FROM THE SOUL SUNDAY: BOOKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE IN MY TWENTIES
Photo credit: Paige McDowell
INNER WORK
Erica McClintock
5/19/20248 min read
My twenties were like a rollercoaster, filled with emotional highs that made me feel on top of the world and moments that made my stomach drop in uncertainty and fear. Through the ups and downs, books became my lifeline. They offered me solace, guidance, and insight. The following transformed my mind and helped me navigate new experiences, personal growth, and the challenge of finding my path. I hope they do the same for you. <3
Here are my faves, categorically, in no particular order:
Pursuing Dreams
Garden City by John Mark Comer
Truly helped me to live a purposeful, inspired life in the real world. Teaches you how to apply your faith to your lifestyle at work and beyond without being cringy.
Summary: Explores the concept of work, rest, and the meaning of life from a biblical perspective, encouraging readers to discover their purpose and calling while balancing productivity and rest in alignment with God's design.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This book reiterated the fact that God is always speaking, especially in regards to intuition. Deep down, I think we know what we’re born to do. Life just takes us on a bit of a journey first to discover it.
Summary: A young shepherd named Santiago embarks on a journey to find a hidden treasure, learning profound lessons about following his dreams and listening to his heart along the way.
The Power of Prayer
Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson
This book taught me how to pray. Any chance I get to recommend this devotional, I do. It is one of the most transformative books on prayer I have ever read and I experienced so many miracles in my life praying what Mark invited me to pray. Highly, highly recommend.
Summary: A 40-day prayer challenge that encourages readers to deepen their faith and experience God's power through committed, consistent prayer.
Dirty Glory by Pete Greig
This book seriously challenged me in prayer and opened my mind to the possibility of experiencing miracles in the modern day like those mentioned in The Bible. It forces you to come to terms with the question: “What am I asking God for and why is it so little?” I honestly need to read it again!
Summary: Chronicles the adventurous journey and powerful experiences of the 24-7 Prayer movement, showcasing the transformative impact of prayer in various parts of the world.
Raising My Standards
Sex and the Single Christian Girl by Marian Jordan Ellis
When I became a Christian, I really struggled to find books from the pov of a Christian woman who wasn’t fake and weird af. I was looking for someone real, who loved The Bible, and was honest about sex and relationships. Marian is that girl. (Sidenote: This book could honestly be cringy now, but in the moment, I got a lot out of it in regards to my worth and value.
Summary: Explores how single Christian women can embrace a life of fulfillment without compromising their faith and identity in Christ.
Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage and Sex by Michael Todd
I know he’s controversial, but in 2020, this was the best advice I’d ever heard on relationships in my life. It’s so refreshing, real and raw. Not sugar coated at all, which to me, differs from how pastors normally speak about sex and relationships. It helped me understand sex in a way that I’d never considered before and that alone was worth it to me.
If you don’t end up reading the book, I definitely recommend checking out the Youtube series.
Summary: Provides practical, faith-based advice on building healthy, godly relationships, from dating and marriage to friendships and self-love, emphasizing the importance of aligning with God's vision for relationships.
Seeing From a Different Perspective
The Cure by John Lynch
This honestly HIT in my late twenties when I started to become very cynical about my faith. I highly recommend it if you feel a sense of heaviness when you think about God or Christianity. It will bring so much light to why you feel that way and provide steps on how to make a change.
Summary: Explores the transformative journey from living in shame and performance-based religion to embracing authentic grace and identity in Christ.
The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind by Bill Johnson
An activator of faith. This book played a major role in my first steps of starting a business. I highly recommend it for people who have dreams, but don’t necessarily know where to start. God spoke to me a lot through this and I found it super encouraging.
Summary: Teaches readers how to live a life of miracles and supernatural power by aligning their minds with the mind of Christ and embracing the transformative power of God's presence.
Creative Living
Cultivate: Creativity Unlocked by Cageless Birds
One of my faves. I think this is the one that you honestly don’t even have to be a Christian to read. It’s practical and rich. Basically like a magazine with a bunch of different articles and activities. It’s beautiful, looks great on a coffee table, and opens your mind to what your creativity has the ability to accomplish (even if you don’t see yourself as creative.)
Summary: A collection of essays, testimonies, and exercises designed to inspire and equip readers to unlock their creative potential and embrace their artistic gifts, all while nurturing their spiritual growth and connection to God.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
This is the one who made me who I am. When I see her in Heaven, I will kiss her feet. She’s the woman who knows nothing about you, but believes in you so much. She helps me get unblocked creatively. This book is the reason why you’re reading this.
Summary: A self-help book that guides readers through a 12-week program to recover their creative self, using techniques such as morning pages and artist dates to unlock and nurture their artistic potential.
Actually Being A Christian
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
This is the devotional you will typically see Jayda Wayda and Kourtney Kardashian Barker post to their IG stories in the morning. Mine was actually given to me by a girl who lived in my college dorm. I didn’t know up from down when it came to faith and this really, really helped me. It gave Jesus a voice and I learned that He is kind.
Summary: A devotional book that presents daily readings written as if Jesus is speaking directly to the reader. The book aims to offer encouragement, comfort, and spiritual guidance by helping readers develop a closer relationship with Jesus through daily reflections and scripture passages.
Jesus Is: Find A New Way to Be Human by Judah Smith
Judah’s words bring life to scripture in a way that is relevant, funny, and challenging. This book changed the way I read The Bible - not as a historical text, but essays of testimony, change, confession, protection and validation.
Summary: Explores the character and teachings of Jesus Christ, offering a fresh perspective on how to live authentically and purposefully as human beings in alignment with the principles of love, grace, and compassion.
The Gospel Comes With a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World by Rosaria Butterfield
Perfect, honestly. She’s the person who actually loves her neighbors instead of talking about how we should love our neighbors. I love this book because it provides practical advice on listening to and creating space for people who are vastly different from you.
Summary: A book that challenges readers to embrace radical hospitality as a means of living out the gospel in everyday life. Rosaria shares personal stories and practical advice on how to open our homes and lives to others, demonstrating Christ's love and building genuine community in a secular world.
You Are The Girl For The Job: Daring to be Believe the God Who Calls You by Jess Connolly
Any confident or courageous life choice I made in my late twenties, I owe to Jess. This book is the epitome of wind in your sails, Gatorade after field day, or leaving work on a Friday at lunchtime. Goodbye, imposter syndrome.
Summary: Encourages women to embrace their God-given calling, overcome self-doubt, and step boldly into the purpose and potential that God has for their lives.
The Bible
My guide to life in my twenties. I went to Bible college twice, so I’ve read the whole thing multiple times. Not because I necessarily had to, but because I was genuinely curious. What I’ve found over time, though, it’s not about how much of it you know. It’s about how much of it you have the courage to apply to your life. That is usually how someone can look at your life and determine whether or not your faith is worth anything.
This is the Bible I relied on most in my twenties. It prioritizes word-for-word accuracy, making it the most similar to the original texts. In other words, it’s giving true tea, but like tea with your grandparents who grew up going to church with their grandparents. Obsessed with the study notes in this.
This is what I read when the ESV wasn’t giving. Like if I had to re-read something three times in the ESV and still didn’t get it, I'd reach for this. The NLT Bible focuses on thought-for-thought clarity in modern, everyday language. If you are new to faith or are considering faith, I would start with this version.
The Passion Translation (New Testament) Bible from Dr. Brian Simmons
This is what I read in my late twenties having had a solid base from the ESV. I love this version because it really aims to capture God’s heart through the text. I find this one the most beautiful because I fall in love with God every time I read it.
I’m one of those people who typically neeeeds to have a book in my hand to enjoy it, but some of these I listened to as audiobooks and finished in a day. If you’re in the market for summer novels or self-help books, but don’t necessarily have the time to spend reading, I highly suggest Audible or Hoopla if you have a public library card.
What books changed your life? Send me a DM on Instagram - I’m always looking for recommendations!
This blog contains ads and I earn commission. All recommendations are honest, personally used by me, and were acquired through personal funds.
