#midyearbookfreakout 2020
My reading goal for the year started out at 25 books… well we are halfway through the year and I have read 19! I am way ahead of schedule (Thanks Rona) and I might need to increase my goal for the year.
Below is a list of all the books I have read so far this year with a little of my thoughts on each. Click the link on the title of each if you want to purchase!
Life of the Party - Bert Kreischer
Written by one of the most entertaining comedians of our time, Bert Kreischer does his thing and tells tales of debauchery though his college years. I love a fun memoir and this one delivers. Do not read this if you don’t enjoy “frat boy” humor.
The Alter Ego Effect - Todd Herman
This is the best personal development book I have read this year! Todd coaches successful athletes and businesspeople in creating an alter ego to become even more competitive, successful, and confident. Beyonce has Sasha Fierce, Batman has Bruce Banner (yes, you read that right - read the book to find out why!) And many more of your favorite people use an alter ego in their work or personal lives. Find out why you need an alter ego!
Read this before you turn 30!! DO IT! Written by a therapist who specializes in helping those in their twenties, this book was fabulous. She covers so many topics that are top of mind for twenty-something-year-olds. Your twenties seem like a time to be free and explore (and they can be) but Meg also lays out how some of the decisions made in your twenties lay the foundation for the rest of your life.
Fear is my Homeboy - Judi Holler
I read this book at the same time I was reading Work Party by Jaclyn Johnson and I think they went really well together. As you can imagine from the title, this book is about using fear to fuel yourself and your decisions in a positive way instead of letting it hold you back.
I had been wanting to read this one for so long and finally bought it! Career-driven women: READ THIS! I love reading about women in business and Jaclyn is the queen! She is the mind behind the brand Create & Cultivate and tells about her business story along with more advice from successful female business leaders.
Finding Me - Michelle Knight with Michelle Burford
This was a re-read for me; I read this book a couple of years ago and found it on clearance so I bought it! It is written by Michelle, one of the survivors of the Cleveland kidnappings. It is a very dark and scary memoir about her life prior to the kidnapping, the struggles through being held captive, the story of her escape, and her readjustment to the outside world.
BOOK OF THE YEAR! Another dark one. This one is really dark and creepy which is actually right up my alley. It is recollections from true events that conspired in Raymond, WA. Gregg Olsen is a master of telling dark and twisted stories and this book started my new obsession with his writing. I also love that he writes stories based in the Pacific Northwest and accurately describes the settings. If you like dark and twisted reads (especially true tales), you need Gregg Olsen in your life.
Ladies Who Punch - Ramin Setoodeh
This book is a written history of the revolutionary television show The View. In all honesty, this was a little drier than I thought it would be which resulted in it taking a lot longer for me to read. I like reading about strong women, and enjoyed learning about Barbara Walters and the way she created something that had never been seen before.
Girl on Fire - Cara Alwill Leyba
I’ve read a couple books by Cara and they all have a similar message. This is a very basic female personal development book. It is great for someone new to the personal development space but if you have read a multitude of personal development reads, this will be a bit of a repeat.
Tribe of Mentors - Timothy Ferriss
I loved this one so much, I made a podcast episode about it… actually TWO podcast episodes! Tim compiled answers to his eleven important questions to highly successful people in a wide variety of fields. From venture capitalists to professional athletes to actors to professors, there is something for everyone! It is also separated into small chunks for each contributor so it is extremely easy to consume small bits of this book at a time!
Lying Next To Me - Gregg Olsen
A majority of this book is set on the Hood Canal in Washington state. Another Gregg Olsen book set in a familiar pacific northwest location with an intense murder mystery. This one has so many twists and turns, I could not stop reading!
The Last Thing She Ever Did - Gregg Olsen
THIS ONE MADE ME MAD. This book is by my new favorite author (can you tell I love Gregg Olsen?) and set in my favorite town of Bend, OR. The characters in this book take the wrong turn EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Still thrilling and entertaining but it will annoy you and possibly make you sick with the dark subject matter and dumb characters.
Speak With No Fear - Mike Acker
This short read is all about public speaking. Mike lays out his advice for those who are afraid of public speaking in an understandable way while weaving in stories of his speaking path. I think this is a great read for those who are not comfortable public speaking but also has good reminders for those who have made public speaking part of their personal life or career.
The Code. The Evaluation. The Protocol - Jocko Willink with Dave Berke and Sarah Armstrong
Very short and very straightforward, this book is all about setting up a code of conduct for yourself. I like an intense form of encouragement every now and then and this provided that. It is about being the best that you can be and being accountable to yourself.
The Sound of Rain - Gregg Olsen
Yes, I know, another Gregg Olsen book… this one is another great mystery! Set in Bellevue, WA, we learn about Detective Nicole Foster and her messy time with the police force. A tragic case with evil people propel this story through so many twists and turns. It is definitely a page turner and you won’t want to stop until you figure it out the real villain.
The Weight of Silence - Gregg Olsen
Okay, last Gregg Olsen read for this half of the year. This is a sequel to The Sound of Rain and a liked it a little less than the previous book. It was another one with dark subject matter but I do like the main character and her determination to solve the case at hand. The side storyline with her sister is not my favorite. This one was set in Aberdeen, WA if you are like me and enjoy the pacific northwest backdrop for mystery.
Act Like a Lady - Keltie Knight, Becca Tobin, and Jac Vanek
My favorite podcasters wrote a book! A damn good book! This is formatted as an advice/self help book but has stories from each of the girls about love, friendship, and careers. It highly suggest this fun read and suggest buying the hard copy because the illustrations are pretty and playful.
If you think you are a feminist, or if you don’t, READ THIS BOOK. This book explains many real issues that the feminist movement forgot. While it may not seem that gun violence, hunger, and housing are “feminist issues” but Mikki Kendall elaborates on things that really matter. She writes about how certain minorities are negatively effected by the feminist movement prioritizing less important agendas. It really opened my eyes on topics I need to pay more attention to.
Stolen Innocence - Elissa Wall
Reading about people who have escaped cults, kidnappings, and abusive relationships is something I have done for years. The FLDS cult is my favorite to learn about and I have read many stories from women who have escaped from Warren Jeffs and his cult following. This book really connects you to Elissa and her family and helps you understand why it is so hard for women in communities like this to leave.
LISTEN TO THE BONUS POD EPISODE HERE!
I am always open to more book suggestions so leave yours in the comments!