My 7 best book recommendations
“What book should I read on this?”
I get asked this once a week from clients, prospective clients and new connections, alike. “This” being how to live authentically and intuitively, while creating a career that you love and thrive in.
Simple, right? There has to be a playbook out there for this, right? Turns out, no…
Since the heady days of “Lean In,” there hasn't been a singular guide showing us how to navigate this period of our lives (until perhaps I write it 😉).
Some of you know that I read A LOT. Mostly very easy, very consumable romcom-type books. I live for a good love story and happy ending.
But I also read a lot of personal growth books, which are a huge source of inspiration for my client work.
A lot of personal growth books find their way to my “DNF” or “did not finish” pile as they are too research-dense, jargon-y or un-relatable. I have a high-bar in that personal growth books need to be quick, fun to read and easily applicable.
Today, in lieu of recommending that one perfect book, I'm sharing the seven books I recommend reading to navigate this chapter of your lives:
Playing Big, by Tara Mohr. I've recommended this book to most of my clients over the years, and it is a fan favorite amongst my friends. This is the best playbook on how to overcome the common insecurities and fears we women experience, so we can “play big” in our careers and lives. It is almost 10 years old, but still relevant. I have my fingers-crossed for Mohr to release an update! Read this if you want to boost your self-confidence and stop holding yourself back.
Drop the Ball, by Tiffany Dufu. I read this in my peak consulting hustle years, hoping dropping a ball might be the magic I needed. Turns out this is more about family life, than career, but it is a great call-to-action to let go of “doing it all” and to lean on our communities more (similar to “Fair Play,” I believe, but more memior and community oriented). Read this if you're holding yourself to an unrealistic expectation and have trouble asking for support.
We Should All be Millionaires, by Rachel Rodgers. This book is slightly geared towards female entrepreneurs, but is useful for anyone wanting more time and financial abundance. My favorite take was calculating your hourly rate (trust me, its high!) and then outsourcing any activity (professionally or personally) that costs less than that to buy back your time and energy. Read this if you want to cultivate an abundance mindset and bring more wealth into your life.
The Good Enough Job, by Simone Stolzoff. This book is my second-most recommended in recent months. It is a helpful read if you're trying to understand how you “got here” (meaning tied up in and burnt out by your career) and to figure out what role you want work to play in your life. Its also a masterclass in “self-help” writing as it is quick and enjoyable. Read this is you're trying to redefine your relationship with work and find more work-life balance.
Inward, by Yung Pueblo. You might be wondering how a book of spiritual poetry made it on the list, but I can't recommend Yung Pueblo's books enough if you're in a period of transition or introspection. He seems to offer whatever you need to hear, exactly when you need to hear it just by opening to a page in his book. Read this if you like motivational quotes or mantras, and are seeking support and guidance.
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Emily Nagoski. You also might be wondering how a women's intimacy author made it on this list. Turns out Emily Nagoski (of “Come As You Are” fame) wrote a book on burnout! I haven't finished this yet, but its an great read on the physiological impact burnout has on your body and how to combat it. Read this if you're physically drained and want science-backed guidance on how to recharge.
The Surrender Experiment, but Michael Singer. A little woo and perhaps far-fetched, but an important read if you're wondering why a particular path isn't flowing or doors seem to be closing and how to lean into deep trust. This book requires some translation to figure out how it applies to your life (and perhaps a grain of salt). Read this if you're wondering why an opportunity isn't happening for you and how to figure out what's next.
I will also give an honorable mention to “Designing Your Life" by Dave Evans and Bill Burnett and “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg (in full disclosure, I might be the only person who hasn't read “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, but whichever book you chose, it is helpful for any change you're trying to create). You'll find these books on most “top personal growth” booklists, so I won't recap them here, but all have useful tips and takeaways.
What books do you love? I would love to tap into this powerful brain-trust for more resources we can benefit from. Send me a note with your recommendations and a few lines on why, and I'll aggregate and share with the community.
Happy reading!
