2019 Self-Improvement Reading List
I have pretty hefty reading goals for this year, with my plan being to read two books a month, start to finish. As of now, I am done with both my fiction and non-fiction book choices for the first month of the year. I am about 50% done with February’s fiction and have only made a small dent in the long non-fiction I chose for the month, but I still plan to finish it before March 1st comes around.
I am an avid fantasy reader, so a lot of the books I read will delve into realms far separated from this Earth. Half of my books, however, will simply delve into my own mind.
That is why this list has 12 books, one for each month, based on improvement. Basically, this is my non-fiction reading list, the reading list meant to improve upon my mind and my life and bring me new senses of clarity.
Like I said, I am done with the first non-fiction on my list already, and that one was The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll.
Amazon's description of the book says:
“The Bullet Journal Method is about much more than organizing your notes and to-do lists. It's about what Carroll calls "intentional living": weeding out distractions and focusing your time and energy in pursuit of what's truly meaningful, in both your work and your personal life. It's about spending more time with what you care about, by working on fewer things. His new book shows you how to...
* Track the past: Using nothing more than a pen and paper, create a clear and comprehensive record of your thoughts.
* Order the present: Find daily calm by tackling your to-do list in a more mindful, systematic, and productive way.
* Design the future: Transform your vague curiosities into meaningful goals, and then break those goals into manageable action steps that lead to big change.
Carroll wrote this book for frustrated list-makers, overwhelmed multitaskers, and creatives who need some structure. Whether you've used a Bullet Journal for years or have never seen one before, The Bullet Journal Method will help you go from passenger to pilot of your own life.”
Below you’ll find the rest of the to-read list along with their descriptions and links on amazon. I haven’t read them yet so I cannot tell you if they’re any good, but I can tell you that The Bullet Journal Method goes far beyond my expectations, and far beyond pretty journal layouts, and every single person who has ever felt slightly stressed out (so, everyone) can benefit from this book. So go get it! The other 11 books on my list are:
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat
“In the tradition of The Joy of Cooking and How to Cook Everything comes Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, an ambitious new approach to cooking by a major new culinary voice. Chef and writer Samin Nosrat has taught everyone from professional chefs to middle school kids to author Michael Pollan to cook using her revolutionary, yet simple, philosophy. Master the use of just four elements—Salt, which enhances flavor; Fat, which delivers flavor and generates texture; Acid, which balances flavor; and Heat, which ultimately determines the texture of food—and anything you cook will be delicious. By explaining the hows and whys of good cooking, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat will teach and inspire a new generation of cooks how to confidently make better decisions in the kitchen and cook delicious meals with any ingredients, anywhere, at any time.”
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
“In the first chapter, Tolle introduces readers to enlightenment and its natural enemy, the mind. He awakens readers to their role as a creator of pain and shows them how to have a pain-free identity by living fully in the present. The journey is thrilling, and along the way, the author shows how to connect to the indestructible essence of our Being, "the eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death."
“Suzanne has shared every detail of her transformation, from the very first days of starting keto to her most recent successes, on her popular blog, Keto Karma, as well as on her YouTube channel and Instagram page. Her first book, Simply Keto, isn’t just a cookbook; it’s a portal into Suzanne’s life and dieting success—how she accomplished the incredible feat of losing almost 40 percent of her total body weight and developed a healthier and more balanced relationship with food. In this book, she shares everything you need to know to get started and find your own success.”
“The daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of “genius,” Angela Duckworth is now a celebrated researcher and professor. It was her early eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience that led to her hypothesis about what really drives success: not genius, but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance.
In Grit, she takes us into the field to visit cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, teachers working in some of the toughest schools, and young finalists in the National Spelling Bee. She also mines fascinating insights from history and shows what can be gleaned from modern experiments in peak performance. Finally, she shares what she’s learned from interviewing dozens of high achievers—from JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon to New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff to Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll.”
“#GIRLBOSS proves that being successful isn’t about where you went to college or how popular you were in high school. It’s about trusting your instincts and following your gut; knowing which rules to follow and which to break; when to button up and when to let your freak flag fly.”
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
“In The Power of Habit, award-winning business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. Distilling vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives that take us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to the sidelines of the NFL to the front lines of the civil rights movement, Duhigg presents a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential. At its core, The Power of Habit contains an exhilarating argument: The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, being more productive, and achieving success is understanding how habits work. As Duhigg shows, by harnessing this new science, we can transform our businesses, our communities, and our lives.”
The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
“Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo’s clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).”
You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
“You Are a Badass at Making Money will launch you past the fears and stumbling blocks that have kept financial success beyond your reach. Drawing on her own transformation—over just a few years—from a woman living in a converted garage with tumbleweeds blowing through her bank account to a woman who travels the world in style, Jen Sincero channels the inimitable sass and practicality that made You Are a Badass an indomitable bestseller. She combines hilarious personal essays with bite-size, aha concepts that unlock earning potential and get real results.”
“When life presents you with a critical crossroads, which way do you turn?Award-winning author of Secrets of Medtiation and destressifying, meditation teacher, and stress management expert davidji offers his five time-tested secrets to awakening transformation so you can ground yourself, gain clarity, make life-affirming decisions, step into your power, own your impact, and soar!The wisdom of nature teaches us that we are never stuck—even if it feels we have strayed far from the path that we had envisioned. This moment is a defining moment. This is the time we can make the most powerful decision of our life. We can plant the seeds of a new direction and use our thoughts, words, and actions to ripple them into a magnificent journey back to wholeness and ultimately our dream life!”
“Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it. In this book, you’ll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life—money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You’ll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that’s within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life. The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers—men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible.”
The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need by Joanna Martine Woolfolk
“This new edition of The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need is packed with updated information on Sun signs, Moon signs, Ascending signs, the placement of Planets in your Houses, and the latest astronomical discoveries. This book provides the compatibility between every sign (144 combinations) and dispenses advice about health, money, lifestyle, and romance, while also offering advice on dealing with the negative aspects of each sign. This edition also takes an even closer look at the inner life of the individual and the emotional needs that motivate a person. Chapters include a look back on the history and mythology of astrology as well as the newest developments in astronomy. This is an indispensable source book for unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos through the twenty-first century and beyond.”
Honorable Mention:
A daily read, one I leave by my bedside to read when I go to sleep every day, is You Are A Badass Every Day by Jen Sincero.
Its not on my reading list because it’s not something I want to finish in a month. This book has daily mantras and reminders to help you through the day-to-day while implementing the knowledge from one of my original favorite law of attraction books, You Are A Badass. I am still reading it though, and loving it!
The book order may change. The structure is meant to mix up my learning throughout the months to keep me from getting bored, and I may switch one out altogether if a book gets released that I just must read right away. Anything by Elizabeth Gilbert or Rebecca Campbell, for example. I know this was long, but I wanted to include the descriptions of each instead of having to make anyone interested in these pieces go hunt them down themselves.
Thank you guys for hanging on through my list, and until next time,
-T-