My Favorite Books

Oct 28, 2020

Reading is my solace, my excitement, my learning, how I ground myself. I read very widely, so get ready for an eclectic list of books. Some are new, some are not. I’ve only included my raves, because I have no desire to be a critic. Writing a book is too hard, as I well know.

History & CulturalCaste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel WilkersonThis book will change the way you look at everything, including race. Stunning.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

The History of White People by Nell Irvin PainterTraces the invention of the idea of a white race. Painter is an incredible historian.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definite History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. KendiHow and why racist ideas were created and spread.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Read these three books together, and you’ll have a new way of seeing. And taking action.

Climate ActivismA Field Guide to Climate Anxiety by Sarah RayPractical, caring, and concise ideas for dealing with your fear and overwhelm.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

All We Can Save: Truth,Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Johnson and Katherine WilkinsonGlorious collection of essays, poems, and art, “All We Can Save illuminates the expertise and insights of dozens of diverse women leading on climate in the United States and aims to advance a more representative, nuanced, and solution-oriented public conversation on the climate crisis.”

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Historical FictionThe Women of Copper Country by Maria Doria RussellHistorical novel about mining in the West. Russell is one of the most original and smart writers today.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Deep River by Karl MarlantesImmersive family epic set in the Pacific Northwest set in the late and early nineteenth century.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

The Innocents by Michael CrummeyA brother and sister are orphaned in an isolated cove on Newfoundland’s northern coastline in the early 1800s.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Fantasy and Magical RealismBeasts of Extraordinary Circumstances by Ruth Emmie LangIs this magic realism fantasy or something else entirely? A novel of wonder.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

The Midnight Library by Matt HaigRead this when you are sunk in regrets or give it to anyone who woulda-coulda-shouldas all over themselves. I love this book so much.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Deadly Education by Naomi NovickI love Novick’s YA books and this one, the first in a trilogy, does not disappoint. A magic school sure, but this ain’t Harry Potter.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Strange the Dreamer and The Muse of Nightmares by Lani TaylorTaylor’s imagination is astounding. Her world building is impeccable, but she does not fall down on story like so many fantasy writers do.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Harry’s Trees by Jon CohenLove story with a tiny bit of magic. Another novel of wonder.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

MemoirBecoming Duchess Goldblatt by AnonymousThe first half of this memoir is one of the most delightful books I’ve read in a long while. I thought the second fell apart structurally but still great. Great mood picker-upper.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in World Made for Whiteness by Austin ChanningThis book blew my heart away.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Literary FictionSea Wife by Amity GaigeI almost didn’t keep going, because I was afraid it was going to be too dark for me. But then I got caught up in the story of the main character’s marriage. Beautifully written.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk KiddKidd imagines the life of Jesus’ wife. A study in desire.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Willa’s Grove by Laura MunsonIf you miss my retreats, read this.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

The Vanishing Half by Brit BennettI will be thinking about this book for a long time. I read it before Wilkerson’s Caste, and now I’m thinking about it through that lens.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Inner Work and CoachingThe Advice Trap by Michael Bungay StanierThe sequel to the giant best-seller,The Coaching Habit, Michael does another crack-up job. I so easily fall into giving advice as a coach so I take this off the shelf often.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

The Art of Holding Space: A Practice of Love, Liberation, and Leadership by Heather PlettA beautiful and practical handbook of learning how to hold space for yourself and others. Essential reading for coaches, therapists, parents, family members, and friends. Yep, all of us.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Drinking in the River of Light: The Life of Expression by Mark NepoIf you struggle with “productivity debt,” always feeling you must be doing something, or you wonder if creating matters, read a little of this gem every day.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

The Power of Natural Mentorship: Shaping the Future for Women and Girls by Christine Wagner. If you mentor younger women or girls, you must read this book. I was lucky enough to coach Christine in one of my Strategy sessions and get to read an early copy.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

The Grief Forest: A Book about What We Don’t Talk About by Laraine HerringLaraine told me “creating The Grief Forest was unintentional. I was having trouble writing after we shut down in March, and I started doodling and then sharing those doodles on Facebook.” It became this wise beautiful book.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

PoetryBeing Alive edited by Neil AstleyA rich, diverse anthology of poems about living.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Poetry edited by Camille T. DungyThis book has been a revelation to me.

Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Bookshop.org here.

Guided JournalGet Your Bother On: A Guided Journal to Discover What’s Next by Jennifer Louden200 prompts and mini-exercises to help you live the ideas in my newest book. Available mid-November. You will be the first to know.

Here’s to collecting a big, lovely, and deep TBR (to be read) pile to get you through the coming months! If there is a book you want to recommend, pop over to Facebook and tell me, I’d love to hear.

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