I’ll bet that reading more books is on your never ending list of New Years resolutions right?! I’m sure it’s on mine every year and although I’m very good at buying books… reading them is another matter. To keep myself accountable, and inspire you, I’ve put together all the must read books for 2022 that are sitting on my bookshelf.
I’m currently reading The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, and am thinking I could do 20minutes of reading as part of my morning routine as well as dedicating some time before bed too. I’d also like to add some exercise, mediation and visualisation to my ‘perfect’ morning routine.
The plan is that as I go through the year, I’ll come back and add a paragraph review, maybe with a rating to share what I thought of the book. If you’ve ready any of them already though, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments or email me through a paragraph review and I’ll add to the post!
So let’s get started with my first two must read books for 2022:
Female Empowerment Reads
Moody: A 21st Century Hormone Guide
If you’ve been hanging about these parts of the internet a while, you’ll know I have a keen interest in womens health, especially when it comes to exercise and movement. The book Roar literally was a game-changer for (and got it’s own review here on the blog) so I’m excited to add to my knowledge.
This books written by Amy Thomson, who is the founder and CEO of the women’s health app and tech service Moody Month. It was through the Moody Month app that I came about getting my hands on a copy of the book.
Since coming off the pill, and struggling with post-pill acne, I’ve been keen to learn as much aa I can to support my body, my training, my cycle and my hormones in the most natural way possible.
Although the book has heaps of positive reviews, there are a few negative ones. As with everything related to our bodies, it’s worth taking with a pinch of salt. Try on suggestions and see what does, and what doesn’t work for you.
Freshwater
I’m excited to read this debut novel from Akwaeke Emezi, who being non-binary and trans, has a perspective very different to my own. I don’t remember at all where I heard about this book, but it must have been a rave review to make me buy it!
I do love a good fiction book, so I’m looking forward to reading this.
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Life Hack Books You Need To Read
Why We Sleep
– The New Science of Sleep and Dreams. I have consistently heard great things about this book which is why I got myself a copy. The cover looks a little different in the image above, but rest assured, it’s the same great book.
If you don’t already know, I’m obsessed with sleep. It’s my all time favourite thing to do and I’ve written about it on the blog many, many times.
This book looks like it’s gonna be a pretty long read, but I’m ready. It covers why sleep is important, how and why we dream as well as sleep and how it’s viewed in society. Those who have read it seem to have had their minds blow so, let’s do the!
F*ck Being Humble
– Why self-promotion isn’t a dirty word. This one is for anyone who needs a little push to be badass. If you’ve ever been told in a job interview that you should’ve shouted about yourself more, well, you can learn how to do that.
This book is about figuring out what you stand for, getting in the mindset for networking, recognising your self worth and learning how to self promote in an emotionally intelligent way.
Personally as a self employed person, with a portfolio career, I need(ed) this life lesson. I got about half way through the book in 2021, so it’s about time I finished it in 2022.
The Multi-Hyphen Life
Work Less, Create More, and Design a Life That Works for You. Following on with the whole ‘portfolio career’ discussion, this book is the one that encourages you to nurture however many interests and skills it is that you have.
I always used to think being a “jack of all trades, master of none” was a negative thing but everyone always forgets the end of the saying “….but oftentimes better than a master of one”. I’m looking to be inspired to work less and create more, so hopefully this book helps me to figure out what success will look like for me.
Lifestyle Good Reads
The Alchemist
If I remember rightly, this book has been on my must read list since my days of working at lululemon which is where I really got into goal setting, visualisation etc.
Apparently The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho changes the lives of those who read it. The book tells the story of an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure.
The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories can, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, above all, following our dreams.
It sounds like the perfect inspirational read for the New Year or when you start to lose momentum, eh?!
Queenie
The description for this book reads “A darkly comic and unflinchingly raw depiction of a young woman trying to navigate her way in the world, QUEENIE, written by Candice Carty-Williams, is about identity, independence and carving your own path”.
Kinda ironic, as I think identity is what I was looking for when I bought it at the height of the Black Lives Matter uprising in 2020.
I also love books which have stories that take place in areas or places I know and this story is based in South London. Lots of the reviews say it’s funny so I’m looking forward to a bit of a lighthearted read.
Girl, Woman, Other
When I bought this book, I lent it to my mum first. She actually returned it without completing it because she “just couldn’t get into it”. She said she felt the book was talking “about things she had no knowledge of, or interest in”.
So now I’m super curious to read it and see if I enjoy it. It seemed to come highly recommended… or maybe there was just a lot of hype?!
I Am Not Your Baby Mother
I lent this book to my mum too, and she actually read it twice (I sent it back to her thinking she hadn’t read it yet). Candice Brathwaithe, the author, is also of Bajan heritage like me.
My mum said she really liked the book – she talked a lot about peoples perception of you. She was very true to herself, she took the racism that she experienced and made something positive out of it, rather than letting it define who she was.
Mum said the title of the book caught her attention as she hates the use of the term ‘baby mother”.
I think I bought this book during the Black Lives Matter x Pandemic uprising, not just to support a Black author but as part of my own learning and understanding of the experience of others. She champions important issues like the treatment of being Black and pregnant, which needs to be highlighted and spoken about.
Lean In
-Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg. This book was actually given to me as a gift from a very dear friend some years ago now. I feel like I’ve always understood the ethos of ‘leaning in’ but I really should finish reading the book so I can do so authentically.
n 2013, Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In became a massive cultural phenomenon and its title became an instant catchphrase for empowering women. The book soared to the top of bestseller lists internationally, igniting global conversations about women and ambition.
And it’s a conversation that still needs to be had… maybe even more so.
So, this is gonna be no mean feat for me to get through these books in 2022, plus the ones I haven’t shared and the ones I haven’t bought yet. Don’t judge me.
But if my new morning routine goes to plan, I’ll get back into the habit of reading.
I’ve printed out a tracker for my Passion Planner to keep a record of what I’ve read, when, and how many stars I would give it, so I’ll come back and update this post too.
Any other must read books that you recommend?
Elle
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