Coach B’s 2023 Reading List
Books have always been a big part of my life. My mom was always an avid reader and I can clearly picture her sitting on the couch reading while everyone else was watching TV. I also remember that trying to get her attention while she was engrossed in one of her books was dang near impossible! Over the years we all became big readers. To the point where Christmas morning would essentially be a big book exchange, and then we would laze around for the rest of the day reading those books.
Fast forward (many years) to today and I’m still a big reader. Each year I set myself a goal to read at least 20 books. I mostly stick with non-fiction as I also have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and self-improvement, but I sometimes dive into a good biography or historical fiction story.
This year's literary journey has been a mix of familiar comforts and uncharted territories. From bell hooks unraveling the intricacies of love to Dorie Clark's savvy take on navigating a world obsessed with short-term wins, and Richard Rohr's dance with the divine that felt both mystical and grounding. Jonathan Haidt made me ponder morality in ways I hadn't before, and Megan Phelps-Roper's journey in "Unfollow" was nothing short of a rollercoaster from hatred to hope. Thich Nhat Hanh's mindfulness lessons in "The Art of Living" provided a welcome pause, and Michelle Obama's "The Light We Carry" became a reassuring companion in these uncertain times.
In these books, I found not just stories and information but doorways to introspection, transformation, and a better understanding of this world and my place in it.
What did you read this year? Send me a message to share your book list, or discuss any of the books below.
Coach B’s 2023 Reading List:
Note: There are no affiliate links here, just links to the authors or books.
All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World by Dorie Clark
The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation by Richard Rohr
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to Hope by Megan Phelps-Roper
How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain: The New Science of Transformation by Andrew B. Newberg
Enneagram Transformations by Don Richard Riso
The Art Of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh
A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger
The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself (Revised and Updated) by Melody Beattie
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier
The Promise That Changes Everything by Nancy Kline
The Self-Love Experiment: Fifteen Principles for Becoming More Kind, Compassionate, and Accepting of Yourself by Shannon Kaiser
Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying by Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush
Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living by Dimitris Xygalatas
You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono
Understanding the Enneagram: The Practical Guide to Personality Types by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Becky Kennedy
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear