If I could dream a little dream when I am touched out and tired out, it is the same one over and over again: me in a big sun hat and I am seated in a chair under an umbrella by a saltwater pool or saltwater ocean with three books.
That’s it.
I love books. I am staring at 7 books stacked high on my desk from a recent book swap I co-hosted locally with Women in Sustainability and Steph Vail. And not to be snobby about it but I only read real books where the pages have a texture, feel and smell and while there are words on a page, the spine also has stories to tell. Because I once met a woman who dips her book in the bath tub when she reads. And my sister doesn’t allow the spine of her book to broken. And I love writing notes in the margins. So I say no to kindle, no to audible, no to nook.
My section of choice is the self help section - makes sense as a goal coach and motivational speaker. And I take breaks and read fiction and memoirs, too.
For the past ten years, I have actually led a book club from my life in LA to Denver and then ZOOM life online and now have a vision to launch a book club for romance novels (like the ones with really good steamy scenes) like the Brooklyn Smutty Book Club who meet at a bar to talk erotic fiction - what should I call it?
While I will not be sharing my romance novel list here (yet), I do want to share with you the books I reference time and time again to my clients, in my workshops and to aspiring and established coaches.
Here is my go-to list from the self help section:
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. This was the first book I read by Brené and I still refer to it with about 40 post it notes hanging out through the pages, underlines and tattered corners. The title alone felt like a sigh of relief and the guide posts like this one, Guidepost #7: Cultivating Play and Rest: Letting Go of Exhaustion as a Status Symbol and Productivity as Self Worth have stayed with me beyond the pages.
Atomic Habits by James Clear. I actually had a handful of people surprised that I loved this book as they felt he was talking smack to the goal setting practices I speak to. And I actually found this book to be an absolute support system to goal setting - how do we begin to even move towards goals without auditing our current habits and creating new ones. We are not our goals yet, we have to practice. And James so honestly speaks to how to create habits to then practice and thus create your life. His newsletter is awesome, too!
BIG MAGIC by Elizabeth Gilbert. I love the overall umbrella that we are all creative, we all need reminded of that often. And there is a chapter on befriending fear that changed me and my way of operating day to day and in my goals. Read it and tell me when you get there!
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho While this is a fiction / fable-style read, it is the one book I have read numerous times (I have read it 5 times cover to cover and did actually listen to it on Audible one year). The story is about a young man, his journey to find his destiny, love, communication with self and others, faith and magic. Every time I read it, I get something different and right on time. And I love the ending!
Essentialism by Greg McKeown. I live for core values work - more than my love for goals is my love for values. And Greg speaks to what is essential now and that question is strategy, soul salve, and the answer to a lot of decisions you are most likely ruminating in now.
Eastern Body, Western Mind by Anodea Judith. For two whole years, I carried this book in my bag (it is not a small book) and would open it for a jolt, a reminder, a check up from the neck down (when you read it, you will get that). This book will be a stretch for some of you as Anodea defines, explains, and leads you through the chakras in the body and beyond. For those open to this style of learning,her storytelling, her perspective of the World and healing modalities are tangible and accessible. I still can’t unread the part where she speaks about society living so disconnected from our body and how most of us have severed the chord from brain to body (paraphrasing here). I was and still am guilty of this some days.
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. This book is intense, that is my warning label. And I have not read this book in years but still ask myself what wound I am building my life around versus facing the wound itself? I know, see - so intense. A book about attachment, obstacles and soul action.
The Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger. This is one of those memoirs that moves you into reflection of your values, your heart principles, your life. It has to be in the top three of all the books I have read in the last decade. And I will read it again soon. Edith Eger is a psychologist and Holocaust survivor and wrote about the power of choice to survive, show up, change your perspective, hope and heal. Ill share this from Edith, “Here you are! In the sacred present. I can’t heal you—or anyone—but I can celebrate your choice to dismantle the prison in your mind, brick by brick. You can’t change what happened, you can’t change what you did or what was done to you. But you can choose how you live now. My precious, you can choose to be free.”
Honorable mention: The Book of Joy by Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell, Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown and How to Be a Badass by Jen Sincero.
Do you enjoy reading? Are you team real books or team tech? What books are on your go-to list?
Last note, I really want to raise my children (and myself) and live in a world with small business bookstores so consider supporting a local bookstore today!
Oh I thought of another one: "The Body is Not an Apology" by Sonya Renee Taylor. So good!
I looove book lists and this is a great one. I’ve never heard of The Choice though so I added it to my monstrous TBR pile.
I recently read Cassandra Speaks, and while it isn’t explicitly self-help, it has made me think of it several times a day since I finished it. I think you’d like it. After finishing it, my daughter and I started reading Warriors, Witches, Women by Kate Hodges, and we’re both loving it…it’s short vignettes about “mythology’s fiercest females,” so it tells the real story about mythological women and how they were typically sanitized by the patriarchy. They’re short so we just do 1-2 a day.
P.S. that steamy romance book club better have a virtual component so I can join in!