All The Books I Want To Read

Dec 13, 2021

I apologize in advance for the length of this list. I realize it’s quite a ridiculous length. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit this to be written down on my “everything” notepad and has been slowly getting larger as the years pass by. Plenty of the success books, I now discovered, don’t truly call my attention but I thought I’d leave them here for a bit in case you find something that does suit you. (Book recs are set to change every so often anyway)

 

I love reading, so for me – believing that there is a book for any occasion is wired in my brain and at this point, I don’t want to yank it out. I sometimes struggle to pick up a book, even when I ironically really want to. Anxiety takes its toll and before you know it I’m 6 episodes deep into my next binge. Nevertheless, I’ll forever advocate for books and eventually, I wish to open up a little free library in my neighborhood. In the meantime, I’ve got a lot of books to read. 

 

Fiction

The House of Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros – A reread feels almost mandatory in this day and age. 

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hussein

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami

The Last Act of Love by Cathy Rentzenbrink

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coehlo

Dubliners by James Joyce

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J Novak

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

The Animators: A Novel by Kayla Rae Whitaker

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

All This Could Be Yours by Jami Attenberg

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Nonfiction

Emigration & Immigration Books

Consumed, The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change & Consumerism by Aja Barber

History

The Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela 

The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir by Samantha Power

Environment

How To Create a Vegan World: A Problematic Approach by Tobias Leenart

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Doug Abrams and Jane Goodall

Wildlife Neighbors by Janet Holladay

Minimalism and Simplicity

Everything That Remains: A Memoir by The Minimalists by Joshua Fields Millburn

Essential Zen Habits: Mastering the Art of Change, Briefly by Leo Babauta

Simple Matters: Living with Less and Ending Up with More by Erin Boyle

The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify by Francine Jay

I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal by The Mindfulness Project

Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō

Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste by Bea Johnson

The Curated Closet: A Simple System for Discovering Your Personal Style and Building Your Dream Wardrobe by Anuschka Rees

Minimalist Parenting: Enjoy Modern Family Life More by Doing Less by Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest

Clutterfree with Kids: Change your thinking. Discover new habits. Free your home by Joshua Becker

 

Memoirs

Wild By Nature: From Siberia to Australia, Three Years Alone in the Wilderness on Foot by Sarah Marquis

Flaneuse: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice and London by Lauren Elkin

Imagine Wanting Only This by Kristen Radtke

Bleaker House: Chasing My Novel to the End of the World by Nell Stevens

At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe by Tsh Oxenreider

The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey Around the World by Kim Dinan

All Over the Place: Adventures in Travel, True Love, and Petty Theft by Geraldine DeRuiter

Thousand-Miller: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail by Melanie Radzicki McManus

The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr

Advocacy

Ethics into Action: Learning from a Tube of Toothpaste by Peter Singer

How Organizations Develop Activists: Civic Associations and Leadership in the 20th Century by Hahrie Han

The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement by Susan Ferriss and Ricardo Sandoval

We Should All Be Feminists: A Guided Journal by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Success x Leadership x Confidence

You Are a Badass(r): How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life  by Jen Sincero

How Rich People Think by Steve Siebold

Happiness Is…: 500 Ways To Be in the Moment by Ralph Lazar and Lisa Swerling

Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Outspoken: Why Women’s Voices Get Silenced and How to Set Them Free by Veronica Reuckert

Chasing the Bright Side: Embrace Optimism, Activate Your Purpose, and Write Your Own Story

 by Jess Ekstrom

13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don’t Do: Own Your Power, Channel Your Confidence, and Find Your Authentic Voice for a Life of Meaning and Joy by Amy Morin

The Likeability Trap: How to Break Free and Succeed as You Are by Alicia Menendez

What Will It Take to Make a Woman President?: Conversations about Women, Leadership and Power by Marianne Schnall

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from Over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs by Grace Bonney

The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance…What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown

Know Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You’re Worth by Mika Brzezinski

Ask for It : How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever

Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World by Ann Shen

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington

The Next Generation of Women Leaders: What You Need to Lead but Won’t Learn in Business School by Selena Rezvani

How Remarkable Women Lead: The Breakthrough Model for Work and Life by Susie Cranston and Joanna Barsh

I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This: How to Ask for the Money, Snag the Promotion, and Create the Career You Deserve by Kate White

Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake: A Memoir of a Woman’s Life by Anna Quindlen

Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace by Anne Lamott

Power Your Happy: Work Hard, Play Nice & Build Your Dream Life by Lisa Sugar

Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley

by Emily Chang

I Am That Girl: How to Speak Your Truth, Discover Your Purpose, and #bethatgirl by Alexis Jones

#girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

 

Author

Author

Natalie Amezcua

Natalie (she/her/hers) is a humane educator and solutionary writer living in Los Angeles.

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Natalie is the author of sonatsays – blog. She is a solutionary thinker, dog mom, writer, and advocate for animal protection, environmental conservation, and human rights. Natalie has recently moved to her hometown of Los Angeles after living in Asia for several years to welcome a new chapter.

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