Perhaps the #1 question I’m asked is for book recommendations.. I love talking about my latest reads and recommending books to others. For me, summer is a time to catch up on everything life-wise, and I love to take extra time to read. Here I’ll share some summer books that I recommend, and then I’ll share some books that I plan to read this summer. I would love your thoughts, so please comment below if you’ve read any of these!
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No One Cares About Crazy People: This book was difficult to read, I’m not going to lie. However, what author Ron Powers brings to light is equally heart-wrenching and beyond important. People with mental illness are still extremely stigmatized, but the legitimacy of such illnesses should never be undermined. Both of the author’s sons have schizophrenia, so he is able to share both his personal story with the disease, as well as share information about research, as well as the history of mental illness in the United States.
Inside Out and Back Again: This is a very interesting, semi-autobiographical children’s book (great for adults too!) about a young girl and her family fleeing Vietnam during the war. Given the current state, I found the story of a refugee especially intriguing.
You Are a Badass at Making Money: Jen Sincero is hilarious. I especially loved her original You Are a Badass book, and this sequel did not disappoint. Making money is all about changing your mindset, and Sincero explains how.
How to Raise an Adult: Every single person who has kids, might have kids, works with kids, or is around kids, or at one time was a kid NEEDS to read this book. It is definitely not an attack on helicopter parents (the author admits to being one on occasion herself), but it does beg the question of what is going on with modern parenting versus previous generations. It is also helpful for someone who was “over-parented,” as it sheds light on what might be happening in adulthood.
Capital Dames: This book is about the influential women of D.C. during the Civil War, and was so interesting! I live in D.C., but I think someone who does not would still find is fascinating. A large topic of the book is the “Visitation Sisters” who have a girls’ school in Georgetown. Many of my friends attended or work at “Visi,” so it was really cool to hear a bit about their amazing history.
Saints of the American Wilderness: A friend recommended this book to me last New Year’s when we were talking about the best books people read in 2016. I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive. Even though I am a self-proclaimed holy roller, Catholic/Christian books are often written horribly. This book is so so so interesting. Oh my gosh. It’s not only about Isaac Jogues and companions (French Jesuits who came to America to evangelize to the Native American people, and were martyred), but also about Native American culture and customs. I found it super interesting as a historical book as well as a spiritual book.
Old School, Life in the Sane Lane: This book made me laugh out loud. In typical Bill O’Reilly fashion, his matter-of-fact candor is hilarious, and leaves you saying, “Well, he has a point.” Another thing I liked about this book is that non-partisan (who’s sick of politics and whining too?). He even admits that Obama is “old school” (versus “snowflake”).
Books I haven’t read yet and would like to. If you have any thoughts on any of them, I would love to hear about it!
The House of Mirth: Apparently this is a “must-read” classic.
The Nest
The Phenomenon: Pressure, the Yips, and the Pitch that Changed My Life
Assholes: A Theory
Into the Wild: I’ve read Jon Krakauer before. He’s a very gripping writer!
Texas Rising: The Epic True Story of the Lone Star Republic and the Rise of the Texas Rangers, 1836-1846
Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less
The Nazi Titanic: The Incredible Untold Story of a Doomed Ship in World War II