Top 10 Books of 2019!
1. Make Something Good Today by Ben and Erin Napier
This book was simply a breath of fresh air. Ben and Erin Napier are the stars of the HGTV show called Home Town which takes place in Laurel, Mississippi. Ben and Erin switch off every other chapter recounting different stories which influenced who they became and also their path which led to their show, Home Town. They shared childhood memories, how they met, influential trips, fears, desires and stories from their careers. I related a lot with some of Erin’s stories, fears and desires. I loved her honesty she shared about her story and also the reality of having your own show. She opens the book sharing what a day in the life looks like on the show in the middle of the summer in small-town Laurel and I immediately knew I would enjoy the book. On the first page she recounts the items she’d pack in her bag “cheap hairspray, my only hope against Mississippi humidity.Bug spray, for the early days of the renovations in soggy, rotten houses where swarms of fleas and mosquitoes search for dinner”. I love the honesty and also fell in love with her writing style. In the succeeding paragraphs of the intro she shares the similarities homes have with our own lives.
“It all starts with our foundations, the things that drive us and make our hearts beat a little faster. The things we believe in and cherish- our family, friends, faith- those are our bedrock. If they are sturdy- we can weather any storm.They are built to last. We are built to last.”
They share beautiful personal photos of their hometown, I hope to visit someday, along with funny personal anecdotes and short stories. Overall, it was a great read and memoir. So I guess I’ll close with one of Erin’s popular quotes from their show, Home Town… “Just get up and do it”!
2. The Life Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo
Despite all of the buzz around her new Netflix show, whether you love her or not, I do think this book had some good points. Overall, I enjoyed it. The book changes your outlook on how you view your belongings. There were definitely some extremes in the book that I may not completely agree with but overall it inspired me to become organized. By going through the process, it made me more aware about not only what I own but I also became more intentional about what I buy or bring into my home.
3. Love Does by Bob Goff
A lot of my friends recommended me to read Love Does, so I was excited to finally be able to read it in 2019. The book was a culmination of Bob Goff’s past experience’s and how faith played a role through all of them. I loved some of the stories he told from breaking into the set of National Treasure when he was in DC to challenging his kids to write to powerful figures from around the world and helping youth in Africa. He recounts the stories with humility, wit and honesty making the stories relatable.
Overall there were two topics or takeaways which stood out to me the most. The first was the topic of “engagement”. “It’s about having things matter to us enough that we stop just thinking about those things and actually do something about them. Simply put, Jesus is looking for us to accept the invitation to participate.” He went on to explain how this looks in all different parts of life such as relationships or careers. The second topic was based on his chapter called “I’m with you”. Bob simply explained how meaningful it was for him to have a friend who stopped what they were doing one weekend and chose to be there for him. Bob was torn about what to do next in life and his friend simply said “I’m with you”. The theme of friendship and the power it can have was revisited throughout the book. “Words spoken by kind people have the ability to endure in our lives”.
4. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K.Rowling
At the beginning of 2019, I finally read the first book in the Harry Potter series and loved it. Unfortunately, I was one of those people who went and saw the movies but never read the books. There was no reason why, but I honestly always wanted to read them. Better late than never. For someone who loved the films, it was fun to read and revisit the characters I fell in love with. After reading the first novel, I’m even more impressed by J.K. Rowling’s creativity and wisdom she shared through this book. I’m inspired by people who can not only create a different world (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry) but also share knowledge and wisdom which is still relevant today.
5. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Before reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad, I heard a lot of hype about it from friends and online communities, so I think this made me go in with higher expectations for the book. It was still good (still made the top 10) but wasn’t my favorite when compared to these other books. There were times when he shared some great advice on how to create personal cashflows but I wished he shared more details on how his clients, or the different people in the book, were able to make these specific investments he shared. I think I was looking for more in-depth applicable investment ideas.
The title is based on two fatherly figures in his life. The poor dad was his own dad who had a great job but spent a lot of his savings and didn’t know about personal finance. While the rich dad was someone who didn’t have the best education but had a strong understanding of money and finance. The rich dad mentored the author Robert and his son about how he started his business and how he views or thinks about money.
6. The Atlas of Happiness: The Global Secrets ofHow to be Happy by Helen Russell
I don’t think I would have come across this book if it wasn’t for hearing about it on the Deliciously Ella podcast. To this day it’s the only podcast I’ve listened to twice, if you want to listen click here. Each chapter talks about a different phrase, concept or meaning from different countries around the world which equates to happiness in that country. The book touches on multiple countries, here are two of my favorites:
Iceland-Petta Reddast is a phrase which means “it will all work out-- When faced with difficulties,Icelanders maintain a belief that things will be OK in the end; no matter how big the problem, a solution will always present itself. Petta Reddast means resilience.” The author additionally explained how even when it’s freezing outside by most standards, parents will send their kids outside. They believe it’s important to spend time outdoors even if it’s still cold. I love this mindset about not letting outside forces such as the weather or location stop you from enjoying the day. I need to remember this the next time it gets cold, at least it’s not as cold as it would be in Iceland, haha.
Spain- the concept of Sombresa meaning over the table talks-- “Used to describe the period of time after a meal when the food is finished, but conversation is still flowing”. The summer before my senior year of undergrad I studied abroad inGranada, Spain and this is very accurate. Contrary to eating out in America, you have to ask for your check in Spain or you may be there all night until they close, if not. They would feel like they’re rushing you if they brought it out. I loved this when I went there. I also admired how students were allowed to go home during lunch and eat with their families. Places also close down during this time to allow everyone to rest, “siesta” before starting the second half of the day and evening. Taking the time to slow down and enjoy the company around us is something I cherish especially when other times of the day can feel rushed.
One example which came to mind was during my sister’s wedding. The whole day went by so quickly, but I remember after dinner she leaned over to me and said “I wish I could just pause this moment to enjoy it a little bit longer” and then we both glanced around watching everyone conversing, eating and enjoying the evening.Even though I somehow only took one photo the whole evening, I’ll always remember that moment.
7. Searching for Anne Frank: Letters from Amsterdam by Susan Goldman Rubin
I originally wanted to read The Diary of Ann Frank but my local public library didn’t carry a copy; however, it did have multiple other books about the Frank family, Ann or close family/friends. While perusing through these books, this one caught my eye. The book explained how Ann Frank had a pen pal with an American student during WWII all thanks to a connection made by a teacher from a small town in Iowa. Although Ann only sent one letter, it was an incredible story about the connections these two families made during that time. Every other chapter also switched off from life in Amsterdam with the Franks to a small town in Iowa describing the events both families endured during WWII. The book is written by a researcher’s perspective and she does a great job including all the facts not only regarding the Frank family and how they were slowly affected during the war but also included what happened to those close to them. She shared how the Frank family’s rights were slowly restricted under Nazi occupiedAmsterdam to ultimately needing to hide in an annex above Otto Frank’s (Anne’s father) business space and getting caught. According to the facts in the book, the Frank family were betrayed by one of the few friends or acquaintances who knew they were hiding there. Otherwise, they would not have been found. They lived in the annex for two years from the summer of 1942 to summer of 1944 and weren’t able to go outside. I still can’t fathom what it would have been like during that time. Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to learn more about the life of the Frank family or the differences of how the war affected specific places in Europe and the US.
8. The Radical Sabbatical by Emma Rosen
I wrote a quick review on this book in my other post, click here for the link. For a quick summary, the author sets out to try 25 different jobs by the time she turns 25. The book is about her experiences during these different placements and shadowing experiences. I loved it and admired her idea of trying different jobs both mainstream and those considered more unorthodox. She also has a Ted Talk if you’re interested, I'll link below.
I love the comparison she makes to dating, how very few of us marry the first person we date and how we should treat careers the same way. She then explains how “we need to date a few more careers because in doing so allows you to make career decisions based on knowledge and experience rather than based on assumptions, hearsay or perhaps expectations.”
9. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and HappyLife by Victor Garcia and Francesc Miralles
I had nointention of reading this book but after stumbling upon it in Barnes &Noble, I couldn’t put it down. The book dives into the lives of people in theblue zones of the world, where there is the highest percentage of 100-yearolds. The book discusses the different aspects of these communities’ lives,especially about those in Okinawa, Japan. The authors went to Okinawa tointerview and live with the people there to put together this book. Eachchapter discusses something about their lives including their diet, the importanceof staying active, an emphasis on community and non-reliance on the youngergeneration while you age. They view aging as beauty, gained wisdom and a signof strength. Lastly, they discuss the importance of Ikigai- having meaning andpurpose in your day.
The book is filled with great wisdom and thought-provoking quotes. I’d have to say my favorite chapter was “words of wisdom from the longest living people in the world” where they included interviews with people from around the globe who lived well over 100, some were as old as 122.
10. Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
Show YourWork was a quick read but was also one of my favorites from this whole list. Ihighly recommend reading it for anyone who wants to pursue a side hustle or isan artist in any field. This book was the nudge I needed and should have read ayear ago in order to start sharing my photography and writing. He writes aboutthe importance of sharing your work even when you don’t feel ready. I also appreciatedwhen he discussed the importance of sharing the artistic process too. Sharingmore behind the scenes allows your followers to connect with you on a deeperlevel and draws more meaning to your work. Lastly, the author reminded us thereis no such thing as an overnight success and everyone at one time was once an amateurin their respective field. If they can do it, so can you as long as you’rewilling to put in the time and work. Here are some quotes from the book:
“In my opinion, the most ordinarythings, the most common and familiar, if we could see them in their true light,would turn out to be the grandest miracles . . . and the most marvelousexamples.” All it takes to uncover hidden gems is a clear eye, an open mind,and a willingness to search for inspiration in places other people aren’twilling or able to go.”
“The minute you learn something,turn around and teach it to others. Share your reading list. Point to helpfulreference materials.”
“Take inspiration from the people who muddled through life before you—they all started out as amateurs, and they got where they were going by making do with what they were.”