What it is:What it is: a thought-provoking examination of the issues surrounding and common misconceptions about fatness and the lives of fat people.
Reviewers say:You Just Need to Lose Weight is “a lucid and impassioned guide to combating negative stereotypes about body size” (Publishers Weekly).
About the author: Aubrey Gordon is a columnist for Self magazine, co-host of the podcast Maintenance Phase, and author of What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat.
What it is:one part addiction memoir and one part social commentary in which author Sarah Levy examines her own relationship with alcohol in a society that heavily incentivizes its use (and abuse).
Read it for: the candid writing and hopeful, moving tone.
For fans of:Girl Walks Out of a Bar by Lisa Smith; We Are the Luckiest by Laura McKowen.
What it's about: the nature, power, and importance of creativity and how anyone can (and should) approach it with openness and curiosity.
Want a taste? “You exist as a creative being in a creative being in a creative universe. A singular work of art.“
About the author: Nine-time Grammy winner Rick Rubin is the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings and producer who has worked with artists including Adele, Rage Against the Machine, and Run-DMC.
What it is:a research-based yet accessible guide to the importance of leisure and play in our lives and how to make time and space for the restorative power of joy.
Why you should read it: although the topic may seem unimportant compared to more urgent concerns, learning about the research explored here might change your mind about the health implications of an “all work and no play” attitude.
Try these next: Enchantment by Katherine May; Freely Determined by Kennon M. Sheldon.
What it's about: the ups and downs of perfectionism, the different forms it can take, and how to harness this powerful personality trait without overdoing it.
Read it for: the author's personal, self-effacing reflections on the topic as she explores perfectionism in general alongside her own perfectionist tendencies.
Reviewers say: This is “an insightful guide on how to sweat the details” (Publishers Weekly).