Happy Monday everyone!
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I’ve been a reader my entire life. Books were my safe space. My escape. I could dive into whatever story I was reading and make everything else completely disappear.
I was the kid who thought she was being sneaky laying in bed with a flashlight reading when I was supposed to be asleep. Turns out, my mom knew what I was doing the entire time. She just didn’t want to tell me to stop reading.
If I was given the option to play outside or stay inside and read a book, I was choosing the latter.
A few years ago, I asked my mom why she never censored my books. I grew up in a reserved house and had a list of TV shows and movies I wasn’t allowed to watch.
The Simpsons? Forget it. South Park? Absolutely not. Halloween and Friday the 13th? Only with my older brother so he could turn it off if I got too scared.
But with books, my mom let me read whatever I wanted regardless of how old I was. I was reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and other horror/thriller novels as early as middle school. Books that were definitely not considered “age appropriate.”
My mom’s answer to my censorship question was something along the lines of, “I was just happy you were reading. I didn’t want to put a damper on your love of books by telling you that you couldn’t read something you wanted to read.”
I’m forever grateful to my mom for this because I still love reading. It’s never felt like a task or an obligation and I’ll pretty much give any genre a try.
I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on something by never watching The Simpsons, but I do think I would feel like I missed out if I never read some of the books I’ve read over the years.
Books can be life changing. Whether fiction or nonfiction, books always open up my mind to new perspectives and new ideas. Even books that I’ve already read before.
2023 Book Shelf
Atomic Habits by James Clear
I start every year with James Clear and every time I pull a different nugget from this book. The insights are fairly simple, especially once I started integrating them into my life, but re-reading this one every January helps me kind of reset for the year to come. For instance, this read through I was reminded that goals are pretty much pointless if I don’t have good systems in place to achieve those goals.
The purpose of setting goals is to win the game. The purpose of building systems is to continue playing the game.
James Clear, Atomic Habits
Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte
Everyone who is starting to dive into the creator space needs to read this one. Forte lays out good mental models that are easy to process and implement and he includes several visuals and examples that helped me understand the concepts. I’m a visual learner, so I always appreciate a good illustration or table.
We have to recognize that the cognitive demands of modern life increase every year, but we’re still using the same brains as two hundred thousand years ago.
Tiago Forte, Building a Second Brain
How to Live by Derek Sivers
I know this is a controversial opinion because Sivers is crazy popular, but I didn’t care for this one. Sivers took every viewpoint to the extreme and there was a lot I didn’t agree with. His way of thinking seems fundamentally different from mine and that’s okay.
The Naked Truth by Leslie Morgan
I was slightly disappointed in this one, though I can see its value. I love Leslie Morgan’s memoir, Crazy Love, where she details her experience with domestic violence, but, Naked Truth wasn’t my favorite. It’s about her reclaiming her femininity and sexuality after her second divorce. I’m all for femininity and sexuality, but this one kind of reads like a porno and reading sexual encounter after sexual encounter gets old fast.
I did like how she talks about how society treats divorced women. How friends immediately want to set recently divorced women up with someone new as if it’s unfathomable that a woman would want to be alone, at least for the foreseeable future.
Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind
This is Book 1 of the 17-book Sword of Truth series and a re-read for me. I started this series over 5 years ago and made it through Book 5. It’s an emotional rollercoaster and the characters have to endure some super dark and heavy shit. I’m a Dungeons & Dragons nerd, so the fantasy genre is comforting for me. I wanted to dive back into the series, but wanted to start from the beginning again.
This book has some good life reminders, like “think of the solution, not the problem.”
Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind
This is Book 2 of the Sword of Truth series and another re-read. A continuation of good life reminders and more of that comforting fantasy genre for me. The takeaway for this one is that I don’t always need all of the information regarding a situation. It’s okay if some things are left unknown.
Blood of the Fold by Terry Goodkind
Book 3 of the Sword of Truth series is another re-read for me. I forgot how boring I found this one. It’s a continuation of the plot that’s carried through the whole series, but not much happens in this one.
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
I pretty much love all things Ryan Holiday and the collection including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and Stillness Is the Key was no different. The Obstacle Is the Way has great lessons, relatable stories and is easy to digest and apply the information.
Just because your mind tells you that something is awful or evil or unplanned or otherwise negative doesn’t mean you have to agree.
Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle Is the Way
Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
While still valuable, this wasn’t as applicable for me because I’m not an “ego” person. Usually I have the opposite problem where I’m not confident enough in my abilities. That said, it can definitely be helpful in understanding the importance of remaining humble.
If ego is the voice that tells us we’re better than we really are, we can say ego inhibits true success by preventing a direct and honest connection to the world around us.
Ryan Holiday, Ego Is the Enemy
Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday
Another great and applicable read here. This will probably be one I re-read fairly often because stress and anxiety are things I struggle with. Holiday highlights the importance of routines, practicing gratitude, and staying in the present.
Virtue is not holiness, but rather moral and civic excellence in the course of daily life.
Ryan Holiday, Stillness Is the Key
Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers
I liked this book a lot more than How to Live by Sivers. Hell Yeah or No is to the point, easy to implement, and interpretable. You can apply just about every concept to your own life and situation. Sivers states that he wrote this book succinctly because he’s introducing ideas. He recognizes that he doesn’t know what the reader’s life is like so he understands the reader knows how the ideas need to be applied to their life better than he does.
I actually love being wrong, even though it cracks my confidence, because that’s the only time I learn. I actually love being lost, even though it fuels fears, because that’s when I go somewhere unexpected.
Derek Sivers, Hell Yeah or No
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
I think Essentialism is extremely valuable for people just dipping their toes in the creator space. Since I’ve been in the space for a little while and have a boyfriend who is even more established in the creator space, the information wasn’t all that new for me. This doesn’t mean it’s not valuable info, it’s just not new info. McKeown also includes graphics and illustrations, which are great additions for visual learners.
When we surrender our ability to choose, something or someone else will step in to choose for us.
The ability to choose cannot be taken away or even given away–it can only be forgotten.
Greg McKeown, Essentialism
My Fight / Your Fight by Ronda Rousey
I like Ronda Rousey and agree she is a trailblazer and excellent role model for girls interested in combat sports. I liked learning her story and about how she created the space for women in the UFC. The book ended kind of flat because she wrote the book before her retirement from fighting. If she would have waited until she retired from the UFC, the ending could have felt more complete and I would have felt like I got more closure with her story.
Fear can’t actually hurt me. Acting without fear is called recklessness. Acting with fear is called courage.
Ronda Rousey, My Fight / Your Fight
Finding Me by Viola Davis
I love Viola Davis as an actress and as a woman. I enjoyed reading her life story and learning about the struggles her and her family faced, but I didn’t like the flow (or lack thereof) of her writing. It felt all over the place and there weren’t any apparent transitions from one story to the next.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
I ended up read this one on my phone via Amazon Kindle during some lengthy tattoo appointments. It was a good read with decent imagery, but I wasn’t really sure where the story was going. I did enjoy the ending though. Usually stories that are recollections from an older individual who can no longer live life how they used to have a sad ending, but this ending was pleasant and satisfactory.
My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsberg
RBG is my girl. Everything she stood for and every barrier she broke through makes her one of my favorite women of all time. This was a collection of her writings over the years, and I enjoyed reading them and getting a peek into everything she was involved in throughout her life. She also writes little tributes to other women “waypavers and pathmakers” which is pretty cool.
When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune out. Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg, My Own Words
Strong Women Lift Each Other Up by Molly Galbraith
Since I write about female empowerment, I thought this was going to be the perfect book. It was…OK. The insights weren’t anything new, and I actually prefer how a few other authors approached most of the concepts she detailed.
Other women are not your competition. When we buy into the belief that they are, we don’t just hurt one another, we hurt ourselves.
Molly Galbraith, Strong Women Lift Each Other Up
Rose Madder by Stephen King
This was the first Stephen King novel I read as a kid and I’ve categorized it as my favorite King novel ever since. This time around, I found the ending a little weird, and I feel confident saying that while I still enjoy Rose Madder, it’s been dethroned as my favorite King novel (The Shining probably has that spot these days). I will say this one needs a decent-sized trigger warning for domestic violence and sexual assault as some scenes are pretty graphic.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
This is probably one of the best books I’ve ever read. Ever. McCurdy illustrates an incredible account of trauma. She gives a detailed look into her experience with a psychologically abusive parent, gaslighting, people pleasing, eating disorders, negative sexual experiences, and growing up as a child celebrity. It’s all around amazing and I can’t recommend it enough.
So much of my life has felt so out of my control for so long. And I’m done with that being my reality. I want my life to be in my hands. Not an eating disorder’s or a casting director’s or an agent’s or my mom’s Mine.
Jennette McCurdy, I’m Glad My Mom Died
Hidden Genius by Polina Marinova Pompliano
is a genius herself because this book is fantastic. Her writing style has a great flow and is very personable. Her insights are great and easy to follow/apply and she includes some great and interesting stories. She highlights many successful people from various professions (a chef, a screenwriter, a rock climber, and a Holocaust survivor to name a few) which is appreciated. I don’t like reading about all the tech people or corporate business people.Creativity is less a fleeting moment of inspiration and more a muscle that can be trained through consistent exercise.
No one is inherently boring. They’re only boring because you haven’t asked the right questions.
Polina Marinova Pompliano, Hidden Genius
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
This is a quick fiction read and a quirky, lighthearted way of highlighting the important topics of totalitarianism and censorship.
Dunn writes about a fictitious town where the higher ups decide it is no longer legal to write or speak the letters of the alphabet that fall off of the statue of the praised individual who created the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Before they know it, most letters are outlawed and the consequences of speaking or writing the illegal letters are extreme.
Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
Another excellent and applicable read. I thoroughly enjoyed Forleo’s writing style and her approach to the concepts she talks about. It’s a very encouraging book, so much so that I illustrated an “everything is figureoutable” wallpaper for my phone as a constant reminder that most obstacles can be overcome. I’ve already “figured out” every obstacle I’ve been faced with to date, and the same will be true for obstacles in the future.
Nothing exists in our world that does not first exist in our minds.
Marie Forleo, Everything is Figureoutable
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
I love the Jurassic Park movies and some of Crichton’s other books, so I wanted to read this one too. It was good, but it was your typical sci-fi novel and it had kind of a slow pace. I prefer a few of his other books like Next and Prey.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Even though it’s a thicker book, City of Girls is a quick and engaging read. It’s not a typical genre I would pick up as romance and historical fiction usually don’t pull my attention, but I really enjoyed the storyline and characters here. Gilbert does a great job of displaying strong female characters and spreading the message of female empowerment, especially for a story set in 1940s New York City.
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers
Rodgers has created a gem here in that this is a great financial resource for women entrepreneurs and creators. I like that she highlights her own path to success and the financial hardships she and her family faced. It’s a good reminder that even the most successful people start out at zero.
Instead of thinking ‘These pants don’t fit because I need to lose weight,’ think ‘These pants don’t fit because they’re the wrong size for me.
Rachel Rodgers, We Should All Be Millionaires
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
I dove into Reese Witherspoon’s book club and this was October’s pick. I was pleasantly surprised by this because I thought it was young adult fiction, but it’s more adult gothic fantasy. Now, I’m not really into the dark fantasy romance genre that’s been insanely popular (more power to you if those are your jam though!), but I would say this is tangential to that genre. It has a little romance, a little fantasy, and a little supernatural.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
This one is young adult fiction, but I read it in a research capacity to see how Boulley wrote about the topic of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIW). It definitely reads like young adult fiction, which is fine because that’s what it is. There’s a little “hockey romance,” a.k.a. a genre that I didn’t expect to become as popular as it has.
Although the entire book revolves around members of an indigenous tribe being forced into smuggling drugs and indigenous girls getting sexually assaulted and murdered, Boulley kind of skirted around the issue. It seemed like she only hinted at some of these issues and left it up to the reader to understand that sexual assault is what she was talking about in some parts, which may be understandable considering the age of the audience; however, sexual assault is a topic teens and young adults need to learn about and stepping carefully around the topic only makes things less clear.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
I think this is one of those books that’s unofficial required reading for all women. As a response to her mother dying and her marriage ending, Strayed set out to hike a large portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) on her own, which is pretty much an unthinkable task for a woman to do on her own. In addition to virtually no prep before her hike, she handled many obstacles on the trail, including bears and rattlesnakes, a low water supply, and inadequate clothing. Many other hikers she came across couldn’t believe she was really hiking the trail by herself and thought she would quit before she reached her intended stopping point. She also talks a little bit about the fears of encountering men in remote areas as a female with very little knowledge in self-defense.
Nobody who’d known me for more than a week had any idea where I was.
Cheryl Strayed, Wild
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
This was an interesting story told from the perspective of a Japanese American family during WWII. Otsuka talks about how Japanese Americans were treated as the enemy immediately despite no proof of them having anything to do with the actions of Japan during the war. How they were forced to pack up their houses, quit their jobs, and were sent to camps in the desert. It’s a simple book and can be read in a day, but it reveals such an important experience that so many Japanese Americans had during the war, whereas most stories set in that time focus on the Nazis and what was happening in Europe.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
This book is an engaging story about crimes committed against women in a suburban neighborhood. It’s told from multiple different perspectives at multiple points in time. Usually, I don’t like fiction that jumps around like that, but Kubica did an excellent job of keeping things clear and interesting. It’s a combination of a “who done it” and a thriller and it’s one of those books that you don’t want to put down because you need to know what happened.
The Forgotten Girls by Sara Blaedel
I snuck this one in at the end and am about 60% of the way through it. It’s part of a popular crime series in Denmark and Sara Blaedel is highly spoken of in the genre. It’s a good read so far. I’d like a little faster pace, but Blaedel gives enough pieces of the puzzle that I feel like I can’t stop reading because I need answers.
A peek into my 2024 Book Shelf
Here’s just a few of the books I plan to read next year. Some focus on personal growth, some are fiction, and some are research for my own creative projects.
- (reread)
Atomic Habits by James Clear (reread)
Goodbye to All That: Writers On Loving & Leaving New York edited by Sari Botton
What does your reading shelf look like for 2024?
Until next week,
Rychelle 💜
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TMI at this time of year means "too much inspiration". I'm overwhelmed by how compelling everyone's recommended reading list is.
I’m glad you shared this, you’re honest opinion on the books you read is super helpful in navigating my own reading list. Atomic Habits is also a book I’ll reread many times. A few you mentioned here have been on my to read list so for the ones you enjoyed, I’m going to put them a little higher on the list!