My full reading list lives on Goodreads and let me just say that their annual challenge is a fantastic motivational tool that inspires me to read more books every year.
In 2015, my goal was 20 books. Since then, I’ve increased my yearly goal by 5- 10 books, meeting or exceeding my goal every year.
This year I challenged myself to 75, and I am feeling damn proud to have surpassed it with 2 weeks still left!
What I love about tracking my reading is that each book cover reminds me of the exact moments I read that book.
The one I read up north bundled up in front of the fire, the one I listened to on the way to Peterborough to see a dear friend, the one I read in the rink during my son’s hockey practice, the gem I found in my neighbourhood’s little free library…all vivid moments in time.
In a year where I’ve felt equally confident and creative, and untethered and fragile, these books have left me feeling in awe of the power of words, images, and characters.
While reading, I’d often find myself wondering, “how are you in my head right now?”, or “I totally get why you said/did/didn’t do that”, or “wow, this makes so much sense when explained this way”, to “Whaaaat? They did it?”
Some fun book stats:
I read 32 books in the personal development category – the most in any one genre. Clearly, there is some developing that I am looking for! In a year of expanding my life design business, I found comfort in entrepreneurial-led books, while health & wellness books provided guidance and assurance when I felt most vulnerable and not at my best health-wise.
Memoirs were my second most-read category with 12. There is something so powerful about entering the private lives of interesting people - famous or not. Bono’s unrelenting faith, Voila Davis’ resilience, Mary Laura Philpot’s parenting journey – their stories are all so compelling, life-affirming, and inspiring.
Two authors have more than one book on my list. Kate Quinn and Taylor Jenkins-Reid write in different genres (historical fiction/mystery vs. literary fiction) yet they both gift us with strong, memorable main female characters that we root for wholeheartedly.
I “read” 3 audiobooks and absolutely think audiobooks count as reading. Listening to Michelle Zaumer’s Crying in H Mart was intense emotionally, Matthew Perry’s memoir made me see Friend’s Chandler Bing in a whole new way, and Erica’s Bauermeister’s house renovation journey inspired me to think broader about the spaces we inhabit.
Not surprisingly, I joined a personal development book club (thanks Andrea Sinclair!) and enjoyed discussing big ideas through Sally Hoghead’s “How the World Sees You” (aka Fascination Advantage)”, as well as evaluating Napoleon Hill’s seminal personal development book, “Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success”. Discussing book ideas with others is enthralling.
Picking out my favourites of the year is tough but after careful consideration, here are my top 12 books for 2022. I hope they’ll inspire your reading for 2023.
Jessica’s Favourite Reads of 2022
Non-fiction:
1.From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness & Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks was such a timely book. Drawing from successes in the first half of our life, this book shows us how to shift our thinking and actions to make the most of in the second half. As a midlife multi-passionate, these deep yet practical ideas resonated big time.
2.Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace by Gordon MacKenzie is the comically illustrated story of a lifelong Hallmark employee who has consistently created content, job roles, and results outside the confines of normalcy (aka the hairball) while amplifying his creativity. What a character!
3.Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity & Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain by Peter Shankman is a book anyone who has, or suspects they have ADHD, should read. As someone who recognized and embraced my neuro-spicyness this year, the author’s hard-won insights and daily hacks for making ADHD a secret weapon was truly inspiring.
4.Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different by Sunny Bonnell & Ashleigh Hansberger is anunconventional kvck-ass business book outlining seven traits that all rebels, misfits, oddballs, and non-conformists - the Rare Breeds – can adopt toget along, get buy-in, and get ahead. I love the go-getting attitude of these two women - brava!
Memoir:
5. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner uses food as a unifying theme to explore grief (over her mother’s cancer), happiness (falling in love) , frustration (life expectations), and more. Listening to the author read it, I could not get her story out of my mind – so poignant and powerful, making me think about my relationship with my mom.
6.House Lessons: Renovating a Life by Erica Bauermeister tells the story of a city-based family renovating a trash-filled house in an eccentric town while simultaneously exploring how architecture and our living spaces affect our relationships and sense of belonging. As someone who considers how space affects our wellbeing, this was an intriguing listen.
7.Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono feels like I’ve been privy to the inside of Bono’s brain. With its creative writing, use of songs as chapter themes, and insightful reflections on fame, faith and friendship, this book was illuminating. Plus it inspired me to replay my entire U2 collection.
8.Help Me!: One Woman’s Quest to Find Out if Self-Help Really Can Change Her Life by Marianne Power had me laughing, crying, and rooting for Marianne to find peace and prosperity in her journey of self-discovery. I might doing this one day….
Fiction:
9.The Maid by Nita Prose combines mystery and humour to tell the story of a devoted cleaning lady at a posh hotel fight to clear her name as a murder suspect. Sh has “trouble with social situations” which makes for many misunderstandings and mishaps - many of which are due to her “differences” which, in the end, prove to be invaluable.
10.The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is the book I feel I travelled with. I was in World War II, codebreaking at Bletchley Park in England (a real place!), planning secret rendezvous, solving complex military codes, building and breaking friendships - all of it.
11.The Winners by Frederick Backman was the book I was most looking forward to read. As a big fan of F.B. and all the Beartown books, this final instalment pulled together threads and thoughts from previous storylines and characters. I did not want to say goodbye to these characters, their hockey wars, or their humanity.
12.Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid was my “easy” read on this list. Based on the stories of successful female athletes, this story centers on a woman’s desire to leave her mark on the tennis court, no matter what rules people expect her to follow. As a Olympian who often felt like I was breaking free of expectation, I loved this story.
There you have it, my book list for 2022…may it inspire you as much as it has me!
May we continue to read, be inspired, and thrive through the beauty of words!
Jessica’s Complete 2022 Book List
How The World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination by Sally Hogshead
Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity & Success with Secrets of the ADHD Brain by Peter Shankman
Wabi Sabi Love: The Ancient Art of Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships by Arielle Ford
Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness by Rick Hanson
The Multi-Hyphen Life - Work Less, Create More, and Design a Life That Works for You by Emma Gannon
The Gift of Adult ADD: How to Transform Your Challenges and Build on Your Strengths by Laura Honos-Webb
Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace by Gordon MacKenzie
Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success by Napoleon Hill
Big Gorgeous Goals by Julie Ellis
A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD by Sari Solden
52 Lists for Happiness: Weekly Journaling Inspiration for Positivity, Balance, and Joy by Moorea Seal
The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Turning Trails into Triumphs by Ryan Holiday
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience - by Brené Brown
The Upgrade: How the Female Brain Remakes Itself in the Second Half of Life by Louann Brizendine
Maybe This Will Help: How to Feel Better When Things Stay the Same by Michelle Rial
Instant Happy: 10-Second Attitude Makeovers by Karen Salmansohn
Understanding Human Design: The New Science of Astrology: Discover Who You Really Are by Karen Curry Parker
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness & Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks
Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath
Connected Parenting by Jennifer Kolari
Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity by Karen Arrington
Get Untamed: The Journal (How to Quit Pleasing and Start Living) by Glennon Doyle
Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
The Astrological Guide to Self-Care: Hundreds of Ways to Care for Yourself According to the Stars by Constance Stellas
The Brules of Life: Life Hacks & Strategies That Rethink Conventions by Tara Sage
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam M. Grant
The Woman's Comfort Book by Jennifer Louden
Life of Pie: The Key to Rebalancing Your Life! by Ted Martin
Field Study: Meditations on a Year at the Herbarium by Helen Humphreys
Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
Get Shit Done by Lauris Liberts
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono
Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpot
House Lessons: Renovating a Life by Erica Bauermeister
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Why be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson
For the Love of Learning: A Year in the Life of a School Principal by Kristin Phillips
Finding Me by Viola Davis
Hockey Moms: The Heart of the Game by Theresa Bailey & Terry Marcotte
Help Me!: One Woman’s Quest to Find Out if Self-Help Really Can Change Her Life by Marianne Power
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Mcintyre
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Winners by Frederick Backman
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Strangers by Katherena Vermette
State of Terror by Louise Penny & Hilary Rodham Clinton
Lucky by Marissa Stapely
Hector and the Search for Happiness by François Lelord
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
The Maid by Nita Prose
Fashion Unfolding: Fashion Graphics Depicting All Contemporary Fashion Styles and Trends by Viction:ary
Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor by Lynda Barry
Learning from the Masters: The Art of Collage with Romare Bearden by Brenda Lauw
Teany Book: Stories, Food, Romance, Cartoons and, of Course, Tea by Moby & Kelly Tisdale
Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco
Creativity Through Nature: Foraged, Recycled and Natural Mixed-Media Art by Ann Blockley
La belleza de las ilusiones by Jesuso Ortiz
The Collage Workbook: How to Get Started and Stay Inspired by Randel Plowman
Life in Colour: National Geographic Photographs by Annie Griffiths
Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different by Sunny Bonnell & Ashleigh Hansberger
The Laws of Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life by John Maeda
Creative Hustle: Blaze Your Own Path and Make Work That Matters by Olatunde Sobomehin & Samuel Steinberg Seidel
The Age of Unreason: Reflections of a Reluctant Capitalist by Charles Handy
Soul Space: Creating a Home That Is Free of Clutter, Full of Beauty, and Inspired by You by Xorin Balbes
Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home by Sarah Susanka
The Stories We Leave Behind: A Legacy-Based Approach to Dealing with Stuff by Laura H. Gilbert
The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: The Optimal Keto-Friendly Diet that Burns Fat, Promotes Longevity, and Prevents Chronic Disease by Martina Šlajerová, Thomas DeLauer, Nicolas Norwitz & Rohan Kashid
