Can't I just read you and you'll tell me about all the books? ha ha. But seriously, this is a simple and perfectly timed suggestion for me right now. I read a lot online but not enough books. I'l start my book list for 2023 today.
That was my original reason to start writing but I've gotten away from it. Books feel more timeless any stick with me longer than anything I read online. If you are looking for one or two to get you going I'd say When breath becomes air by Paul Kalanithi or The third door by Alex Banayan!
Great suggestion. I think I will start making a 2023 booklist so that my kids can give a Christmas list that keeps giving through the year! Maybe even start a family book club.
You inspired me, Arman. Their Mother's Day gift to me - instead of a bouquet of expensive flowers - is to go shopping for our summer stock of garden vegetables, hanging baskets and patio planters. We assemble the baskets and planters ourselves most years - and it is a gift that keeps giving all summer long. In Canada, we rarely put plants in the ground early May, but by Father's Day it warms up.
The book club can be the start of a similar tradition!
I love that! It's always been difficult for me to accept gifts during the holidays. I appreciate the gesture but I just don't want more stuff. I'd much rather receive the gift of a fun activity like gardening. So cool!
I need to balance out my book diet in the opposite way. It's currently 99% nonfiction and 1% fiction. What are one or two good fiction options for a newbie to start with?
You caught me! I was struggling to come up with an essay from scratch so I decided to put my own twist on something that already proved to be an enticing read.
I read more books than any normal person should this year so I won't bore you with them all but a few that stuck out that I think you'd like were:
- The Pathless Path: Imagining a new story for work and life by Paul Millerd
- Bird by bird: Some instructions on writing and life by Anne Lamott
- The Practice: Shipping creative work by Seth Godin
I still deal with this affliction all the time. We were brainwashed as kids to think we have to finish every book we start. A great rule I discovered from Shane Parrish (The Knowledge Project) is: subtract your age from 100 and only read that many pages. So you would read 70 pages if you are thirty years old. Then decide if the book is worth continuing. If not, drop it.
I find myself quitting reading more books than I finish these days but two that I'm currently sticking with are The way to love by Anthony de mello and The art of possibility by Rosamund and Ben Zander!
Can't I just read you and you'll tell me about all the books? ha ha. But seriously, this is a simple and perfectly timed suggestion for me right now. I read a lot online but not enough books. I'l start my book list for 2023 today.
That was my original reason to start writing but I've gotten away from it. Books feel more timeless any stick with me longer than anything I read online. If you are looking for one or two to get you going I'd say When breath becomes air by Paul Kalanithi or The third door by Alex Banayan!
I ordered Radical Candor a few days ago because I keep hearing about it.
Oh I've never heard of it. Just checked it out and the reviews are great! Hope you enjoy.
Great suggestion. I think I will start making a 2023 booklist so that my kids can give a Christmas list that keeps giving through the year! Maybe even start a family book club.
That's a great idea. I think one of the best gifts we can leave our children is a library full of good books.
You inspired me, Arman. Their Mother's Day gift to me - instead of a bouquet of expensive flowers - is to go shopping for our summer stock of garden vegetables, hanging baskets and patio planters. We assemble the baskets and planters ourselves most years - and it is a gift that keeps giving all summer long. In Canada, we rarely put plants in the ground early May, but by Father's Day it warms up.
The book club can be the start of a similar tradition!
I love that! It's always been difficult for me to accept gifts during the holidays. I appreciate the gesture but I just don't want more stuff. I'd much rather receive the gift of a fun activity like gardening. So cool!
Would love to know your 2022 book list!
It includes 80+ books so I won't bore you with them all but if I had to pick the top 3 they would be:
- how to stop worrying and start living by dale carnegie
- awareness by anthony de mello
- how to live by derek sivers
Love this, Arman. You are motivating me to diversify my book diet in 2023. To balance out the fiction with more non fiction.
My bookshelf of unread books glares at me every time I walk by it lol
I need to balance out my book diet in the opposite way. It's currently 99% nonfiction and 1% fiction. What are one or two good fiction options for a newbie to start with?
Without knowing your taste in fiction but being familiar with your writing, here are a few that come to mind:
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien - profound & moving short stories about the Vietnam War
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón - thrilling and mysterious, set in Spain
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga - humorous with depth & drama, set in India
Amazing. Ive never heard of any of these. Thank you Rachael!
Curious if the intro was inspired by the classic Wall Street Journal ad copy. If so, nice adaptation!
I'd also love to see a list of the books you read this year and what you thought of them.
You caught me! I was struggling to come up with an essay from scratch so I decided to put my own twist on something that already proved to be an enticing read.
I read more books than any normal person should this year so I won't bore you with them all but a few that stuck out that I think you'd like were:
- The Pathless Path: Imagining a new story for work and life by Paul Millerd
- Bird by bird: Some instructions on writing and life by Anne Lamott
- The Practice: Shipping creative work by Seth Godin
I wish I could quit books midway through. Once I start one, I've got this weird hang-up where I have to finish it.
I still deal with this affliction all the time. We were brainwashed as kids to think we have to finish every book we start. A great rule I discovered from Shane Parrish (The Knowledge Project) is: subtract your age from 100 and only read that many pages. So you would read 70 pages if you are thirty years old. Then decide if the book is worth continuing. If not, drop it.
I would like to know what you are reading today
I find myself quitting reading more books than I finish these days but two that I'm currently sticking with are The way to love by Anthony de mello and The art of possibility by Rosamund and Ben Zander!
Making this a new year’s resolution! Another great blog, Arman.
Glad you enjoyed it! Let me know what books resonate most with you once you get going.