These are a few of my favorite books I've read in the last year. They are in no particular order, except the first four are probably the ones I recommend to people most often. I will put a little blurb of a review under each of them, but they are all super valuable and I've read/listened to some of them multiple times. I usually prefer the audiobook version because I drive a lot for work, and also like to listen while I'm editing, washing dishes, or walking my dog. I've never been a super strong reader, but these are all really straightforward and easy to comprehend, with ideas and themes that I could scream from the rooftops. Super important points that are well iterated and apply to any creative person, independent thinker, and student of life! I'll include a link to each book, but you can find them on any platform.

Big Magic

By Elizabeth Gilbert


This book was so wild. There were parts that felt as though she was speaking directly to me, and others where I was a little annoyed with her convictions, but her passion speaks for itself. She is a very poetic writer and, ironically, created my favorite analogy, the shit sandwich. Which doesn’t sound poetic, but it's a reference for the most disagreeable aspects of one's work. To succeed, you have to be hungry enough and pick your flavor of shit sandwich. In other words, everything sucks some of the time. What are you passionate enough about to deal with the shitty parts?

Think Again

By Adam Grant


As my only conviction in life is to question everything, this was a thrill to read! 😂 The dance between science and philosophy is always riveting. Adam Grant explores default ways of thinking, how our beliefs and identify are shaped from a very young age by how we learn to problem solve, and how we can challenge ourselves to rethink in order to reach our fullest potential.

Dare to Lead

By Brene Brown


I love me some Brene Brown. How we approach problem solving as individuals and teams is so interesting. Even just how we perceive challenges/opportunities. She obviously dives into the psychology of that and, as always, addresses the importance of vulnerability and owning your mistakes. Highly recommend listening to her read the audiobook.

Building a Story Brand

By Donald Miller


I have both read & listened to this book three times and will likely read it again! I frantically take notes while I listen, and I get something new from it every time. The ideas shared can resonate with anyone and while the first three books are more about self development and critical thinking, this is the most impactful business development book I've read. The approach he encourages you to take is vital.

The Gifts of Imperfection

By Brene Brown


Another Brene Brown piece of gold. She has the magic ability to write about what is going on through all of our heads and gives us the vocabulary and confidence to articulate it. The clarity she provides about obstacles we often encounter and experiences we all share, never ceases to amaze me. Our insecurities don't go away when we get to the next level. We get there in spite of having them. We have to lean into, learn about, and move forward with them.

Find Your Why

By Simon Sinek


Wowza! I wish everyone would read this book, because the hill I'm willing to die on is that the most important part of what we do, is why we do it. This should be recommended reading for every entrepreneur. Aligned living and a deeper understanding of the self. Happiness is not the same as fulfillment. Happiness is temporary and comes from what we do, while fulfillment lasts and comes from why we do what we do. Simons describes his ideas in this TED talk.

The Practice

By Seth Godin


This is another one I've re-read and probably should again. It provides really great insights and perspectives for all pursuits. The story we tell ourselves leads to the actions we take. We are not a cog in the system, we are the creator and problem solver, the operator of said "system".

How I Built This

By Guy Raz


Okay, this is the only book I've read in my life that has made me cry. I highly recommend listening to the audio version, because Guy Raz is such an animated narrator, was the host of the TED radio hour, and is an actual professional interviewer and storyteller. This book is based on a series of interviews he did with the worlds top CEOs who share their very personal and very human journeys in entrepreneurship. The most moving and compelling stories are human journeys. When he concluded by sharing his, I lost it.

Untamed

By Glennon Doyle


Holy crap. This was on my list for a long time and I seriously regret not reading it sooner! Whether I'm driving and listening or reading and annotating, I usually jot down notes and quotes that are really impactful. So I basically rewrote this entire book in my notes. She talks about several difficult aspects of personal development that we all experience. It's nice to have the vocabulary for those and to relearn that we all have more in common than not.

The Art of Gathering

By Priya Parker


This one is very honest, has lots of humor, and opportunities to rethink how we spend our time. Many beautiful one liners. Personally, I wasn't a fan of the reader, which can make or break an audiobook, but the content is wonderful and I loved the paperback.

You are a Badass at Making Money

By Jen Sincero


I don't have many notes for this one because it seemed really repetitive, but for good reason. Good ideas are worth repeating. If you haven’t explored the concepts of Money Mindset, or abundance vs scarcity, this is a good introduction. The author is funny and reads the audio version, which is pretty good.

Purple Cow

By Seth Godin


I read this one a while ago and need to again, because I don't remember much of it other than the purple cow is an analogy for something you haven’t seen before, which is how unique we want our offers to be. I really like Seth Godin, who also wrote The Practice (liked that one a lot more). The whole book is about the importance of standing out with a unique offer and strategies on how to do that.

Atomic Habits

By James Clear


Yes, it's as good as everyone says. Written from the perspective of an athlete, but definitely applies to all aspects of a person's life. Your intention is powerful even if your choices are small. I know lots of people who have read this multiple times.

Greenlights

By Matthew McConaughey


As if he weren't already a complete dreamboat, reading his memoir was really neat. I'm so inspired by people who actively participate in life. I didn't realize before this how entirely self made McConaughey is. Of course he had a leg up in life due to his good looks, but even before fame he had to look for the greenlight opportunities and make the most of certain situations. He is very honest and vulnerable about his struggles and personal development. Highly recommend the audiobook that he narrates.

Man's Search for Meaning

By Viktor Frankl


This book is about the author's experience in Nazi concentration camps during WWII. Given his background in psychotherapy, and his first hand experience as a prisoner, the book is obviously quite existential and explores absolutely every limit of the human experience. It's tragic he had to undergo such a brutal awakening to create this masterpiece, but nothing like it could exist without the horrific endeavors. I really enjoy reading about the phenomenon of the human experience and this one had been on my list for years. Everyone should read it as it's quite humbling and profound.

What's on Your Reading List?!


I'd love to get your recommendations if you've read or listened to something impactful. I am on a self/biz development kick, but I'm open to just about anything, and if a book really moved you, then it's definitely worth checking out! Please feel free to share some of your favorites!