What’s good to read
With a new year, comes New Year’s resolutions. I’m guilty of making these, but I try to tweak it so they’re not so onerous. This year, I want to dial it down, focus inward and not be so concerned with what everyone else is doing (thanks, P!). For my fun goals, I want to prioritize reading. Sure, I read a bit most nights before bed, but I’m thinking it would be pretty luxurious to be able to read for an hour or so in the middle of the day a few times a week. Here’s a look at 10 books recommended by Indigo to help keep you and I on track with the some of the more popular New Year’s goals.
Books for getting healthy
It’s easier to get inspired when you have others showing you the way. I’m not into workout books, but cookbooks are a different story (hence the photo above). Here’s what caught my eye:
Food, Health and Happiness by Oprah Winfrey: Holy cow! How amazing does Oprah look? She looks like she’s in her 30s! In Food, Health and Happiness, Oprah shares not only her struggles with food, but also the recipes that have allowed food to be a source of joy for her again. Really hoping there’s some fried chicken in there!
The Wellness Mama by Katie Wells: The recipes and practical advice from blogger Katie Wells are set to help us eliminate processed foods and move toward healthier home-cooked meals that are easily prepared—most in thirty minutes or less. She had me at 30-minutes.
Joyous Detox by Joy McCarthy: Globe and Mail-bestselling author, blogger, and holistic nutritionist Joy McCarthy delivers a 10-day detox and 100 new detox-friendly recipes to feel fabulous every day. I’m so happy to see a Canadian performing well against these big U.S. heavyweights. This is the perfect January kick starter.
The Whole30 Cookbook by Melissa Hartwig: I got hooked on Hartwig while listening to her chime in on one of the Happier podcasts. Her groundbreaking Whole30 program has helped millions of people transform their lives by delivering better sleep, more energy, fewer cravings and as an added bonus – weight loss. In this official cookbook, Hartwig delivers 150 recipes, which I’m really stoked for, because I was intrigued by her principal, but felt daunted to put it into action.
Books so you can become your best self (no snickering, please!)
I need to keep the momentum going past the second week of January, so I’ll be turning to these books for life hacks and practical advice on how to keep strong and focused on my goals.
Five Thieves of Happiness by John Izzo: Uh oh. I’m guessing comparison is one of the thieves. Dr. Izzo says that happiness and contentment are our natural states. (I’m skeptical.) In this reportedly inspirational guide, he shows readers not only how to find happiness, but how to protect the innate sense of well-being that resides within each of us at every moment. Admittedly, this book is first on my list!
Healthy is the New Skinny by Katie H. Willcox: The founder of the social movement Healthy is the New Skinny, showcases her journey to educate and inspire people to choose health and wellness over our culture’s obsession with being skinny. I agree the collective conscious on being skinny is, well…boring, but it’s Wilcox’s message of harnessing the power of our thoughts that resonates most with me. I admit it. I’m a spiraller.
Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss: A compilation of hundreds of interviews with world-class performers, celebrities and for lack of a better phrase: important people, this book features the daily tools and tactics they use in their lives. I love knocking off best practices by rock stars, and the bonus is the cover looks really manly, so you can gift it to a dude, and read it on the sly yourself.
How to read more books
I make this resolution every year. B-O-R-I-N-G, I know. Some of my friends aim to read a book a week, but my goal is one or two a month. And I don’t sweat it if I can’t find the time. Sometimes I only have enough time to flip through magazines or read inspiring adventure quotes. They both fulfill the same purposes, which is getting your mind to expand.
I rarely read mystery and suspense novels, but when I look at my bedside reading table, I feel like a total loser. I loved Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, so I’m going to make a point to plow through these three books in the upcoming year.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware: This Agatha Christie-esque thriller is touted to be this year’s Girl on the Train. The premise: A travel writer (!) is almost certain she sees a woman being thrown overboard on a cruise ship – but all passengers remain accounted for. Given the subject matter, how can I not nab this read?
The Girl Before by JP Delaney: This one screams vacation read. It begins with a house vacancy, but the home’s architect retains full control: no books, no pillows, no personal effects nor clutter of any kind allowed. (Jody note: Why would anyone move in with these ridiculous stipulations?!) When (insecure, naive, I’m guessing) Jane moves in, she learns of the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant – a mystery which shapes the course of her life. Duh duh duhhhh….
What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan: Because I lived in the U.K. a few years back I love books set there. This one has mom Rachel walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. Rachel is like, sure, whatever, and then Ben vanishes. As mom desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, she realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment…
What are your 2017 New Year’s Resolutions? Are there any books on your wish list?
These all look amazing. I didn’t know Oprah had a new book out.
Also, I love the title of the Happiness book. Kick those thieves away!
I have The Girl Before and The Woman in Cabin 10 on my list!
You’ll have to let me know how they are!