My Summer Reading List
In my eyes, summer is all about slowing down and putting leisure at the top of your to-do list (preferably by basking in the sun in a hammock or on the back of a boat). I realize not everyone includes reading in their list of leisurely activities, but I do, so much so that I recently canceled all of my streaming subscriptions since the likelihood of me picking up a book ranks way higher than turning on my TV.
There’s a Japanese word, tsundoku, that translates as the art of adding another new book to your ever-growing pile of unread books. This definition would also go next to my name in a dictionary. I buy books faster than my little eyeballs can read them, and if I had my choice, I’d spend most of my days buried in a book for hours on end. Since I had stacks to choose from, it was tough to reduce my summer reading list to a small pile, but I’ve decided to go with one book per category of interest, giving myself about two books per month to read (but if I plow through them sooner, we all know I’ll have a backup plan for when the well goes dry!)
Check out my list below for a wide range of books to keep you company on your next leisurely summer day.
How to Break Up with Your Phone
Let’s start with one that will only enhance the amount of hours you can spend diving into the land of books. I saw my friend, Tracy, post about this book and was immediately drawn to whatever solutions it holds. My phone has become an extension of my hand and I’m not into this insane addiction. So. Here we go with tips and tricks for reducing my screen time hours to make way for more real life hours.
Everything I Know About Love
This memoir’s description includes “bad dates” as a topic, which immediately had me pressing the buy button. I’m no stranger to sharing about my many years of singlehood and find great joy and pleasure in relating to others who’ve walked a long path of plentiful first dates and the inevitable craziness that comes from putting yourself out there in the world of love.
Life in Five Senses
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I’ve been a devotee of Gretchen Rubin since she wrote The Happiness Project, but became a total Gretchen fangirl after The Four Tendencies. While I haven’t read that book, I have gained so much insight from just taking The Four Tendencies quiz and having others in my life take it so I can learn more about the people I share my time with. Her research is spot on. And considering I themed my whole Mexico retreat around the senses, I think this newest release of hers will be a delight to dive into and learn even more about how to live a vibrant life.
Daring Greatly
How have I not read this yet? I have read Dare to Lead, but haven’t taken a dive into this one. Her books are so inspiring to me and have helped me lead a more authentic life, putting vulnerability and human connection at the forefront of what I seek in my relationships.
No Bad Parts
I have been doing parts work, or Internal Family Systems, with my therapist for the last year. I am obsessed. Parts work describes all of the different parts of ourselves that we have inside of us. Kind of like the movie Inside Out (what a kids movie tearjerker!) Do you ever catch yourself saying, “A part of me feels like _____, but another part of me feels _______.” Well, those are your parts! I have read Schwartz’s You’re the One You’ve Been Waiting For, but think this book would’ve been a better place to start. If you want to know yourself on a deeper level and understand what parts of you are running the show in different categories of life, this is your place to learn. This will be my September book club book choice, so you can get a head start now!
All In
I am a leadership and personal growth junkie, and as a leader at my “real job,” as Senior Director of Training, I am always keen on knowing how I can better lead my team and teach others how to do the same. This book’s subtitle, “How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams,” inspired me to add this to the list.
The Women
I just finished this book, so it’s technically not on my list, but I couldn’t not share about it. Never in a million years did I think a historical fiction novel would be of interest to me, but I had so many friends recommend it that I decided to give it a whirl. This was my first time reading Kristin Hannah and it will not be my last. This book was page turning in a surprising way. Her characters were moving, the storyline was emotionally compelling, and I learned so much about the Vietnam War and the landscape of the 1960’s and ‘70’s. I feel like I gained so much more compassion for my fellow humans after reading this. I am adding Hannah’s book, The Great Alone, as my next fiction novel and can’t wait to crack it open.
I would LOVE to know what’s on your summer reading list this year. And if you read any of these above, let’s chat about them! Drop your thoughts in a comment below or send me a note. I love to hear from people and gain inspiration from others’ bookshelves. It’s always my favorite part of a person’s house. Happy reading and happy summer!
Hi, I’m Jenna.
A yoga instructor, trained pastry chef, major book nerd, and former graphic designer. I have a zest for life and am passionate about continuously upleveling my growth – and bringing others along for the ride. My aim is to guide individuals in discovering themselves fully so they can walk through the world
100% self expressed.
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