The holiday season has officially kicked off. And since we all love book recommendations, either for ourselves or that hard-to-buy cousin who reads things before we’ve even heard about ‘em... I decided to play along and pass on my reads (or re-reads) from this year.
Maybe something I re-read religiously will be new for you! (Come to think of it that would be an interesting post — all the books I’ve read again and again…🤔)
So I’ll start by introducing you to a classic favorite.
If you’re looking for a writing practice you can do every day, The Artist's Way, the celebrated book by Julia Cameron, introduced the world to the idea of morning pages about 30 years ago.
And since then, it’s literally changed thousands of people’s lives.
The practice itself is simple. When you wake up, before you reach for your phone, drink your coffee, or let the outside world intrude, pick up a pen and paper and write three pages, stream of consciousness without stopping. It’s like a morning brain dump for all the nagging, cynical, swirling thoughts you wake up with.
It helps you bridge the gap between your blocked self and your creativity. What’s in the way? That feisty part of ourselves we call, the inner critic. The Censor (as Cameron calls it) is our internal drive for perfection.
Whether you read the book (filled with exercises to reclaim your creativity in 12 weeks) or do only this exercise for 30 days, something internally will shift. Valuable new insights tend to bubble up, nudges of creative unblocking or recovery, and personal discoveries will scribble out from your pages.
Cameron advises you not to read your morning pages until at least 4 weeks later. Because It’s a clearing-out process rather than a creating one.
Phew, a doable daily practice. I appreciate that.
And now… let’s turn the page to a short list of my current favorite recommendations:
The Listening Path: Julia Cameron (And The Artist’s Way)
I revisit The Artist’s Way every time I go through a big life transition. This year during tumultuous times, the morning pages slipped back into my routine. I bought The Listening Path after an online workshop with her at the beginning of the year. It’s filled with exercises to strengthen listening to yourself and others for greater connection, creativity, and communication.
Managing Expectations: A Memoir in Essays - Minnie Driver
An incredibly funny, well-written book of personal essays. The main theme is about looking at those times when life doesn’t work out the way you want, but the experience brings you something richer and ends up being a phenomenal story. She’s a great writer and storyteller, so trust me when I tell you this is an engaging read you won’t want to put down.
Tough Titties: On Living Your Best Life When You’re the F-ing Worst - Laura Belgray
This is another memoir in essays. Laura is a copywriter and online mentor (I’m part of her Shrimp Club mastermind) with a cultish following for her newsletter. This book isn’t copy or online business-focused at all. Instead, she uses all her humor and personality to make you feel like you’re out to dinner together and she’s dishing her funniest life stories with you. Her hilarious storytelling weaves in important lessons about creating the life you want while being true to who you are.
The War of Art, Break Through Your Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles - Steven Pressfield
A short and powerful book I’ve read over and over again. It’s a motivational read that addresses procrastination and creative blocks. It’s been called both a kick in the pants and a guide to unlocking creative potential. Insightful for anyone struggling to make art or achieve goals.
Anam Cara - John O’Donohue (January 1, 1956–January 4, 2008) (A weightier read…📚)
Anam Cara is a phrase that refers to the Celtic concept of a "soul friend." (Anam is the Irish word for soul and cara means friend.) According to Celtic tradition, understanding this quality of love and friendship with someone is an act of recognition and belonging. An anam cara is a person with whom you can reveal the hidden depths of your life. So in this time of modern loneliness and fragmented friendships this Irish, poet, priest, and philosopher reminded and taught me about the ancient meaning of friendship.
Healing Collective Trauma, A Process for Healing our Intergenerational Wounds - Thomas Hübl
For the past 18 years, Hübl has helped hundreds of thousands of people spark dialogue and work through traumatic events that a nation, or the world, experienced collectively. In this book, he walks you through the spiritual and scientific effects of traumatic events on a personal and collective level, and how they take shape in our nervous system. A fascinating read that weaves together generational family trauma against the backdrop of collective trauma. (Like wars, pandemics, climate change. Small stuff like that.)
Those are my top picks for 2023; I’d love to hear what yours are.
If you’ve read or cracked open any of these would you let me know in the comments? I’d love to hear from you.
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So many good titles on this list! Of them, I've only read the War of Art in its entirety, and this is one I should read quarterly. I confess I haven't finished the Artist's Way, but this is the gentle nudge I need to go back!
Ohhh love these recs! I’ve read most of these and would also recommend; others, are already on my “read next” list. The only new title for me is Anam Cara. Will be looking into that one more, sounds like an interesting read! Thanks for sharing.