Task 24: A Self-Improvement Book

[Alanna]

I went with They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, in my continuing effort to get rid of my writing anxiety. It was...less than helpful.

[Julia]

I am stuck between the following: any suggestions?

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown (I have watched her TED Talks and really enjoy her)
One Minute Mindfulness by Donald Altman
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Cannot Stop Talking by Susan Crain

Thoughts? Thank you all in advance!!

[Janice]

Book Riot wrote: "This thread is for dropping ideas, questions, resources, comments, and discussion about Task 24: A Self-Improvement Book ((can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)

..."I completed Task 24 by reading Teenagers 101 by Rebecca Deurlein, Ed.D. It is help for parents of teenagers from a teacher's standpoint. It was excellent. I have a freshman girl who is challenging so I needed another perspective on the teenage brain.
I would recommend it.

[BookDrunkard is on storygraph as bookdrunkard78]

I think this counts...but not sure...The Art of Asking; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help What do you think?

[janine]

From just looking at the title I'd say it counts.

[Catie]

I'm reading a funny manners/etiquette guide for this category—it's charming and even more helpful than I imagined when I picked it up. Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck

[Jo]

So relieved that this doesn't have to be strictly self-help. Self-improvement I can definitely do. It feels like cheating to pick a writing or cooking one though, those are already things I love and work on... and I'm frightened of de-cluttering books, I like my stuff! Hmmm.

[Ken]

I'm reading Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris. It lies in the intersection between science and philosophy, approximately.

[Denise]

Kenny wrote: "This might be right up my alley personality-wise: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking."

I'm reading this one also.

[Denise]

Just started "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking."

[Christine]

@Sarah - I think it counts and that is my choice as well. I'm glad this category is a little loose.

[Lisa]

I would highly recommend Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. It's a collection from her advice column - definitely non-traditional but I felt totally improved after reading it!

[Britany]

Finished by Chip Heath and Dan Heath-- 3 Stars!

Good nonfiction read about changing behavior in a stagnant world...

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane]

Just received from library!

[Sonnet]

I can't read it for this challenge because I read it last year, but I want to share a book that I absolutely loved. It fits the guidelines, plus it's really funny.
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

[Katharine]

I finished The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations for a class. It had some good ideas, but in general I'm just glad to check this category off.

[Bea]

I read Eat, Pray, Love for this task. I enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert's descriptions and blunt talk about her life and self. I was connected to my own life's journey and reminded that all is as it is meant to be. I found that I am content with my life and that much that used to bother me no longer does. I can't say that this book has changed my life, but it did act as a reminder of those aspects that I need to continue to cultivate, which have brought me to my present place.

[Karin]

The Chicago Public Library just released this list of books that would apply for this challenge

http://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/li...

[Cheri]

The Charge by Brendon Burchard is the book I've chosen & read for this task.

[[deleted user]]

First Ask Why

[[deleted user]]

Wrong title. Start with Why is the book I am reading for this category.

[Diane]

I'm reading "Quiet-The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"

[Joni]

I'm reading Radical Honesty by Brad Blanton.

[Mindy]

I'm planning on The Power of Habit as I've heard/read good things. I'm waiting for my turn on the audiobook at the library.

[Jessica]

This challenge is difficult for me.... I think I'm going to do the artist's way.

[Sarah]

Elizabeth wrote: "I am thinking of this one: Daily Rituals: How Great Minds Make Time, Find Inspiration, and Get to Work by Mason Currey. Or, I might read one of Anne Lamott's non-fiction books, which for me are sel..."

I love Anne Lamott's books on faith. I need to read more of her other titles.

[Sarah]

I just finished The Happiness Project. I liked the set up of the book. I am single, but I even found the chapter on marriage interesting and the insights could apply to other types of relationships. I've been interested in reading it and I'm glad this challenge pushed it higher on my tbr list.

[Lily]

I saw Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them at the library and impulsively picked it up. I found it pretty good, and was glad to be exposed to the variety of authors who are used as examples. It really encourages careful, open-minded reading.

[Valerie]

Adding Reading Like a Writer to TBR pile! Thanks.

[Brandy]

I just read What Makes Olga Run? and I highly recommend it!

http://brandysbustlings.blogspot.ca/2...

[Marti]

I just finished The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun for this task. This is a book that I picked up a few years ago at a used bookstore, read a few pages and then decided it wasn't for me so it got traded back in the next time I took books to the used bookstore for credit.

Then I stumbled across Gretchen Rubin's blog and started reading it and decided I would give The Happiness Project another try so I found it again at the used bookstore and bought it again. This time I really got into it and enjoyed most of it. So a good lesson in giving books another chance when you are in a different spot in your life.

[Diane]

Marti wrote: "I just finished The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun for this task. ..."

Don't you love starting a book, stop, find more information about the story or the author and find it again and enjoy it! Fun part of the reading adventure!

[Diane]

Diane wrote: "Just received from library!"

OOOhhh! Need to read more - due soon (might have to re-new again!) Introverts need quiet time to read.

[Mary Sue]

I just finished reading by Paul G. Stoltz.

[Lisa]

I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing for this one. It could easily have been condensed into something much shorter.

[Heather]

My choice was a cookbook/self help book, An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler. This book came to me during a bad patch and taught me to feed my family on very little or with things I would have normally thrown out. My children now love my "fancy" onion soup that I made from the leftover bean broth, onions, and a leftover bit of bratwurst.

[Robin P]

Lisa wrote: "I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing for this one. It could easily have been condensed into something much shorter."

So it could have been decluttered!

[Christina]

I'll probably be reading Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar for this, since I just read Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail and Torch, but I'm also considering Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps (lots of links, sorry!)

[Erika]

I had a hard time deciding on a book for this one cause like a lot of us, I balked at the idea of reading a traditional "self-help" book cause they seem so hokey to me. Since the topic is expanded to books that help you, say, hone a skill, I went with Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro

[Tara]

Jenny wrote: "I'm writing my dissertation proposal, and dissertation (?) this year. So lots of these are writing, I'm going to try a bunch out and see what works/makes sense. These double as books recommended t..."

I'm also writing my dissertation this year :) Thanks for the book rec's! I will definitely be using one of these for the challenge.

[Tara]

As I'm currently writing my dissertation and having difficulty with focusing, I decided to go with this one! The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD: An 8-Step Program for Strengthening Attention, Managing Emotions, and Achieving Your Goals

[Tatiana]

Does a book related to my job count? I'm a translator so I was thinking I could read a book related to language or translation for the self-improvement task.

[Robin P]

Tatiana wrote: "Does a book related to my job count? I'm a translator so I was thinking I could read a book related to language or translation for the self-improvement task."

Sounds fine to me!

[Tatiana]

Robin wrote: "Sounds fine to me!"

Thanks Robin, I'm going to read Umberto Eco's Dire presque la même chose : Expériences de traduction. I think the English title is Experiences in Translation.

[Jeimy]

For me, Eat, Pray, Love ended being a self-help book. Nonetheless, I think 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works, which I also read this year, will be my official pick for this task.

[Amanda]

I just finished for this task. It was quick and easy reading. Now I guess I have work to do!

[Rebecca]

I am thinking of readingBeing Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error for this challenge. Does it count as "self-improvement" ? I'm using it to inform my teaching.

[Nicole]

I am debating between Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness and The Highly Sensitive Person. I think both will be good for me, but I'll probably have to read them slowly and take breaks. I get a bit overwhelmed with this type of reading.

[Jennifer]

I am putting The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty into this category. I know this seems strange, but the challenge does say 'traditional or non-traditional'. I had no intentions of using this book for the self-help category when I began, but it beautifully illustrates what happens when you make assumptions, when you keep things to yourself, when you keep a third party present in your marriage, etc. I am guilty of being antisocial and pushing people away. This book also shows how doing that affects you, how it affects others around you, and how others perceive your actions. It is an eye-opener, and I gave it 4 stars.

[Jenn Dee]

I read Yes Please by Amy Poehler. A fun read, and full of advice so I'd say it could qualify as self help.