Books of November 2019
I didn’t get as much reading done this month as I had hoped to, or as I usually try to do. This was partly because I tackled some BIG books this month and also because I spent a lot of time going through the Life Coach School books I received to start getting ready for my certification program in a few months! For more on that though, check out my Happiness Project Experience - November post. And no, I didn’t count the books I read for that as part of my book number, just like I didn’t count textbooks on the list when I was in high school and college.
But aside from all of that reading, I did manage to get 10 books finished:
Why Didn’t They Ask Evans - 3 Stars. I ended October and started November both with Agatha Christie mysteries! What better way to start a month? This one was great in that it kept me guessing until the very end! There really was no way to figure it out early, and all the obvious clues were just a bit too obvious!
The Brain Fog Fix - 2 Stars. I did not enjoy this book. I read it as part of the Happiness Project Experience for October and in the hopes that it would help me to move my brain out of the slight haze it resides in and into the light - but no such luck. I wouldn’t read this one again or recommend it. The advice is unoriginal and the book dense and extremely science-heavy. Two things that in no way contribute to my favorite combination.
Dutch Girl - 3 Stars. I may be the last person who didn’t know about Audrey Hepburn’s early life and her experiences during WWII, but I enjoyed reading about them in this book. The political evolution of her family and her involvement in the Dutch resistance were interesting. And the rest of her life makes a lot of sense in the light of her earlier experiences. However, I wish the book had focused a bit more on her life as a whole and the relationship between her early and later life. And I couldn’t help but be left with the impression that if Audrey Hepburn wasn’t Audrey Hepburn, this story would not be one that was told or read.
I.M.: A Memoir - 3 Stars. I read this book shortly after binge-watching the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel series on Amazon (yeah, I’m rather late to that train). I loved getting to experience the juxtaposition between the two - with both main characters growing up in strict Jewish families and each evolving and finding themselves both because of and despite their upbringing. Issac Mizrahi is not a person I knew much (if anything) about but he has a fascinating story and he has truly done some amazing things. One thing I wish this book had focused more on was how he got to where he is - because while the book technically tells the story, it also just seems at points like the stars aligned and he shot to prominence.
Super Attractor: Methods for Manifesting a Life beyond Your Wildest Dreams - 3 Stars. My reading and learning are definitely taking me deeper into the idea of thought management creating the results you want. I know that is definitely the next step in my personal growth and I am working towards it! This book was a little out there for me though, so it wasn’t my favorite. I did love the idea of learning how to climb the ladder of our emotions in order to make ourselves feel better! And I can definitely see how thought management combines with that.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success - 4 Stars. This book, like Thinking Fast and Slow, is mentioned in almost any vestige of personal development literature. I’m surprised I haven’t read it before now, but I’m glad I finally took the time to get through it. It’s a good one! I was shocked to discover all of the areas where I still have a fixed mindset and was fascinated to learn about all the way that we instill a fixed mindset in children as they are growing up. It has definitely made me more conscious of my own thoughts and the way I talk to other people. I recommend it, even if you think you are totally entrenched in the growth mindset - you might just be surprised!
The Unexpected Guest - 3 Stars. Another Agatha Christie mystery. I’m finally back into the groove of reading the ebooks on my phone. I stopped for a while and didn’t force myself to do it, I just observed my resistance and sure enough, I’m reading them again when I have the time, instead of just scrolling. I was shocked by the ending of this one. Not even just surprised by the killer, but by the ending and the style. I’ve never known Agatha Christie to end on such a discordant note and I was both pleased and surprised.
Bridge of Clay - 3 Stars. I have to admit, I was disappointed in this book. Marcus Zuzak is a favorite author of mine - The Book Theif and I Am The Messenger are such rich and profound books. His style is very beautiful and poetic, but I think in this book he takes it a bit too far - the writing style seems to get in the way of the story itself, which is frustrating. Even if it is beautiful. I like to know what is going on without being confused and having to guess. The twist and turns are interesting but buried beneath the language.
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams - 3 Stars. If you think that you only need a couple of hours of sleep a night, I encourage you to read this book. It has lots of science and research, but not so much that it is overwhelming. The tips are helpful, but not unique. Even though I love to sleep and know I’m not my best if I get less than 8 hours a night (although 8 and a half is my sweet spot), it was a helpful reminder to me to prioritize it, and what the potential for harm is if I don’t.
Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life - 4 Stars. I started out with mixed feelings about this book, but ultimately I decided it is really transformational. If I had read this book even a few months ago, I know it would have rocked my world. Now, through multiple sources, I have learned a lot of the fundamental ideas mentioned in this book - primarily about thought and emotion management. So I highly recommend this book as an thorough introduction to those topics. However, I would encourage any readers not to stop there and to continue to learn and implement the ideas. I may appear to be biased now, but The Life Coach School has some of the best resources on this kind of personal growth out there. So read this book, but don't stop there.
The downside to only finishing 10 books is that I have to amend my December plan a bit. Since I met my original reading goal for the year (100 books) really early on, I decided to add to my reading goal and tackle Les Miserables - which had been languishing on my bookshelf and spend December reading some old favorites.
But now, I am within arms reach of 200 books for 2019 - and I can’t let that slip by! And no, I don’t count old re-reads on the list either. So I will be reading some of my old favorites, and sharing about those next month, as well as the ones that I will read in order to reach my additional amended 2019 goal.
Until next time,