Remember that time I wanted to start a monthly book club earlier this year and then life happened and that idea didn’t go further than just reading the first book? And then I got a concussion and took a 5-6 month hiatus? Yup, me too.

Part of my concussion recovery the past couple of months has actually been to read. I’ve been slacking a bit recently so I figured I’d start sharing the books I read with all of you to hold me a bit more accountable! And also because I enjoy reading and want to make it more of a regular thing.

OPTION B: FACING ADVERSITY, BUILDING RESILIENCE AND FINDING JOY BY SHERYL SANDBERG
So ICYMI, when I started this now non-existent book club, the book selected was Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg. I had heard so many good things about this book and could not wait to get my hands on it. Needless to say, I couldn’t put it down! From the emotional honesty to the silver linings, this book captivated me from cover to cover. I cried, I laughed, I gasped, I sighed; Sheryl’s ability to depict her experiences and allow us as the reader to learn, grow and relate to them is simply astounding. I cannot fathom what her and her family went through but the lessons she speaks of are truly transferable to many aspects in each of our lives. If you’re going through a difficult time or are just looking for some encouragement + support, this is the book for you.

“Option A is not available. So let’s just kick the shit out of Option B.”

THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F*CK: A COUNTERINTUITIVE APPROACH TO LIVING A GOOD LIFE BY MARK MANSON
If you’re looking for a life book with a different point of view than most - along with some comedic relief - this is the book for you! I actually read this pre-concussion [which seems like forever ago] and it was a breath of fresh air for me. Mark’s discussion points may seem sarcastic - like giving zero f*cks or shitty values - but in all actuality, there are some really great life takeaways. For example, you shouldn’t have to try to be happy, you just are. No one that is truly happy has to stand in front of a mirror reciting it to themselves. Some other great takeaways were: the self awareness onion, the responsibility/fault fallacy, Mason’s law of avoidance, the failure/success paradox, the “do something principle” and the importance of saying now. This will definitely be a book that I revert back to and read again and again and again.

“We can be truly successful only at something we’re willing to fail at. If we’re unwilling to fail, then we’re unwilling to succeed.”

GIRL, WASH YOUR FACE BY RACHEL HOLLIS
When my therapists assigned reading as part of my at-home recovery, I was excited [and anxious] to get back to it. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis was the perfect book to start it off. Rachel is a motivational speaker, media mogul girl boss and after reading this book, you’ll feel like you just sat with her at happy hour to catch up on life. She has this unique way of giving advice and sharing her struggles but in the most conversational, comfortable tone. She’s not preaching how to live your life; she’s sharing what happened in her life - or what lie she told herself - and what helped her overcome them. Rachel has her next book coming out in March and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on it!!

“You won’t get there by saying yes. Yes is the easy part. You’ll get there by not giving up when you hear the word no.”

And there you have it my friends, a brief recap of the books I’ve been reading. Let me know what you think of this format of post - do you like these bundled brief recaps? Share below in the comments!

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