Awesome Reads During Isolation
Between seeing less of our family and friends, working from home, and not being able to swing by the Sov for that occasional Long Island, our daily lives are …. a little strange, and I think we can all use some comfort. Personally, sometimes a book is exactly just what I need— a good read to get out of the house and take my mind to a totally different place, or maybe teach me something new and awesome (a different perspective). Books can boost happiness, minimize that anxiety I’m sure we are all experiencing, and just make us forget about things we really don’t want to think about. So if you’re like me, and need an escape from self-isolation, I’ve put together a list of books that I love to read that are aimed to make you smile, lift your spirits, inspire and help us through the day.
Love Warrior – Glennon Doyle: I just ordered her newest work ‘Untamed’- can’t wait!
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)- Mindy Kaling
Option B- Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant
Beerology- Mirella Amato: If you want to learn about beer…it’s also fun to drink a brew while reading, because as Amato says, “every beer is worth trying at least once.” From basics including presentation and styles, to pairing beer with food, it’s a fun overview of the beverage.)
The Reason You Walk- Wab Kinew: Wab Kinew has always been known to speak his mind and there is no holding back in his own personal story. Kinew’s memoir is an emotional tribute to his father.
The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo- Amy Shumer
Mind Platter- Najwa Zebian
Big Magic- Elizabeth Gilbert
Year of Yes- Shonda Rhimes: Even though it might feel like the year of no, it’s still a great read. Shonda is obviously a power house in the television world as the creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. Rhimes shares with us in this memoir that the character she feels closest to personally is Cristina Yang –a woman that is an embodiment of her dreams. She writes:
“I wanted us to watch and admire a woman who did not want the things we have all been told we are supposed to want. I wanted us to befriend a woman who was busy throwing out the fairy tale and writing her own story.”
The Tipping Point- Malcolm Gladwell: I have read this book over and over again. Definitely one of my most fav reads and authors. Instead of a virus, let’s think about how ideas spread. Gladwell talks about several world examples and the few elements that need to come together to help an idea reach the point where its viral effect becomes unstoppable. Ever wonder about how Hush Puppies became so popular?
“The ‘tipping point’ is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”
Rising Strong- Brené Brown: I just absolutely LOVE this woman and everything she puts on paper.
“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.”
The Path Made Clear- Oprah Winfrey
Open Book- Jessica Simpson: I grew up listening and watching Jessica Simpson. I’m still reading this book, but it is a juicy tell-all that digs deep into what was actually going on.
“When I got the letter, something shifted in me. That afternoon I had imagined what it would be like to be on the screen, big and in front. And now I shrunk from it. I never wanted to sing again. Not if it could lead to me feeling that forsaken. I cried for days. I know people say things like, “I cried for days” and you kinda think, Well, didja really? Well, I can assure you, I cried for days. I cried eating cereal, I cried peeing, I cried praying at church . . . the sense of loss and missed opportunity was suffocating.”
