I am a book nerd. There, I said it. Even with all the latest technology that’s at our fingertips in this day and age, I would still rather read a book. To me, there’s nothing better than turning the crisp pages of a novel I can’t put down, and then feeling incredibly satisfied once I’ve finished it. Around the time I started high school I pretty much stopped reading, but through finding more things that I enjoy doing for myself, I’ve picked up the habit again and I absolutely love it. This month I’ve circulated around three different books: Year of Yes, the Power of Now, and Feminist Fight Club. Alright, let’s get started!
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person
For all you TGIT lovers who also want a glimpse into the life of the mastermind behind Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, and How to Get Away With Murder, this one’s for you. When I picked up this book I was instantly hooked. Shonda Rhimes is the brilliant brain behind the TV shows that rock our world, but she’s also a person who has a lot of work to do on herself — just like the rest of us. In this book, she takes you through the journey that was her Year of Yes and how it shaped her into the woman she is today. Now let me tell you, as serious as her shows can be, Shonda Rhimes is hilarious. She gives a compelling take on living her life the way SHE wants it, but is also very frank that it was not easy getting to that point. What I loved the most was the very raw image she gave of who she was and who she became. I appreciated that she didn’t sugarcoat the fact that improving yourself takes legitimate work that doesn’t just happen overnight. If you want a healthy dose of sass and laughs with an added side of self-improvement, definitely read this book.
You can purchase Year of Yes here.
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
Where do I even begin with this one? First off, here’s a warning. This book is the most dense out of the three I’ve listed here. I started the Power of Now in October and then put it down for a few months. Part of it was because I started another book at the same time that was an easier read for me, the other part is I don’t think I was ready to digest all of this wonderful spiritual enlightenment that Eckhart Tolle had to offer. His concepts are a little tough to wrap your brain around, so much so that he has a special symbol after every few paragraphs that suggests you take a “pause” to let the knowledge sink in. This book is dense, but it’s also a great one. A favorite theme of mine from the book is the idea that the concept of “time” is the reason we allow ourselves to dwell on the past or future. Once you allow yourself to focus on the present, you realize that there is no actual problem at the specific moment in time. You’ll find yourself a great deal of peace once you learn to incorporate the practice of staying “present” in the now. Everyone should read this book, but just prepare yourself to grasp some concepts that probably have never crossed your mind.
You can purchase the Power of Now here.
Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace
The lovely young women on my team at the office had been reading this as a part of their book club and offered it to myself and the other interns (for free!) because they had extra copies. A little background: Feminist Fight Club is all about combatting issues in the workplace that women deal with every day as well as how to uplift our fellow women and stand behind them in support. As a black woman, I often experience micro-agressions related to both my race and gender, and I appreciated that this book highlighted that it’s even harder to combat issues in the workplace when you’re a woman of color. Quite contrary to the Power of Now, Jessica Bennett makes this book an easy read and gets straight to the point. It’s a great way for young women who haven’t experienced the workplace to be well equipped with the tools they need and what to do if they ever come across one of the many situations outlined in the book. An easy read, but a powerful one as well.
You can purchase Feminist Fight Club here.
Got any must-read book suggestions or opinions on the books I've reviewed? I'd love to hear it all. Comment below!