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My Favourite Books on Life, Work and Growth from 2016

Phew. Looking back at the tail end of it all, 2016 has clearly been 12 months of high highs and low lows. Whatever else is happening in the world, books have always been a way for me to retreat away from the world for a while. They feed my curiosity and creativity and, in the case of fiction, allow me to practice a little harmless escapism and try on someone else’s life for a few hours 🙂 So today, I want to share a few of my favourite reads from 2016.

While we’re on the topic of books, From Coping to Thriving: How to Turn Self-Care Into a Way of Life is now out on audio! It’s narrated by the lovely Stephanie Murphy, who you will recognise from the intro to the Becoming Who You Are podcast and The Ultimate Guide to Journaling audiobook. Click here to get a 30-day trial of Audible.com and download From Coping to Thriving for free.

Here are my favourite reads from this year. I’d also love to hear yours so leave a comment and share them below!

Creativity and Work

The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna

Anything You Want by Derek Sivers

Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One by Jenny Blake

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Happier Life by Arianna Huffington

Psychology and Personal Growth

The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden

A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William B. Irvine

Mindsight: Transform Your Brain With the New Science of Kindness by Daniel Siegel

Succeed: How to Reach Your Goals by Heidi Grant Halvorson

Guilt, Shame and Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming Negative Emotions by Peter Breggin

Birth, babies and parenting

Bumpology: The Myth-Busting Pregnancy Books for Curious Parents to Be by Linda Geddes

The Fourth Trimester: Understanding, Protecting, and Nurturing an Infant Through the First Three Months by Susan Brinkley

The Homebirth Handbook by Anne Francis

How Not to F*** Them Up by Oliver James

Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina

Why Love Matters by Sue Gerhardt

Fiction

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman

When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

Everything Else

The Demon-Haunted World – Carl Sagan

Nothing to Envy: The Ordinary Lives of People in North Korea by Barbara Demick

Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh

What were your favourite books from 2016? Leave a comment and share your reading suggestions!

Further reading: If you’re looking to jazz up your reading in 2017, here’s a fun reading challenge I’m trying this year. Join me?