I’m an avid reader. I’ve always been. In my twenties I got hooked on reading books about business, self-improvement and mindset, biographies or career advice books, so that’s what I can share more of.
Here are my recommendations. I’ll keep adding to it.
The links will take you to the book page on Goodreads, so you can get info and reviews to further consider if they are of interest to you (they’re not affiliate links and I promote all of them because I chose to and have discovered them on my own).
NEW: Short-reads
Not only books are great for a bit of though, I often come by interesting articles that I’d like to share, but social media is too short-lived for that, so I’ll be adding the links here. For links on sites of interest, please go here where you’ll find my bookmarks.
- “Why seek self-realisation?” (during a climate crisis)
Books to get better at life:
- The slight edge : a book that really convinced me to work slowly on becoming better. Hint : the compounding effects of habit.
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less : so helpful for multipassionate people like me, who are used to conforming to expectations and doing the right thing. We sometimes need a little push to learn what is really important and how to prioritise it and in this book we find just the help we need.
- The Courage to Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change your Life and Achieve Real Happiness : how to cope with not doing what’s expected and making peace with life an others – or at least that was the most important message for me, but do not fool yourself, it is a great book with great wisdom.
- How Not to Worry: The Remarkable Truth of How a Small Change Can Help You Stress Less and Enjoy Life More ; I should probably read a bit of it everyday too as a remedy for my anxieties… It teaches you how to confront worry, with stories, multiples ways and tools, so there’s something that could help you too in it.
- If your are not late in your twenties, but early, this one is a good option (may not help with getting anxious about figuring out life while still young but could be a kick in the ass too): The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter—And How to Make the Most of Them Now
- The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living The thought starter for the day. I’d recommend it with your hot beverage of the morning, sipping while reflecting on the daily lesson. If your mornings aren’t that peaceful, maybe save them for the weekend? I really enjoyed them and would re-read.
On living… more? better?
- The Art of Frugal Hedonism Is about small tweaks that can make life more enjoyable, minimalistic and somehow luxurious… without having to spend more. An enjoyable read that is also instructional.
- Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life . There’s a powerful concept of this book and it is also very helpful. How do we know what we want and why? How do our desires relate to our relationships? How are our wants created? How do we have a say in what we want? Dive in this book to get a better idea of how the world works when it seems it’s so much about getting what we want.
Do you need some company in the process of pursuing your call? Grab one of these books:
- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear : I liked it, but could not agree about everything. I should probably re-read now. It’s about how to live and experiecne a passion or call, what it takes and what it gives, in the experience of the author of Pray, Eat, Love.
- The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle : the artist’s way is quite a struggle and here Steven Pressfield shares how to work through it.
- John Livingston Seagull : I had to read it twice, the first time (I was very young) I couldn’t stand it but the second time it did touch me. The pursuit of a passion and perfectionism, although also aplicable to a more spiritual search.
Books that will make you run to the sea:
- Swell: Sailing the Pacific in Search of Surf and Self : the book that made me fall in love with sailing
- Gidget ; the book I wished I had read as a teen
- The Surf Girl Handbook: The Essential Guide for Surf Chicks Everywhere : It’s always a treat to have a book which works as a coffee table book, some inspiration and some lessons about surfing, for surfing girls.
And a bit of love :
- The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts : different people value different things, different people feel loved or give love in different ways… at it’s of uttermost importance that we know which ways are those for the people we care the most.
- Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life : the world (the media) sells us sex and put it in such an important position but most people doesn’t seem to have made much research on the subject, nor tried to be educated. This book is a great way to put youself in a better position.
What’s on my list?
Books for sailors and sea lovers
Guides for photographers
Readings for entrepreneurs and marketing enthusiasts
- Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don’t Make Sense. I’m already some chapters in and it’s a very interesting and enjoyable read. It explains situations in which marketing and psychology meet that doesn’t seem rational, even if we are convinced that we are acting rationally. And how advertising does not have to focus on what seems rational. Furthermore, the author helps us understand our behaviours towards what works on ads.
To round it all
Free Culture: The Nature and Future of Creativity
Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness
The Poetry Pharmacy Returns: More Prescriptions for Courage, Healing and Hope. When something troubles your mind and heart, you’ll find the right pill of relief in one of the poems so well commented. I love browsing through this book to find a poem that stands out, read it and it’s interpretation by Sieghart. So it can be quite better than seeking advice on Tik Tok.
