Kahani’s Bookshelf 02
With it being halfway through the year, I figured I would take a moment of reflection on how the last six months have been. I wouldn’t change anything about this year so far, and all the happiness and growth that has come with it. But, this year wouldn’t be what it has been without the help of the words of writers who have shaped me and my mind into what it is now. This edition of Kahani’s Bookshelf is an ode to the books that have calmed my over-thinking brain, and allowed me to accept myself and the world around me.
1. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
This book is quite easy to read as Dolly has such a distinct, conversational style of writing. This book reminded me of how much love is around us constantly, and the fact that of course, romantic love is not the end all be all. If anything, as she says, I’ve learned everything I know about love from my girl friends. This book is lighthearted in all the right ways, at some points blunt in a way that’s shocking, tender, and oh so real. I highly recommend this book to any twenty-something year old.
2. How Do We Know We’re Doing it Right? by Pandora Sykes
Pandora’s collection of essays within this book were a treat. They opened my eyes to how our world works today and the way modern life has caused us to behave and think the way that we do. This book is composed fully with notes on consumerism, womanhood, happiness, wellness, and more. Filled with lovely reminders on the importance of the journey and not the destination, Pandora shook me up with this book and reminded me the importance of my perception of myself and the world, rather than looking to the rest of the world to show me who I am. Pandora’s honest tone, her wit, and her slightly philosophical view - that nothing matters so everything does - reminded me of what matters in this life.
3. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
If you are a creative, please read this (especially if you are in a slump of some sorts!) I read this book last year when I was struggling with writing, with creativity, with work, and finding inspiration in life to keep pushing for what I believe in. This book is incredibly easy to read, and oh so warm. Elizabeth forcefully reminded me to let go of my ego in creativity (and life overall), to focus on the work to be done, and to share it when I so please. It’s time to let go of our desired outcome and attachment to results.
4. On Becoming a Person on Carl Rogers
This book is a bit more dry, as it’s written from a psychotherapist’s view on how clients succeed in therapy - and then applies these principles to life outside of therapy. It’s interesting to read about mental health from a professional’s point of view, and learn about human behavior through a researched, psychological perspective rather than a story. While this is still storytelling, it is different, but I recommend this book to anybody deep in the “growing” stage of life - whatever that may mean to you.
5. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Does this book - or Roxane - need an introduction?! It really is better to be a “Bad Feminist” than not one at all. This book had me constantly thinking about it whenever I put it down. Bad Feminist is a wonderfully well thought out collection of essays critiquing culture while remaining intimate, approachable, and somehow humorous. Read this to shake up your mind on how you see yourself and the world around you.
6. Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
I read this book within a couple of days. One of those books that kept me up at night because I wanted to finish it. Lisa has an incredible way of weaving storytelling, facts, history, and dialogue all together in a way that is impactful. This book follows the lives (in terms of relationships, friendships, and sexual lives) of three women who are all quite different from each other, yet so similar because of how our society is built. This book left my jaw on the floor many times, angry sometimes, and I found a part of myself within each of the stories.
7. All About Love by bell hooks
This wouldn’t be a complete list of books on “growth” if I didn’t list this amazing book. All About Love shifted the way I perceive love when I first read it. It’s one of those books that changes you after reading it, lighting up hundreds of lightbulbs in your brain going “oh, everything makes sense now”. bell hooks forced me to see love in everything, and pushed me to critically think about how our society negatively changes the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world around us. Beyond a point, it is upon us to reclaim what love and this life means to us, while creating a safe space for those around us - especially those we claim to love and care deeply about. This should be mandatory reading.
