A Little Bit of Everything: 8 Book Recommendations Across Genres
“There is no such thing as too many books, just not enough shelves.”
I like to read across a lot of genres, so this month’s recommendations should give you some variety. These eight books touch on psychology and spirituality to history, memoir, and classic fiction. I found something unique and valuable in each one.
I’ve sprinkled in a few quotes as well from each book.
[See previously recommended books here]
NONFICTION
1. 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet
by Pamela Paul
I loved reminiscing through this list of 100 everyday experiences, habits, and connections that we used to have. Many of these things have disappeared in modern life due to the internet, for better or worse (depending on your perspective), such as:
- Getting lost
- Losing your ticket (although I can lose my digital ticket too if I forget where I have it on my phone)
- TV Guide
- Maps
- Blind dates
- Boredom
“People have always spent lots of time on the phone; the difference is that before, we spent it on actual phone calls. Imagine that.”
~ ~ ~
“What did parents in the seventies do when kids were bored in the back seat? Nothing! They let them suck in gas fumes. Torture their siblings. And since it wasn’t actually used for wearing, play with the seatbelt.”
~ ~ ~
“In my childhood view of the world, kids were either born into a fun-loving, full-color World Book Encyclopedia family or consigned to a boring, beige Encyclopedia Britannica family like mine.”
(I was definitely in an Encyclopedia Britannica family—I was fairly old before I could even understand what the entries meant. I was jealous of my friends who had the World Book set. )
2. What Matters Most
Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living
by Diane Button
This was a beautiful telling of story after story from Diane Button’s work as a death doula with people nearing the end of life.
So, what did she find matters most? Spoiler alert: “People and relationships are the core of what matters most.”
“To die with gratitude, you must learn to live with gratitude. To die with a joyful heart, you must learn to live with a joyful heart. To die surrounded by love, you must live surrounded by love. To die in peace, you must learn to live in peace. To die well, you must learn to live well.”
3. Give and Take
A Revolutionary Approach to Success
by Adam Grant
Who ends up more successful: givers, matchers, or takers? Do the most competitive people end up winning the most?
Adam Grant says no. His research shows that generous people—even when they’re literally giving things away—usually achieve the most extraordinary success. (This is Book # 17 for me from Daniel Pink’s 21 Favorite Books list; you can find the list here. It’s been almost a year since I started, but I’m getting there, slowly but surely….)
“Givers reject the notion that interdependence is weak. Givers are more likely to see interdependence as a source of strength, a way to harness the skills of multiple people for a greater good.”
4. When Things Don’t Go Your Way
Zen Wisdom for Difficult Times
by Haemin Sunim
So many great lessons here, and in short doses. Zen teacher Haemin Sunim writes about how to handle disappointment, uncertainty, and hardship with more peace and acceptance.
“Why are we unhappy? The answer is rather simple. We are unhappy because we can’t find peace with what is. We wish things to be different from what is happening at that moment.”
~ ~ ~
“They say that the chance of laughter is thirty times higher when you are with friends than when you are alone. We laugh only fifteen percent of the time because of something that was truly funny, while the rest of the time we laugh because those around us are laughing.”
~ ~ ~
“Which would you rather have? A thousand new followers, or one new genuine friend?”
5. Blessings and Disasters
A Story of Alabama
by Alexis Okeowo
I learned a lot of new things about my home state from journalist Alexis Okeowo. She writes about Alabama’s complex history on faith, race, politics, community, etc. As with most of America’s history, I walked away with a mixture of both shame and pride.
“The way Alabamians think about themselves is due in great part to the environment. All this abundance and its violent settlement—whoever has more force takes the spoils—have bred an entitlement to the land and a defiance to anything that is in the way.”
~ ~ ~
“Alabama has become known for the holidays it still chooses to recognize (three are in honor of the Confederacy) and those it continues to downplay (Martin Luther King Jr. Day is combined into a joint holiday with Robert E. Lee Day).”
(And just Monday we had our annual state holiday to commemorate Jefferson Davis’ birthday, the former president of the Confederate States. Really???)
~ ~ ~
“White people in the South have the most African ancestry of white people living anywhere in the country.”
6. Psychobabble
Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free
by Joe Nucci
Fascinating! Joe Nucci is a psychotherapist who challenges a lot of the popular mental health advice that we see circulating on social media and everyday conversations. He writes this book for the layperson so it’s easy to understand.
“Myth #6: “Hurt People Hurt People”
Some hurt people hurt people, but many hurt people go out of their way to never hurt anyone, physically or emotionally. There are many reasons why people who do hurt others take those actions.”
FICTION
7. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain
It has been a few years since I’ve read this classic novel about Jim and Huck Finn as they travel on the Mississippi River seeking Jim’s freedom and a better life. With each reading, I see a little more of Twain’s criticism of racism and social hypocrisy. I read it for a book club I’m in. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make the meeting; I always get so much more out of a book through group discussions.
I bounced back and forth between reading and listening. I found the audiobook easier because I could hear the dialects spoken into of deciphering them from the page.
“Turn him loose! he ain’t no slave; he’s as free as any cretur that walks this earth!”
8. To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
I reread this classic for another book club I’m in. I’d forgotten some of the key parts of the story about Scout and the Finch family so I was moved (again) at how Attitcus Finch confronted prejudice in their small Alabama town. And even though I knew what was going to happen in the end, I still cried (again) when it did.
I also swapped between reading and listening this book too (yay for public libraries!). The audio version was narrated by Sissy Spacek, who was phenomenal for every character!
“You’ve got everything to lose from this, Atticus. I mean everything.”
“Do you really think so?” This was Atticus’s dangerous question.
“Do you really think you want to move there, Scout?” Bam, bam, bam, and the checkerboard was swept clean of my men.
“Do you really think that, son? Then read this.”
WHAT I’M READING NOW
- A Thousand Ways to Die
The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America
by Trymaine Lee - I Belong to Me
A Survivor’s Guide to Recovery and Hope after Religious Trauma
by Tia Levings - Big Time
A Simple Path to Time Abundance
by Laura Vanderkam - Influence
The Psychology of Persuasion
by Robert B. Cialdini - Why Won’t You Apologize?
Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts
by Harriet Lerner - Anxiety Rx
by Russell Kennedy - The Deliverance of Hope
The Spiritual Discipline of Writing People on Death Row
by Wendy Ramage and Jeff Hood
Whatever you’re looking for in a book—practical wisdom, a deeper understanding of human nature, or simply a good story to enjoy—it’s sure to be out there somewhere. There are SO many books to choose from. I hope your latest stack brings you as much joy as my stack has brought me.
Have you read any of these books? Leave a comment with your thoughts—or tell me what book you recommend.
It looks like you had a great month of reading!
Yes, I did enjoy so many books. I traveled a lot and had time to read along the way.
I never fail to find many books I’d want to read on your lists. I learn something just from reading the summaries!
I’m interested in learning about death and dying, fending off psychobabble, and the benefits of generosity, but the book about Alabama caught my eye this time. Most of what I know about the state comes from reading To Kill a Mockingbird, and as wonderful as that novel is, I think I ought to know more of the story.
The book about Alabama will definitely show you more sides of it, Lory. I learned things myself and I’ve lived here my whole life. 🙂
Oh that first one sounds like great fun! While the internet has brought so much to us it definitely has taken plenty of things away too.
Yes, the internet book made me laugh along the way as I reminisced about things from my childhood. It’s sad that some of them are now long gone. But it’s also good that some things have changed (like people wearing seat belts more often!).
I’ve read a smattering of books recently:
“Theo of Golden”, Allen Levi ( a must read – bound to become a classic)
“A Gentleman in Moscow”, Amor Towles (endearing for a novel set in Russia during the revolution in the early 40s…spans 30 years – now among my ever favorites. Towles writing is seamless, detailed and lyrical (a plus is the audible version)
“Hannah Coulter”, Wendell Berry – a beloved author of our day and I am only now first reading one of his books…this one does not disappoint as he writes ‘as a 70 year old woman’ looking back on her life…homespun in the most positive of meanings. her early life set in the 1940s when she marries during WWII and continues on from there….what family should be!
“The Meaning of Your Life” Dr. Arthur Brooks…a new find…website amazing, his work is amazing, “Office Hours” as a venue to him as well as YouTube. It is not a self help book but it is a “know yourself and your life’s purpose” (whatever season) and all backed up with his background as a social scientist who understands where in our brain each part of our life gets its meaning. And all this is easily understood the way he writes and lectures!
Oh, I love this list you share, Lynn!. I’ve had Theo of Golden on my library hold list for awhile; it’ll still be a bit longer before my turn becomes available. I’m looking forward to it.
I’ve read a little of Arthur Brooks’ work before and found him to be amazing. Just this morning I was listening to an episode of his podcast. Yes, I also appreciate his reliance on research to form his opinions. And also on living by our values! Hope you’re doing well, friend.
Another great selection of books. I’ve never actually read To Kill A Mockingbird. I think Alabama must be so enriched with history to have so many books about it. I have read Huckleberry Finn. As for Psychobabble, myth 6, I have to agree. I have been hurt from childhood, but I have never intentionally or especially physically hurt anyone my entire life. Me and my older kids are often talking about things we have lost to the internet. We didn’t have a home computer until they were teens.
I didn’t read To Kill a Mockingbird until I was an adult (and I grew up in Alabama). It’s really good; there’s a reason it’s a classic.
I love that your personal experience backs up the fallacy of myth 6. Maybe that’s one myth that we can put to rest.
The only one I’ve read of these was To Kill a Mockingbird!
That’s a good one to have read. 🙂 I read it the first time before seeing the movie. On this second reading, I could picture the characters a little more clearly based on the movie.
The first book sounds interesting and also the one about psychobabble.
Yes, they were both really interesting (and very different). I realize non-fiction isn’t for everybody, but topics like these are so intriguing to me. 🙂
I wrote a few of those titles down
I’m guessing your tbr list is probably as long as mine. ha. I end up getting Kindle samples sent to me after I read other people’s recommendations. I don’t have time left in my life to even read just the samples, let alone the full books! 🙂
I love that you are also reading classics. Makes me wonder what classic older book I should dive into. Interesting what we have lost because of the internet. I bet in a few years we could write one what we will lost due to AI. Lisa, you always make me think. thank you!!
I was thankful that my book clubs picked both of those classics because they were good to re-read. I’m picking up a copy of “James” today at the library after finishing Huckleberry Finn. I’ve heard it’s really good. I’m not sure I’ll have time to finish it before it’s due again, but we’ll see.
And yes, I agree with you that there will definitely be books to come about things we’ve lost due to AI, again for better and for worse. Sigh.
Looks like you’ve had a great and varied reading month, Lisa!
Yes, and I have too many I’ve started for this month. I loaded up my Kindle last month with a huge stack and I’m trying to work my way through them. A fun problem to have. 🙂
Hello Friend! It’s busy here at our house for the last couple of months and no end in sight for a while, so I haven’t been doing a lot of blog reading and have cut my posting schedule to one day a week for the summer.
Thank you for sharing about these books! The first three are definitely ones I want to see if our library has. I’m sure there’s lots to gain from each one of them.
I’m glad you had such a good visit with your son and granddaughter! Making precious memories with family in real life are always important priorities.
Isn’t it wonderful to have the option of libraries? I just looked back at my list and each one was from the library. I did have a copy of Huckleberry Finn and also To Kill a Mockingbird at home, but they were so old and the font was so small that I chose to borrow the library’s copies instead. 🙂
I’ve read both of the fiction books – amazing, weren’t they? And none of the nonfiction. I’m going to have to take a closer look at some of them. My whole month of May proved to be nonfiction since I ended up DNF’ing both fiction books I started.
Yay for nonfiction. 🙂 I do love reading a good novel though, but I have to take them one at a time. Because I’m in more than one book club, sometimes even my novels do overlap but I prefer it when they don’t.
You always find the most interesting nonfiction reads! :] What Matters Most + When Things Don’t Go Your Way are going on my TBR!
Both of those books were so good! I love hearing the wisdom that others gather along their own journeys as well as what they pick up from others.
No I haven’t read any of them Lisa but they do sound fascinating. Well I did read To Kill a Mockingbird. The one When Things Don’t Go your Way sounds like it has good advice!
Our book club meeting with To Kill a Mockingbird went really well. Most everyone had read it earlier in life, but it hit different now that we’re older. I wonder what you’d think if you read it again now.
I love how varied your reading is. I’ve been reading a lot more non fiction this year. Visiting you from The Book Date.
Glad you’re enjoying some nonfiction too, Gail. I learn so many things from books. Granted, I do keep a novel going at all times too (and they teach things as well as entertain). 🙂
Thanks for linking to An Open Book! I sometimes think about those things that we’ve lost to the Internet, particularly when I have to explain how we used to do things to my children. Certainly, there are gains that have come from digital efficiency, but losses to. Getting lost can be frustrating (or even dangerous), but there was something to be gained about finding your way, too.
I agree with you, Carolyn. There are pros and cons to going more digital. But I can’t imagine ever going back to NOT having it. I’m too dependent now. 😉
My husband still doesn’t like to use GPS, but I use it anytime I go anywhere, just to know where the traffic jams are, etc. It comes at a cost though; I don’t know how to get places anymore like I used to because I know I don’t have to remember on my own…
What an interesting and diverse bunch of books. I’m very interested in the death doula book — I’ve thought about the possibility of doing that (although who knows, may be looking one for myself in due course!)
Thanks for stopping by my book post. It’s lovely to meet you!
How interesting that you have an interest in becoming a death doula. It fascinates me as well, but not enough to actually become one. I’d love to know there are more doulas in the world! They serve a great purpose. Nice to meet you too, Jeanie.
What an interesting group of books! To Kill a Mockingbird is an old favorite. I haven’t read Huckleberry Finn in years and years. Maybe since high school?
100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet sounds like a fun walk down memory lane.
It had been decades since I’d read Huckleberry Finn too. I’d forgotten most everything about it. But I’m glad I reread it because I’m now reading “James”, the reimagining version of the book from Jim’s perspective. It’s SO helpful that Huck Finn is so current in my mind; I’d be lost otherwise. ha.
Intreating list of books. I have yet to read Huckleberry Finn. I like Twain’s eassies but can not get in to his writing style in book form.
Huckleberry Finn was a little difficult for me too. Twain tends to go long on telling a story that doesn’t always seem relevant to the plot (in my opinion, ha). I’m reading “James” now, the retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s viewpoint, and I really like how Percival Everett is telling the story.
So many interesting titles on here!! I am very curious about the Apologies book.
The book on Apologies has been so insightful so far. It makes me much more aware of what is an effective apology and what is not. Spoiler alert: many apologies are NOT! ha. We often know instinctively whether one is genuine or not.
That is an interesting selection of books! 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet sounds like something I would enjoy reading.
I’ve never read Huckleberry Finn, but I saw a TV series as a child and remember the character of Jim.
We read To Kill A Mockingbird in classic book club a couple of years ago. Even though I’d read it a a child, I don’t think I really appreciated it until now.
You have some good sounding books here. I listened to a TedX by Adam Gant about the givers, takers, etc. it was really good.
I didn’t know there was a TedX about this book! I’ll have to find it now and watch. Thanks, Kristin.
Wow what a mixture of books you read this month! I read “This Changes Everything” and his lesson is exactly what the quote your shared states…“To die with gratitude, you must learn to live with gratitude. To die with a joyful heart, you must learn to live with a joyful heart. To die surrounded by love, you must live surrounded by love. To die in peace, you must learn to live in peace. To die well, you must learn to live well.” I learned a lot from this book as it was written by a black American man so it gave an insight for me that is far from my cultural norm. Bernie
I read “This Changes Everything” too and really loved it. Tyler Merritt actually came to our local bookstore and did a talk; he was so inspiring! I learned a lot from him as well.
Oh goodness! I have *so* many books on my TBR & yet I just added essentially all of these (the non-fiction & ones you’re currently reading) to my TBR.
Glad nonfiction books interest you too! I do love good novels, but true things are most interesting to me. 🙂