What I Read in April
I texted a good friend on Friday, "I am deeply concerned that our generation is not reading books. What are we going to do about this?"
She replied, "I think that is a valid concern. What can we do about it?"
I went to a Liberal Arts college, where we read, wrote a little, read some more, and continued writing. I wrote one paper every single week of my sophomore year. Years later, I would discover that reading and writing gives you insight into the quality of your thinking. Writing is integral to the learning process. Despite a good foundation of reading and writing in college, it took me years to get back to those habits.
I am going to leave you with two questions to ponder:
1) Do you better digest information that you hear or that you read?
2) Do you better articulate yourself verbally or by written word?
Here were my April picks:
Journal of a Solitude
by May Sarton
Each time I opened this book, I felt like I was cozying up to a warm fire with a comfy blanket and warm cup of tea. I loved reading her descriptions of the seasons and the wildlife where she lived. Sarton includes black and white photos giving a stronger sense of place that she writes about. This is a deeply intimate look into the life of a celebrated poet and novelist.
A Prayer for Owen Meany
by John Irving
Owen Meany is one of a kind who had a larger-than-life presence. His commentary about the world around him is truly unique and one-of-a-kind. This book captures one of the best friendships in literature and while it's a little slow in the beginning, this book is truly a gem! Of note, Simon Burch was very loosely based off this book. Because of several key differences though, Irving requested a new name for the movie.
Never Split the Difference
by Chris Voss
This book has been recommended to me by many different people over the years. Voss has decades of negotiating experience from hostage and other high stakes situations. While those are more extreme examples, he connects what he has learned for day-to-day negotiations and his advice is practical. Negotiating is a skill all of us need in our tool belt, whether you have a partner, kids, are buying a car/house, or accepting a new job. Definitely pick this up!
Drive
by Daniel Pink
I was thrilled to pick up this book because Pink delves into topics that have been swirling in my head since I returned from work after a Covid hiatus. What motivates us at work? What kind of environment supports our best work? This is a great read for managers, people who are looking for fulfilling careers, or office culture carriers. Autonomy, mastery, and purpose- that will be my work anthem going forward.
The High 5 Habit
by Mel Robbins
This book was a good reminder that we all have doubts/fears, and those doubts can sometimes get into the drivers seat all too frequently if we let them. Robbins, suggests some self-tested and well-researched strategies for making dreams a reality. Robbins points out that life is always in flux but that we can train our brains to view the world differently and start looking for the possibilities!
What book recommendations do you have? Share them with me in the comments!