I am waaaay, way behind in posting about the books I’ve been reading — MY BAD. To catch up, I’ve put together a huge holiday reading list from the last few months so I can start fresh in 2017.
I received this #AskSCB about explaining my reading lists a bit more, so I’ve featured my faves of the bunch with greater detail around why I picked them up and why they’re worth it.
YAS betch, YAS. Step into my office and have a peek at my latest reads…
Over the last few months, I’ve picked up books on a ton of different topics. Hopefully, next year I’ll be putting out monthly posts like this so there’ll be fewer titles and I can talk about each one more. I’ve grouped relevant ones together for my inner organizational psycho and your convenience.
Here’s a little more on my top 3 fave titles — for the full reading list, jump to the bottom of this post.
#1: 10% Happier
This is probably my favorite book that I’ve read this year. The author, Dan Harris’ story really resonated with me as there are various parallels to my own life, and his writing style makes this an incredibly easy read. This one was hard to put down. It’s about meditation and mindfulness, and he gets to interview and discuss spirituality with a TON of thought leaders, plus he references some great resources if you’re looking to dive deeper into meditation or mindfulness.
I would recommend this for anyone who is interested to try out meditation or mindfulness tactics to improve their quality of life and manage their mind better. Harris doesn’t subscribe to the religious aspects of meditation practice (aka its Buddhist roots), and his candid commentary on his struggles and experience shed light on the reality behind this stuff: it is not as easy or zen as it looks. Stay tuned for a more in-depth writeup of this as I talk more about my own meditation journey!
PS. There is also a 10% Happier app, which I just downloaded but haven’t messed around with much. Will keep you guys posted if it’s worth downloading.
#2: Moody Bitches: The Truth About the Drugs You’re Taking, The Sleep You’re Missing, The Sex You’re Not Having, and What’s Really Making You Crazy
Did you know that 1 in 4 women takes psychiatric medication? Yep. Julie Holland breaks down the science of hormones and how they affect and drive our lives, arguing that women shouldn’t be medicating their hormonal/emotional fluctuations away – that we should honor these cycles. That they are natural and show a sign of health and are not a pathological issue we should seek a prescription for.
She writes in a candid, engaging way and the entire book is an educational yet easy read – she discusses everything from a Hormones 101 to pregnancy, weight loss, why sleep matters, cannabis, how drugs affect your hormone levels, menopause, and more. She has an extensive appendix discussing various medications and drugs – both informational and practically useful if any of them apply to you.
If you’ve ever felt just a little bit crazy, and felt like there was a more logical explanation than just, YOU’RE CRAZY, this helps to break it down and explain the why. I really enjoyed Moody Bitches, and would highly recommend to any woman.
#3: It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too)
Someone from my Twitter recommended this to me, and it’s an amazing, poignant, touching read.
“This book is for people who have been through some shit.
This is for people who aren’t sure if they’re saying or doing the right thing (you’re not, but nobody is). This is for people who had their life turned upside down and just learned to live that way. For people who have laughed at a funeral or cried in a grocery store. This is for everyone who wondered what exactly they’re supposed to be doing with their one wild and precious life. I don’t actually have the answer, but if you find out, will you text me?”
I don’t even want to tell you guys any more details about this book, besides that you should read it. True to the title — she’ll have you laughing, crying, and walking away with a much greater perspective on what it means to truly live life.
SCB’S HOLIDAY READING LIST
Epic & Betchy
- Rich and Pretty – Rumaan Alam
- It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too) – Nora McInerny Purmort
- The Royal We – Heather Cocks
- Girl On A Train – A J Waines
- Sweetbitter – Stephanie Danler
- It’s Just A Fucking Date: Some Sort of Book About Dating – Greg Behrendt
- Pretty Happy – Kate Hudson
- Popular: The Ups and Downs of Online Dating from the Most Popular Girl in New York City – Lauren Urasek
- Eligible: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice – Curtis Sitterfield
- Will You Won’t You Want Me? – Nora Zelevansky
- Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here – Anna Breslaw
- Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl: A Memoir – Carrie Brownstein
- Tales From The Back Row – Amy O’Dell
- How To Be Parisian Wherever You Are – Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, Sophie Mas
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I Had A Nice Time – The Betches
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Power Your Happy – Lisa Sugar
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Bloom: Navigating Life And Style – Estée Lalonde
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Hungry Heart – Jennifer Weiner
Mental Health & Self-Improvement
- Moody Bitches: The Truth About the Drugs You’re Taking, The Sleep You’re Missing, The Sex You’re Not Having, and What’s Really Making You Crazy – Julie Holland
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Anxiety As An Ally – Dan Ryckert
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10% Happier – Dan Harris
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This Is Woman’s Work – Dominique Christina
- The Universe Has Your Back – Gabby Bernstein
- The Soul Searcher’s Handbook – Emma Mildon
- Light Is the New Black: A Guide to Answering Your Soul’s Callings and Working Your Light – Rebecca Campbell
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The Courage to Be Creative – Doreen Virtue
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A Guide to The Present Moment – Noah Elkrief
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Uncovering Happiness – Elisha Goldstein
Career & Motivational
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The Conquer Kit – Natalie MacNeil
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EPIC BLOG – Regina Anaejionu
- Why Now Is The Time to Crush It – Gary Vaynerchuk
- The Thank You Economy – Gary Vaynerchuk
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Tools of Titans – Tim Ferriss
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Unconscious Branding – douglas van praet
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Mindset – Carol Dweck
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Managing Onself – Peter Drucker
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Pre-suasion – Robert Cialdini
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Influence – Robert Cialdini
Has anyone read any of these — if so, what did you think?? Let’s have a book club chat in the comments. Also, please share any recommendations if you have them!
xx
STONECOLDBETCH 