As the temperatures drop and we find ourselves spending more time indoors, it’s the perfect season to curl up with a good book. I’ve handpicked a selection of thought-provoking books that are sure to challenge, inspire, and reshape your perspective. These books offer insights into the human spirit and our remarkable ability to evolve. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, guidance, or simply a captivating story to escape into, these books have something for everyone.
Happy holidays and happy reading!
All In: An Autobiography by Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is an icon, and deservedly so. She is not only a phenomenally talented and groundbreaking athlete, she is also a hero of feminism, LGBTQ+, and civil rights. But far from putting her on a pedestal, her memoir is deeply personal and reveals her many vulnerabilities. It takes strength to do that. It’s a great book to read in this time where we are seeing our basic human rights being attacked by the far right. She will inspire you to keep fighting!
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
This is not your ordinary “enhance your productivity” book. And thank goodness for that! This book gave me a much-needed shift in perspective. Oliver Burkeman makes a compelling case about how to live our best lives. To do this, we have to confront the fact that we have limited time on this planet. This requires making some tough choices about how to use our time. But better that than endlessly trying to work smarter, harder, faster. It’s a game-changing read!
If you need a deeper understanding of what a “trauma-informed” approach to life is, this book is for you. It’s a reframing of an all-too-often damaging approach, from asking a person “what’s wrong with you?” to asking, “what happened to you?” This reframing is profound in its simplicity, and extremely empowering. Written in the form of a conversation between Oprah and one of her long-time advisors, neuroscientist and childhood trauma expert Dr. Bruce D. Perry, it makes this emotionally challenging and scientifically complex terrain very accessible. And it’s actionable. It ultimately provides hope that trauma can be healed.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
This epic tale is at once heartbreaking, heartwarming, and funny, sometimes all in the same sentence. Kingsolver’s artful language and love of Appalachia shines through the difficult realities of broken homes, foster children, and a region that has suffered tremendously from the opioid crisis. Painful and poignant, it’s a must read for anyone who wants to better understand the culture of this region. I’m a longtime fan of Barbara Kingsolver’s novels, and this is one of her best works. The narrator of the audiobook is pitch perfect and brings the entire story to life. I strongly recommend this book!
Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
A terrific mystery set on a canal in London. It’s tremendously atmospheric. I loved how unexpectedly interwoven the characters’ lives were and their possible motives for the crime. The deeper dive into some of the characters’ histories plus the houseboat setting made the story even more interesting. The audio performance was very engaging and really enhanced the experience.
Bonus Reading List: A Gift from Day Health Strategies
As a special addition to my reading list this year, I want to share the list that was compiled by our team at Day Health Strategies. It is a wonderful collection of favorite books handpicked by staff. See the recent blog post here.