My Favorite Books

“The ability to ask beautiful questions — often in very un-beautiful moments — is one of the great disciplines of a human life. And a beautiful question starts to shape your identity as much by asking it as it does by having it answered. And you don’t have to do anything about it, you just have to keep asking. And before you know it, you will find yourself actually shaping a different life, meeting different people, finding conversations that are leading you in those directions that you wouldn’t even have seen before.” - David Whyte

Reading is a practice that often leads me to those questions that have played a role in shaping me.

I wanted to create this page as a running book list that I will update as I come across books that I find deeply impactful. I’m linking all of them to a local bookshop site because we support small, independent brands on this site!

Fiction

I love classic literature, so most of my fiction recommendations are classics. I particularly like speculative fiction or the dystopian-like genre within science fiction. In fiction, I look for incredible creative writing, symbolism, societal commentary, and thoughtfulness. Here are my favorites:

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

This book is the epitome of speculative fiction. It tells of a future America that has no regard for women other than for their reproductive abilities. While extreme, it remains poignant. I love Margaret Atwood’s writing. It’s poetic, strong, and meaningful. I also recommend her poetry.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

The depth of symbolism, motif, and allegory in this amazing piece of literature is unmatched. This book gets to the core of humanity by examining the lives of 2 families in a California farmland. Normally, I would never pick up a book with this description, but it is truly a masterpiece. A salient reminder of the power of our choices.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

This is another book steeped in symbolism— my literature weakness. While the story is that of an unreliable, annoying teenager, you can’t help but get wrapped up in his honest, quirky narration of his days in New York City.

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

I am drawn to the simple writing style of modern/post-modern literature, so Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favorites. The book bends genre and storytelling into a compelling narration of a man who has had quite a strange, traumatic life. It’s whimsey mixed with plain realism.

Business & Mindset

I love a good business book. I’m always looking to improve my knowledge, habits, and potential for success by learning from those that have mastered it. Within this category, I tend to gravitate towards books about time-management, mindset, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

Think Again by Adam Grant

This book offers insight that is incredibly valuable for this moment in time. It challenges us to question our assumptions and what we think we know, while also offering tools to engage others in this practice.

The Multi-Hyphen Method by Emma Gannon

As someone who is not and will never just be doing one thing in my career, this book was a great reassurance. It discusses the rising popularity of “multi-hyphenates” and the future of work. A great resource for navigating your many interests and how it all fits in with your life and career.

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

I have 550 ideas going on in my head at all times. This book makes the case for setting aside all of those extra endeavors in favor of a singular, impactful pursuit. It’s persuasive, clear, and a great resource if you are like me and need a bit of focus.

The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin

This is an empowering book for creative types or those who doubt themselves at work. Seth Godin encourages us to see our work as art that we must put out into the world. He makes the case for leaving your comfort zone, creation, and the value in uncertain pursuits. If you have dealt with imposter syndrome (all of us?), read this.

Miscellaneous

I have a wide range of interests, so some of the books I love don’t fall within my normal categories. I find myself reading books surrounding fashion, sustainability, psychology, poetry, and memoir.

Garments Against Women by Anne Boyer

This is a beautiful book of experimental poetry and prose. It is full of commentary about a woman’s existence in this society as told through small, personal reflections and poignant questions.

The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline

As a massive sustainable fashion advocate, I cannot recommend this book enough. This is the perfect starter book if you are wanting to pursue a more sustainable wardrobe. Yet, its also a helpful, comprehensive handbook that is full of amazing tips even if you’re already well-versed in sustainable fashion.

Ejaculate Responsibly by Gabrielle Stanley Blair

This is a must-read for everyone. Blair calls this “a whole new way to think about abortion.” She lays out 28 clear arguments for shifting abortion and birth control conversations. Whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, the key to reducing abortions is reducing unwanted pregnancies which means focussing our attention on the population that can cause pregnancy 24/7: men.

I’ll be adding to this list as I am continuing to read! Feel free to reach out with recommendations or to request some recs!

Last updated Oct. 28th, 2023