Photo by César Viteri on Unsplash
The start of the new year always brings new goals and resolutions. For a lot of us, reading is something we resolve to do more of in these hopeful early January days…but find ourselves overwhelmed with choices or the opposite, uninspired by what we’re seeing at the local bookstore. So we’ve created a guide for some of the most talked about, well-reviewed, and anticipated books to read in 2018 in hopes it inspires you all to indulge in the beauty of literature. They’re also linked back to Amazon, where you can find them all at reasonable prices or download them on your e-reader. Be sure to leave your own suggestions in the comments, or let us know which of these you can’t read to dive into. Happy reading, and happy (almost) new year!
Non-Fiction
1. Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility (Patty McCord)
If you have an inkling of business or entrepreneurship, this book is perfect to kick off 2018. Written by the former talent officer of media empire Netflix, this book highlights the value of reorganization and efficiency in the workplace. Author Patty McCord asserts that while most existing companies have the workplace all wrong, it is possible to reshape the corporate culture and in turn receive a higher rate of success.
Photo credit: Amazon
2. A River in the Darkness: One Man’s Escape from North Korea (Masaji Ishikawa)
Masaji Ishikawa was born in Japan, with both Japanese and Korean parents. 13 years later his family moved in North Korea, where they were promised a new Utopian life filled with new opportunities and widespread wealth. What they received however, was quite the opposite. Trapped working in the lowly farmer industry and discriminated for his Japanese heritage, Ishikawa began to realize the impossible nature of change in this country. After an arranged marriage and several family tragedies, he finally decided it was time to take a stand; which is where the real story begins.
3. Am I There Yet? The Loop-de-loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood (Mari Andrew)
On a bit of a lighter note, this adult picture book (yes, you read right) is taking Instagram by storm. Author and illustrator Mari Andrew amassed attention with her subtly profound illustrations describing the very essence of adulthood, and navigating the curveballs of life as they come. Her book of illustrations is on sale beginning in March, and is the perfect coffee-table read for creators, artists and anyone who appreciates the deep beauty of the art hidden within the challenges of everyday life.
Photo credit: Amazon
4. Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley (Emily Chang)
The anchor and executive producer of Bloomberg Technology, Emily Chang wrote this book to give readers a closer look at the seemingly utopic Silicon Valley. Originally created as a land of innovation and intellectual freedom, Chang uncovers the dark side of Silicon Valley that has become more evident in recent years. With interviews from high-powered women in diverse fields and other perspectives from Chang’s network of Silicon Valley insiders, Chang exposes the sexism and mistreatment of women happening at these giant corporations- and what can be done to solve the problem.
5. How To Fix a Broken Heart (Guy Winch)
If you’re anything like me, you are absolutely captivated by TED talks. Short, meaningful speeches by some of the world’s most original thinkers always lead me to deep introspection and inspiration. It’s no surprise then, that the leaders of TED have decided to form these feelings into the pages of a book. How to Fix a Broken Heart will be released in mid-February, and is written by psychologist Guy Winch to help navigate the process of healing after any kind of heartbreak. Focusing on two different kinds of heartbreak and written through the analysis of research on how emotional pain affects the human brain; Winch gives compelling solutions to deal with heartbreak in the best possible way.
6. Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure (Amy Kaufman)
You don’t have to admit it publicly, but I think it’s safe to assume that you might find yourself indulging in the world of reality television from time to time. The Bachelor is one of the more infamous shows in this world, known for its longstanding history of romance, drama and alllll the tears. Amy Kaufman, a film writer for the Los Angeles Times, has been covering Bachelor events and interviewing it’s producers and contestants for quite some time- and is now presenting her findings with a tell-all book. With all the juicy behind-the-scene details and revelations from former cast members plus a deeply pyschological look at our society’s fascination with this culture of love…this book might just become as addicting as the show itself.
7. A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership (James Comey)
Truthfully, I am not sure if this book really needs any introduction. Set to be released this May, this memoir by former FBI director James Comey is already highly anticipated, and highly controversial. In this book, Comey promises to share experiences and stories never before told to help shed light on the pressures of working in American government. He illustrates lessons from his own career in politics and learnings on developing effective, and ethical, leadership in the highest of forms.
Photo credit: Amazon
8. I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death (Maggie O’Farrell)
For most, the term “brush with death” has no real rationalization in our own lives. These seem be unique occurrences, occurrences that most of us never even experience. But Maddie O’Farrel has been acquainted with death a time or…seventeen, and uses this book to explore the nature of the most feared aspect in all of human existence. Describing each of these 17 events and the aftermath in her own life, O’Farell presents the interconnected nature of these snapshots in away that displays the wonder, and fragility, of life.
Fiction
Photo credit: Amazon
9. Turtles All the Way Down (John Green)
From the author of The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska, this highly anticipated book is already in stores..and already making a stir. Protagonist Aza and her lifelong friend find themselves investigating the murder of billionaire Russel Pickett and the pieces that surrounded him. This novel explores mystery, friendship and is written by John Green…which means it simply has to be good.
10. White Houses: A Novel (Amy Bloom)
For those of you who prefer historical fiction, this novel by Amy Bloom might just be your new obsession come February. It tells the story of the relationship between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her longtime companion Lorena Hickok, a journalist from South Dakota. Upon meeting the two develop a profound connection, leading Hickok to eventually move into the White House. She becomes known as the “first friend” and begins working in the Roosevelt administration, kindling a lifelong love with Eleanor and securing her spot in the untold stories of American government.
Photo credit: Amazon
11. Rainbirds (Clarissa Goenawan)
Goenawan’s first novel, this story centers around Ren Ishida, a recent college graduate dealing with the aftermath of his sister’s murder. With no answers or evidence pointing towards her killer, Ishida travels to the city of Akakawa to deal with her affairs and make his own attempts at investigating her death. After suddenly being offered her newly vacated teaching position, Ishida begins to uncover the life left behind by his sister, the pain of their collective childhood…and the secrets both kept and revealed.
Photo credit: Amazon
12. This Could Hurt: A Novel (Jillian Medoff)
Another find for corporate-minded individuals, this novel by Jillian Medoff explores the triumphs and tribulations of American companies. The story is told through five different HR department employees, centering around their chief Rosa Guerrero, a woman whose life begins to unravel in front of her. Through love triangles, business schemes, differing new strategies and several more twists and turns; Medoff tells their stories through a shared framework, as these workplace stories go on to change the course of their lives.
Photo credit: Amazon
13. Oliver Loving (Stefan Merrill Block)
Oliver Loving is a normal teenage boy living alongside his family in west Texas. On a November night he decides to attend a school dance in hopes of gaining the attention of his longtime crush, a decision that would forever change his life. When tragedy strikes at the dance, Loving is left in a decade-long coma that turns his mind, and his family, on a chaotic roller-coaster of confusion and grief. 10 years later a new medical discovery might be able to unlock Loving’s mind and bring him back to the torn-apart town he once new, and tell the truth of what happened that November night.
14. The Hazel Wood (Melissa Albery)
In a distopic, eerie novel set in the magical world of fictionality, author Melissa Albery creates the world of Hazel Wood. Alice, the protagonist of the story, learns that her “cult-classic” fairy tale author grandmother has died alone in her estate suddenly. When Alice and her mother begin picking up the pieces of her death, Alice’s mother suddenly goes missing, into the world created by the grandmother through her stories. This world is called Hazel Wood, and is home to secrets and stories holding the key to her mother’s freedom. The only challenge for Alice, is to find them.
Photo credit: Amazon
15. An American Marriage (Tayari Jones)
For a more realistic fiction pick, this novel by Tayari Jones tells a story of unfairness and love…and the brutal intersection of the two. Celestial and Roy are the perfect couple- newly married, succesfull and in love. But when Roy is thrown in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Celestial finds herself losing not only her husband but her own feelings towards him…and finding these feeling in somebody else. When Roy is released five years later, he returns to Atlanta ready to resume his past life- but this life might no longer be an option.
16. How to Stop Time (Matt Haig)
In a Benjamin-Button-esque story of time travel and the mystery of age, this novel by Matt Haig illustrates the interconnectedness of love and time. Although appearingly average, 41-year-old Tom Hazard has actually been alive for centuries, witnessing the triumphs of history but now craving a more normal life. Hazard is a part of the Albatross Society, an organization designed to protect people with this same condition. The only rule for the society is to never fall in love. But alas, this is the one rule Hazard learns he cannot follow. Faced with the decision to make a change or follow the same patterns he’s been through time and time again, Hazard learns the beauty of designing his own fate…and the challenges that soon follow.
SHESHE’S TIDBITS
- As the new year approaches, I am reflecting on 2017 and looking ahead to 2018. Be sure to read tomorrow’s post. We are reviewing last year’s resolutions and revealing new plans and goals for 2018. Be sure to stop by for my report card on how I did in 2017.
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