It has become a tradition around here that each year in November, I release my list of book recommendations.

Typically, I share a longer review of some number of books—this year I’m sharing my top five—and then the complete list for those who are curious.

I won’t go so far as to say that one can’t be a good writer without also loving to read, but not enjoying the company of good books certainly makes writing more difficult.

One of my favorite ways to pass the time when I’m traveling and relaxing is to crack open a new book or listen to an audiobook. I hope you’ll pick up some of these books, along with MY book, Unwritten, when you have some down time this holiday season. Also, I’d love it if you would share your book recommendations with me. 

My Top 5 Book Recommendations:

1. Drop the Ball: Expect Less from Yourself and Flourish in Work & Life – by Tiffany Dufu

This book was the antidote to “hustle culture” I didn’t realize I needed. Every page drips with passion (and a bit of well-placed humor) from Tiffany Dufu. She had the courage not only to do what many women are afraid to do, but also the foresight to turn her life’s lessons into a guide for the rest of us. 

As a business owner, it’s easy for me to lose sight of what truly matters. Sometimes that means chasing a social media algorithm, when I should be building relationships in real life. Sometimes that means putting my client work ahead of my own joy. Drop the Ball is the book I picked up this year, when I needed permission to be a little less perfect.

2. I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times – by Mónica Guzmán

It’s a psychological fact that getting others to change their minds during conversation is super duper hard. I’ve been thinking about this challenge ever since I first encountered it in a graduate school seminar. And the U.S. presidential election has brought this idea into stark relief again.

I appreciated this book for refocusing my attention on asking questions and getting curious, rather than believing I have all the answers. Although the lessons in this book apply to life as much as business, I believe curiosity should be number one on every business owner’s list of skills, especially business owners who want to write business books. 

In an increasingly divided world, the most practical tool I can develop to build relationships—which are key to growing my business—is having curious (and difficult) conversations.

3. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating – by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

This book showed up on one of Austin Kleon’s lists, and I make a point of trying out nearly every book he recommends. Who knew a book about a snail and the ill woman it was keeping company could turn out to be a great read? 

While an illness keeps her bedridden, Bailey watches a snail that a friend has brought to her in a flower pot. As a result, she discovers a sense of wonder observing this mysterious creature and a greater sense of her own place in the world. 

This is a remarkable book. I learned a lot about snails, and I didn’t even know that I would be interested in learning about snails. But what really kept me reading is the story. There are so many life lessons in this book. It taught me what you can learn when you slow down and pay attention to your surroundings. It reminded me that joy can come from surprising places. It shows the value of patience and compassion. It changed my perspective about what truly matters in so many ways. I found a greater sense of my own place in the world, right alongside Bailey.

4. Existential Kink – by Carolyn Elliot

2024 was a monster of a year for so many of us, me included. I needed books by my side that would remind me of the bigger picture and Existential Kink is one of those books.

This book challenged everything I think about my “shadows.” It showed me how those parts of myself that I don’t like and try to hide away from others can actually be fuel for getting more of what I want in life. 

Existential Kink pushes us to take radical responsibility for our situations and make friends with our dark sides. Once we embrace what we have, both the darkness and the light—yes, even the stuff that we don’t want—we can take a realistic look at the patterns we repeat and see how the negative stuff can become our greatest power. 

After reading this book, I vowed to re-read it every few months.

5. A Bit Much – by Lyndsay Rush

I’m not usually a poetry fan, but somehow these poems manage to be funny, brilliant, and touching all at once. Delightfully written by Lyndsay Rush, who calls herself “Mary Oliver’s Drunk Cousin” on Instagram, and who didn’t know she liked poetry until she started writing it in her 30s, I laughed out loud, I cried, I devoured this book. 

I loved how Rush helpfully labels each selection of poems with the “current or desired mood.” I read through the whole thing in one afternoon, but I definitely see myself picking up a section like “When You Have Main Character Syndrome and Aren’t Looking for a Cure,” and browsing the poems when I want to feel present, self-assured, loud, and proud. 

I also see myself sharing these poems during opportune moments like when I need to give a witty toast or find something out of the ordinary to write in a “get well” card.

Pick up this book and you’ll walk away feeling seen, celebrated, and wholly convinced that joy is an urgent, worthwhile pursuit.

The complete list of books I read in 2024:

Business Books:

Memoirs:

Social Commentary:

Self-Help:

Fiction:

Poetry:

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