The Books of 2022
The Books of 2022
I read this book every year and every year I take something new away from it. I incorporate it into my coaching and really do live the “atomic habits” lifestyle. If you have never read this book, I urge you to read it this year.
Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and Mark Zeratsky
Super-helpful read for anyone who needs help with time management. I would recommend this book to any fellow business owners or entrepreneurs. Much like Atomic Habits, Make Time isn’t about making drastic changes to your days, but rather small changes that have a big impact.
I read this book based on the recommendation of my friend Cynthia Thurlow. Nutrition can be confusing and this book helps demystify what we should be eating. I don’t necessarily agree with everything the author says, but it was definitely an interesting read and I’m always open to hearing a different perspective when it comes to nutrition.
The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paulo Coelho
I read this at the request of my therapist, she’s always good for a great book recommendation. This book is all about listening to your heart. Probably a must-read for any fellow entrepreneurs.
I’m going to listen to this one again because the overarching theme is ownership. We can tell ourselves a lot of stories, but once we own our part of the issue, we can actually change our lives.
Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski
Last year I read Burnout by Emily and her sister Amelia and this book was just as great. Come as you are is a must-read for any mid-life woman. There are lots of reasons our sex drive diminishes and we are quick to blame our hormones. But more than likely it’s stress, body image, mood and trust. Bottom line, there’s nothing wrong with you and you can start to feel that drive once again.
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
I love Brene Brown, but this was not my favorite book of hers. What I did like about it though, is how she defines all the different types of emotions. Most of us only know happy, sad, angry. There are actually many more emotions that we experience and when we can put words around them, we can understand ourselves and others better, and also communicate our needs.
Truth Wins Love Matters by Alex Kusis
I have two favorite books this year and this is one of them. I haven’t read a book this fast since my Nancy Drew days. I literally could not put this book down. Alex, who is a friend in real life, experienced something that no one should ever go through. She was accused of a crime that she did not commit. If you know Alex, it’s absolutely absurd that anyone would believe the accusations brought against her. But alas, she was taken to prison and spent almost two years proving her innocence. There is so much more to this riveting story, you HAVE to read it. I also had Alex on my podcast to talk about her experience.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy
This is my FAVORITE book of 2022. Every woman should read it. Jenette was a child actress and hearing her story brought me to tears. So many of these young women are abused in Hollywood. Her story starts with her messed up relationship with her mother who essentially taught her how to have an eating disorder, her battle with anorexia and bulimia and then her addiction to alcohol. Jenette was so brave in sharing her story and even though it’s real and raw and hard to read at times, she makes you laugh throughout.
Every active woman entering or in perimenopause or postmenopausal should read this. There are so many people giving out misinformation about how to deal with your menopause symptoms, but Dr. Stacy Sims has done the research on what ACTIVE women actually need to be doing. I have also completed both Dr. Sims’ courses, Menopause for the Female Athlete and Next Level 2.0, Next Level Training for Optimal Performance, and this book is a mini-course for the general public. So many myths are debunked along with practical advice. I also had the pleasure of having Dr. Sims on my podcast and it is my all-time most listened to episode.
The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile
I’m an enneagram junkie! I just love learning about different personality types, especially my own. This book describes each enneagram, why they are the way they are, how they operate when they are “healthy”, how they operate when they are not healthy and what you can do right now to work best with yourself and others. I read this for myself, but quickly realized this was a great book for anyone who manages people, has children, a partner, or is around anyone else at all. Each chapter I read, I had a specific person in my life in mind and I got ideas of how I could improve my relationship with them based on their own number. This was a fun and interesting read. There are some religious ties, so if you’re not into that, you may not like it. I didn’t feel it was overly-religious.
Finding Me: A Memoir by Viola Davis
Excellent book. I want to read one biography a year. Hearing other people’s stories is just fascinating. I read this book because the reviews were so good and a member of my VIP community recommended it. I enjoyed Viola Davis in the few roles that I had seen her act out, but now I love Viola Davis. I had no idea the hardships she endured. Hearing her story made me appreciate my life so much more. Nothing came easy to this woman and to see where she started, what she went through and where she is now is nothing short of miraculous. She shares openly and vulnerably, but not is a “woe is me” sense. Simply, this is my life, I’ve been through some really hard shit, and this is how I got through it.
Another suggestion from my therapist. These last two books came at just the right time. Gay talks about “upper limit” problems and how so many of us get to a really good spot, but then self-sabotage for a variety of reasons. As he explained each of the reasons, I was nodding along like, “Yep, that’s me. I’m totally doing that.” I walked away from this book feeling worth of success and understanding that it’s OK to move away from certain things so I can elevate from my “zone of competence” into my “zone of genius”.
Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday
I was hesitant to read this one because I’ve been trying to not always operate in my masculine, “doing” energy, but I’m glad I made the decision to purchase it. This is another book that I could read each year. It’s very much in alignment with my coaching philosophy and how I want to show up in this world and live my life. Discipline does not mean extreme, quite the opposite really. The author shares examples of people who we all know are both good examples and bad examples of what living with and without discipline will lead to. I felt completely inspired reading this book and ready to tackle another year.
