

  5. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.

  6. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.

  7. Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: A Narrative History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2022 by Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll.


What will you read this month? 

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Book Review: Think This, Not That by Dr. Josh Axe

About the Book:



Instant New York Times Bestseller

Unlock your potential by cultivating self-awareness and curating a fulfilling life full of self-improvement, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset. Leadership expert and entrepreneur Dr. Josh Axe teaches 12 revolutionary mindshift transformations to beat the grind and reach the life you've always wanted. Redefine success and replace the limiting beliefs of yourself with the healthy mental toughness to think this, not that.


Perhaps you're busy but still feel empty. Maybe things haven't turned out how you'd hoped, and life seems stale and unfulfilling. What if you could wake up every morning excited about your purpose, knowing you're fulfilling your greatest potential?

A more meaningful life is within your reach, and it starts in one place: your mind.

Living with a mindset of false narratives will keep you stuck, locked in a prison of unpursued dreams and goals. But cultivating a new mindset based on what is actually true will set you free—free to start exploring and growing beyond the limits you thought you had.

In Think This, Not That, Dr. Josh Axe unpacks the top twelve mental barriers holding people back from realizing their potential and becoming the greatest version of themselves, and contrasts each one with a new empowering mindset, such as:
  • Don't simply drift; clarify your purpose.
  • Don't define success based on what you accomplish; base it on who you become.
  • Don't be the victim; be the hero.
  • Don't be a slave to your vices; overpower them by building virtues.
  • Don't live by popular opinion; follow enduring principles of wisdom.
  • Don't allow unintentionality; visualize a strategy.
Whether you want to improve your physical or financial health, raise the quality of your relationships, or take your career to new heights, these mindshifts will help transform your life.

It's time to break through your limiting beliefs and find out who you can become, to build a meaningful life through new thoughts and actions, and to make the switch from what's stalled you toward a life of ultimate significance.


My Thoughts:

Thnk This, Not That by Dr. Josh Axe gave me a lot to think about. It’s not a book to read too quickly (because there are many ideas to consider) or too slowly (lest the momentum and train of thought be lost). Honestly, I probably need to read it again to cement some of the ideas deeper in my mind while I continue working on my vision board (an exercise from Chapter 11).

Think This, Not That held Christian undertones throughout, but it’s during Chapter 7 (Build an Unshakable Identity So No One Else Does It for You) that spirituality and God began to be discussed more openly. The content often felt like a combination of traditional Christian ideas with lots of motivational, self-help narrative. In my opinion, it’s best let the Holy Spirit illuminate what in this book works for the individual reader (and I think Dr. Josh would likely agree with that). For instance, Chapter 5 (Rewrite Your Role in the Story) was very motivational, but ultimately, a miss for me. Sometimes a person endures such severe trauma that even with counseling, prayer, and healing, they may always have scars (physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual) that prevent certain achievements and/or resilience.

Chapter 6 (Assemble a Team to Fulfill Your Dreams) felt unrelatable. I agree that we need community for encouragement, companionship, and inspiration, but Dr. Josh presented the ideas based on his own experience which included a “team” of celebrities and extremely wealthy people who gave him opportunities that just aren’t common for most people.

I will say that Dr. Josh seemed to be very authentic in his desire to help people and make the world a better place. And I have no doubt that Think This, Not That will help many readers, myself included. Chapter 1 (Create a Breakthrough by Unlimiting Your Beliefs) made quite an impression in my mind and has helped me have a more positive, open mindset. Chapter 9 (Bust Vices by Building Virtues) has stuck with me and reminded me to do things with excellence. Though I’ve finished off the book, I still flip back through it, rereading quotes I underlined and notes I made in the margins.

Think This, Not That by Dr. Josh Axe offers readers a resource of best practices and positive mindsets.  In my opinion, nearly everyone could glean inspiration from this book, but not all of this book will be applicable to everyone. 4.5 Stars!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Monday, September 2, 2024

August 2024 Reading Recap & September 2024 TBR

 My August 2024 Reads: 



  1. The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - An all-around excellent novel and my local book club's August selection.

  2. For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - A little of everything: sisterhood, time travel, drama, hope, and romance. - Read my review.

  3. The Last Exchange by Charles Martin - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A gritty novel with a dedicated hero, truth bombs, and an intense plot that wouldn't let me go. - Read my review.

  4. Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐ - A sweet Christmas story that suffered the typical constraints of the novella form. Review to come.



Expected September 2024 Reads:
  1. Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle - My local book club's September selection.
  2.  
  3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!

  4. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.

  5. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.

  6. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.


What will you read this month? 

Sunday, August 11, 2024

July 2024 Reading Recap & August 2024 TBR

 My July 2024 Reads: 


  1. Saved by the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Romance, romance, and romance! - Read my review.

  2. The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A deep, probing novel about multigenerational relationships. Also, my local book club's July selection. We used it as an opportunity to discuss each person's heritage and bring/eat a favorite childhood food.

  3. Treason Trail by Kit Hawthorne - ⭐⭐⭐½ - A shorter novel set a the end of America's War for Independence. I liked the characters and found the encryption/decoding element interesting. I enjoyed the story while I was reading it, but I don't think I would reread it.




Expected August 2024 Reads:
  1. The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay - My local book club's August selection.
  2.  
  3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!

  4. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.

  5. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.

  6. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.











What will you read this month? 

Saturday, July 6, 2024

June 2024 Reading Recap & July 2024 TBR

 My June 2024 Reads: 


  1. Her Part to Play by Jenny Erlingsson - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review available 7/12/24.

  2. Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½  - A moving story of friendship and healing. Read my review.

  3. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - My daughters and I enjoyed reading this one aloud!

  4. When the Ocean Roars by Charlsie Estess - ⭐⭐⭐ - This book had a gorgeous cover and promising blurb, but needed serious developmental edits.



Expected July 2024 Reads:
  1. The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold - My local book club's July selection.
  2.  
  3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!

  4. Saved by the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund.

  5. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.




What will you read this month?

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

May 2024 Reading Recap & June 2024 TBR

 My May 2024 Reads: 



  1. The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - My local book club's selection for May. I loved this book just as much the second time around. Read my original review here.

  2. The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Review to come!



Expected June 2024 Reads:
  1. Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes.
  2.  
  3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!

  4. When the Ocean Roars by Charlsie Estess.

  5. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.



What will you read this month?