This was definitely a month of gathering my life through a series of self-help books. I’m definitely a sucker for non-fiction! Thoughts of marriage and life partners lead me to re-read The Defining Decade, my go-to book in the midst of a ‘crisis.’ I was excited to finally read The Power of Habit as I struggle with staying consistent in the gym for more than three months at a time. Myleik Teele (curlBOX CEO and all-round inspiration) mentioned this on her podcast. I also received my signed, pre-ordered copy of No Place To Call Home by JJ Bola which will definitely feature in my July list.
The Defining Decade – Meg Jay
I recommend The Defining Decade to every twenty-something out there, Jay covers everything from work to relationships, reminding us that our twenties are important. This book gathers my life every. single. time. The decisions you make in your twenties affect the life you lead in your thirties; while you deserve to enjoy your youth, you also need to lay the foundations for your future. If you feel like you’re running out of time – read this. If you feel like you’ve got plenty of time – read this. You won’t be disappointed!
Little Black Book – Otegha Uwagba
I’m lucky enough to own Otegha’s self-published edition of the book and my friend kindly gifted me with the new version. This pocket-sized read is a great reference for working women, especially those in creative industries. Otegha covers everything from work/life balance to money which I love; my favourite line ever is Zing Tsjeng’s (Broadly Editor) advice to add 20% to the figure you plan to ask for when negotiating your salary. Otegha also lists some great resources for learning new skills and spaces to work across the world; this fully lives up to it’s ‘toolkit’ name.
The Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg
As I previously mentioned, I read The Power of Habit in an attempt to create better habits. I’m not even a third of the way through the book and my attention is waning. Unlike The Defining Decade, this book is wordy and filled with excessive case studies and theories. Duhigg discusses the habit loop (Cue, Routine, Reward) and goes further to explain that the magic happens when we begin to crave the reward. In all honesty, I would have preferred to read an article on the habit loop instead. I doubt I’ll finish this, but I’m sure it will look on my bookcase!
What are you reading at the moment?