Reading is my favorite way to learn, to expand my mind, and to change my world view. I decided to create a list of books that really had an impact on me, and then I decided to share it. Enjoy!
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Why I Adore It:
Read this book. Read it again. And, every few years, read it again. Watch her Netflix special, her TED talk, and her Super Soul sessions with Oprah. Read her other books. Listen to her lectures. Brene Brown will open you up to courage, vulnerability, an understanding of shame, and, above all, love.
Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat by Bill Watterson
Why I Adore It:
When I first encountered Calving and Hobbes, I fell immediately in love. I think it’s the first book that caused me to actually laugh out loud while reading it…and sometimes tear up a little. Both the words and the drawings are magical. I read it over and over again.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Why I Adore It:
I’m sure you’ve seen memes about this everywhere and lots of videos, but I recommend reading the actual book! The KonMari Method works. In a nutshell, you gather up your belongings by category and then look at each one and ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” If not, you chuck it. I’ve done my whole life! And…I try not to bring anything into my home without doing the “does this spark joy” check. The reason why this changed my life is because with less to take care of, there’s less to take care of!
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Why I Adore It:
This book created a desire…a yearning…in me to live the life I’d always wanted. It is a memoir of Liz’ journey to discover the arts of pleasure, devotion and spiritual exploration, and the balance between worldly pursuits and the divine…and she opened herself back up to love after heartbreak. What got me the most was how she learned how to love and listen to herself and to live unapologetically. She didn’t hide her struggle or her failures. It’s about self-discovery and self-recovery and what can happen when you take responsibility for your own contentment and stop trying to live according to society’s ideals. Lots of folks poo poo this book…those people are not my people.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Steadman
I read this book when I was 17, and it blew my little smalltown girl mind. It’s smart, funny, satirical, and raunchy. It’s on this list not just because it opened my white bread eyes, but because it got me interested in his other books…which got me interested in social commentary, politics, and justice. Gonzo journalism at its best!
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Why I Adore It:
This book is raw and brutally honest. It’s a memoir about the author’s incredibly dysfunctional life after the death of her mother. She takes the leap to hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone with no experience. Cheryl’s story just spoke to my soul. Her use of humor and her willingness to brutally examine her life and take responsibility for doing something about it inspired me tremendously.
A Year Of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
If you don’t know who Shonda Rhimes is, you’ve been living under a rock for the past 10 years. By all accounts, she’s wildly successful, and, yet, in this book she shares her fears…of being seen…of failing…of public speaking. After something her sister said, she committed to a year of saying yes to the things that scared her. This book chronicles that year. It’s amazeballs. It inspired me to do the same with my life. Say YES.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
First of all, my favorite word is in the title. Manson makes the researched-based argument that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. This is a self-help book, but it’s a self-help book with humor and realism. This book challenges you to pay attention to what you give a fuck about, because we only have so many fucks to give! It really helped me to gather up my fucks and spend them on the things that are most important to ME and not where other people think I should spend them.
It Was Me All Along: A Memoir by Andie Mitchell
This book. Ouch. It’s a memoir about overcoming body image issues and food addiction. It’s about self-acceptance. And, it’s about realizing that it wasn’t food, other people, the media, ect…it was me all along. Yeah…that’ll take a minute.
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom
A friend of mine recommended this book. Apparently, she likes to see me cry. I don’t want to give away the plot (and you can read it on Amazon), so I’ll just say my favorite line is: “Everyone joins a band in this life, only some of them play music.” It’s on this list because I’m not a religious person, but this book helped me understand I don’t have to be religious to be spiritual or to believe we’re all connected.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
So, I didn’t really like Amy Poehler. I love Tina Fey, and I had read her book and liked it and she mentions Amy quite a bit in it, so I thought I’d give her book a try. It blew me away. Amy is fierce and ballsy and funny and righteous! But, what I loved the most is how fearless she is! It’s an absolute inspiration!
Under The Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
“Don’t be a chickenshit, Frances!” Do I need to say anything else? This phrase has become a mantra for my life. After reading this book, if I’m stuck or afraid, I ask myself if I’m being a chicken shit. If the answer is yes, that’s all the motivation I need to move forward!
Note: the links provided are part of the Amazon Affiliates program, and we may occasionally receive small compensation for purchased recommendations.