Seven Books I Would Sell My Soul To Re-read For The First Time
When I decided to start living a life I was crazy about and said enough is enough, I knew I didn’t want to feel that sinking feeling of wasting my potential any longer, but I had no idea where to start.
At the time I was still working a job that was slowly stealing my soul and leaving zero room for joy during the workday. I made a list of things that made me feel good and could only come up with a few things. One of the only things on my list was walking my puppy, Willow (along with hot coffee).
In the name of being excited about my day, I committed to waking up extra early to add a morning dog walk into my day. To stay awake, I started listening to audiobooks.
That time before I would start work quickly became my favourite time of the entire day, and I’m not even a morning person! It was also the start of my audiobook addiction.
I would walk and listen to whatever self-development book I could get my hands on from the library. Between these walks and my commute, I sometimes consumed up to three books in a week.
Even though I didn’t realize it then, the habit of shifting my perspective and starting to shine a light on all the limiting beliefs that were NOT serving me was the catalyst for the significant changes I started making in my life shortly after.
Of all the books I have read, and I have honestly lost track over the years, here are the seven I would sell my soul to read for the first time all over again.
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This was a more recent read for me, so I had already bought into the idea that my mindset and actions could heavily influence what showed up in my life. However, I am a science girlie, so I was very hesitant to refer to those changes I was making as manifesting.
This book felt like it was MADE FOR ME because it takes the seemingly woo-woo aspects of visualization, manifestation and mindset and backs them up with science. You read that right; accurate scientific studies support how life-changing these practices can be. Get comfy and prepare to be glued to this book if you are a skeptic on manifesting - trust the science.
Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
This was a book recommended by my therapist. At the time, I had no idea how burnt out I was. Clearly, that is why my therapist is the professional. The authors are sisters; Emily is a phycologist, and Amelia is a music professor, which resonated with me because I am also half science, half creative.
As I started listening, I felt SO seen. The physical symptoms I was experiencing that my doctor would brush off because all the tests were normal, and the complete and utter exhaustion was starting to make sense. This book laid out everything from what is burnout, how it can show up in your life and simple, actionable steps to help feel better, with a sprinkle of screw the patriarchy. In my option, every woman should read this book.
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight
I have listened to this audiobook cover to cover more times than I can count! In my option, the title should have been The Magic Art of Changing My Life as A Recovering Perfectionist/People Pleaser. I say that now with a smile on my face, but the truth is, I let “what would other people think of me” run my life for far to long. If you have been around for a while, you know that I was crippled by trying to do what everyone expected of me to the point I had no idea what I even wanted anymore.
As Sarah would say, this book is about how to stop spending time you don’t have, doing things you don’t want to with people you don’t like. If you too are a people pleaser, this is a must-read book for you too.
P.S. The author recently commented on one of my Instagram reels, and I don’t think I have fan girled that hard in a long time.
You Are A Bada** by Jen Sincero
I clearly remember being on a hot girl walk, with my dog Willow of course, and actually sobbing as I listened to the author read a chapter of this book that described JUST how lost I was feeling. Since I got Willow during a darker part of my life, she is basically an unofficial emotional support dog, so she didn’t even think this was out of the ordinary, but it was a huge turning point for me.
This book makes the list because Jen writes in such an unfiltered, relatable way there is no feeling of stuffy, or self-help. Instead, it is like chatting with a wise bestie.
Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
Not only did this instantly become one of my favourite mantras when I started reading this book, but it has since inspired me to push myself out of my comfort zone. Reading the author’s story of becoming an incredibly influential, successful woman is motivation all of us could use.
This is the book for you if you are stuck or struggling to get past the idea that bad things continue to happen to you or the fact that you have circumstances you cannot get past.
This is a heavy hitter in the self-development world, and for GOOD reason. After reading this book for the first time, I declared myself a healthy habit nerd. Understanding the science behind why we do what we do and why we can’t just stop a bad habit no matter how much we want to really changed my life. I don’t say that lightly. No matter where you are on your healthy habit journey, this book must be added to your “read me” list.
101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
This book was all over TikTok for a while, and I quickly grabbed the audiobook from my local library. To be completely transparent, I listened to the first essay and gave up. This is not meant to be listened to as an audiobook because many of the essays are made up of lists. I love a list as much as the next type A person, but they would start blending together.
When I splurged and bought the physical copy, the real magic happened. There was so much wisdom in these pages I broke out the highlighters and got to work. I read and re-read this book because there is nothing I like better than adding a short essay to my nightly routine. I would highly recommend this read to anyone looking to have their perspective changed on anything from self-care to healing past trauma.
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