Had a great reading month in December!
The first thing I must share is that, Miriam (Farm Girl), finished and published her very first book!!
How To Be You
I am SO proud of Miriam for following through on a dream and putting herself out there. I was beyond thrilled to get to push buy on Amazon and read her book. I was smiling ear to ear reading it, and crying a little too. Nothing I can write here will do her justice. I don’t push you guys much here to do anything, but I demand you go buy this book 🙂 GO NOW, PRESS BUY!! Seriously, it’s your lose if you don’t listen to me.
In other December reading news, I had several books that really got me thinking and are changing my daily actions, which I love. As always when we talk about books it’s with Jana & Steph 🙂
A Good Marriage by Stephen King
I just randomly picked this up between books. It’s more of a short story than a novel, and this edition contained the story 1922, which was actually longer than A Good Marriage. Both were ok, but not my favorite King writing. A bit more old school thriller/mystery as in the lines of Hitchcock. Apparently they made a movie of A Good Marriage, I’m going to have to look it up. That is what drew me in to choose this book, as I was waiting on holds 🙂
Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon
LOVED this book. Very quick read, but so many good tidbits. Sometimes you need to hear out loud (read out loud) things that are common sense, but click when you see them on paper. I felt like there was so much good advice in this book. I get really overwhelmed with the idea of originality especially with spending so much time online, so this resonated with me to get out of my own head. I pulled a few of the passages that I really felt rang a bell with me…
“What a good artist understands is that nothing comes from nowhere. All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original.”
“If we’re free from the burden of trying to be completely original, we can stop trying to make something out of nothing, and we can embrace influence instead of running away from it.”
“You are, in fact, a mashup of what you choose to let into your life. You are the sum of your influences. The German writer Goethe said, “We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”
“…if you try to devour the history of your discipline all at once, you’ll choke. Instead, chew on one thinker–writer, artist, activist, role model–you really love. Study everything there is to know about that thinker. Then find three people that thinker loved, and find out everything about them. Repeat this as many times as you can. Climb up the tree as far as you can go.”
Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
Loved, loved. This is a book that I can say 100% changed actions and something I’m still working on applying today. I took like five pages of notes and it really got me thinking about how I set goals, and daily routines. This is one of my top books for getting me thinking and putting things in a different mindset for myself. Very thought provoking, but also very actionable. Prior to this book, I had not read The Happiness Project. Embarrassingly enough I didn’t even realize she wrote The Happiness Project, though she referred it often in Better Than Before (however she never said “my” book). She breaks down personality into four types when it comes to building habits and approaching goals: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. She then goes through different approaches to building habits and how the different types can best use these approaches. I just loved this book, and had so many good ideas while reading it. I’ve been struggling with getting a daily routine together, and this book was wonderful for me.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Of course after reading Better Than Before, I checked this out immediately. The books certainly flow into one another, though I think I might have looked at Better Than Before with a more fresh view of the author than if I had read The Happiness Project first. I really liked this one too, though it felt less actionable than Better Than Before. Honestly, it’s hard to separate the two completely in my mind, once I finished this one. The Happiness Project reads to me much more of a personal story, where Better Than Before is a bit more scientific based. I liked The Happiness Project too and it had some great lessons about being more mindful. I love the idea of building your personal commandments and really evaluating what do you enjoy, versus what you “wish” you enjoyed. This is an exercise that I am absolutely working on and bringing into my life.
Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin
Nice fast-paced plot that draws you in quickly. I think the “love” story was so superfluous to the story, it could have so easily been left out. It seemed so silly to add that in and not tie it better to the plot or emotions of the character…other than hook-up scenes and a splash of jealousy here and there. I felt like the ending was presented in a clunky manner, and super rushed. Honestly they could have cut out some of the “love story” and added to the end instead of cramming it all into the Epilogue. Good entertainment value but overall the characters and plot could have used some refinement as you got further into the story.
I hated the back and forth jumping in time of this book. Often times jumping around does not really bother me, but in this book it did. I considered giving up on it half way through, because I was so annoyed. To me it was hard to really get into the plot. Of course right about when I thought about giving in, they stopped jumping around quite so much. The plot is interesting but I was not blown away with this one.
The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
What an interesting read! I really enjoyed how he organized the book and found it very intriguing and engaging. I enjoyed this book much more than I expected. I thought the topic was interesting so I thought I would give it a try, and found the author very witty and engaging. Not a dry book, so if you have an interest in psychology at all, I think you would enjoy it.
I like how straightforward this book was. I think there was some good advice there for anyone in business. I would have loved to share some that knowledge, but my kindle did not save my highlights 🙁 I’m so sad.
What books are on your 2016 reading list?
P.S. As a total side note, I’m really focusing on building my business this month. January has started off great. Anyway that is why I’ve been quiet over here, I just need to put all my attention and energy to get BHG off the ground 🙂 So sorry for the lack of interaction lately….don’t worry I’ll be back when things get smoother.
I’m intrigued by The Psychopath Test. I might check it out. I tend to read fiction more than non-fiction but if something grabs me, I’ll read it.
I use to never read nonfiction, but have really started reading more this year. The Psychopath Test read really easily.
I’m more of a fiction reader than non-fiction, but The Psychopath Test definitely sounds interesting.
It read really well, like I forgot it was nonfiction. I use to read very little nonfiction but I’ve been really getting into self-help/psychology.
I’m so impressed by the amount of books you read in a month!
I have developed a bad habit of starting several books at once, and not finishing them ? I’ve half read both The Happiness Project and Better Than Before, and I enjoy them both – but haven’t finished them yet. I just started Out of Sorts by Aurélie Valognes, its adorable! I’m determined to finish it ?
Thanks so much for being so kind to my book, you’re fabulous! Big hug ❤❤❤
P.S. I’m thrilled that your business is off to a great start in 2016! Way to chase and fulfill your dream! You’re amazing at cheering people on and figuring things out, this is so perfect for you!
Aww thanks M!! Sorry I don’t know why I missed replying to these couple of comments :O!! Yes, my reading has certainly slowed down this past month. I really took time to do things off-line in December. Reading was a book part of that. Hope all is well!
Yeah, The ExPats was just okay for me. I read it awhile ago.
LOVE Gretchen Rubin’s books. Read Happier at Home next!
I have it to read!! I’m one of those people if a book really sticks with me, I must read all of them 🙂 So glad to hear of another Rubin fan. I really enjoy her podcasts with her sister too.
I really liked The Psychopath Test, too! Totally curious how many big company CEOs (and current presidential candidates… cough cough…) would qualify! 😉
I loved the story of the CEO (I think he was the former SunBeam one), the one in FL, was turning all the questions into leadership positives. I was like that is quite the spin. I’m sure you are not talking about the one starting who starts with a T 😉
Thanks for the reminder to update my url on disqus! SO MANY THINGS!
So many people have read Black Eyed Susans recently, so, of course, I want to read it soon too. Even though it’s not a great read, sometimes you just need those quick, fast reads to mix things up. The Psychopath test sounds like another interesting read too!
The Psychopath Test really surprised me with how entertaining I found it. I totally recommend it. Yes, a good more mindless read is certainly needed now and again, maybe more 🙂
i haven’t read either of gretchen rubin’s books, though they are on my list. good luck with your business, and congrats to your friend on publishing her book!
Thank you Kristen! Hope you are having a great 2016 so far! You must try out Rubin 🙂
Steal Like an Artist sounds really interesting. One of my books jumped back and forth, and it took me a while to realize (at first I thought it was just jumping ahead). That rarely works, IMO.
I do not like jumping around so much in my books 🙂 I’m ok with different points of views, but I don’t like the out of order storyline. Steal Like An Artist was really good, nice quick read too.
I’ve read both of those books by Rubin and liked them a lot. I write about travel quite a bit so the expats intrigues me. Black eyed Susans is quickly climbing on my list as I hear more and more about it as well.
I’m obsessed with Rubin now, and started listening to her podcasts too 🙂 I just got Happier At Home to read as well.
I need an easy, engrossing read, so Black Eyed Susans is totally going on the list… but I’ll lower my expectations. So I know I’m in the minority but I read the Happiness Project, or I should say tried to read it, and quit. Her problems seemed so first world that her advice didn’t strike me. However, I have seen the four points in other other book on another blog and I am interested in those. I totally sound like an upholder…
I read Better Than Before first, and was wowed, so I think my perception of her was different from reading that first. I do feel like I might have had a different view of her if I had started with the Happiness Project, but I liked it too….though very first world….but she admits to it. I’m an obliger with a side of researcher. Hope you are having a great 2016 so far Lauren!
I really enjoy Gretchen Rubin’s books. I still haven’t read Better Than Before but it’s definitely on my TBR.
Good luck with your business and congrats to Miriam on her book!
Thank you Jana!! I’m working hard at it, it feels really good though. I’ve had a great start to January…digging in and getting outside my comfort zone. Yes, you must read Better Than Before!
Yay Miriam! I always love to see someone publish.
I read another Chris Pavone and felt like I really had to strap in and pay attention. I don’t always like to do that.
I’m happy you had some life changers in there!
Not a huge fan of how Pavone presented the story. It was like he saw that plot technique in movie and thought it would work for a book, but I feel like it just does not. Yes, December was a good reading month.
The Psychopath Test sounds intriguing. I read Black-Eyed Susans. I liked it, but didn’t love it. Your summary of it is well-said.
Thanks Erin!! Glad I was not the only one that felt that way 🙂