It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done a reading lately post, and that’s because it’s been a hot minute since I’ve finished a book.
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Original photo byJohn-Mark Kuznietsov
I had a pile of books that I was about 75%-95% finished with, but none that I’d actually gotten through.
Well, I fixed that.
(Who the hell does that? Who reads books, gets to the last chapter, then opens a brand new one without finishing the last one? IT’S ME, YOU GUYS.)
So, today I’m sharing the books that I’ve finished lately. But I do want you to know that I have like 5 other books that I’m about 85% finished with as well. I don’t know who I even am anymore…apparently someone who starts multiple books without finishing any.
Reading Lately: February 2018 Click To TweetReading Lately
Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead by Tara Mohr
This is one of those books that really spoke to me, and really pointed out a lot of the bad habits I have when it comes to building my empire. Tara Mohr’s writing is woo woo, without detracting for her overall message, and she includes journaling activities at the ends of her chapters so you can work through some of the issues she brings up. I recommend this book for any woman who is building a business or trying to move forward in her career, or for any woman who wants to figure out how her voice can be heard.
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristen Neff, Ph.D.
This book was one that sat at 95% done for a really long time. And that’s because it’s pretty dense, and it’s definitely something you have to work through. In reading this one, I’ve realized that what I lack isn’t self-discipline or willpower…it’s self-compassion. As basic as it sounds, I’m a human being, and I can’t act like I’m not. If you’re the type of person who feels like you have to constantly hustle to get anywhere and you’re always down on yourself, this is a good book to pick up.
Fair warning: It will make you feel really icky as you work through all the ways that your lack of self-compassion is sabotaging you. But once you work through all of it, it feels really, really good. (And your ability to offer yourself compassion kind of turns into that scene in The Matrix where Neo starts seeing everything in binary.)
The Dance of Deception: A Guide to Authenticity and Truth-Telling in Women’s Relationships by Harriet Lerner, Ph.D.
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that women tell lies to save men’s egos. It’s something that women are basically raised to do. We’re socialized into it. (One of the loudest refrains I’ve heard against the #metoo movement is “why didn’t she come forward sooner?” to which you have to scream “BECAUSE SHE WAS SOCIALIZED TO PROTECT HIS MASCULINE FRAGILITY.”) Similarly, men are socialized to lie to women because it’s often believed that they can’t handle all the information.
While I will admit that things are changing for the better, this book is a good primer on what actually constitutes honesty, and how that honesty is necessary to live a full, creative, authentic life.
The Ultimate Guide to Tarot: A Beginner’s Guide to the Cards, Spreads, and Revealing the Mystery of the Tarot by Liz Dean
If you follow me on Instagram, chances are that you’ve seen my morning tarot routine. I draw one card, and journal about it’s meaning in the context of my life. This book has been a lifesaver when it comes to interpreting the cards. While the symbolism sometimes hits you over the head, if you don’t have a strong background in Judeo-Christian tradition, some of the images can be impenetrable. (If you’re using the Rider-Waite deck. I recommend starting here to get your bearings. But I have some sweet Lord of the Rings and Hobbit tarot cards, and my next purchase will be the Wild Unknown Tarot.) Another great thing about this book is that it links the astrological info with each card, so you can get a lot more from the readings you do than you would otherwise.
Books Coming up Next Month
I mentioned back in September that I’m making my way through IT, but I’m not a lot closer to being done. Maybe Spring Break will be a time to sit back and make some headway, but don’t hold your breath. Some other titles on that list of 95% finished books are Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass, Toni Morrison’s The Origin of Others, and Chuck Wendig’s Damn Fine Story.
Will I ever read fiction again? I don’t know. Maybe. I have a lot of good titles sitting on my shelves, my Nook, and my Kindle. Maybe I’ll crack one open and write about it!
I tried You Are a Badass but had to put it down because it was too self absorbed.
Interesting book selection! I’m interested in what Tarot is but I actually kind of like the more affirmation type cards. Honestly, it’s probably my years of going to So Baptist and similar churches that has me suspicious of Tarot. I can handle and like a lot of woo-y things but I’ve never been able to handle Tarot. And crystals. I don’t get the crystal stuff.
You aren’t the first person to tell me that. I think it’s just ideal for my current headspace, though if I had picked it up last year, I’d probably not be able to finish it.
I couldn’t finish You Are a Badass either. It just pissed me off, and I haven’t been able to figure out why.
Anyhoo, maybe you are in a moment of life where fiction isn’t speaking to your spirit, and that is okay.
You’re probably right. And I think You Are a Badass is a very polarizing book. I think that I’m in just the right headspace right now for it though.