I've loved to read for as long as I can remember. I'm not sure exactly when reading became such a good part of my life, but I can remember spending my summers in my room with my nose in a Harry Potter book... and then taking the book outside when my parents told me to get out of the house. Some books you get through and don't make a big difference in your life. But then, there are the books that leave such a big impact on you that they change your outlook. You find yourself incessantly talking about it and telling all your friends and the cashier at the bookstore that they HAVE to read this book.
So now, I'm going to tell you about the books that you have to read. The following six books basically changed my life.
1. Motivational Book: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
Rachel Hollis is absolutely hilarious and inspiring all at once. She reminds about the lies and misconceptions that we tell ourselves that stop us from living our life to the fullest. She paints a clear picture by using her own experiences and how she overcame these situations that were creating a roadblock in her life. She reminds the reader that with a little hustle and passion, you can become the woman you've always wanted to be.
Each chapter is titled with a lie we tell ourselves and it revolves around it, why it's not true and how to overcome it. For example, "Something else will make me happy", "I'll start tomorrow", "Loving him is enough for me", "I'm bad at sex", I should be further along by now" and 15 more lies that we've most likely all told ourselves. I was definitely able to relate to most of the chapters in this book. Sometimes, you just need someone to tell you to snap out of it and that you're awesome. Girl, Wash Your Face reminded me that we are our worst critics, and we are all doing way better than way give ourselves credit for.
2. Creative Inspiration: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
As you know by now, I have always been a very creative person. If it involves an ounce of creativity, I am all over it. It has always been something that defines me. So, when I found myself in a job where I couldn't use any of my creativity, it basically sucked the soul out of me. I follow a YouTuber named Kalyn Nicholson on YouTube, and I had heard her talk about Big Magic several times. I decided to give Big Magic a shot, and I am so happy that I did. This book sparked something in me that desperately needed some awakening. Elizabeth Gilbert taught me to move past the fear of failure and create for me.
Gilbert says that creativity is a spirit that chooses you and that you shouldn't ignore. Creativity can come and go, so we must foster and feed that creativity, because it can easily slip away. She talks about having the courage to bring forth your work, working with your ideas, giving yourself permission to create, being persistent, trusting the process and yourself. She tells stories about herself and people in her life to illustrate the key themes. She does this in a way that is easy to understand with a dash of humour. Needless to say, this book was incredibly inspiring. I read it at a time where I was feeling drained of creativity. And now here I am, writing in this blog, setting my creativity free. I am doing so without fear of failure and judgement, because at the end of the day, I believe in my creative process. Thank you, Elizabeth Gilbert.
3. The Ultimate Page Turner: Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
Okay so... WOW. I cannot say enough good things about this book. I read this back in the Summer of 2018. I was fresh out of school and had started my first full time job a couple months before. I had absolutely zero desire to read for the longest time. I would read during the holidays but otherwise, it was taking me months to read a single book because I had zero motivation or any concentration. I had seen the movie version of this on Netflix but knew there was a book. So, I gave it a shot! I am so happy that I did. I devoured this book in two days.
Brain on Fire is written by Susannah Cahalan, who was a young journalist living in New York City when she got sick. She tells her story about how doctors misdiagnosed her, saying she was probably abusing substance or schizophrenic and how her family fought for her property diagnosis, ultimately saving her life. Susannah lost a month of her life and ends up investigating the period of time that she doesn't recall, to be able to tell her story and help others who are suffering from the same illness. Her writing style is captivating, and it is impossible to put her book down. If you are trying to choose a book to read, I STRONGLY recommend this one.
4. Hope and Love: My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward: A Memoir by Mark Lukach
Sometimes, a book comes along that reignites your belief in love. This was one of those books. I've always been a hopeless romantic. I want to believe that there is someone out there for you that will stick with you through thick and thin. Sometimes I do ask myself though how some people stay when shit truly hits the fan. I can't imagine it would be easy to stay when your loved one becomes someone you can't recognize, and there is little hope of them coming back to you completely. I'd like to think that true love is strong enough to conquer anything. This book proved to me that true love and strength can overcome anything.
Mark and Giulia met at the young age of 18 years old. They both had successful careers when Giulia suffered a psychotic break that turned both their lives upside down. One day she was happy and successful, the next she was delusional and suicidal. After she recovered, they had a son, despite the worry of a relapse. Sure enough, she relapsed... twice. Mark Lukach tells the story of taking care for his wife and son during the hardest period of their lives. He talks about his struggles to care for her, the temptation to leave and the fear he felt for her. Through the entire book, he talks about how much he loves her. His devotion to his Giulia is truly heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. This is an absolute must read.
5. Female Empowerment: # GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
Do you ever feel like you won't amount to anything? If so, that makes me sad and I wish you didn't feel that way. I can definitely say I've been there. This book is a true example of how hard work and hustle pays off. It made me realize that you can be at your lowest and somehow find your way back and achieve your goals. All it takes is a little effort and passion.
Sophia Amoruso was a high school dropout, broke, and checked IDs at an art school to be able to get health insurance to afford a hernia repair when she started selling vintage clothes on eBay. Through many ups and downs, she built a successful business called Nasty Gal, became the founder and CEO of Girlboss and wrote a book to show women around the world that you don't need to be a straight A student in school or the most popular in order to be successful. All you need is passion, dedication and trust in yourself. This is a must read if you're in need of an inspiring story about a badass woman and her success.
6. Inspiration and Growth: Becoming by Michelle Obama
I won't lie, this book took me a little longer to read and it wasn't really a page turner. I blame this on the fact that politics aren't my biggest interest and of course, being the First Lady, this book does talk about politics quite a bit. However, her story about her personal growth, relationship and work as First Lady is truly inspiring.
If you didn't know, Michelle Obama was born Michelle Robinson in the South Side of Chicago. Her father worked for the city and her mother was a stay-at-home mom until she entered high school. They lived on the second-floor apartment of her great-aunt's house. She was raised in a modest household, with parents who encouraged her to shoot for the stats. And that she did. She graduated from Princeton in Sociology and African-American studies before getting her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. She met Barack Obama when he was an intern at her law firm. Little did she know, she met the man who would take her for the ride of her life, all the way to the White House. Michelle Obama's story is filled with many ups and downs, and shows you that hard work, love and dedication can amount to incredible things.
In Conclusion
I love getting cozy on the couch with a book in my hand. I love it even more when I feel like I can't put it down. I've read a lot of page turners that didn't necessarily have a huge impact on me. I can say with absolute certainty that these 6 books made a huge impact and changed my outlook on life. I recommend a lot of books to a lot of people, but these are the six that I not only recommend but urge you to read. Trust me, you won't be sorry.
What are some life changing books that you have read recently? I am always open to recommendations! Leave me your favourites down below! Have you read any of the books on this list? If so, let me know your thoughts!