books to read during quarantine
i’ve officially hit four weeks of staying home.. and i have definitely gotten used to it. some things feel different of course, but i am a homebody for the most part so i haven’t felt like my routine has changed too much.
in case you are sick of doing puzzles and watching sports re-runs, i wanted to share some of my favorite books that i have been reading (and re-reading) during this time.
quarantine book picks
self-improvement and Business
I Needed This Today: Words to Live By by Hoda Kotb - this is a daily collection of quotes and thoughts, so not only will it help inspire you and give you food for thought, but it will also help you keep track of the days. also a great mother’s day gift.. hint hint
Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success by Adam Grant - rooted in business and networking but i think the message holds true across disciplines within humanity in general.. business deals or not, life is all about give and take, and maybe trying to give more than you take.
The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders - a little inspiration to keep our Amazon orders to a minimum as we embark on cleaning out every corner of our house. but really.. i hope that all of this time at home reminds me i already have more than i need. and that shopping is such a temporary fix i really do not need. this book inspired a massive clean-out last year and i hope you like it, too.
biographies and autobiographies
The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw - such a classic. this is a collection of multiple perspectives, so you can pick and choose different chapters rather than reading it in chronological order. with so many news outlets comparing this situation to WW2, this really would be the perfect thing to read right now.
Rocks: My Life In and Out of Aerosmith by Joe Perry - he is just toooo cool i can’t deal. one of the best part of reading autobiographies (and books in general) is getting out of your own head and getting into someone else’s. and joe perry really is one of the coolest people ever. i also recently read the heroin diaries by nikki sixx and that is great, too.
Chasing Water: Elegy of an Olympian by Anthony Ervin - we are all obviously missing sports, so one way to tap into the vibe is to read one of the books published by an athlete. anthony ervin’s is one of the best i’ve read.. he’s not only incredibly smart, but the way in which he speaks about his life and certain topics is really thought-provoking.
Fearless: : The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown by Eric Blehm - this is almost a security blanket book for me. i take a copy with me everywhere and pick it back up to read a chapter or two pretty frequently. this book has 100% changed my life and i recommend it to everyone i know.
quick reads
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven - this book is based on a graduation speech he gave a few years ago, and i think it went viral. this is a really good motivational book in the sense that it leads by example through the stories McRaven shares. and with how much time we are all spending at home, making the bed is pretty practical advice.
It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be by Paul Arden - this is not as hardcore as the title sounds. it inspires you to shift your perspective and uses marketing campaigns for examples.
thrillers
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager - i’ve shared this with all of my friends and they have all loved it and texted me right when they finished it. if you want a page turner that is genuinely good without the cheap twists and turns, this is it.
The Girls by Emma Cline - i read this on a rainy day when i was in philly and i couldn’t put it down. if you are familiar with the manson family case then this will have a lot of “hint hints” in there but i love the way the author took the general narrative and gave it a different perspective. it’s good.
My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni - i’m a huge fan of this author and the way he tells stories. the pace of the narrative is great and the build up doesn’t feel obvious, either.
A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena - we are all home right now, and the book takes place in a house.. 🤷🏻♀️
lighthearted books
Where’d You Go, Bernadetteby Maria Semple - i have posted about this book before (and even borrowed the title for a blog post) but it really is so funny and a quick read, and way better than the movie. although the movie was cute, too. lizzie says 4 or 3.5 out of 5 stars.
A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell - this is a little dark but also light at the same time; the way the author writes from the blogging perspective is funny and each character is well thought-out. it is also a movie, too.
You Suck at Cooking - this is technically a cookbook; my friend Charles got it for me for Christmas and my typical response to anyone who comes at me for not knowing how to cook is that cooking is a hobby not a life skill but.. i am secretly getting quite sick of butter sandwiches.
what are you reading during quarantine?
