If you follow me on Instagram or Goodreads, you may already know the 4 books I read in January. But I want to document the books I read this year in their very own little section here on my blog as well. So you can now find all my book recommendations in the Lifestyle dropdown menu. It’s got the very fancy title of “Book Recommendations”, in case you can’t find it. 😉
You may also want to read: 8 books about midlife that I know you’ll love
The 4 books I read in January
The light we carry: Overcoming in uncertain times – Michelle Obama
I loved Michelle Obama’s previous book, Becoming, so when her new one appeared in bookstores, I knew I had to read it. And it was everything I hoped it would be. It inspired me to look at my life and how I deal with experiences and shows practical ways to stay hopeful in today’s crazy world. There’s no denying that a lot is happening in the world right now and anxiety has reached an all-time high. This book shows us a set of tools we can draw from when experiencing life’s challenges. It also offers practical advice on how to work through fear, find strength and community and live a meaningful life. This was a really inspirational read.
Order on UK Bookshop.org or US Bookshop.org or Amazon
Undoctored: The story of a medic who ran out of patients – Adam Kay
After reading Adam Kay’s This is going to hurt (and then watching the TV show based on the book), I was very keen to read his follow-up story. And boy, if you thought that the first book held many shocking revelations, this one was even more astonishing. The honesty with which this author writes brings home the agony of his life experiences as a doctor. And it was interesting to find out what’s been happening in his life since he quit being a doctor. This is another eye-opening account of the fragility of humanity and how tough doctors’ lives can be.
Order on UK Bookshop.org or Amazon
Just one thing: How simple changes can transform your life – Michael Mosley
Michael Mosley trained as a doctor and has spent many years working as a science journalist. This has meant that he’s been able to explore the science behind many health claims that he’s come across over that time. The idea for this book actually came from the podcast, Just One Thing, which he started during the Covid lockdown. And the idea of the podcast was to have short, 15-minute episodes on just one thing you can do to improve your health. What I love about this book (and the podcast) is that it is so simple and achievable. Turning good ideas that are scientifically proven to help you become healthier, into sustainable habits is well within my reach. In fact, I’ve already introduced a few of the recommendations (eg. intelligent exercises and cold showers) into my daily routine.
Order on UK Bookshop.org or US Bookshop.org or Amazon
Ejaculate responsibly: A whole new way to think about abortion – Gabrielle Stanley Blair
I’ve followed Gabrielle Blair for many years – first on her blog and then on Instagram and Twitter. She is a bright and fascinating woman who writes well-thought-out arguments about many different topics. In fact, she turned one of her Twitter threads into this incredible book. I love that she takes on the contentious issue of abortion, suggesting a fresh way to look at this because so far the discussions around this topic have proven unending and unsuccessful. In this book, she sets out 28 simple arguments to show why men cause all unwanted pregnancies. And why we need a whole new way to think about abortion. The book also includes suggestions for how to take action and shift the conversation from unproductive debates about women’s bodies towards a different one. This is a highly topical issue and an important read for everyone.
Order on UK Bookshop.org or US Bookshop.org or Amazon
On reflection
I tend to read mostly fiction, so it’s been interesting to see that all of my January reads have been non-fiction. It reflects how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been drawn to lately and I’m not mad about that. Isn’t it funny how you can go through stages of reading a certain type of book? I look forward to diving into my list of lighter, fictional reads next. See you with the February instalment next!
But in the meantime – have you read any of these books? Did you enjoy them?
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