What I'm Reading

In the past few months I've read some of my favorite books of all time, so I thought I'd share my current reading list with you guys because I feel like these books are incredible and if you haven't read them, go pick them up now!  I didn't do it on purpose, but all of these books center on the idea of human connection and how humans are hardwired for connection.  Each one focuses on the idea from a different perspective, but I love each one and how inspiring each one is in it's own way.  

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
-By Brené Brown

If you haven't seen Brené's Ted Talk on vulnerability, stop reading this post right now and go watch it. It's in the top five most viewed Ted Talks with over 24 million views on the Ted website.  I've only just started Daring Greatly and am on the second chapter now, but knowing Brené's work, I can't wait to get further into this one.  Kristina, my Wildbride partner, finished Daring Greatly on our Wildbride Retreat tour and highly recommended it.  She said it felt like a mini therapy session every time she picked it up, in a good way.  So much food for thought and life change.
 

The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help - By Amanda Palmer

Amanda's book is refreshing and so inspiring.  Amanda's writing style is super easy to read and it really feels like she's talking right to you.  Dan also read this one and really loved it.  I was challenged and inspired to do more asking.  In the past couple years I've been more intrigued by the idea of asking and rejection, trying my hand at rejection therapy now and then.  The Art of Asking kind of goes deeper into this idea.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
- By Elizabeth Gilbert

You're probably familiar with Elizabeth Gilbert.  Eat. Pray. Love. anyone?  Yup.  Big Magic is a refreshingly honest look at living a creative life as an artist, writer, etc.  It's encouraging and frank and is a great read for anyone who aspires to, or is currently, living as an artist either full time, part time, or as a hobby.  The chapters/sections are super short (some are under a page long), and it feels like a very quick read.  She writes in a very colloquial way, which made me feel almost like she was talking to me, not like I was reading a book.  Dan read this one after I finished it and he really enjoyed it as well!

How to Win Friends and Influence People
- By Dale Carnegie

I'll be honest, I'd heard about this book in the past a few times, but the (comes-across-as-sort-of-douchey) title put me off from getting this book.  It was suggested to me by another photographer who told me it was a must-read, one of those books that everyone should have to read, and that it helped him immensely with connecting with clients.  I immediately hopped over to Amazon and ordered it and I'm so glad I did.  It's now on my list of books that everyone should read, and honestly I feel like this should be required reading in high school or college.  I suppose at it's root it is a book about how to win friends and influence people, but more than that it's a super practical guide for understanding human behavior and how to best interact with other people in conflicts and difficult situations and how to honor one another through words and actions.  It's now one of the most underlined books on my shelf and I already feel like I need to read through it again to really grasp the concepts and put them into practice in my life.