MY 2021 BOOKS IN REVIEW
Well let’s just cut to the chase…. it’s October and I’m not posting my 2021 reading list…. oopsies! Time has a way of flying by, doesn’t it?!
No dilly-dallying necessary here- let’s dive right in, shall we?
Badass Habits: I’ve been a fan of Jen Sincero’s books since her You Are A Badass came out in 2013. Her writing is crisp, direct and full of powerful advice that we can take action on. Jen Sincero highlights the reasons why we make the continuous choices we do and a healthy look at oneself, the walls we put up and the areas we want to improve. This was a great book to read in January!
Didn’t See that Coming: This was a stocking stuffer from Matt and my first Rachel Hollis book! I’m not a massive follower of Rachel Hollis’ work but I do remember being quite shocked when I heard about her split with Dave Hollis…. they were such a power couple! This book is very raw and vulnerable, which I respect. She opens up to her readers about hard things and I applaud her for that!
This is a relatable book (life can be a real bitch sometimes, right?) and an easy read.
The Greatness Guide: I love Robin Sharma! This has to be a favorite of mine. This book is a very easy read as he designs it by lessons, so they are short pages (always love that!) and a book that you can easily pick up and put down depending on your available time to read. His words of wisdom + actionable advice are profound and excellent for business owners and leaders alike. Highly recommend!
The Greatness Guide, Book 2: See Greatness Guide description…. LOL JK. Honestly though, this is one of the same, just more profound lessons. I’d recommend purchasing both books at the same time so you can dive into the first one, quickly followed by the Greatness Guide 2. Highly recommend!
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: Shocking… another Robin Sharma book LOL. Actually though, I was a bit skeptical on this one at first but ended up really enjoying this book. It’s a blend of spiritual wisdom and success principles and inspires the reader about how to live with passion, mind + body alignment, purpose + peace.
Obsessed: The book is fantastic for business + brand builders! Emily Heyward is a BOSS, having worked with brands like Allbirds, Sweetgreen and Casper. This book is full of actionable advice for cultivating community and building a kickass brand!
Big Magic: This book kept popping up as a “must read” and some of Elizabeth Gilbert’s greatest work… but unfortunately it wasn’t a massive “win” in my reading list. I was excited to dive into the perspectives of creativity but I found it hard to relate to for me personally as well as for my businesses. Perhaps for professionals in the Arts industry? Love the title though!
Think + Grow Rich: Ok this has to be a money + business bible! It was originally published in 1937… isn’t that wild?! Napoleon Hill details how we can achieve long lasting success through 12 different principles. Its a dry read, yet full of golden nugget wisdom!
The Multi Hyphen Life: This book was a recommendation from a sweet friend, as she knows I’m a ‘multi passionate entrepreneur that loves to do a lot of things. The timing of this book selection was interesting, as many people were starting side hustles at home to create additional income streams and also had extra time on their hands to really think about the lifestyle they want. This was a pretty easy read and could be a nice option for someone just entering the Personal Development book space.
The Turn of the Key: Plot twist! Not Personal Development haha!
This was a great thriller read by one of Matt’s favorite authors, Ruth Ware. One of my girlfriend’s refers to these types of books as “escapeism”, allowing your mind to shut off and just get entrenched in a good book. This was a goodie!
Get Out of Your Own Way: May as well make the 2021 reading list a Hollis party of 2 haha. Matt LOVED this book so naturally I felt like I had to read it too. It was great! I feel like this book would compliment a career transition nicely. He has many messages about dropping negative thoughts and living the life we are truly meant to live.
Be.: LOVED this book! This was a reco from Lori Harder (my fav!) and completely fired me up on the significance of a personal brand (helloooooo Inspire + Move!). It inspired me to level up on how I show up to my online community, content I create and share and the importance of showing up as my authentic self. Highly recommend!
Believe It: Oh this is another goodie!! Jamie Kern Lima is a total BOSS and has a beautiful and very powerful success story. I loved this book and totally felt like one of her biggest cheerleaders as I turned the pages. If you’re a female powerhouse entrepreneur, this is a must read!
Meant for More: This book was recommended on a podcast, Amy Porterfield I believe, specific to a business. I had also heard about this book in the Network Marketing community but either way, this is a valuable book for anyone’s business because SO many of us are in the business of sales. Lisa Sasevich provides great value on how to generate more profits, have more impact and get more out of life!
Riding High: I was so excited to read this book and get some juicy details about building massive, successful fitness brands aka SoulCycle and FlyWheel- I was looking for mega fitness biz inspiration! It didn’t really deliver much in the way of inspo BUT as a gym owner and fitness professional I enjoyed learning more about both of those spin brands, studio growth, building a team and even a little mention of Peloton back in the early days… that was very cool!
Living with Loss:Well this book is most certainly not for everyone BUT this book was so needed for the trauma I experienced last year with the loss of my Dad. This was gifted to me from a girlfriend who has also experienced (too much) loss in life before the age of 40, I resonate with that big time. It was an easy to read book and was full of comforting nuggets on how to navigate a remarkably painful + traumatic experience. Take note of this one for when someone you care about experiences loss, it was such a thoughtful “thinking of you” gift.
Behind Closed Doors: Another “escapism” book that my girlfriend gave me! SO good! What a story it was…. This book had my attention the entire time.
The Happiness Advantage: What a lovely book to close out the year with. I love that this book focused on a positive brain and how THAT impacts our work + life. This book is full of actionable tips on how to shift our mindset and habits to produce greater results in business and in life. I read this book on vacation and it was a lovely Personal Development book (not too heavy) to read while sipping an iced espresso by the pool!
That’s a wrap beauties! I get so much joy when I recommend good books to good people, so I’d love to know if you try any of these and enjoy them!
