June Book Reviews and July Recommendations
I read twelve books in June and enjoyed most of them. Naturally, I enjoyed some more than others. The thing about reading is to mix it up. Read outside of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid to form your own opinions. Here’s what I read this month (most recent on top, if you’re wondering):
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. Schwab
Fairycraft - Morgan Daimler
The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett
How Women Rise - Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Series Book 1) - Cassandra Clare
Modern Witchcraft Guide to Fairies - Skye Alexander
The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
Never Split the Difference - Chris Voss
Leisure: The Basis of Culture - Josef Pieper
The Win Without Pitching Manifesto - Blair Enns
Ultralearning - Scott Young
A World Without Email - Cal Newport
Where the Forest Meets the Stars - Glendy Vanderah
Here are my favorite books I read in June and what I look forward to reading in July.
Fiction
The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
Why I Liked It: Several of my dear friends recommend this book to me, and when I started it, I was questioning their taste. It’s perhaps a bit darker than I expected, but it’s a lovely story and ends with you feeling uplifted and hopeful. It’s also a delightfully easy read, with short chapters and a quick-moving story.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars – Glendy Vanderah
Why I Liked It: My lovely mother-in-law recommended this book to me in 2018, and it sat around on my Kindle until just now. It was delightful! Somewhere between a heartfelt family story and an otherworldly fantasy, it hit all the right notes in terms of funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming.
Non-Fiction
A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload - Cal Newport
Why I Liked It: Email is a huge part of my life. I email clients, companies, family, and friends. I email for work, fun, and even banking. I desperately wanted to see Newport’s ideas on what a world without email would look like considering it’s so ubiquitous. I was not disappointed. Like his other books, Deep Work and Digital Minimalism, Newport does a fantastic job explaining why and how we got here in addition to exploring the “what if we completely changed it” aspect. Loved this book.
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating Like Your Life Depends on It – Chris Voss
Why I Liked It: I used to be extremely afraid of negotiation. I assumed all negotiation was a battle – a dramatic confrontation that left me feeling exhausted and ragged. This book helped me see negotiations as tactical empathy, with each side having their reality and flexible requirements. Voss is a former FBI Hostage negotiator but relates his concepts from his FBI days to more relevant things, like negotiating a salary and putting your kids to bed. It’s also not dry non-fiction, and Voss keeps things fun and engaging without berating the same points.
Ultralearning – Scott Young
Why I Liked It: I love learning, so reading a book to learn about learning was pretty meta. I enjoyed this book because it was a collection of tactics, strategies, and stories from people all over the world who quickly learned to master complex skills, like speaking multiple languages or improving public speaking. It illustrates how you can truly learn anything you desire if you put in the time, effort, and attention it takes.
Fairycraft – Morgan Daimler
Why I Liked It: Over the years, I’ve done a lot of research into my lineage and ancestry. Now that I know more about my Celtic blood, I’m diving into the lore of the Celtic, Norse, and Germanic cultures pre-dating the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity in those areas. It’s fascinating to learn about the parallels in the ancient stories with today’s beliefs, superstitions, and pop culture like the Harry Potter series.
I’m looking forward to reading the following in July.
Fiction
The Secret Keeper of Jaipur – Alka Joshi
The Light Through the Leaves – Glendy Vanderah
The Ten Thousand Doors of January - Alix Harrow
Non-Fiction
Contagious: Why Things Catch On – Jonah Berger
Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Everyday – Todd Henry
The Trusted Advisor – David Maister
What are you reading this month?