When I think of summer, I think of sunshine, outdoor adventures, romance and books. I recall childhood days when I would spend countless hours devouring as many books as possible, allowing myself to be transported to different worlds through the power of words. There’s really nothing like it. You dive headfirst into the author’s handiwork and hopefully come out on the other side with a new perspective on life, new knowledge of the world around you, and hopefully of yourself. Years of research from doctors and scientist shave confirmed that reading improves memory, increases brain power, and can even lower blood pressure.
This is exactly why I decided it was time to get back to my roots and start a book club last October. I was itching to get back to the place where imagination and possibility meet. Its been a game-changer so far and I’m excited to share this summer’s top picks.
100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs
Devotions for unlocking your most courageous self. We are living in truly uncertain times and I for one am in need of all the courage, positivity and hope I can get. Author Annie F. Downs offers all of this and more in her 100-day devotional journey toward a braver life. She uses a friend-like conversational tone to inject scriptural seeds of faith into the reader’s daily life. Not only are there affirmations of love and confidence, but also practical advice for living a fuller life. Her book allows for a daily discovery of one’s inner strength, with reminders that we all are indeed not alone.
Born A Crime by Trevor Noah
Stories from a South African childhood. I haven’t sped through a book like this one in a long while. Author Trevor Noah’s first book became an instant New York Times bestseller, as he shared intimate details of his life growing up in South Africa. He does this almost effortlessly, all while discovering what it means to be of mixed race. His naturally comical tone takes some of the sting away from many of his painful experiences. Noah was raised by a powerhouse single-mother and much of his stories are love letters to her determination and grit. He writes with the refreshing candidness of a friend sharing stories over a good meal.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. Although written with a focus to help liberate women, all readers can find freedom in Glennon Doyle’s honest memoir on courageous living. Like many “good” wives and mothers, Doyle was unaware that she had somehow lost her spark in order to please society and the people around her. One person changes everything thing for her in one specific moment. This isn’t just a love story, it is a resurrection of true self and lesson in trusting the fire inside each of us.