The Best Quarantine Reads

Good Books for Hard Times

If there is one thing that I can say gives me the most satisfaction, relaxation, and value—it’s reading. It fuels my creativity, expands my knowledge, puts me at ease and gives me a sense that I’m part of a greater whole.  

I am not sure why (maybe my so-so high school education) but in my early twenties I looked at reading as a chore. Something that I did if I had to, hardly as an activity for my own joy. In my learning and unlearning throughout the last decade, I have completely changed my outlook. And that was truly out of necessity, as I knew I had a lot to learn and I needed to train my mind for success, and the most practical way to do that was through books.

So page by page, author by author…

my addiction to the written word, my dependency on it for learning and challenging my beliefs was solidified. 

Today, I read a couple of books at a time and generally get through three to five books a month, depending on what I’m reading. In quarantine, I’ve doubled down on my love of books and their power to shape my world.

So, here we go—

My favorite reads from quarantine, thus far… 

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

For those on my weekly newsletter list (if you aren’t signed up, don’t walk, but run here to do so) you already know that I fell down the Glennon Doyle rabbit hole—hard. I started with her latest book Untamed, which is one of the most powerful books I’ve read, and after finishing it in 48 hours, quickly worked backwards to her earlier books: Love Warrior and Carry On, Warrior.  All incredible. My advice is to start with her first; move on to Carry On, Warrior, and end with Untamed.

Marketing Made Simple by Donald Miller 

I’m always looking for business books to expand my knowledge and I’m a big Donald Miller fan. I attended the StoryBrand workshop in Nashville years ago and listen to his podcast each week on my morning runs. His latest book, Marketing Made Simple, is incredibly practical, actionable and one to refer back to often.

Where to Begin by Cleo Wade

I didn’t really know what I was ordering when I bought this book and was pleasantly surprised by the eclectic, quick read. For anyone who knows they need to weave their positive contribution into their world or work, this is a great book to come back to and even consider reading a few pages a day. 

Why We Can’t Sleep by Ada Calhoun 

I read this just as the pandemic began to set in here in the U.S. and the book was surprisingly fitting for this era. Confronting the women of Generation X and the realities of ‘having it all,’ between family life and career, her book explores women’s new midlife crisis and why so many women are struggling to find happiness against so much ‘opportunity’. This was a lot of food for thought and one that I’d recommend to any woman.

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness
by Austin Channing Brown

This book is powerful, unnerving, and something that will challenge you deeply. She is one of the most powerful voices of this movement and one that I plan to continue to listen to again and again. If you’re looking for an introduction to her work, I highly recommend listening to this podcast episode with Brené Brown.

Abundance Now by Lisa Nichols

Abundance is a favorite topic of mine; in fact, I’ve created an entire digital course for photographers called The Abundance Plan (learn about it here and sign up for the waitlist). This seemed like a very obvious read for me. I’ll be honest that I struggled in the first half of this book to really dive into it, but by the halfway point my highlighting and nodding along picked up. I’m so glad I stuck with this one, as there were so many valuable ideas that I needed to hear, especially right now. 

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

Ok, this book is perfect for quarantine because it can quite literally last weeks or months and double as a desk weight or weapon. It’s a monster. I had no idea when I ordered it (notice I say that a lot?), but it’s an amazing book where Ferris has interviewed and taken highlights from some of the most successful people in the world; think Tony Robbins, Brené Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger and countless other icons, billionaires and performers. From their habits and their philosophies to their diets, it’s a bible of success, one that already has me considering fasting for the weekend (gasp!). 

What’s on my list coming up? I have a leaning tower of books (three of them, in fact) on my desk and I will be diligently getting through them all with my highlighter in hand and be sure to share as I do. I would love to hear what you are reading and what else you’d like to hear more about below.

Until then, happy reading!