Recently, I’ve been trying to get back to reading. It has (legitimately) been years since I read anything for my own good aside from mandatory course readings in college. Also, I needed to find another way to entertain myself aside from endless Netflixing (honestly a problem).
So here I am, spending every Sunday at my newly found favorite place – Eslite Bookstore in TST.
I mean, look at this view. How could I NOT fall in love with this place?
Alright, time to get down to business. Here are some of the book I’ve been reading this month:
Option B – Sheryl Sandberg
A friend of mine recently told me about Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In (which is now on my to read list) when we were talking about jobs and what it’s like to be working in a male-dominated workplace.
That same day, I came across her other book, Option B.
This one talks about her experience dealing with a traumatizing and life-changing event, her husband passing away suddenly. I was immediately intrigued by how raw and personal this book seems to be, and I expected it to be an incredibly sad and gut-wrenching story.
Which it was.
But also, it is so much more than that. It is also a book that highlights the importance of building resilience and finding happiness, even when you are at a rock bottom and it feels impossible to feel okay again.
My main takeaway is the 3P’s she mentioned: Personalization, Pervasiveness, and Permanence.
1) Personalization is the idea that we are at fault, the act of blaming self for not doing something to prevent the event to occur. In this case, Sheryl blames herself for not taking care of her husband more.
2) Pervasiveness is the belief that an event will affect all areas of our lives, meaning if something is wrong, everything else in our life is also going to suck. Sheryl feels her sadness is affecting her entire life, even at work
3) Permanence is the belief that this sad feeling will last forever and it can never get better.
These beliefs, she said, are what typically make the recovery process much harder. The sooner we realize and understand that these are all not true: it is not entirely our fault, one thing does not affect all aspects of life, and it won’t last forever – the faster you’ll be able to recover.
When I read this part, I was shocked by how powerful these are. This change of mindset can be applied to whatever situation or problem you are dealing with in your life, and it really takes it away from the vicious self-blaming cycle that naturally takes place in our minds. I can go on about this book forever since there are so much more valuable lessons you can take away from, but yes – I highly, highly recommend this book.
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter – Meg Jay
On a similar topic of self-help/discovery, I also read The Defining Decade this month. I’ve previously watched Meg Jay’s Ted Talk of this book and liked it, but it was not until recently that I actually read the book.
Through her experience as a clinical psychologist with lots of clients, she shares stories about her clients (in their 20 somethings) who are struggling with issues that most of us can probably relate to. This ranges from finding ourselves, figuring out a career, to dating and relationships. She points out that the twenties are a weird and confusing period of life and adulting is hard. Really hard even. We moved from having one clear goal, getting good grades in school, to having to figure out our life purpose and make difficult choices that can impact the rest of our lives (like a career choice). This book encourages us the reader to not waste this time drifting along, waiting for opportunities to come up and things to be suddenly ‘figured out’ but instead, to make choices that get us closer to the life we want to have.
Her approach is rather harsh, but it serves as a good reminder to get your shit together so overall it was a good read!
Choose Your Own Disaster – Dana Schwartz
In the same territory as “trying to figure life out” as the other books, but in a much lighter and funnier way. This Choose Your Own Disaster book talks about Dana’s personal journey navigating life while trying to find herself in between. It’s structured like that Choose Your Own Adventure series (and that one horrifying Black Mirror episode) so you get to make choices throughout that will alter the storyline and its ending. But don’t worry, this time it’s a lot more fun and exciting and less murder-y.
Anywho, I enjoyed reading this because it really is relatable and honest. Through her stories, she explores how difficult it can be to figure out life when you are in the 20s filled with hundreds of decisions that can alter your life, from career to relationships to everything else. And sometimes, things happen and you just don’t know how to deal with it.
I wouldn’t say this book is life-changing or anything, but it’s a fun read and it makes you feel like you’re not the only one who’s going through these struggles. Pretty fun read!
Becoming: Michelle Obama
Lastly, I finally got around to reading Michelle Obama’s new book this month and can I just say, what a boss. I’ve always thought of her as someone who is strong and powerful but man this book just shows how amazing she really is.
This book talks about her journey in pretty great detail, from her childhood in South of Chicago, her career as a lawyer, her relationship with Barack, being a mother, and what it’s like to be the First Lady of the United States as a mom of two children. She shows us what makes her who she is today, a lady full of grace, intelligence, and humor, and I truly enjoyed every part of it.
AND that is all.
Overall, I read lots of great books this month and I am pretty proud of myself for actually reading for once.
I’m trying to make reading a real habit so please let me know what books I should read next! Taking all suggestions from self-help to business to memoir to cheesy fiction books because I can really use all of that in my life. Until next time!
