My Favorite Books of 2021
Getting lost in a book is one of my favorite things to do. Here are 12 favorites from this year. Each one is mind-expanding and life-enhancing. The pages are dog-eared, sentences are heavily underlined, and notes scribbled in the margins. I hope you love them as much as I do.
"Humanly speaking, there is no greater teacher, no greater therapist, no greater healer of the soul, than a well-stocked library." L.R. Knost
How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Katy Milkman
If you want master tailored, science-based strategies for overcoming obstacles, read this fantastic book. Milkman does a masterful job of translating science into action.
There and Back: Photographs from the Edge by Jimmy Chin
You will be glued to the images and moved by the thoughtful text. It's mind-expanding to see the world through the eyes of Jimmy Chin. This is not a coffee table book that will gather dust. It's a timeless atlas of adventure and inspiration.
The Blue Zones Challenge: A 4-Week Plan for a Longer, Better Life by Dan Buettner
This book is the ultimate manual for living long AND well. For 15 years, Dan Buettner has been following people around the world who are living long and happy lives. In 'The Blue Zones Challenge: A 4-Week Plan for a Longer, Better Life,' he translates this extensive research into actionable steps so we can all lead a Blue Zones life.
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant
Adam Grant’s striking insights in this mind-expanding book are guaranteed to make you rethink your opinions, question your assumptions, and reconsider your knee jerk responses. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don't know is wisdom.
The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning by Paul Bloom
This book will challenge you to rethink your vision of a good life. Paul Bloom makes a captivating case that pain and suffering are essential to happiness. It’s an exhilarating antidote to toxic positivity and an argument for benign masochism.
The Raging 2020s: Companies, Countries, People - and the Fight for Our Future by Alec Ross
In the Raging 2020s Alec Ross answers the burning question, “How did we get here?” He also provides a bold blueprint for a better future that restores the balance between government, citizens, and business. He is a global thinker who never loses sight of the potential of human beings.
How Boards Work: And How They Can Work Better in a Chaotic World by Dambisa Moyo
Having seen it all, Dambisa Moyo offers valuable guidance on how boards can best focus their time and energy. Whether you are a seasoned board leader, aspiring to be one, or just curious about what happens in the boardroom - this is a must read.
The Lost Boys of Montauk: The True Story of the Wind Blown, Four Men Who Vanished at Sea, and the Survivors They Left Behind by Amanda M. Fairbanks
Wow. Blown away by this beautifully told heartbreaking story of love, loss, and living with a hole in one’s heart.
The Healing Power of Singing: Raise Your Voice, Change Your Life (What Touring with David Bowie, Single Parenting and Ditching the Music Business Taught Me in 25 Easy Steps) by Emm Gryner
If you’re looking to find your voice, let Emm Gryner light the way.
Wiser: The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good by Dilp Jeste, MD
Wiser is a brilliant contribution to the emerging science of wisdom―how we define it, research it, and how we can intentionally cultivate it in ourselves and our society. A timely and hope-giving book as our world faces challenges that require the deepening of our wisdom.
Of Fear and Strangers: A History of Xenophobia by George Makari
With elegance and passionate conviction, George Makari deconstructs one of the ugliest problems of our time. This is a must-read.
Vegan, at Times: 120+ Recipes for Every Day or Every So Often by Jessica Seinfeld
Whether you’re vegan or not, this book is a gift. Jessica spares us from finger wagging advice about how we should be eating and instead provides a beautiful and alluring guide about how we could be eating every day or every once in a while.