Publisher’s note: The Texas Lawbook is pleased to offer this new column in partnership with Texas-based Half Price Books sharing our readers’ favorite reads. “My Five Favorite Books” will publish every other Wednesday. Please email brooks.igo@texaslawbook.net for more information.
My reading habits have changed dramatically over the years. Where I once lingered over actual hard copy books late at night, these days I “read” mostly on the move. I now listen to my books, filling the hours I spend driving to/from work and after dropping of the kids for their many events. What might once have felt like idle time has become some of my most rewarding reading time, and I’ve grown to love how stories accompany me in the car.
Much like my taste in music, my reading choices are eclectic and all over the place. I rarely stick to one genre or style, preferring instead to explore whatever captures my curiosity at the moment.
Still, there are a handful of books that have stayed with me long after the final chapter. These are the stories I’ve returned to, recommended to friends or found myself reflecting on in unexpected moments. Each one is memorable for a different reason, and I hope you might find one to add to your own reading list.
For more information or to purchase the books, click the covers below.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I return to Pride and Prejudice at least once every year and sometimes more often than that. There’s something comforting about revisiting its familiar world, with its wit, social nuance and unforgettable characters. Beyond the dialogue and Austen’s unmatched insight into human nature, the book makes me long for a time when communication moved more slowly and a walk through the park was a cherished daily ritual. In the midst of our fast-paced lives, it is a welcome respite to slip into Austen’s world and be reminded of the beauty of patience, reflection and conversation.
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
I discovered this book on the recommendation of a fellow lawyer and friend, and I’m grateful I did. Corrie ten Boom’s account of her family’s role in the Dutch resistance during World War II is powerful not only for its historical significance but also for its message of faith, resilience and forgiveness in the face of unimaginable suffering. What struck me most was the courage found in ordinary people and the enduring belief in light even in the darkest circumstances. It’s a book that stays with you and challenges you to think about how you might respond in moments of true moral testing.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
I found Becoming both inspiring and refreshingly candid. Michelle Obama’s story of growing up on the South Side of Chicago, finding her own path and navigating public life resonated deeply with me as a working mother balancing professional responsibilities and family. I appreciated her honesty about the challenges of maintaining her own identity while also supporting and representing her family on the world stage. It felt less like a polished political memoir and more like an intimate conversation with someone who has lived her values under extraordinary pressure.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Listening to Daisy Jones and the Six was such an immersive experience that I genuinely had to question myself as to why I had never heard of this band before. It felt so real that I actually found myself doing internet searches just to be sure. Told in an oral-history style, the novel unfolds like a documentary, with the characters’ voices overlapping and conflicting in ways that made the story come alive. It captured the messy, creative and sometimes destructive energy of making music that felt real. It was pure fun, which then lead me to read every single book ever written by Taylor Jenkins Reid (spoiler: they’re all amazing).
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Greenlights is unlike any other book I’ve read. It is part memoir, part philosophy and entirely McConaughey (ha, like I know him and I am qualified to say this). Listening to it felt like a long conversation with someone who has lived fully and reflected deeply on the lessons along the way. I was drawn to his stories of perseverance, risk taking and the unexpected ways life can signal when to slow down or push forward. It’s both entertaining and surprisingly instructive, and it reminded me to look for the “greenlights” in my own life — those moments that allow me to move with confidence rather than pause in hesitation.
Melanie Koltermann is the general counsel of Five Star Management and the immediate past president of the Houston Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel.
