In a previous post, I stated that I was on track to read eighteen books this year. I’m excited to announce that I’ve reached that goal! If it wasn’t for the insight and guidance of these books, I would be afraid and resistant to the many changes in my life. But without change, there is no growth and without growth, there is no progress. These books are listed in the order in which I read them. Not by rank. With that being said, here’s a summary of the eighteen books that I read this year. All books are hyperlinked for convenience.
Book Summary
1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - This is a must-read for anyone who's beginning their self-help or self-discovery journey. I first learned about The Alchemist from a Will Smith interview and thought, "If it's good enough for Will, it's good enough for me." It discusses listening to your inner guide (intuition) and finding your treasure (fulfillment) in a way that is both easy to follow and entertaining.
2. You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay - Louise Hay is considered the "grandmother of the self-help movement." She was writing about self-help stuff before it was cool. This book explores how repeating positive affirmations can heal your life in positive ways and change your mindset. Near the end of the book, there's a list of physical ailments with corresponding affirmations that can help transform your life. It leans on the power of thought. Louise Hay lived until 2017 at the ripe age of 90, so I think it’s safe to say she knew what she was talking about.
3. The Anti 9 to 5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube by Michelle Goodman - This book is a gem for women who want to pursue a non-traditional career path. Michelle offers plenty of guidelines and resources to help you gain the skills and connections you need to plan your escape from the cubicle cell for good.
4. You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero - A. Must. Read! Jen Sincero is honest, bitchy and funny in this book. She reminds me of the older sister we all need. She discusses how the only person stopping you from achieving your greatest potential is you. Let me tell you. She got me ALL. THE. WAY. TOGETHER. Ok?! One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “When we are happy and in love with ourselves, we can’t be bothered with the bullshit, our own or other peoples.” Preach.
5. The Artist Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron - This is by far the best book that I read this year. The Artist Way is like the handbook for creative souls. Truthfully, we are ALL creative. We just have to unblock ourselves and tap into the creativity. Julia suggests taking yourself on weekly artist dates to help awaken your creativity and writing uninterrupted in the morning. She also has weekly activities included in the book that help you uncover your true self and identity. If you read any book from this list, this is the one to read. One of my favorite quotes is: “Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.”
6. Ayurveda: A Life of Balance - The Complete Guide to Ayurvedic Nutrition & Body Types by Maya Tiwari - This was another one of my top reads. I believe that our bodies and minds are connected. What we think in our minds (good or bad) manifests throughout our bodies. When we are mentally happy, our bodies follow suit. But if we are depressed, our bodies feel heavy or tired. This book discusses Ayurveda, which is an Indian “science of life.”
7. Writing to Awaken: A Journey of Truth, Transformation, and Self-Discovery by Mark Matousek - This book was one of my least favorites out of the eighteen that I read. Mark Matousek gives great writing prompts to help you dig deep into your true self and reevaluate your life. While I can appreciate it, I feel like it's just an updated, less inspiring version of The Artist's Way. Some of the prompts are repetitive, but he gives good advice on how to uncover the mask we often hide behind.
8. Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide by Deepak Chopra - If you’re not interested in Ayurveda, skip this one. But if you have even the slightest interest in Ayurveda, give it a read. This book has a more scientific approach to the topic of Ayurveda (Chopra was a practicing physician when he wrote it), but it’s a great resource for learning about Ayurveda on a deeper level.
9. Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind by 99U - This book was recommended to me and is a must-read! I like this book because it’s short, practical and easy to digest. If you're like me, you have a million and one things on your to-do list. However, it seems like nothing important ever really gets accomplished. This was a great book on time management and how to make the most out of your day. Some helpful tips I like are to avoid e-mail, create a solid creative work routine and don’t let distractions throw you off your game. Simple, yes. Easy, no.
10. Eat. Pray. Love. by Elizabeth Gilbert - Simply put I did not like this book. I was excited to read it considering the author was on Oprah and the book spent a while on the New York Times Best Seller list. However, I feel like this book is self-indulgent, oozing with white privilege and is very unrealistic. In her thirties, the author travels to three countries to "find herself." Though I appreciate her writing a memoir about her life and spiritual journey, I wasn't feeling it. I can’t relate to it in the least bit and it felt very condescending. Feel free to skip this one.
11. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz - Another suggested book. The Magic of Thinking Big is the most inspirational and motivational book I read. Schwartz says that to achieve big dreams you have to think big ideas! He suggests surrounding yourself with positive people who support and encourage your dreams, not doubt them. I’m sure we’ve all had a “Negative Nancy” encounter. You know, the people in your life that love to rain on your parade. When you’re changing your life for the better, oftentimes your inner circle has to change, too.
12. Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho - This was the only fiction book I read this year. I love Paulo Coelho’s work and this book was no exception. This book is about a young girl from a small village in Brazil who leaves home out of curiosity in search of something bigger than herself. Her path leads her down a dangerous and interesting road.
13. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport - This was a snooze fest for me. It discusses how our attention span is the new currency. News flash: companies are paying top dollar to find out what will grab and keep our attention these days. Cal Newport argues that to live a more meaningful life, you must be willing to dig deep and minimize distractions. He also argues that to succeed economically, you must be willing to learn skills that are more complicated than surface-level skills. While I understand and agree with some of his points, the book reads like one big dissertation paper, which is…boring.
14. The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer - Amazing. Informative. Motivational. Easy to read. If you have trouble conquering your mind and want an introduction to channeling your higher consciousness this is a great resource. I took notes on this book (like all my books) and I pretty much rewrote the whole thing. Singer was on Oprah and he talked about some of the topics in his book, which are helpful when he explains them.
15. The Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes - Shonda is like the auntie I wish I had. Feeling miserable in her grandiose life, Shonda decides to say yes to any and everything that scares her. Yes to saying no, yes to self-love, and saying yes to setting boundaries. The book reads like one long episode of Scandal and I love it.
16. Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live by Martha Beck - This was another top read. I like books that offer a problem, or solution, followed by a plan. This book does that. If The Artist Way is the handbook for creatives, Finding Your North Star is the road map. If you feel out of place in your current life, this book will help you create one that mirrors your soul. I’d recommend this book one hundred times if I could!
17. The 5 Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman - If you're in a relationship or dating, this is a great book to help you understand how you and others communicate love. This book helped me because I thought everyone communicated love the same way, which I now know isn't the case.
18. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert - Another Elizabeth Gilbert book. I can’t be too harsh with this summary because I CHOSE to read it. But I’m mad that this was the book that I ended my year with. Big Magic talks about creating without fear and boundaries. She hooked me in. But JUST when she starts to talk about topics with substance, she starts rambling about herself and her experiences, which comes across as condescending. I guess I’m just not a fan of her writing. Gilbert says that to tap into your own Big Magic you must have "Courage, Enchantment, Permission (from yourself), Persistence, Trust, and Divinity".
Honorable Mention: The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fck by Mark Manson - This was the very first book that I read after I graduated college in 2016. It came at the right time when I was battling the anxieties of my ‘next step’. It gives valuable lessons we can all learn from. If you haven’t read it, you should give it a read. It’ll change your f***ng life... seriously.