Hello Readers!
It’s time to make the June recommendations for the 2016 Reading Challenge!
What is the reading challenge?
It’s a fun and simple way to read books this new year. Here are the basics of the challenge:
-You will read one book a month from a specific category (details below)
-You don’t have to read them in the order listed
-At the beginning of each month I will give you many ideas for fantastic books within that category that you just might enjoy
-Throughout the month I will post updates on my Facebook page (if you haven’t started following yet, this would be a great time!), sharing the books I’m reading within that category. You can chime in with what you are reading and get recommendations from other readers.
-At the end of the year we will celebrate our success and share our favorites from 2016 (plus have a pretty awesome giveaway…)!
So, are you in? If you’re not convinced yet, here are the categories:
2016 Reading Challenge
January: A Book that Inspires You
March: A Book Set in Another Time Period
June: A Nonfiction Book on a Topic That Interests You
July: A Book By An Author You Really Enjoy
August: Something You Should Have Read in School But Didn’t
September: A Newbery Award Winner (The Best Work of Children’s Literature for that year. HERE.)
October: Something Scary
November: A Fantasy
December: A Book Set in Another Country
You can jump in any time. Just because you’ve missed the previous months’ challenge doesn’t mean you can’t join us now!
June’s Reading Challenge: A Nonfiction Book on a Topic That Interests You
This month’s challenge is pretty simple. In June you will read a nonfiction book on any topic that you are interested in. Even though school is out for the summer, it is time to learn something!
If you are stuck, consider your hobbies. Do you enjoy hiking? You could try a book on the best hikes in the country, or a memoir of someone who hiked the Appalachian trail, or a book on the history of Mt. Everest climbs. The possibilities are endless!
You could also read a book that helps you in your career. Are you a teacher? Get some professional development in this summer and better your teaching practice at the same time. Would you like to start your own business? There are hundreds of books for entrepreneurs out there.
Think about the subjects you loved in school. Were you a big history buff in school? Do some research on a time period or historical figure that appeals to you. Was math your thing? There are some pretty amazing biographies about famous mathematicians you might enjoy.
Because this month’s challenge is pretty subjective, I’ll just share a few nonfiction books that I have enjoyed over the years. Your selection may be completely different!
History
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
For the last few years I had MANY people tell me that I should read this book. With all the hype surrounding it and the movie, however, I put it off for awhile. Chalk it up to my stubbornness and desire to resist trends. I am so glad I picked up the book this month, though. The writing was brilliant, the story undeniably inspirational, and the history fascinating. If you haven’t read Unbroken yet, do yourself a favor and go check it out today!
Isaac’s Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson
I enjoyed Erik Larson’s Dead Wake so much, that I knew I had to read every book I could find by him! Isaac’s Storm is a nonfiction account of the 1900 Galveston hurricane–still the single greatest natural disaster in American history. While I wasn’t particularly intrigued by the in-depth description of the science behind hurricanes, the human interest stories really gripped me. I still find myself playing the “What If” game after reading this book. As in, “What would I do if a ______ hit right now?” I highly recommend the book for anyone interested in history, weather forecasting, Texas, or just great storytelling.
Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar
I have been on the wait list at the library for nearly six months for this book! After hearing an NPR interview with the author, I knew that I just had to read the true story of the 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for sixty-nine days. While they were underground, they all agreed that they would tell their story to a single author (Hector Tobar) so that he could share it with the world.
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
The subtitle says it all! The 1936 Olympics, held in Nazi Germany, have long since fascinated me. Many amazing stories have emerged from that particular Olympics: Jesse Owens, Louis Zamperini (whose life provided the inspiration for the book and movie Unbroken), and the rowing team from Washington. I am almost finished with the book, and now have a new desire to watch rowing! The story of these nine young men–their struggles during the Great Depression, their coming together as a team in college, and their push to succeed–is truly inspiring. If you are looking for a nonfiction book that is as interesting as a novel, pick up The Boys in the Boat today!
Business and Earning Extra Money
Building a Framework: How I Turned My Hobby Blog Into Six-Figure Income by Abby Lawson
Fifteen months ago I had no idea I would be starting a blog. Seriously. Then one day I was on Abby’s blog (Just a Girl and Her Blog) and saw an advertisement that promised to teach anyone how to start a blog in 7 days. I was intrigued and clicked on it. Through that process, I read Abby’s phenomenal book, Building A Framework, which contains everything she learned during her first year of blogging. It literally walked me through every step of starting, maintaining, and growing a successful blog.
Because I read this book, I now spend hours each week writing about topics I love. I get to connect with other entrepreneurs and writers on a regular basis. And, I get to help my family out by earning some extra income. Talk about life-changing!
Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
If you are serious about wanting to earn extra money, I would highly recommend reading Crystal Paine’s latest book Money Making Mom. Crystal is the creator of the wildly successful blog MoneySavingMom.com. It was through her blog that I discovered the world of couponing, which helped put food on our table when I wasn’t sure how we would make it. Crystal went through some lean years herself, as she explains in her book, which forced her to get creative. After a few failures, she started her blog, and now is an incredibly successful, and generous, entrepreneur.
So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
I started this book based on the recommendations of many bloggers and friends whose taste I admire. I was not disappointed. Newport says, point blank, that the classic advice of “follow your passion” is just plain wrong when it comes to choosing a career. He instead advocates adopting a craftsman mindset in which you become very skilled at your position. Then you can use this skill, your “career capital,” to leverage more control over your time. There’s a lot more to the book, but I don’t want to give everything away! It was definitely an interesting, thought-provoking read.
Homemaking
The Nesting Place: It Doesn’t Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful by Myquillyn Smith
I am probably the most uncrafty, non DIY friendly, least talented homemaker that you will ever find. Why then did I pick up this book about decorating? No idea. But I am so glad that I did. Smith’s major premise is that our homes don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. We often let fear of failure or risk-taking keep us from decorating our homes. Smith sounds like the older sister that I wish I had, giving tips and cracking jokes. I haven’t finished yet, but I have already been inspired to add small touches of beauty around my house. If you are like me (honestly scared of decorating your house), this is the book for you!
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
This little book has spent months atop the best-seller list. In fact, I put my name on the hold list for it at my local library back in April. That’s how popular it is! And, for good reason. Kondo’s book challenges our assumptions about the amount of material possessions that we need to be happy. Kondo runs a private consulting practice where she helps clients declutter, or “tidy up” their homes. She challenges them to assess each and every item they own and ask themselves, “Does it spark joy?” If it does not, it is discarded. Then, and only then, are each of the remaining items given an assigned place in the house. Kondo claims that tidying up is a one time thing that need not be repeated, if done properly. Personally, I’m not sure how that last part will work with children (most of her clients are single people or married couples without children). However, I was inspired to begin the “tidying up” process in my own house.
100 Days of Real Food by Lisa Leake
I have been thinking more and more about the food that I am feeding my children, and I am considering making a change. This book helped me feel that it was very possible to feed my family, real (unprocessed), healthy, organic food. It isn’t a book filled with lots of facts and research (although there is some), but is instead a practical guide that includes 100 great recipes. If you’ve ever considered changing your diet to a more natural one, you should definitely check it out.
What’s On My Nightstand
Book Boss: How to Launch an E-Book in 90 Days or Less by Abby Lawson
OK. So, this isn’t technically a book. It’s an in-depth course on how to write and launch an e-book. However, as this is my major focus for the summer, I thought I would include it! I am a huge fan of Abby’s teaching, and I am excited to learn all about the process of creating and launching my e-book within 90 days. Look for more details later!
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
This book keeps coming up in conversation with other writers and artists. I’m looking forward to a bit of inspiration and advice to help foster creativity and become more productive!
What are you reading this month? Let me know in the comments!
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