I kept finding it harder and harder to read a book. You mean I had to hold a book in my hands, flip the pages with my own fingers, and mark the pages manually? This “refusal to read” or lack of enthusiasm for books was strange though, coming from someone who devoured books in their childhood. It seemed that somewhere along the journey between learning to read, reading for pleasure and going to school – reading became work. It just didn’t seem enjoyable anymore.
Was I tired of reading?
After doing a bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree, and then spending two years studying Community Development … reading didn’t seem like “fun” to me anymore. I felt like the only way I could relax was by NOT reading. But in 2018 I decided to reclaim my love for reading. If we allow it, life (the responsibilities and the expectations, not the thing itself) can take away all our little joys. Growth will demand that we outgrow or evolve beyond certain things, but there might be things that are attached to our core that we can’t let goof so easily. So, we fight for it, So, I decided I would do whatever inner work it would take to get back to reading for leisure and pleasure.
Does it matter WHAT I read? 🤔
There is a school of thought that says you will only “truly benefit” from certain types of books. Generally, this means you’ll learn more from a self-hype type book then you will from a novel. Now, I have conducted no research to figure out whether this statement or its reverse is true, but I prefer to think that whatever we read will have an impact on our psyche and will influence how we react to and see the world. So, from “Cat in the Hat” to “7 Secrets of Success” there is something to value in reading different genres.
While we are a site committed to personal development, growth and the process of becoming, we would never recommend that you read only self-help or personal development books. While you may glean lots of personal insight from a book on how to grow your side hustle, you are also someone outside of the person you have to be for work (even if you work for yourself). We are many things to many people and we wear many different hats in our lives so limiting your scope of reading may do more harm than good.
Add these titles to your reading list
Whatever the reason you choose to read today, welcome to our wish list of books to add to your reading list. Now, this is a huge task to undertake since there are so many great books. We have to set some ground rules: – the list will be constantly updated (so, it’s not always the same books) and – the list cannot contain more than 20 books (just so its not overwhelming).
Since this is a living, breathing, growing list feel free to contact us with any additions.
- Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
- The Voice of Knowledge by Don Miguel Ruiz and Janet Mills
- The Money Book for the young, fabulous and broke by Suze Orman
- The Potential Principle: A Proven System for Closing the Gap Between How Good You Are and How Good You Could Be by Mark Sanborn
- The End of Food: How the Food Industry Is Destroying Our Food Supply-And What You Can Do About It by Thomas Pawlick
- The Five Invitations: What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully by Frank Ostaseski
- You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
- How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole
- Everything Inside by Edwidge Danticat
- They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life and Growing Up by Eternity Martis
- Heart Talk by Cleo Wade
- Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving by Celeste Headlee
- When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
- Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom by Tabitha Brown
I know what you’re thinking: where will I find the time to read? I’m thinking the same thing! As Millennials, and really just as citizens of the world in this technological age – it never feels like there is enough time in the day. But, I’ve done two small things that have given me a bit more time to read:
- I eat small meals throughout the work day and use my lunch hour to read
- I’ve added reading for an hour to my evening routine (and it’s non-negotiable)
Do you have any books that you’re looking forward to reading? Comment below, or share your list with us on Twitter and follow us on Goodreads to see what we’re reading ⬇
