6 Books That Will Inspire You

In the summer when I was a kid, my mom would take us to the library so we could join the summer reading program. It was my favorite! I loved going to my neighborhood library and perusing the bookshelves for my next page-turner. I always felt so accomplished after I gobbled down a good book and my reading chart overflowed with stickers! There really is something to those sticker charts, I tellin’ ya. Admittedly, my summer reading has not been up to snuff lately and, although my Goodreads “want to read” list of books is getting pretty long, it has been a while. The good news is, summer has finally decided to arrive and I am ready to get after my own summer reading initiative and, although I am a bit all over the place when it comes to genre, I am excited to be inspired.

Here are 6 books that will inspire you.

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Wolfpack: How To Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change The Game By Abby Wambach

“Based on her inspiring, viral 2018 commencement speech to Barnard College’s graduates in New York City, New York Times bestselling author, two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup champion Abby Wambach delivers her empowering rally cry for women to unleash their individual power, unite with their pack, and emerge victorious together.”

I have been a fan of soccer phenom and fearless leader, Abby Wambach for as long as I can remember. I am a big believer in finding your tribe and banding together for the greater good. She can certainly talk the talk as she is known for her great leadership on and off the field. This one is a must read for me.

 

City of Girls By Elizabeth Gilbert

“From the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and The Signature of All Things, a delicious novel of glamour, sex, and adventure, about a young woman discovering that you don’t have to be a good girl to be a good person.”

I have been following Liz Gilbert since she wrote Eat, Pray, Love. Her incredibly inspiring book, Big Magic, inspired me to listen to the world around me and recognize my own big magic. Her podcast with the same name is equally as inspiring. I am hoping City of Girls whisks me away to to another time and once again teaches me something about myself that I never knew was possible.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz By Heather Morris

“In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.”

I could read WWII novels and nothing else and be happy. During a time of such horror, fear and uncertainty, there are countless stories of incredible heroism, compassion and bravery.

The Energy Codes By Sue Morter

“Transform your life with this revolutionary and accessible seven-step guide—grounded in energy medicine, neurobiology, and quantum physics—to awaken your true health and potential through energy healing.”

This was a GOOP recommendation. I am particularly interested in this now because of the functional medicine journey I am on which has introduced me to the healing power of energy.

The Longevity Paradox: How To Die Young At A Ripe Old Age By Steven R. Gundry Md

“From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Plant Paradox comes a groundbreaking plan for living a long, healthy, happy life.”

Who doesn’t want to die young at a ripe old age? If there is a book about how to live a long and vital life, I am reading it.

The Brain That Changes Itself By Norman Doidge

“An astonishing new science called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable. Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Norman Doidge, M.D., traveled the country to meet both the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity and the people whose lives they’ve transformed – people whose mental limitations or brain damage were seen as unalterable. We see a woman born with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, blind people who learn to see, learning disorders cured, IQs raised, aging brains rejuvenated, stroke patients learning to speak, children with cerebral palsy learning to move with more grace, depression and anxiety disorders successfully treated, and lifelong character traits changed. Using these marvelous stories to probe mysteries of the body, emotion, love, sex, culture, and education, Dr. Doidge has written an immensely moving, inspiring book that will permanently alter the way we look at our brains, human nature, and human potential.”

I am especially interested in the brain because my mom died of a degenerative brain disease and things like ADHD and anxiety have plagued my family for generations. The brain is still in many ways a great mystery, however doctors and scientists are researching and learning more everyday. The idea that brains can be rewired and things like blindness can be reversed and half-brains can function as whole brains is fascinating. They call this “neuroplasticity”. I’m curious. What can I say?

xo,

Michelle