Ever since I was a kid I have always been an avid reader. It was likely because I was sent to my room a lot for reasons that are far too in depth to discuss in this post. This was before all the kids had their own tablets or phones to occupy their time. I had no choice but to read. As a result of my, should we say, delinquency, I developed a true passion for reading and writing. As I grew older, sometimes I let life get in the way of my daily reading time. This year, I made a point of spending more time doing the things I love and that meant making reading a priority.
From audiobooks to physical books, I have been reading like a madwoman and stacked up some of my recent favorites to share with you all.
In no particular order, here are my 14 favorite reads so far this year!
The Gratitude Diaries – Janice Kaplan
I have to confess that I have read The Gratitude Diaries a few times now. This lighthearted book shows readers how expressing gratitude can truly transform your life. We often take the position as victim in our own lives. Kaplan aims to target how being grateful and looking on the bright side can change your perspective and bring positivity into all aspects of your life. When I finished reading this book the first time, I started a daily gratitude journal. I have ended everyday with my last thought being something I am grateful for.
Crushing It! – Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk, better known as Gary Vee to his followers, should need no introduction. He identifies as a serial entrepreneur and inventor, and has an unbelievable story. Crushing It! is an amazing book filled with lessons, stories, and principles formatted based on experiences from not only Vaynerchuk, but several other successful entrepreneurs and influencers. Many people dream of leaving that 9-5 corporate job to not only be their own boss, but to crush it while making that dream a reality. This read pushes the importance of strong branding and the value of content through social media platforms among other vital pieces of information for those looking to expand their professional development and core competencies.
Stop Doing That Sh*t – Gary John Bishop
I listened to Stop Doing That Sh*t while on the treadmill at the gym. I’m not going to lie, I laughed out loud more than a few times. Not because it was funny in an intentionally humorous sort of way, but because I made some realizations while listening to Bishop’s tremendously accurate points. He pin points some destructive behaviors many of us are guilty of that prevent us from living the fulfilling, unobstructed lives we want.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck – Mark Manson
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is one of my favorite books of all time. I have read this one more than once as well and have lent it out to a number of friends. This book takes the premise of focusing on the positive in life and blowing that theory out of the water. Manson is raw and unapologetic in the fact that life can be shitty and there is importance in acknowledging and accepting that. This is real talk that isn’t for the faint of heart. Get ready to laugh. I did… and I didn’t give a f*ck who heard me.
Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness – Vex King
Self-love was a foreign concept to me. I had spent my entire life being someone I thought I was supposed to be and gave all of my energy to other people. In Good Vibes, Good Life, King shares some great insight on how what you think, feel, and do can change your life for the better. The book is strategically broken down into 7 parts and includes sections on making yourself a priority, acceptance, and manifesting goals.
Good to Great – Jim Collins
In Good to Great, Jim Collins showcases the characteristics and strategies successful companies use to go from being good to taking the leap to greatness. He uses real life companies and compares them to one another throughout the book. The study and findings were somewhat controversial, but this book is vital for everyone including those just embarking on their career to seasoned managers/executive looking to tailor their style and take the company up a few notches.
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
I fell in love with Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing when I discovered Eat Pray Love before the movie came out. Big Magic quickly rose to be another #1 New York Times Best Seller by the famous author. Gilbert goes far beneath the surface to let readers into her insights on inspiration and creativity. She encourages readers to go deep within their souls to discover what creativity and energy lies within us. Another amazing Elizabeth Gilbert hit!
Unapologetically Ambitious – Shellye Archambeau
Shellye Archambeau is a trailblazer to the say the least. She was one of the first female African American CEOs in the infamous Silicon Valley. Unapologetically Ambitious gives readers some insight into the challenges Archambeau faced in her career and how she triumphed over them by taking risks and pivoting her approach. The biggest takeaway I had from this book is that ambition is not enough to achieving your potential and becoming successful. I truly believe this book has something to offer to everyone regardless of race, gender, or age.
Unfu*k Yourself – Gary John Bishop
Another amazing piece of writing from Gary John Bishop is Unfu*k Yourself. The goal behind this book is to give readers the tools to get out of their own way, unfu*k themselves and become the best version of themselves. Bishop leads you through a number of assertions, or what I called affirmations for myself. These are vital practices for being able to step forward and really own who you are.
Becoming – Michelle Obama
Where do I start with Michelle Obama? This woman is one of the most amazing advocates of our time. Not only does she champion women and break barriers, she is a dedicated wife and mother. Becoming is Obama’s memoir. She invites readers in for a detailed look at what her life has been like and what has shaped her into the strong, brilliant, and mesmerizing woman, wife, and mother she is today.
The Untethered Soul – Michael A. Singer
A recommendation from a friend of mine, The Untethered Soul scrapes your soul raw and allows you to get deep inside your inner being. Push past the boundaries and limitations in your life by stopping your mind from focusing on memories of the past to be present in your everyday life in a way you never thought you could.
Chasing the Brightside – Jess Ekstrom
I received this book in a monthly subscription box and I couldn’t put it down! Jess Ekstrom’s Chasing the Bright Side is centered around the one root characteristic for success, optimism. You can have the most gifted upbringing, endless privileges, and the best education, but those don’t make success an automatic. Ekstrom uses her own personal story of how optimism catapulted her onto a path of determination and tenacity to achieve her dreams.
Badass Habits – Jen Sincero
The title says it all, Badass Habits demonstrates how our habits shape us into who we are. Sincero goes deeper than daily habits, she brings light to everything from self-awareness to boundaries and core beliefs. My favorite part is the 21-day guide for eliminating the habits that don’t serve us and replacing them with more fundamental habits that enable us to become the best version of ourselves.
Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope – Mark Manson
And finally, back to my main man Mark Manson with Everything is F*cked. Manson uses his off-the-cuff humor to bring light to an issue that lies in the shadows. We are so advanced in some areas of life like technology and wealth, but the world is in disarray and f*cked. Not only does he use psychological research, but he goes back to the influential philosophers like Nietzche. I swear, this man is the unfiltered truth that everyone needs to read.
Final words…
I read (duh!) somewhere that if you read 20 pages a day, you can finish approximately 30 books per year. Get going people! I am already at 29 and have 3 months left to go!
Bright & Bare Sassed 