7 Books We're Loving Right Now
/The holidays are fast approaching and we know just how tough gift-giving can be! A well-selected book can make the perfect present, and we want to share a few of our team’s favorite books to help you out with your holiday shopping. Here’s what our team is reading and loving right now:
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Recommended by Vivian Liu, VP Connections
About the book: Vulnerability often carries with it a scary or negative connotation and can be associated with weakness, but in Daring Greatly author Brene Brown challenges how we think about vulnerability. She enlightens the reader as to how having the courage to walk in vulnerability can be life changing and affect all areas of our life including parenting, relationships, and leadership.
Vivian highly recommends this read, claiming it’s “an invaluable resource in teaching the ability to embrace vulnerability for personal success, relationship health, and personal growth!”
Gift it to: Anyone who wants to lead a fuller life and who wishes to understand a deeper perspective of self.
Presence by Amy Cuddy
Recommended by Jasmine Maini, Co-President
About the book: Ever heard of the power pose? Well, Amy Cuddy is the woman behind it! In Presence, she delves into how we can tap into our personal power and achieve “presence,” a life-changing way of making an impression on ourselves and others.
“It’s about how closely our psychological mindset and physiology is tied,” Jasmine said. The book “brings to light how little shifts in our behaviour can have lasting impacts in the successes of our life. Would recommend to anyone and everyone!”
Gift it to: The person in your life who needs a little boost in confidence or could benefit from learning how to step into their power and presence.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Recommended by Kaylee Astle, VP Finance
About the book: A fictitious tale of survival, adventure, and possible murder, Where the Crawdads Sing follows the journey of a young girl named Kya who yearns for love and companionship.
Kaylee said she “really enjoyed reading about Kya, a curious girl who finds solace in nature. Kya is deserted by her parents at the age of 6 and has to essentially raise herself in a shack. She's an explorer at heart, and her love of nature is something that really resonated with me!”
Gift it to: The adventure-lover in your life.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Recommended by Valentine Maire, Co-President
About the book: In an overly-positive culture, this book cuts through all the bull and encourages the reader to do away with caring what other people think and to instead embrace their fears and faults so that they can begin to grow in a variety of positive ways.
“Do you know what really matters to you?” Valentine said this was “a mind-blowing book that will change your perspective on life, fears, uncertainties, and expectations!”
Gift it to: A student, entrepreneur, professional - anyone looking for more resilience and confidence!
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
Recommended by Diana Calero, HR Coordinator
About the book: 30 is the new 20? Meg Jay begs to differ. Jay points out that the twenties are an often overlooked decade but explains how the things we do - or don’t do - in our twenties define the things we do for the rest of our lives.
Diana said “this book had great career advice and gave a different perspective of what being in your twenties means today.”
Gift it to: Those in their twenties who are unsure of what to do next and who might be anxious about their future.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Recommended by Jessica Houston, VP Human Resources
About the book: The story follows Circe, a mythical goddess who is one of a kind. When she is caught between two worlds she must make a choice between siding with mortals in the earthly world or the powers that be in the world of the gods.
Jessica told us the book is “an interesting take on the goddess Circe’s story and how she goes about learning more about herself, relationships and family. She’s a really powerful character that goes through many transformations throughout her lifetime! It combines mythology stories you know, but with a focus from her point of view which makes it interesting to follow along with her through all the ups and downs!”
Gift it to: Someone who likes mythology and a strong female protagonist.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Recommended by Krista Greig, VP Marketing
About the book: A classic read for the introvert who wants to recognize their own power and potential, Quiet highlights the advantages of being an introvert and what they bring to the table.
“As an introvert, it’s affirming to read that my qualities can be valuable on a team, at work, and in my personal life and to see how those qualities are actually strengths,” said Krista. “Often times being introverted can be seen as a disadvantage, but this book really shows how advantageous introversion can be!”
Gift it to: The introvert in your life you want to empower, or the extrovert who could benefit from learning more about their introverted counterparts.
We hope this book list gets you reading some more in 2020 or simply gives you gift ideas for some of those hard-to-buy-for people in your life. What are you reading right now? We’d love to hear about it! Connect with us on social media or comment below and let us know your top or current book picks.
Blog post by Krista Greig. Krista is YWiB Vancouver’s VP Marketing. She is an avid reader and enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking, kayaking, and skiing.