Best Non-Fiction of 2021

Posted by Sadie Sofia January 03, 2022

Best Non-Fiction of 2021

Some years I have trouble coming up with 10 really good books to share with you. There are times when the books I've read are fine, but nothing noteworthy and nothing I want to tell everyone to read. This year, I had 10 easy, plus a few honorable mentions. These are not in any particular order other than the order in which I came across them in my list of books read in 2021. If you click on the link, you can read my full review on Goodreads. Without further ado, here are my top non-fiction books from 2021!

Bandersnatch by Diana Pavlac Glyer. A book about J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and their group of writers called The Inklings. I absolutely loved this book and it read more like a story than most non-fiction (NF). If you're not interested in Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and the story behind how they came to be, then this book is probably not for you.
Defying Jihad by Esther Ahmad. Reading the true stories of Muslims who come to faith encourages me and challenges me every time. They give up so much and the dangers are so real, and yet Jesus draws them. Hearing how He works in places where the Gospel is forbidden is incredible.
Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas. An all-time favorite but one I had not read in too many years. Anyone who knows me knows that Bonhoeffer is one of my "heroes" and I would recommend this book to everyone! I was amazed at how similar life now was to life then the first time I read it and even more so in 2021. We need to read accounts of Christians in WWII to help us prepare for what is coming.
In His Image by Jen Wilkin. I love the three Jen Wilkin books that I've read. Her teaching is simple and clear and sound, which is becoming harder to find. This book would be excellent to do with a small group.
The Gospel Comes With A House Key by Rosaria Butterfield. Once again, Butterfield cuts through the distractions. She shows how we can live our everyday lives to spread the gospel. She demonstrates what biblical hospitality looks like. Yes, it requires sacrifice and a different way of living, but it's not as hard and complicated as we want to make it. Not everyone's life will look like hers, mine included, but you can take the principles learned and figure out how to make your life and home something that lives out the gospel.
7 Men & Seven Women by Eric Metaxas. What I love about Metaxas books is who he chooses to highlight. Each and every person inspires and shows you what one life can do when fully surrendered to God. Each story challenges you in how you live and I have several people I want to read about now.
End of The Spear by Steve Saint. This is the story of the five missionaries who were killed in Ecuador in the 1950s but it is more the story of what happened afterwards. Written by the son of one of the missionaries, this book provides more insight into what happened and why. I've always wondered why. There was something that didn't make sense and those questions were answered. If you are fascinated by this story, this is a book you don't want to miss.
7 More Men by Eric Metaxas. Yes, there are more! These men are more recent in history, so I knew much about them already, but I was still very excited to read it. And there is another book coming out with more women!!
Redeeming Your Time by Jordan Raynor. I really appreciate and enjoy Raynor's approach to work and how he weaves faith and work together. I highly recommend this AND Called to Create to anyone, whether you're a business owner or "creative" or not.
Live Not By Lies by Rob Dreher. This is basically a book sharing the stories of those who have lived under communism. Cuba, Eastern Europe, Russia... many who came here from those places are shouting at us to listen to them. To see what is happening and stop it before it's too late. We would do well to head them.