Category: Books

Have you lapsed in reading recently? Do you love a good book? Well then, you’ve come to the right place! Sometimes, you just need a little inspiration to find the next great book to get you back into reading.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Are you a fan of mysteries? Do you like a touch of romance in your novels? “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens is a great read for fans of mystery or romance. The compelling story features a girl who was abandoned by her family in the marsh. After raising herself in the marsh, she finds that the local town is suspicious of her. It is a page-turning mystery that will keep you interested until the end.

Sapiens

If non-fiction is your area of interest, then “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari is the book to get you back into reading. The history book tells the story of humanity from the beginning and takes a compelling approach to giving you pertinent information. The book is filled with facts, figures, and metaphors that give an interesting take on human society and the development of modern human behavior.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Do you enjoy fantasy novels? Are you a fan of classic stories remade into unique tales? “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas is the book to consider when you want to get back into reading. The story takes a new spin on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, with an interesting and unique world full of intrigue and new thrills. It is as much as a thriller as a fantasy story, so you may find it hard to put down after you start to read!

Frankenstein

Do you love the classics? Are you a fan of the horror genre? “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly is a great read to get back into reading. The classic is haunting, intelligent, and full of human emotion. It pulls at the heart while also giving a touch of science fiction, history, and poetry that makes it hard to put down. Though the book was written more than 200 years ago, it remains an interesting read for anyone who enjoys classics, horror, science fiction, or history.

The Guest List

Are you a fan of thrillers? Are mysteries your area of interest? If you love a good thriller or mystery, then “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley is a great book to read. The page-turning story starts with a wedding and goes far beyond a fun-filled event. The author keeps you guessing throughout the story and it is an engaging read that will get you back into the habit of reading.

If you are looking for a great book to get back into reading after a lapse, then you want to start with something compelling and interesting. By starting with a book that keeps you coming back for more, you will remember why you enjoy reading and can start setting aside time to get back into reading.

All of these books are best-sellers. They provide useful insights into self-development. What makes them super special is their transformative nature. If you learn the techniques described in these books and apply them to your life, you will never be the same. Here are some books to help create the new you.

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

We are taught that the keys to success are having enough willpower and determination to achieve a breakthrough moment. However, many changes occur as an incremental process more influenced by the environment than willpower.

Want to learn how to play the piano? Get rid of your TV and buy a piano. Play the piano instead of watching TV. In time, you will learn how to play.

The author, Clear, teaches how to make good habits replace bad habits by designing your life to make the good habit the easiest choice. Clear says, “tiny changes bring remarkable results.”

2. When by Daniel H. Pink

This book teaches five big ideas about the scientific secrets of perfect timing. Learning about timing helps people make the most of periods of heightened creativity and energy. Everybody’s thinking ability changes during the day. Some are a “morning” person; others are not.

There are hidden patterns in life. The first big idea is to find out when you are at your peak. Then, to enhance productivity, schedule your efforts to make the most of “when” you can work. It is more important when you do something than what you do.

3. The Power of Meaning by Emily Esfahani Smith

Even if you get everything you think you want, such as a new house, a new car, and a new love in your life, you may find that you are still not truly happy. The author, Smith, says we should seek meaning instead of trying to find happiness.

Meaning comes from four factors: 1) belonging, 2) purpose, 3) storytelling, and; 4) transcendence. Belonging is creating relationships that nurture you with recognition, understanding, and value. Finding your purpose with a long-term goal deepens your feeling of satisfaction with life. Storytelling helps you make sense of the world. Transcendence is being connected to something greater than yourself.

4. Supercoach by Michael Neill

This book is the next best thing to having a personal life coach. It is practical and easy to understand. Ten coaching sessions teach different things that may result in an “aha” moment for you that completely changes your life.

The sad fact is that your misguided thinking is the cause of most of your problems. Gaining control over your mind is the best way to better yourself and improve your life.

5. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

Most self-help books focus on things you can do for personal development. The Power of Now teaches how you can be in such a way that improves your life experience. The author Tolle says, “The moment you grasp it, there is a shift in consciousness from mind to Being, from time to presence. Suddenly, everything feels alive, radiates energy, and emanates Being.”

If you regret the past and worry all the time about the future, this is the perfect book for you. You will learn to embrace the present moment and move through life easily and joyfully.

If you like to dream big, chances are good you’ve experienced the motivational slump that makes progress feel like a slog through molasses in December.

 Whether your goal is to run a marathon, optimize your career, or sell everything and pursue self-sufficiency in a forest, you’re probably going to need some help to get there. These books offer advice that can help anyone–and, unlike many “motivational” books published in the last few years, they go light on the cheese. 

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins 

I thought I’d solved a problem when really I was creating new ones by taking the path of least resistance.

David Goggins started out as a 300-pound African American who got scoffed out of a Navy recruiter’s office as a young adult. He went on to lose the weight, become a Navy SEAL, unlock incredible levels of self-discipline, and inspire millions to become untouchable. Can’t Hurt Me is his autobiography, and it’s a fun read. Skip this one if you’re going to be turned off by f-bombs dropped on practically every page.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.

Few things are more motivational than having a concrete plan to become the person you want to be. Atomic Habits is all about building a habit system that supports the life you want. In it, James Clear combines decades of research on human behavior and habit development to offer step-by-step tips on building desirable habits and dropping the ones that aren’t serving you. 

Essentialism by Greg Mckeown 

The way of the Essentialist means living by design, not by default. Instead of making choices reactively, the Essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many.

Not happy with how cluttered your home and your calendar are these days? Essentialism might be the nudge of motivation you need to streamline. In Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, McKeown describes his journey to cut the clutter from his life, home, and career, and he offers practical steps to help you do the same. 

You are a Badass by Jenn Sincero 

We are all perfect in our own, magnificent, fucked-up ways. Laugh at yourself. Love yourself and others. Rejoice in the cosmic ridiculousness.

This book definitely isn’t for everyone; it’s a bit too new-agey for some, and the author comes off as a bit too privileged for others. But if you’re in the market for a book-length pep talk capable of making you feel ballsy enough to take on your biggest dreams, you might have hit the jackpot. 

Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven 

Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.

Written by a retired Admiral in the U.S. Navy, Make Your Bed has chapter-by-chapter advice on making changes that can revamp your attitude. Feel unmotivated and undisciplined? Make Your Bed is a cross between a pep-talk and a swift kick in the pants, so whichever you need most in the moment, you’re likely to find here–along with memorable anecdotes from McRaven’s time as a Navy SEAL. 

Grab one of these reads when your motivation is flagging, and you’ll be back on your feet in no time!