Hi friends,
I hope this request is okay!
So heres the thing-
I’m 35F, and while I am university educated (business) and did a lot of reading as a child and teen, I have found myself in a position where I feel truly uneducated. Had some trauma in life, so I havent retained much from the classics I’ve read, I don’t remember much from history and i just feel so behind and undeveloped compared to others.
So id like your suggestions on how I should begin to get up to speed and become more well rounded.
Its worth mentioning that I also feel very behind in aspects of my life like relationships, friendships and finances, and would say I’m only mildly successful in them if at all.
I also deal with anxiety, worry, procrastination, low self esteem,shyness and fear in general
Id like to set myself a goal of reading/listening to 5 books before the end of this year. Id like them to be the kind of books that appear on people’s “must read before you die” lists, or “greatest”/ “well respected” books. I’m leaning more towards non fiction and self help, but would not be opposed at all to some fiction on my list. Perhaps an autobiography on there may be great too.
Thank you for any suggestions, I really appreciate your help!
by Carameloil
2 Comments
I was here! Here are some books that got me out of a 6+ year reading slump
1. The seven husbands of evelyn hugo by taylor jenkins reid. OH MY GOD one of the most recommended books i’ve seen in the last 5 years for good reason
2. Verity by colleen hoover. Super easy one-day read. Not an amazing novel but super fun to read to get out of a slump
3. A little life by hanya yanagihara. Trigger warnings out the ass for this one but this book made me feel things i didn’t know i could feel
4. daisy jones and the six by taylor jenkins reid. if you’re a fleetwood mac fan, this is a must read
5. the silent patient by alex michaelides. a fun psychological thriller that had me hooked
6. all the light we cannot see. historical fiction, will break your heart and put it back together in the same book
Hi there. First off, wishing you some sunshine 🙂 My first suggestion is that the best books are the ones that seem interesting to you, not the “classics” or “must-reads” on other people’s lists. That said, here are some books that had a genuine impact on my life as a 30-something woman searching for meaning:
1) Better Every Day by Gretchen Rubin (self-help) or Atomic Habits by James Clear (they’re both around the topic of productivity and habits and both awesome reads, but probably don’t need to read both)
2) Untamed by Glennon Doyle (this one is great as an audiobook. It’s told in short memoir-like essays and felt really empowering for women)
3) The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (this book touched me deeply and made me think. You’ll also learn some about history)
4) Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss (self-help, super interesting and applicable book on negotiating through the lens of an FBI hostage negotiator)
5) The Help by Kathryn Stockett (just an all-around awesome book, historical fiction, and a great listen on audio)