Rad Reads: A Year In Books

A fairly common goal on people’s list of resolutions for a new year is to read more. It was one of my 2019 goals- 2 books a month. Yes, that’s 24 books total. I didn’t quite make that goal, but I made a pretty good dent! I figured I’d share the books that I read throughout 2019 as a way help you craft your list of what to read in the new year! I’ve split the list into three categories- books for water lovers, personal development books and the outliers or the few that don’t fall into the other two categories.

For The Water Lovers

50 Ways to Save The Ocean by David Helvarg

Looking to be better to our planet’s waters in the new year? 50 Ways To Save The Ocean is packed with ways to help you do so that are easily implemented in daily life! It’s not a guide to going zero waste or conservation to an extreme, it’s a way to realistically help make changes in your life that will help positively impact the health of our planets waters.

Swell by Liz Clark

Liz Clark is a sailer and surfer and Swell chronicles her tails of sailing solo. If you are looking for a dose of adventure this one is up your alley. From solo crossings to relationships made abroad this one is sure to have any water or travel lover wanting to hop on a boat. I know for me, it has made me look at any sail boat and want to learn to sail!

The Fear Project by Jaimal Yogis

Truthfully, this book could fit into the water lovers category and the personal development category. A book about tackling fear in order to surf Mavericks, one of the world’s most famous big wave surf spots, is also a book about tackling fear in other areas of Yogis life. Yogis is also the author of my favorite book, Saltwater Buddha, and if you haven’t already I recommend picking that one up for your 2020 book list as well!

The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan

For anyone who has enjoyed even a moment of time near a Great Lake, this book details the threats to one of our largest and most valuable resources. Invasive species and man made development are among the main highlighted threats to our Great Lakes. We talk so much about saving the oceans, but our lakes deserve to be protected just as much!

Blue Mind by Wallace J Nichols

While every book in this category is for the water lovers, this one is like the definition of the phrase. There is no questioning that water has an incredible impact on us as humans, from drinking it for hydration to submerging in it to help heal the effects of PTSD. This book dives into all of the whys and hows about water having a crucial impact on us. It’s a heavy read, very based in science, but I highly highly recommend taking the time to read it thoroughly.

Blue Mind by Wallace J Nichols. Books for water lovers.

Kook by Peter Heller

If you are looking to pick up a new hobby, you may want to give this one a read. The prime example that it is never too late to excel in a new hobby. Filled with surf adventures this one is a light, easy read that is guaranteed to make you want to grab a board and head out for a surf.

Personal Development

Mastering Your Mean Girl by Melissa Ambrosini

Mastering Your Mean Girl is about creating you best life while silencing the mean girl in your head. This was the first book I read in 2019, and it was when I was in a funk, so I don’t think I took in as much from this one as I could have, I may need to give it a reread in 2020.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Anyone who is a creative in any capacity needs to read this book. This book was a game changer for me at the beginning of the year when I was in a bit of a hole I couldn’t pull myself out of. This book helped me start to feel different. Gilbert gives you a nice dose of no nonsense, tough love about the mindset you need to foster in order for you and your work to thrive in a creative world.

Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change by Pema Chödrön

Using the Buddhist ideas the Three Commitments, Chödrön helps provide the tools to show us how to live a peaceful life in a world that is far from being easy. If you resonate with personal development from a spiritual stand point, this one is for you!

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

My girl Rach. One that nears the top of my list for the year. I have to say, I didn’t resonate with Rachel Hollis’s first book, Girl, Wash Your Face as much, but this one is a different story. Like advice coming from your best friend, this book delivers the advice you need to unapologetically step into and express the best and you-ist, you.

Girl Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis. Hollis Co. Made for More.

You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero

I think this and Girl, Stop Apologizing are my favorite "self help” and personal development books. They are written fairly casually and neither are too rooted in spirituality. They are straight forward and provide personal development in an achievable and realistic way.

The Art of Communicating by Thich nhat hanh

Less about communicating with others and more about effectively communicating and expressing your authentic self to the world. Rooted in Buddhism, this book if for those who like a personal development read based from a more spiritual standpoint.

The outliers

Let my people Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard

Okay, the title sounds like this should be up in the water lovers category, but in reality this book is less about surfing and more about everything you could want to know about Patagonia. From the origins of the company, to their environmental philosophies, to the company policies that make it a positive and accommodating workplace- it’s all covered in the book. If you are an environment lover, business lover, or and adventurer you will find some interest in Let My People Go Surfing.