What Our Editorial Team is Reading on National Book Lovers Day
National Book Lovers Day approaches August 9th - what are you reading?
Did you know that the simple practice of reading can help you recover from stress, helps your memory and can even reduce the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?
If you’re having trouble getting motivated to read, or just don’t know where to start amid the onslaught of self-help and wellness titles, we thought we’d get you in the mood with some of the books our Daily Life staff are taking on!
Solitude: In Pursuit of a Singular Life in a Crowded World
Whether or not you’re an introvert, an extrovert, or somewhere in between, summertime socializing can get stressful. What better way to take some time for yourself than checking out a book that actually encourages you to be alone for a while?
In Solitude: A Singular Life in a Crowded World, Michael Harris explains the benefits of alone time, particularly in the context of the modern digital world where we’re always just a tap away from social media. If you struggle with being alone or not being alone enough, Solitude is a great reminder that being alone is an essential human skill that we just aren’t practicing enough anymore.
Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging & the Courage to Stand Alone
Dr. Brene Brown delivers again with her book on the concept of belonging, how society affects that feeling and offers thoughtful ideas on how we can begin our own practice so we can begin making stronger connections in our lives - to ourselves and others.
What gives you a sense of belonging? If you’ve been struggling with feeling left out, whether emotionally, spiritually or physically, this could be just the thing you need to jump-start your own courage and commitment to come out of the lonely wilderness and find our way back to feeling welcome in our own skin.
Becoming
As if you needed a reason to find former First Lady Michelle Obama more inspiring, this powerful memoir is a chance to learn more about her inner workings, her thoughts on being a mother and her dedication to help people lead healthier lives.
What happened in her early years to prepare her for such an empowering career and life? Michelle candidly shares her history with us, revealing not just the triumphs in her world, but her disappointments and challenges.
StrengthsFinder 2.0 - Discover Your Clifton Strengths
Tom Rath’s book may not have the catchiest title, but if you have any interest in human behavior and were intrigued by the Meyers-Briggs assessment, this is a good one to look into. Plus, let’s get real - we ALL love a good personality test.
It can definitely assist at work, but also in your personal life - recognizing your key strengths can help you understand why you think the way you think - and what motivates me to excel in life. With 34 themes such as Ideation (People who are exceptionally talented by ideas), Activator (People who make things happen by turning thoughts into action) and Connectedness (Folks who believe almost every event holds meaning), results can be ever so enlightening!
Whether or not you agree with the theory that we should focus on our strengths and not worry about our weaknesses, this is an eye-opening look at how our brains work - and how knowing your Top 5 strengths can help you become the best you.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Elizabeth Gilbert’s book shares her own thoughts and perspective about the creative process and pulls from her own experience, encouraging us all to embrace our inner joy and expression.
If you’ve been trying to push past a mental block, or just feeling like you have a great idea but don’t quite know how to get started, this could serve as terrific inspiration to allow yourself the freedom to just MAKE something - and see where it takes you.
Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
Sometimes we love someone like crazy - but we don’t know how to talk to them when things get tough. In this book, Dr. Sue Johnson writes about the 7 healing conversations that can help couples find a way to be kinder and to nurture those relationships.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (or EFT) focuses on bonding in adult relationships. Therapists who use this method work with clients to find patterns so they can build trust and security so they can find a healthier, more positive direction.
Do Your Om Thing: Bending Yoga Tradition to Fit Your Modern Life
OmGal.com creator and master yoga instructor Rebecca Pacheco delivers this relatable translation of the ancient and often intimidating world of yogic practice - and reminds us that if we are open to trying it, yoga can be that few minutes of the day when we truly do unwind and allow ourselves moments of calm.
Crystal Muse: Everyday Rituals to Tune in to the Real You
With beautiful pictures, inspiring crystal rituals and descriptions of how to cleanse and program your little spiritual jewels, Energymuse’s co-founders, Heather Askinosie and Timmi Jandro share their deep knowledge of this fascinating topic, making it easy for you to start your crystal journey.
We love crystals here at Daily Life, and this book sits beside our Managing Editor at all times! If you’ve been wanting to bring crystals and crystal healing into your daily life, this is a good starter kit to get you going!
Parting Words…
Do you have a book club at work or home? Why not start one in honor of National Book Lovers Day and share your inspiration with the people around you?
Lastly, if the simple pleasure of allowing yourself a quiet moment to settle into a few chapters isn’t enough reason for you to commit to a book, there are some definite health benefits to the beloved pastime.
Read this next: Mental Benefits of Reading - How Books Keep You Grounded
