Phew. Looking back at the tail end of it all, 2016 has clearly been 12 months of high highs and low lows. Whatever else is happening in the world, books have always been a way for me to retreat away from the world for a while. They feed my curiosity and creativity and, in the case of fiction, allow me to practice a little harmless escapism and try on someone else’s life for a few hours 🙂 So today, I want to share a few of my favourite reads from 2016.
While we’re on the topic of books, From Coping to Thriving: How to Turn Self-Care Into a Way of Life is now out on audio! It’s narrated by the lovely Stephanie Murphy, who you will recognise from the intro to the Becoming Who You Are podcast and The Ultimate Guide to Journaling audiobook. Click here to get a 30-day trial of Audible.com and download From Coping to Thriving for free.
Here are my favourite reads from this year. I’d also love to hear yours so leave a comment and share them below!
Creativity and Work
The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna
Anything You Want by Derek Sivers
Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One by Jenny Blake
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Happier Life by Arianna Huffington
Psychology and Personal Growth
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden
A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William B. Irvine
Mindsight: Transform Your Brain With the New Science of Kindness by Daniel Siegel
Succeed: How to Reach Your Goals by Heidi Grant Halvorson
Guilt, Shame and Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming Negative Emotions by Peter Breggin
Birth, babies and parenting
Bumpology: The Myth-Busting Pregnancy Books for Curious Parents to Be by Linda Geddes
The Fourth Trimester: Understanding, Protecting, and Nurturing an Infant Through the First Three Months by Susan Brinkley
The Homebirth Handbook by Anne Francis
How Not to F*** Them Up by Oliver James
Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina
Why Love Matters by Sue Gerhardt
Fiction
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman
When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman
Everything Else
The Demon-Haunted World – Carl Sagan
Nothing to Envy: The Ordinary Lives of People in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh
What were your favourite books from 2016? Leave a comment and share your reading suggestions!
Further reading: If you’re looking to jazz up your reading in 2017, here’s a fun reading challenge I’m trying this year. Join me?
