I hope you enjoy this month’s topic and meeting new writers! Please tell your friends so they can join in too. The more the merrier.
I write musings by mika and I like to peel the curtain back on life after leaving my 9-5 and the realities of writing on Substack (with helpful tips and resources along the way).
The book I recommend the most is hands down “The Optimized Woman” by Miranda Gray. It helps women understand, trust and work with the ebbs and flows of their body and their cycle.
Life changing!
The next book would be “The Artist’s Way”. It helped me so much when I was a mum of young children and didn’t know what I even liked anymore. It also helped me get back in tune with my creative self when I was a mum of older children. 🥰
Also life changing!
And I love anything by Jane Austen! 👌
I write about these books and my other fav books here:
I am an Artist's Way drop-out! I originally bought the book last year and gave up after a few weeks, but I have started it again and am now five weeks in... hoping to stick it out for the full 12 weeks. It's been really useful so far, although I failed at the reading deprivation.
The Artist's Way was gonna be my #2 as well! I got to do a weekend workshop with Julia Cameron as she created her 2nd book, "The Vein of Gold." She guided us to connect with the most resonant themes from our lives, to create from that energy. Have you read it?
I’ve never read the artist way, yet have done morning pages for many years. I discovered about that through another book and it helped me so much. Also agree about anything Jane Ausitin.
I LOVE The Artist's Way. It helped me write my very first book! I'm 5 in now... :-)
Have you read The Upgrade by Louann Brizendine? Or, Unlock Your Menopause Type by Heather Hirsch? Both are on my nightstand right now. I think no matter where a woman is in her menopause journey these topics are timely and fascinating.
I write Wild Cozy Free which I describe as a step towards more embodiment, and a step towards discovering and reclaiming my wild cozy free self. The self that exists underneath all my roles, outside all of the busyness. I've been here for a little over a year and have written about my journey to coming out as bisexual, recovering from my eating disorder, my love of musical theater, how I transitioned from acting to writing and then started a coaching business, and much more!
I visited one of my favorite books at The Strand today; "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro. It is devastatingly beauitful and changed the way I see the world. Avoid all spoilers if you can!
I am also a big fan of Rebecca Serle's work, and particularly recommend "In 5 Years" and "One Italian Summer."
Hi! I’m Miao, and I write Miao? Wow!—Haven’t figured out how to introduce my Substack yet, but it’s an overflow of feelings and things I overthink. I write about my personal life as it relates to astrology, recipes, consumable media, healing, and health. Don’t really know which audience I’m writing for, but most days it feels like I’m writing for past me and imaginary friends.
I don’t read much—I had a stroke a few years ago and it impacted my reading behaviors. But I did finish a book of short stories about Longmire, after watching the TV show.
Would love to make friends on Substack! But I don’t know how to do it or how to make myself sound interesting enough.
You totally sound *more than* interesting enough, Miao! Great to virtually meet!
I love short stories, and always love a good rec. I really love John Cheever's collection, and also "Cat Person" by Kristen Roupenian. My all time favorite is "Where are you going, Where have you been?" by Joyce Carol Oates. So eerie and so good.
I love the idea of writing for past me and my imaginary friends. I like to apply the same thinking to my writing audience as I do to the types of clients I work with as a coach, and think less of a demographic and more of a psychographic. Like, less "women in their 20s" and more, "people who stay up until 3am and reflect on that one thing they did back in 2018 and how it relates to their life now and maybe write a song about it" 😂
Great to meet you, and excited to check out your work!
Hello everyone! I’m Jezz, a illustrator with ADHD and ASD.
I’m writing The Howling Newsletter, about my art jounrey with my disabilities. PRetty much.
I’m a non-fiction reader and the two I highly recommend is Atomic Habits by James Clear & Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty. For fiction I would say The Witcher series 😁
Hey everyone. My name is Chris. I'm a husband and father who teaches internationally. I write about my experiences, and I occasionally throw in a short story, poem, or literary analysis.
If you’ve enjoyed anything by Cormac McCarthy, I recommend reading his last books, The Passenger and Stella Maris (they come together). I don’t have any concrete reasons for recommending these other than I have read a lot of McCarthy and I was not let down by these books.
My topics are still quite wide ranging! I write about my history with sexual abuse, drug abuse, and teenage motherhood. My career in the space industry and real estate investment. And the intersection of all these pieces with discussions of feminism and empowerment :)
A recent book I read and loved was Liz Murray’s memoir, Breaking Night.
Hi I'm Sophie and I write "This is Sophie today" which is about personal reflections on life, learnt from living a life off the grid. The two most recent books I've read are "tribes" by Seth Godin and "on writing" by Stephen King. Would definitely recommend that last one if people haven't read it yet!
Hi! I'm Sascha, I live in Brighton (UK) and I'm pretty international - I was born in Russia, grew up in Sweden, have lived in Los Angeles, Florence, Milan, and London.
I work in PR for an animal rights org and have been vegan for twelve years. I have started an online vegan fashion magazine and published a book about stylish vegan living. I started writing my Substack, Kind of Wild, as sort of a vegan lifestyle guide...even though now, the content will probably be a bit more ample. There will be more different topics, all coming back to that core concept of finding that balance between living ethically and still enjoying life.
Also, I'm currently working on a novel. About something entirely different.
As for books I recommend, well, there are so many! Firstly, the book I wish everyone in the world would read: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. It's the book that turned me vegan over a decade ago. Secondly, The Circle by Dave Eggers. Such brilliant commentary on the times we live in, and just a really great read. And lastly, since everyone here seems to be on a creative path, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. So inspiring, uplifting and full of interesting perspectives.
I’m a bit late to the party, but I wanted to introduce my Substack: Mademoiselle Substack. It’s all about creating a life and business that align with our truest selves. I delve into topics on business, embracing the feminine, and self-improvement. Here are a couple of my book recommendations:
The Little Book of Change by Amy Johnson
The Perfect Day to Boss Up: A Hustler's Guide to Building by Rick Ross
feel free to introduce yourself, I love to know more people
Hello ☺️ I write about Slow Living + Natural Health for people (especially women and mothers) who want to reduce stress and overwhelm and improve their wellbeing and energy levels. Sometimes I write about my life as an expat and mother in Germany.
Books: Big Magic by Liz Gilbert, Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver…. At least that’s what currently on my bedside table.
Thank you for your reply Mika!🥰 I also enjoy what you write about and hope we can collaborate at some point! Yes, it's a great community here and I'm looking forward to connecting and making friends!
Hi there, I'm Claudia, and I am writing about the Power of Slow....in a rushing world crushing your life. My publication is called Un-Rush. I uncover the absurdity of our hurry, speed and rushing world, show how they are not making us better, and give examples of why and how going slow makes for a healthier, higher quality, happier way of life and work.
My book recommendations are:
-- Sten Nadolny: The discovery of Slowness (originally written/published in 1987)
-- Laurence Gonzales: Deep Survival (author researched, studied thousands of accidents/catastrophes and looked at why some people survive and others not. Sooo insightful..)
Hello everyone! I'm Sarah and write over at "Searching For Enough" where I write about what enough looks like in our lives, like money, relationships and our sense of self😊
Books I recommend the most are "Beloved" by Toni Morrison and "The Making of Asian America: A History" by Erika Lee.
I love that you come at it from the angle of being your own boss (and task-master) and reflecting on a more balanced lifestyle. I hope you can find your people here Sarah!
Hi Sarah, I have to check out your work about "enough" Glad I found you here. I wrote with a whole group of writer/small biz owners a book about Enough, picking up the same idea as you do...What is enough? ("Enough - Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are". Nice to meet you here.
Love your monthly ‘find your tribe’ @Mika - THANK YOU 💚
Hello, I’m Han. I write about my life in Orkney, Scotland. It’s totally new to me, we moved here nearly 2 years ago & I love it. I talk about my garden, life here & the general trials & tribulations of being a peri-meno woman!
Books I recommend
1. Dracula by Bram Stoker - possibly THE best book I’ve ever read & seems to land well with most people I recommend it to.
2. Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker - the Trojan war from a woman’s perspective. So so good.
It sneaks up on you I swear! It was manageable until it started impacting my mental health so I’ve opted for HRT which has helped, but it doesn’t solve everything!!
Hi everyone ! 😊 I'm super happy and excited to introduce myself and my Substack publication: ByteByByte . My name is Ananya Shahi. I'm currently a Computer Science student at NUS (National University of Singapore) and my specialisation is in Artificial Intelligence.
I write about my Computer Science projects and artificial intelligence. My publication is intended for anyone who is looking to get into Computer Science or Healthcare. I occasionally take detours and share my life experience, with some tips as to how to become more financially independent and how I managed to be a topper within high school. I just hope people find my Substack and advice useful!😊 I'm also super excited to be here to learn from all of you, as I find Substack writers to be passionate and insightful in their chosen domains.
With regards to 3 books 📚 I would recommend the most:
1. The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins
2. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - Yuval Noah Harari
3. Flatland - Edwin Abbott Abbott
For anyone who loves literature (even though this isn't necessarily a book), I found the essay "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" intriguing and very thought-provoking. Message me if you just want to chat about it.
Feel free to introduce yourself and to message 👋, I love getting to know new people!
It must be fascinating to study about AI, especially how things are changing at such a rapid pace!! My husband is a software engineer and enjoyed upskilling so he could help his clients navigate AI. It definitely is a field that has so much potential.
Hi Ananya - great books. I've Victoria, my website/publication is Carer Mentor: Empathy & Inspiration (https://www.carermentor.com/) prior to caring for my parents I had a couple of decades working in Healthcare (pharmaceuticals). I'm curious to see if you're working in digital capabilities in healthcare space, drug discovery, development?
Hi Mika - I am a father of 5, 2 dogs, and avid outdoor sea swimmer from the UK. Started my journey around personal development with studying Tony Robbins in the 90's been interested ever since. Read and tried so many different things for physical and mental health that I want to share some on here. Thanks for asking.
Hi JFT Beach! This sounds quite interesting to me. I'm currently trying to take better care of my physical health, will definitely follow and read some of your articles
Oh hi! I’m late to the party this month. Is anyone still around?
I’m Kelsey and I write Find Your Awesome (a publication to help you live your most joyful aligned life), Find Your Awesome Sauce (gluten-free whole food plant-based recipes) and The Manifesting Generator Playground (for those who identify as Manifesting Generators in the Human Design system.
This is a hard question, Mika. I feel like my answer might be different everyday. I’m currently loving the Riley Thorn series by Lucy Score (funny rom-com mysteries and a psychic detective).
The two non-fiction books that came to mind are The Art of Uncertainty by Dennis Merrit Jones and Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver.
Great question, Mika. As long as I don’t set any rules, it’s great. If I tell myself that I have to post once a week on each and/or on a particular day, it loses its flow and fun.
Are you using the term "Mestiza" for being half pinay?. I'm Hapa (half white, Japanese) and my bestie was mestiza, and my other bestie's kids are mesitizos and mestiza. 🥰
I'm not pinay! I use the term "Mestiza" from Gloria Anzaldua's theory Mestiza Consciousness, she kind of expanded the use of the term from merely mixed race to any identity where someone is stretched across different minorities and their identity becomes a bridge.
Thank you for including the pronunciation of your name. You must brace yourself when you go to the Doctors or other places that require your name to be called out. I'm either Me-ka or My-ka. It's 50/50. (my name is prounounced "me" (like "you and me"), "ka".
Hey everyone! My name is Ify and I’m the founder and community manager of Moms and Mamas, a vibrant community of mothers reaching over 20 million accounts on Instagram every month. I recently launched a Substack (https://momsandmamas.substack.com/) to share the diverse stories, confessions, and experiences of mothers from around the world.
I love being part of this incredible community and look forward to connecting with others.
Currently, I'm enjoying two fantastic books: "The Outliers" and "Girls Who Run the World." I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've read them!
Hi there! I’m Jane. LOVE reading through these interesting intros. I have so much to catch up on!
I write and illustrate the School of Thought blog at https://schoolofthought.substack.com. I write (and invite others to guest write and I illustrate!) on topics related to reinventing learning - from creating communities to collective creativity. My goal in each post is to share research inspired ideas and make them usable for all.
I was an educator-researcher and more recentllya school co-founder, a children’s book illustrator and recently started an organization that brings the blog to life (www.schoolsofthought.org).
2 books I’d highly recommend: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker and the Creativity Leap by Natalie Nixon.
The Art of Gathering has been on my shelf forever! I listened to a great podcast where she gave Brene Brown a "meeting makeover" and really analyzed the structure, name, and format of her weekly staff meetings to help make them more effective and meaningful. Love Priya!
Hi wow! I love this, I'm also an educator (a tutor) and I think talking about school life is super important! I mean it's a process that we all go through, but not a lot of adults care about optimising student life for the next generation and issues in varying access to education. Am very excited to read your blog, I really hope you reach out / accept my message so we can collaborate together, or even for me just to hear your perspective on certain things.
Hi all - Thank you Mika for creating this space, after working through the comments with a coffee this morning, I think safe to say I've found my tribe haha! ✨
I'm Lauren, a Welsh woman, just turned 30, living in London. I write The Navigation, sharing musings on, meanderings through and methods for navigating modern life as a millennial woman, exploring topics including grief, friendship, travel and productivity. There's a regular series of cultural recommendations too, and new for this year, a month career interview series. 🧭
Struggling along with everyone else to narrow down the books! But I think (if I cheat slightly) I'd go with Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Quartet (four novels, starting with My Brilliant Friend) which I savoured and just loved the complex and deep storytelling. Then Alain de Botton's The Course of Love, and, as I've seen it pop up a few times already, Oliver Burkeman's 4000 Weeks. 📚
I've read it 3 or 4 times and take something different from it each time, depending on what else is going on in my life. I think it's as good to read as single person as it is to gift to newlyweds! ❣️
My name is Nobuhle, I write Young & Oversharing, a newsletter for young women figuring it out one mistake at a time. Think mental health, relationships, sex & sexuality, money and a LOT of feelings. 😂
Books... Without fail, I recommend Atomic Habits to anyone who asks. That book will get you into the right habits!
If you are a lover of thriller with a dash of spicy, Does It Hurt by H.D Carlton is a must-read.
Hi! I’m Laura from Adelaide, Australia and I write about yoga and rock climbing on my substack called Between a Rock and a Hard Pose.
I’m a big reader and have so many favourites! Two books I’ve read this year that I have been raving about are Bri Lee’s debut novel The Work and Amy Thunig’s Memior Tell Me Again.
Hi everyone, I'm Melody! A Bay Area based Chicana writer recovering from 5 years of classroom teaching burnout. I created a Substack to talk all things travel, food, and healing as I develop my writer voice and work on my first short story. Happy to join this community!
We've "met," so I'm kind of breaking the rules! But I want to tell you that teaching internationally might really be up your alley. I taught in the US for 4 years and internationally for 6. The 4 in the US were the most "stable," but the 6 abroad have been the most fun. International teaching comes with it's own challenges, sure, but it also pretty freeing. There are all kinds of ways to teach internationally--English language teacher, teaching your subject/field at an international/British/American/Canadian school, teaching online, private tutoring....I should probably write a post about this!
Hi all! Karen here, and I write On the Outside (Looking In). It’s my space for sharing my ‘noticings’ on life, seen through the lens of never feeling like I fit in, and all supported by my 3 pillars of courage, curiosity and connection. I share some poetry, and tiny details of the world, things I’ve noticed about myself and about everything else. The world is exquisite and I love to notice it.
In terms of books, I found this hard actually! Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown (anything by her actually) for sure. That made me feel so SEEN. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. The Way of the Fearless Writer by Beth Kempton. And because I can’t not recommend a novel, I wracked my brain for one that isn’t a given - Lessons In Chemistry. Can’t even remember the author. It’s not my usual read at all and I loved it.
Oooh you are in the right place! There are tonnes! Nelly Bryce is brilliant - she does Poetry Pals. Maya C Pope is on here with Poetry Today. There’s Poetry Outlaws too. If you haven’t found those already, you’ll love them! I know there are more but I can’t read that much in my life 😅😂
I'm Jess, a 31 year old woman from Bournemouth (England, UK). An ex-primary school teacher now living freely and flexibly as a Children's Book Writer/Editor, private tutor and digital marketer.
I write Chapter 31 -- my cosy little space on Substack where I write whatever's on my mind. This usually tends to be about living mindfully, what it means to be human and using our limited time on Earth wisely.
I recommend reading anything by Beth Kempton -- especially 'The Way of the Fearless Writer' and 'Kokoro'. She's the writer for writers, teaching about writing by teaching about living.
Looking forward to connecting with other Substack readers and writers :)
Hii I'm Mansi and I am the voice behind Unwind - my weekly newsletter!
Unwind is a space where I write about the meaningful things in life. Things that go beyond building a successful career. We talk about building a successful life with intention.
My book recommendations would be:
1. What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey. I am a HUGE fan of this book (read it for the second time this year). I come back to it everytime I am in need of comfort and I get exactly that.
2. Storyteller by Morgan Harper Nichols. Morgan is my favourite writer in the whole world. Her words hit home. This is a poetry book, super easy to read and carry with you anywhere. Also the kind of book you could gift to your friends and loved ones. ♥️
I was just gifted another of Morgan Harper Nichols' books, You Are Only Just Beginning, which feels like the perfect read for having just turned 30 haha. It's also such a beautifully colourful book!
I have all of Morgan's books and they truly add so much value (and aesthetic) to my personal library. I'd recommend her work to everyone without any hesitations. Love her💕
Hi Mansi - lovely to meet you! I am really enjoying reading poetry at the moment - especially anything by Donna Ashworth and in contrast (after a visit to his home in the Lake District): William Wordsworth. 'Storyteller' therefore sounds like something I need to read! :)
So happy to meet you as well. I want to get my hands on more poetry books as well. I'll check out Donna Ashworth's work. Thank you for the lovely recommendation!
PS: Thank you for subscribing to Unwind. I really appreciate you💕
Hi everyone! Wow, I'm honored to be up there in the post! Thank you Mika! This series such a rad idea, I probably spent an hour reading the comments from last month. So many interesting stories, stoked for more stories this month.
Ok, onto the instructions:
I'm Ian and I write about inner work. Simply put, that's you writing, reading, walking, running, meditating etc and discovering who you are behind all layers; doing your own work first. A lot of this centers around the work of Carl Jung but there are many others of course. This week after finishing a three part series on working with your shadow energy, I wrote about losing a lot weight after I moved to Mexico this year.
Hi. I’m Jeanine and I write Mexico Soul, about all things Mexican—travel, news, the Maya, arts. I loved Lessons in Chemistry and Elizabeth Gilbert’s City of Girls. More serious but important, The Overstory by Richard Powers. Hello to All and happy Friday!
CONNECTION with y'all is CRACK. I'm getting high today on Substack :)
I'm Christine, a multi-passionate creatrix at Mostly Brave. We melt self-sabotage with self-compassion, clarity and connection. C'mon over for weekly 5-min. imagination games to tap your inner wisdom. Today, the Time Machine guides you to see the future, so you can make up your damn mind about a Big Decision. https://heartsquest.substack.com/p/making-big-decisions-should-we-move
Books: I geek out on time travel, neuroscience and mystical inner world explorations. My favorites include "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coehlo and "The Red Book" by Carl Jung (did you know Jung was a closet artist? Stunning mandalas). For me, a recommendation is about YOU: what you'd enjoy in that moment. Thanks for this ask, Mika 😘
Hello hello, I'm Raine and I write Ordinary Magic. I share poetry and reflections on grief, motherhood and just being human in this funny old world.
My top book recommendations are If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie, Devotions by Mary Oliver and honestly, The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. That little fantasy book had quite an impact on 12 year old me!
Looking forward to connecting with other writers! I think that's been my favorite part of Substack so far is making connections with so many lovely creative people across the world!
Hi Everyone, I'm writing from the US, so I'm a day behind! I work in Academia as the Director of our Yoga Studies in the Kinesiology and Health Science department where I teach a variety of courses on mindfulness, movement, and yoga. I started my Substack: Hear Love Here Love when my two oldest boys moved out of the house...both at the same time!...leaving me with a giant space to fill. I write about mindfulness practices and understanding life as our greatest teacher. I'm also a trail runner, sun + water worshipper, and outdoor enthusiast. I always recommend The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm currently reading No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz, and it is mind blowing (especially from a mindfulness perspective). I am loving your introductions and book recommendations. My book list is growing by the minute. :)
Hi! The Artist Way and Right to Write are two of my favorites both by Julia Cameron. Another is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.
I’m on Substack to share posts about yoga, running and happy trails I find in travels. My perspective is finding quality of life during menopause years learning how to manage the changes but keep doing the activities that I love and make me feel alive!
Hi Jill - Just saying hello randomly as per the instruction post for this group 😊 Hope you're well. I will check out your substack and make a comment on it. Cheers and take care.
I'm Gunnar - biologist by training, science writer by day job, and more creative writer/idea collector any other moment. I write Subtle Sparks, which is all about those ideas. That's pretty vague. Some things I've been thinking about lately: psychology, mental heath, and society in the age of social media, what does living a good life mean, and - unavoidably, it seems - how intelligent is AI actually?
I'm going with three fiction books.
Blindsight by Peters Watts (dark, cynical, 'biological' science fiction), The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday by Saad Z. Hossain (hilarious yet deeply human near-future SF that fuses South Asian folklore with nanotech), and A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine (political SF intrigue). I didn't plan to make them all science fiction and I'll pick different ones each day, but there we go.
Also, these comments make my 'to read mountain' grow steeper at an alarming rate...
Hi Gunnar, my introduction is above, I just checked out your writing and the post on language games. very cool. We have many shared interests and I look forward to reading more of your work! 👍
Hello! I am Ellen and really enjoyed reading up on everyone! I’m an artist who writes in hopes to inspire parents and their little ones to make art for fun and connection.
My favorite book of all time is SOUTH OF BROAD by pat conroy. He is a beautiful writer and he writes about Charleston, South Carolina … a place very near and dear to my heart. It’s a great summer read!
Looking forward to reading some of the books mentioned… and getting to know yall better here on ss!!
Soulful is such a great word to describe him. Prince of tides was amazing! I have loved them all, but south of broad really stood out to me! Happy reading!!
My name is Yiannis, I'm 23 and I currently reside in England. I enjoy playing sports, reading and exploring new cultures. I am the author of the very creatively named "Yiannis's Substack" which doesn't have a proper name yet and is a very recent creation. https://yiannisrussell.substack.com/
Here I talk about all things personal development but in a light hearted and relatable way. Readers across 5 countries are benefiting from my insights (somehow).
2 books I'd recommend are "Digital Minimalism" by Cal Newport and "Can't Hurt me" by David Goggins.
"Digital Minimalism" really helped me to improve my relationship with my devices. "Can't Hurt Me" helped me to develop more resilience and work towards becoming desensitized to failure.
I look forward to reading through everyone else's responses and hopefully making some new friends :)
Yes absolutely Christine. Because of the negative emotions we've associated with previous "failures" we stop pushing the boat out and are willing to settle for a mediocre life. I talked a little bit about this in my latest post :)
I’m working on third revision of a graphic novel about this topic. “Meet your Monkeys” is about how our brains are wired for fear, and we can change that!
Anyone who doesn't know me - I'm Melissa, and my newsletter Grow Healthier + Happier shows you that healthy eating CAN be easy and joyful! I share plenty of nutrition tips, quick + healthy recipes, hormone wellness, and simple wellness advice to nourish your body and soul. https://wellnesslovely.substack.com/
Book recs: Currently reading Gary Vaynerchuck's new book Day Trading Attention - so far it is amazing! Also reading Jay Shetty's Think Like a Monk, and my new fav cookbook that came out recently is Dan Churchill's (the healthy chef) Eat Like a Legend. His healthy eating for performance (athletic, job interview, work presentation, travel) philosophy is on point with my own.
I look forward to connecting with some new people! Off to read some comments in the 'tribe'!
Hi! I’m an artist living abroad, sharing about my art, creative process and travel photos with the idea to inspire others to create more. I can’t quite recommend a book right now, since all I’m reading/studying are botanical floral books. But I would say, read about subject you are obsessed about or curious to learn about for a while and see how it can inspire or influence your creativity.
So true. The Maya pyramids have fascinated me for ages, from my first trip to the Yucatán. Eventually moved there and founded a bookstore. Have met a ton of archeologists, tour guides, Maya scholars, and eventually I started to write about the Maya. Still my passion. About every third Substack post is on either the Maya, their civilization, or those who’ve explored the pyramids. Hello or Hola! I write Mexico Soul.
Hi Jeanie - thanks for your comment! I’m really forward to checking out your Substackl, and it sounds very interesting. I love the Mayan culture since it’s part of my heritage and obsessed with Mayan textiles.
Hi Susan! Your publication name is sweeeet and I am heading over there to read! Botanical floral books are simply the best. I have a massive one. I admit I have pulled out a few pages to frame though!
Helloooo! I'm Soph, from The Quiet 20s. I write about books, films and my experiences/thoughts as a 20-something who enjoys a quiet life.
The books I recommend the most are A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I actually wrote a piece a while back about "books everyone should read at least once" if anyone wants to give it a read! https://thequiet20s.substack.com/p/books-everyone-should-read-at-least
Hi Alexa, just followed you 💗 I'm a multi-passionate singer/songwriter too - I post my devotional songs for water on Fridays. Good to meet you here and congrats on your book!
Oh yes it would! I actually think it would make a great children's film too if the references to suicide were toned down a bit, it would be a lovely exploration of mental health.
Hi Soph - I loved the Midnight Library, I take a look at your article, thanks!
There may be something in my website that you might be interested in. There's also a hyperlink on the homepage to the Carer Mentor bookshop where I've listed various books I repeatedly recommend ;-)
Hi Mika and everyone! I'm a day late, and this is my first time here. It's lovely reading all the introductions and comments and seeing so many incredible topics covered and so many great book recommendations. I will start with the “The Artist’s Way” 🧡
My name is Jana, and my publication is the Coffee Break Newsletter.
I aim to make it a place where we redefine success, productivity, and well-being and examine what it means to live a 'good life'. Currently, I am reading The Success Myth by Emma Gannon, Hidden Genius by Polina Marinova Pompliano and Ganzo Capitalism by Chris Guillebeau. All authors can be found here on Substack. I often have three books on the go for the variety 😂
I read The Success Myth twice last year lol. I used to have several books on the go always, but then fell into the pattern of just one at a time, but this month I'm just diving into the full selection of the TBR pile and enjoying the variety again! 📚
Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through my post and subscribing; that means so much. I am glad you can relate; I have a love and hate, pull and push relationship with time. We all need it but can't quite grab enough of it 😂 Oh, so you must have genuinely enjoyed The success myth, maybe I'll end up doing the same. I am about halfway in. The reason I go for more than one book is the variety. I read for pleasure, some for research and some because I need to gain a different perspective. Books have always been my go-to place. Thank you for sharing links; I am heading to your publication now.
And yes I resonate with that relationship with time, so much!
Haha yes - to be fair the first time I was reading it to review before it came out, but without putting into action any of the prompts etc, so then I went back later in the year to read more "for me".
Ah yes I get that - if I'm reading several they're all for different things/different types, I don't think I could have several fiction on the go for example.
After 2 decades of 'successful' career, I decided to resign to help my Mum care for my Dad,
I've morphed from being a 'Corp-success' - 18 relocations, 10 countries, being a VP, leading global diverse teams, etc etc to being a Caregiver on an advocacy mission
Even with tough times, these days are more enriching for me - caregiving, having a small rewarding business mentoring and advocating for others. ;-)
Hi Jana! You're much braver than me, I can never read more than one book at once 🤣 How are you finding The Success Myth? I subscribe to Emma on here and love her writing, but I've never read one of her books!
Hi Soph! Tell me about it. It's not something I would recommend, but it works for me 😂 It does take me a while to finish all of them. Like you, I came across Emma's writing here on Substack and found the book on Amazon. I would highly recommend it. It hits all the right notes with me and my current situation—rethinking all the conventional wisdom about what success means and creating my own definition.
I'd also recommend The Success Myth, especially as a good read for your 20s (I just turned 30!) - I was lucky enough to meet Emma at an event for the book last year (wrote a little here about it - https://laurenkatepowell.substack.com/p/cultural-compass-7). Would also recommend Sabotage by Emma which is a quick read but feel of good nuggets of wisdom. 🤗
Hello everyone! I’m Shinjini, an artist, tarot reader, and writer. I write Studio Diaries, where I share pages from my mixed media art journals, process videos, and notes on creativity. I came here to have a space away from the noise of social media, for some spaciousness and to connect with other artists and writers. There’s always a seat for you in my virtual studio, come on over! https://shinjinim.substack.com
In terms of books, I often recommend:
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: one of my absolute favourite books on creativity
What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt: The descriptions of the art, the story, the characters — everything about this novel is captivating! A small caveat though: It takes a dark turn in the second half. If you’re ok with that, read this!!
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: I think this was the first book I read on time travel, or at least the first one that stayed with me for a long, long time and ignited my love for time travel books (including the Outlander series, which I found only 2 years ago! Eagerly waiting for book 10, so that’s a bonus, errr…9 books I’d recommend 🙈)
Hey Shinjini, nice to meet you! I tried to watch Outlander and that cruel commander made me want to punch him through my screen. So I stopped watching at season one. Will the books make me feel the same cause I am still curious how the story goes. 😭😭😭
Oh yeah, Black Jack is horrible! But he isn’t part of all of the books. I really enjoyed the series — the books more than the series, though Sam Heughen isn’t hard on the eyes 😉
Love all things Time Travel, and this book. Film = disappointing, but fun to see how they visualized it. PS I love all your book recs. 😘 Another multi-passionate maker here.
Hi Rose, I don't know the books you've written about, but you're substack sounds great! I'll look up the books and browse your newsletter. Thanks for sharing 😊😊
Hey, I'm Mareike, an artist and writer, sharing about being a creative and introvert in this world, while living in a tiny village and trying to build the multi-faceted business that suits me. I came here to rediscover my voice as a writer and joy for writing after an agency job that killed almost all of it. So far it's going pretty good 😊
Anyway, my top 2-3 books (standing in front of my bookshelf like "this is good, that one as well ... Oh I've got more than just three!!").
1. Why Women Grow by Alice Vincent. It's so good. I felt so much connection to the women in the stories. For anyone who loves to grow plants this is perfect.
2. Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. This one brought me back to reading after having a tough time with books. What a beautiful story.
3. Now it's getting tricky. 😬 .... The History of Bees by Maja Lunde (not sure if the title is correct, only have it in German). That one changed a lot about how I see the world and what kind of human I want to be in this world.
I'd love to know if anyone of you read any of them as well 🤗
Yes! I even have two of them 😁 A 27 years old mare and a 23 years old gelding 😊 I have them for over 15 years now 💛 They are very special (stubborn), dislike strangers or kids, depending on which one you ask, and are overall very brave, tiny, fluffy horses 😂
Oh I love that description of them! I’ve become fascinated by the breed, and loved seeing them in Iceland. We just went there for the first time in April this year and I’m in love with the country. Driving past all the ponies was great, though I’m fairly certain my other half got rather tired of me pointing out every horse we saw… 😅
Hi! Nice to meet you! I bought Why Women Grow for a friend who is so into her gardening, but haven’t read it myself. I’d love to! The history of bees sounds interesting too. I’m looking it up immediately. I think any book that changes the way we see things, even in small ways, is worth a read.
I’m so sorry to hear agency tried to kill your writing off and I hope you’re finding it here. What an ideal place to find it again here.
Hey Karen 😊 Why Women Grow is definitly a great pick for any gardener. The books by Maja Lunde (she wrote another one about water, one about wild horses and one about trees, I think) are all just great reads with stories that make you reflect a bit on what we're all doing in this world and how beautiful nature is.
And yeah. It's now two years since I left the agency, but it took 1,5 for me to find a bit of joy for writing again and holding tight onto it. It's getting better since, but sometimes I still feel like I can't write and have no idea what to write about.
Hi 👋 No, I didn't watch the film yet. I didn't dare to 🙈 I loved the book so much, I'm a bit afraid it might ruin it. Have you watched film and would you recommend watching it? Thank you for subscribing 💛 I hope to get back to writing next week, I was a bit busy with other things lately 🫠
Wow, I've learned about so many great books AND Substacks from reading everyone's replies!
I'm a little late to the thread, but I love a great chat about books so I'll join in anyway! I'm Cassandra and I live on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada with my husband and our dog, Chewie (yes, named after Chewbacca!). 👋
My Substack is called Notes from a Kindred Spirit and I write about chronic illness/healthcare, hobbies (reading is a big one!), and personal development. You can find it here: https://cassandrabumpus.substack.com/
Like several other people in this thread, I too recommend Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Big Magic. I also highly recommend the (unfortunately short-lived) podcast she did after the book came out called Magic Lessons. I often recommend Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Anne has such an infectious zest for life! I love reading books that have chronic illness or disability representation and Seven Days in June by Tia Williams is one of my favourites!
Hi everyone- looking forward to making some new friends on here as always. Thank you Mika!
I am Catriona. I write Notes from Saving the World. I write about journeys, nature and how to navigate what life throws at us. You can read my latest post here about what I learned about gardens from Egyptian revolutionaries:
Yes! Women Who Run With the Wolves is also a favorite of mine. :) ...Currently listening to her series "The Dangerous Old Woman' on Audible, (also on Sounds True), and I am blown away by her voice, her wisdom... it's incredible.
My name is Sarah, and I am a psychologist based in Asia. Many of my posts are related to psychology, but I also post about other bits too.
Goodness 2/3 books that I would recommend!? This is difficult... but I would go for Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, 4000 weeks by Oliver Burkeman, and Maybe you should talk to someone by Lori Gottlieb.
Thanks again, Mika - I have discovered loads of fantastic writers and newsletters here.
Olive Kitteridge is a fiction book based in Maine in the US - it’s funny and really beautifully written. The other two are both non fiction. 4000 weeks is about how we think about time (a really simplistic explanation - it’s great!), and the other one is about therapy.
My name is Lilly, and I run a Substack called, "A Fraction of my Mind." I named it that because through writing about what I'm thinking, it's almost like I'm sharing a fraction of my mind. I write essays mostly about music, books, and pop culture. While those are the main categories, I do also occasionally branch out and write about other topics.
As for this month's question, 3 books I'd recommend would be Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Emma by Jane Austen.
I look forward to reading through everyone else's responses and hopefully making some new friends :)
That's valid haha. For most of the book, Emma is a vain, judgemental, self-absorbed snob. Austen herself said in a letter to one of her nieces that she intentionally made Emma dislikeable. The novel is centred entirely around the character development of Emma; in the end, she realises how awful she's been, and makes a conscious effort to change her behaviour. That's the effect that Austen wanted to achieve. And having a female character that was portrayed as intelligent and opinionated in the 1800s was quite rare (although Elizabeth Bennet is similar in this sense). But I understand the character is not everyone's cup of tea.
Currently working through Emma again. (All I want is to rewrite it so Frank Churchill gets some sort of consequence for his behaviour - especially keeping away for so long and only coming back when he was chasing someone - and even then, acting in a way that could be quite hurtful.)
Oh yes, I agree it's annoying Frank gets a happy ending after everything he does to both Emma and Jane Fairfax. Jane Austen's so good at writing intentionally unlikeable characters, that's for sure (take George Wickham as another example haha)
Hi everyone, my name is Eliza, as in Doolittle and Haywood.
I write book reviews and short essays that draw on my background in novel theory, feminist literary theory, and 18ce BritLit. Find me at thefemalespectator.substack.com !
Currently I’m telling everyone I know to read Fredrick Backman’s novel A Man Called Ove. But you can always find me recommending one Jane Austen novel or another too. ☺️
I'm Serena. I write "Evidence of Grace," where we address parenting teens with eating disorders, depression and anxiety through the lens of hope, authenticity and faith. I'm still in the process of walking with my 19-year-old daughter through her healing journey and happy to share what we've learned in the past 3.5 years.
It's so hard to pick just a few books. For writing inspiration, I love Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. For thoughtful fiction, I love anything by Jhumpa Lahiri. For inspiration about parenting teens with mental health challenges, right now I'm re-reading Sharon Garlough Brown's "Shades of Light," which is Christian fiction but provides an amazing and empathic commentary on the pain of mental health with some subtle inspiration for both parents and teens.
Hello everyone, it's lovely to be here. Thanks, Mika.
Sage Sanctuary, (Because Life Is Messy) is my publication. I write personal narrative, and essays from the Tanrtic yogic perspective, on how to navigate life in these modern times. I also host a monthly workshop on Zoom where I offer a teaching and practices. https://paulettebodeman.substack.com/
Currently I'm reading a novel about the lives of Mary Wollstonecraft, and her daughter Mary Sheeley, written by Stephanie Marie Thornton. It's inspiring and well written. I'm awed by these revolutionary women who stood for women's rights and were prolific writers. Their work seems especially poignant considering the current climate regarding women.
Hi and welcome everyone! 👋
I hope you enjoy this month’s topic and meeting new writers! Please tell your friends so they can join in too. The more the merrier.
I write musings by mika and I like to peel the curtain back on life after leaving my 9-5 and the realities of writing on Substack (with helpful tips and resources along the way).
The book I recommend the most is hands down “The Optimized Woman” by Miranda Gray. It helps women understand, trust and work with the ebbs and flows of their body and their cycle.
Life changing!
The next book would be “The Artist’s Way”. It helped me so much when I was a mum of young children and didn’t know what I even liked anymore. It also helped me get back in tune with my creative self when I was a mum of older children. 🥰
Also life changing!
And I love anything by Jane Austen! 👌
I write about these books and my other fav books here:
https://musingsbymika.substack.com/p/my-fav-books-of-all-time-that-you
I am an Artist's Way drop-out! I originally bought the book last year and gave up after a few weeks, but I have started it again and am now five weeks in... hoping to stick it out for the full 12 weeks. It's been really useful so far, although I failed at the reading deprivation.
I always recommend the Artist’s Way for the same reason - getting back to who you are. I wrote another reason below.
I just finished a round of it myself.
The Artist's Way was gonna be my #2 as well! I got to do a weekend workshop with Julia Cameron as she created her 2nd book, "The Vein of Gold." She guided us to connect with the most resonant themes from our lives, to create from that energy. Have you read it?
Wow! I’d love to be in a workshop with her. I haven’t read Vein of Gold. I’ll add it to my list.
😍 May you reap the bounty of her Golden exercises
Great book! I love to write Julia Cameron's morning pages - feels freeing!
I’ve never read the artist way, yet have done morning pages for many years. I discovered about that through another book and it helped me so much. Also agree about anything Jane Ausitin.
I LOVE The Artist's Way. It helped me write my very first book! I'm 5 in now... :-)
Have you read The Upgrade by Louann Brizendine? Or, Unlock Your Menopause Type by Heather Hirsch? Both are on my nightstand right now. I think no matter where a woman is in her menopause journey these topics are timely and fascinating.
The artists way, super meaningful. Morning pages-a revelation. Hello!
Yes the artist way is such a rite of passage. Its a great choice and one we can keep coming back to.
Just looked at your Substack Catriona, it looks super interesting!
I need to read this I think!!
I haven’t heard of them but am off to check them out. Thanks so much!!
I haven't read The Artist's Way but dabble in morning pages and love a self-proclaimed artist date! 🤗
Earlier this year I read Julia Cameron's memoir Floor Sample, which, among other things, details the back story of The Artist's Way (I wrote a little about it here! https://laurenkatepowell.substack.com/p/cultural-compass-16)
Hi everyone!
I write Wild Cozy Free which I describe as a step towards more embodiment, and a step towards discovering and reclaiming my wild cozy free self. The self that exists underneath all my roles, outside all of the busyness. I've been here for a little over a year and have written about my journey to coming out as bisexual, recovering from my eating disorder, my love of musical theater, how I transitioned from acting to writing and then started a coaching business, and much more!
I visited one of my favorite books at The Strand today; "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro. It is devastatingly beauitful and changed the way I see the world. Avoid all spoilers if you can!
I am also a big fan of Rebecca Serle's work, and particularly recommend "In 5 Years" and "One Italian Summer."
Great to be here!
https://wildcozyfree.substack.com
Hi! I’m Miao, and I write Miao? Wow!—Haven’t figured out how to introduce my Substack yet, but it’s an overflow of feelings and things I overthink. I write about my personal life as it relates to astrology, recipes, consumable media, healing, and health. Don’t really know which audience I’m writing for, but most days it feels like I’m writing for past me and imaginary friends.
I don’t read much—I had a stroke a few years ago and it impacted my reading behaviors. But I did finish a book of short stories about Longmire, after watching the TV show.
Would love to make friends on Substack! But I don’t know how to do it or how to make myself sound interesting enough.
You totally sound *more than* interesting enough, Miao! Great to virtually meet!
I love short stories, and always love a good rec. I really love John Cheever's collection, and also "Cat Person" by Kristen Roupenian. My all time favorite is "Where are you going, Where have you been?" by Joyce Carol Oates. So eerie and so good.
I love the idea of writing for past me and my imaginary friends. I like to apply the same thinking to my writing audience as I do to the types of clients I work with as a coach, and think less of a demographic and more of a psychographic. Like, less "women in their 20s" and more, "people who stay up until 3am and reflect on that one thing they did back in 2018 and how it relates to their life now and maybe write a song about it" 😂
Great to meet you, and excited to check out your work!
Great to meet you, too! Thanks for responding. 💕✨
Hello everyone! I’m Jezz, a illustrator with ADHD and ASD.
I’m writing The Howling Newsletter, about my art jounrey with my disabilities. PRetty much.
I’m a non-fiction reader and the two I highly recommend is Atomic Habits by James Clear & Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty. For fiction I would say The Witcher series 😁
Hey everyone. My name is Chris. I'm a husband and father who teaches internationally. I write about my experiences, and I occasionally throw in a short story, poem, or literary analysis.
If you’ve enjoyed anything by Cormac McCarthy, I recommend reading his last books, The Passenger and Stella Maris (they come together). I don’t have any concrete reasons for recommending these other than I have read a lot of McCarthy and I was not let down by these books.
Hey Chris! Welcome welcome! Thanks for those recommendations.
I’m very late but I hunted this specific post down on a day of reallllly needing to “find my tribe!” Thanks Mika for hosting!
I write https://readtheinstructions.substack.com
My topics are still quite wide ranging! I write about my history with sexual abuse, drug abuse, and teenage motherhood. My career in the space industry and real estate investment. And the intersection of all these pieces with discussions of feminism and empowerment :)
A recent book I read and loved was Liz Murray’s memoir, Breaking Night.
Where are my people? ❤️
Those are such vulnerable topics, I'm glad you found Substack to write about them.
I really hope you have been able to go through the comments to find some writers that resonate with you!
Thank you for the recommendation!
Thanks Mika, yes I did Subscribe to several new amazing publications from this comment section 💗 Thanks for doing this!
Hi Rose - whoa interesting and diverse mix! nice to meet you
Nice to meet you too Victoria! 💜
Hi I'm Sophie and I write "This is Sophie today" which is about personal reflections on life, learnt from living a life off the grid. The two most recent books I've read are "tribes" by Seth Godin and "on writing" by Stephen King. Would definitely recommend that last one if people haven't read it yet!
Hi! I'm Sascha, I live in Brighton (UK) and I'm pretty international - I was born in Russia, grew up in Sweden, have lived in Los Angeles, Florence, Milan, and London.
I work in PR for an animal rights org and have been vegan for twelve years. I have started an online vegan fashion magazine and published a book about stylish vegan living. I started writing my Substack, Kind of Wild, as sort of a vegan lifestyle guide...even though now, the content will probably be a bit more ample. There will be more different topics, all coming back to that core concept of finding that balance between living ethically and still enjoying life.
Also, I'm currently working on a novel. About something entirely different.
As for books I recommend, well, there are so many! Firstly, the book I wish everyone in the world would read: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. It's the book that turned me vegan over a decade ago. Secondly, The Circle by Dave Eggers. Such brilliant commentary on the times we live in, and just a really great read. And lastly, since everyone here seems to be on a creative path, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. So inspiring, uplifting and full of interesting perspectives.
Have you been able to find your tribe here on Substack yet? I would imagine there would be a lot of people who share similar beliefs!
Hi Miska,
I’m a bit late to the party, but I wanted to introduce my Substack: Mademoiselle Substack. It’s all about creating a life and business that align with our truest selves. I delve into topics on business, embracing the feminine, and self-improvement. Here are a couple of my book recommendations:
The Little Book of Change by Amy Johnson
The Perfect Day to Boss Up: A Hustler's Guide to Building by Rick Ross
feel free to introduce yourself, I love to know more people
thanks, Mika to this
Hey hey Alycia. You're right on time!
How did you get to a point where you straddled the masculine and feminine energies in the work that you do?
Hello ☺️ I write about Slow Living + Natural Health for people (especially women and mothers) who want to reduce stress and overwhelm and improve their wellbeing and energy levels. Sometimes I write about my life as an expat and mother in Germany.
Books: Big Magic by Liz Gilbert, Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver…. At least that’s what currently on my bedside table.
I love all the topics you write about. The Slow Living community on Substack are so so lovely. How have you found it?
Thank you for your reply Mika!🥰 I also enjoy what you write about and hope we can collaborate at some point! Yes, it's a great community here and I'm looking forward to connecting and making friends!
Hi there, I'm Claudia, and I am writing about the Power of Slow....in a rushing world crushing your life. My publication is called Un-Rush. I uncover the absurdity of our hurry, speed and rushing world, show how they are not making us better, and give examples of why and how going slow makes for a healthier, higher quality, happier way of life and work.
My book recommendations are:
-- Sten Nadolny: The discovery of Slowness (originally written/published in 1987)
-- Laurence Gonzales: Deep Survival (author researched, studied thousands of accidents/catastrophes and looked at why some people survive and others not. Sooo insightful..)
These books sounds amazing Claudia! Thank you so much for recommending them. I hope you find some like-minded souls in the chats. 😊
Thanks, Mika. And thanks for creating the Find your Tribe thread. It's helpful and interesting. Very much appreciated.
Hello everyone! I'm Sarah and write over at "Searching For Enough" where I write about what enough looks like in our lives, like money, relationships and our sense of self😊
Books I recommend the most are "Beloved" by Toni Morrison and "The Making of Asian America: A History" by Erika Lee.
I love that you come at it from the angle of being your own boss (and task-master) and reflecting on a more balanced lifestyle. I hope you can find your people here Sarah!
Thanks Mika!
Hi Sarah, I have to check out your work about "enough" Glad I found you here. I wrote with a whole group of writer/small biz owners a book about Enough, picking up the same idea as you do...What is enough? ("Enough - Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are". Nice to meet you here.
ohh how cool you wrote a book with others on the concept! The title of your Substack sounds fascinating as well!
thanks, Sarah. Good to hear that you like the title of my publication. 🙏🏾
Love your monthly ‘find your tribe’ @Mika - THANK YOU 💚
Hello, I’m Han. I write about my life in Orkney, Scotland. It’s totally new to me, we moved here nearly 2 years ago & I love it. I talk about my garden, life here & the general trials & tribulations of being a peri-meno woman!
Books I recommend
1. Dracula by Bram Stoker - possibly THE best book I’ve ever read & seems to land well with most people I recommend it to.
2. Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker - the Trojan war from a woman’s perspective. So so good.
3. Anne of Green Gables - no explanation needed
Thanks, H 💚
Gahhh I think I might be shifting into perimenopause. I think I'm finally not 25 in my mind. 😆
It sneaks up on you I swear! It was manageable until it started impacting my mental health so I’ve opted for HRT which has helped, but it doesn’t solve everything!!
Ohhh your second book recommendation sounds fascinating!
It’s really nicely written too, such a captivating story about one woman in particular. Do give it a whirl
My SS is … https://open.substack.com/pub/orkneyoutpost
Hi everyone ! 😊 I'm super happy and excited to introduce myself and my Substack publication: ByteByByte . My name is Ananya Shahi. I'm currently a Computer Science student at NUS (National University of Singapore) and my specialisation is in Artificial Intelligence.
I write about my Computer Science projects and artificial intelligence. My publication is intended for anyone who is looking to get into Computer Science or Healthcare. I occasionally take detours and share my life experience, with some tips as to how to become more financially independent and how I managed to be a topper within high school. I just hope people find my Substack and advice useful!😊 I'm also super excited to be here to learn from all of you, as I find Substack writers to be passionate and insightful in their chosen domains.
With regards to 3 books 📚 I would recommend the most:
1. The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins
2. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - Yuval Noah Harari
3. Flatland - Edwin Abbott Abbott
For anyone who loves literature (even though this isn't necessarily a book), I found the essay "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" intriguing and very thought-provoking. Message me if you just want to chat about it.
Feel free to introduce yourself and to message 👋, I love getting to know new people!
It must be fascinating to study about AI, especially how things are changing at such a rapid pace!! My husband is a software engineer and enjoyed upskilling so he could help his clients navigate AI. It definitely is a field that has so much potential.
Hi Ananya - great books. I've Victoria, my website/publication is Carer Mentor: Empathy & Inspiration (https://www.carermentor.com/) prior to caring for my parents I had a couple of decades working in Healthcare (pharmaceuticals). I'm curious to see if you're working in digital capabilities in healthcare space, drug discovery, development?
Hi - I'm JFT Beach and write Your Happier and Healthier Life https://happierandhealthierover40.substack.com/
I write about personal development, mental and physical health.
I highly recommend "The Comfort Crisis" Michael Easter, "The Urban Monk" Pedram Shojai, "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck" Mark Manson
Thanks for this opportunity to share.
I would love to know the story behind JFT Beach!
Hi Mika - I am a father of 5, 2 dogs, and avid outdoor sea swimmer from the UK. Started my journey around personal development with studying Tony Robbins in the 90's been interested ever since. Read and tried so many different things for physical and mental health that I want to share some on here. Thanks for asking.
Hi JFT Beach! This sounds quite interesting to me. I'm currently trying to take better care of my physical health, will definitely follow and read some of your articles
Oh hi! I’m late to the party this month. Is anyone still around?
I’m Kelsey and I write Find Your Awesome (a publication to help you live your most joyful aligned life), Find Your Awesome Sauce (gluten-free whole food plant-based recipes) and The Manifesting Generator Playground (for those who identify as Manifesting Generators in the Human Design system.
This is a hard question, Mika. I feel like my answer might be different everyday. I’m currently loving the Riley Thorn series by Lucy Score (funny rom-com mysteries and a psychic detective).
The two non-fiction books that came to mind are The Art of Uncertainty by Dennis Merrit Jones and Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver.
Now that you've been writing your three publications for a while (while running your business), how are you finding it all?
Great question, Mika. As long as I don’t set any rules, it’s great. If I tell myself that I have to post once a week on each and/or on a particular day, it loses its flow and fun.
Hi Kelsey, I tried being vegetarian once and it was so difficult, I'll have a look at some of your plant based recipes :)
Hi Ananya! It’s great to meet you! All of my recipes are easy and adaptable. We don’t do rules at Find Your Awesome Sauce
Hi everyone, I'm Clare! I write The Mestiza, where I dive into identity, culture, and philosophy.
In nonfiction I recommend "The Coddling of the American Mind" and in fiction I recommend "Martyr!" by Kevah Akbar.
Are you using the term "Mestiza" for being half pinay?. I'm Hapa (half white, Japanese) and my bestie was mestiza, and my other bestie's kids are mesitizos and mestiza. 🥰
I'm not pinay! I use the term "Mestiza" from Gloria Anzaldua's theory Mestiza Consciousness, she kind of expanded the use of the term from merely mixed race to any identity where someone is stretched across different minorities and their identity becomes a bridge.
Oh wow, I've learned something new! Thank you!
Hi Clare, I really enjoyed your peace on truth, religion, and God.
I myself ditched my beliefs in my 20’s, but the one I could not shake was my belief in God.
Write on!
Thank you!
Oh my! I’m late to the party this month:-)
Hi! I’m Nneka, pronounced en-Nay-kah.
I write about being a midlife, Trini born sage and oracle who is the primary caregiver for my dad who had Alzheimer’s and my mom who is legally blind.
Primary topics include lifestyle design, caregiving, and planning for retirement.
My top 3 book recommendations are…
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron for anyone wanting to deepen in their creativity
Your Money or Your Life for anyone who wants to retire early or at all really.
Ask and It Is Given for anyone who wants to practice the Law of Attraction.
Thank you for including the pronunciation of your name. You must brace yourself when you go to the Doctors or other places that require your name to be called out. I'm either Me-ka or My-ka. It's 50/50. (my name is prounounced "me" (like "you and me"), "ka".
I do the name dance wherever I go. Lol:-)
Thanks for including our pronunciation also. I was saying my-ka
Hi Nneka! I’m a big fan of Ask and It is Given too.
Hi Kelsey! I’m so glad you commented here. I love your energy and subscribed to both your publications.
I consider AAIIG the LOA bible. It tops my list every time.
Me too. Have you read the Sara books? Those are great too
I haven’t:-( I’ve read their other though including the earlier ones that were straight transcriptions.
For a few years I was an avid Aber, attending their workshops and going on cruises. I enjoyed the community and our conversations.
I completely forgot to link my publication. Here’s a post that’s about growing up in Trinidad.
https://open.substack.com/pub/nnekakelly/p/lessons-from-my-grandmother-and-cultural-norms?r=2150p4&utm_medium=ios
Howdy Nneka ;-)! Good to see you again.
Great to see you too! What a fun place to hang.
Hey everyone! My name is Ify and I’m the founder and community manager of Moms and Mamas, a vibrant community of mothers reaching over 20 million accounts on Instagram every month. I recently launched a Substack (https://momsandmamas.substack.com/) to share the diverse stories, confessions, and experiences of mothers from around the world.
I love being part of this incredible community and look forward to connecting with others.
Currently, I'm enjoying two fantastic books: "The Outliers" and "Girls Who Run the World." I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've read them!
I love "The Outliers", one of my favourite books
Hi there! I’m Jane. LOVE reading through these interesting intros. I have so much to catch up on!
I write and illustrate the School of Thought blog at https://schoolofthought.substack.com. I write (and invite others to guest write and I illustrate!) on topics related to reinventing learning - from creating communities to collective creativity. My goal in each post is to share research inspired ideas and make them usable for all.
I was an educator-researcher and more recentllya school co-founder, a children’s book illustrator and recently started an organization that brings the blog to life (www.schoolsofthought.org).
2 books I’d highly recommend: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker and the Creativity Leap by Natalie Nixon.
The Art of Gathering has been on my shelf forever! I listened to a great podcast where she gave Brene Brown a "meeting makeover" and really analyzed the structure, name, and format of her weekly staff meetings to help make them more effective and meaningful. Love Priya!
I will have to check it out! I love Priya Parker so much. I’ve done some of her classes and her frameworks and teaching are perspective shifting.
Hi wow! I love this, I'm also an educator (a tutor) and I think talking about school life is super important! I mean it's a process that we all go through, but not a lot of adults care about optimising student life for the next generation and issues in varying access to education. Am very excited to read your blog, I really hope you reach out / accept my message so we can collaborate together, or even for me just to hear your perspective on certain things.
Hi all - Thank you Mika for creating this space, after working through the comments with a coffee this morning, I think safe to say I've found my tribe haha! ✨
I'm Lauren, a Welsh woman, just turned 30, living in London. I write The Navigation, sharing musings on, meanderings through and methods for navigating modern life as a millennial woman, exploring topics including grief, friendship, travel and productivity. There's a regular series of cultural recommendations too, and new for this year, a month career interview series. 🧭
Struggling along with everyone else to narrow down the books! But I think (if I cheat slightly) I'd go with Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Quartet (four novels, starting with My Brilliant Friend) which I savoured and just loved the complex and deep storytelling. Then Alain de Botton's The Course of Love, and, as I've seen it pop up a few times already, Oliver Burkeman's 4000 Weeks. 📚
(I wrote a little about choosing what we read here - https://laurenkatepowell.substack.com/p/musings-on-book-selections)
Lovely to meet so many new writers here 🙌
I LOVE the name "he Navigation."
Ah thank you Alexa!! 🧭
ohhh that Alain to Botton's book is on my TBR!
I've read it 3 or 4 times and take something different from it each time, depending on what else is going on in my life. I think it's as good to read as single person as it is to gift to newlyweds! ❣️
ohh good to know! Thanks for sharing :)
Hey Mika! Hey writers and readers!
My name is Nobuhle, I write Young & Oversharing, a newsletter for young women figuring it out one mistake at a time. Think mental health, relationships, sex & sexuality, money and a LOT of feelings. 😂
Books... Without fail, I recommend Atomic Habits to anyone who asks. That book will get you into the right habits!
If you are a lover of thriller with a dash of spicy, Does It Hurt by H.D Carlton is a must-read.
Lastly, I recommend this as your first read on my Substack: https://youngnoversharing.substack.com/p/sometimes-you-are-that-friend?r=200wy4
ooh such a great newsletter name!
Sounds exciting!
Hi! I’m Laura from Adelaide, Australia and I write about yoga and rock climbing on my substack called Between a Rock and a Hard Pose.
I’m a big reader and have so many favourites! Two books I’ve read this year that I have been raving about are Bri Lee’s debut novel The Work and Amy Thunig’s Memior Tell Me Again.
https://open.substack.com/pub/laurahodgson?r=qrzpn&utm_medium=ios
Between a rock and a hard pose is SUCH a genius name. LOVE it!
Cute name!
Love the name of your Substack Laura! :D
Thank you! It was my partner’s idea, he is much better with puns and plays on words than I am!
Haha love that! always good to have someone to bounce ideas off :D
Hi everyone, I'm Melody! A Bay Area based Chicana writer recovering from 5 years of classroom teaching burnout. I created a Substack to talk all things travel, food, and healing as I develop my writer voice and work on my first short story. Happy to join this community!
We've "met," so I'm kind of breaking the rules! But I want to tell you that teaching internationally might really be up your alley. I taught in the US for 4 years and internationally for 6. The 4 in the US were the most "stable," but the 6 abroad have been the most fun. International teaching comes with it's own challenges, sure, but it also pretty freeing. There are all kinds of ways to teach internationally--English language teacher, teaching your subject/field at an international/British/American/Canadian school, teaching online, private tutoring....I should probably write a post about this!
Thank you for your insights! I’ll definitely look into it. I have a friend that just left to teach in South Korea for two years :)
Hi all! Karen here, and I write On the Outside (Looking In). It’s my space for sharing my ‘noticings’ on life, seen through the lens of never feeling like I fit in, and all supported by my 3 pillars of courage, curiosity and connection. I share some poetry, and tiny details of the world, things I’ve noticed about myself and about everything else. The world is exquisite and I love to notice it.
In terms of books, I found this hard actually! Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown (anything by her actually) for sure. That made me feel so SEEN. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. The Way of the Fearless Writer by Beth Kempton. And because I can’t not recommend a novel, I wracked my brain for one that isn’t a given - Lessons In Chemistry. Can’t even remember the author. It’s not my usual read at all and I loved it.
I love both books (and nice seeing you here Karen!)
Lovely to see you here too!
Gifts of imperfection is on my bedside table, I’ve now moved it to the read next list. Love the sound of your SS
It’s a wonderful read 😍 I cried the first time I read it - it was like reading a letter that just made everything make sense finally!
That sounds revolutionary
Hi Karen! So great that you share poetry. I was wondering if there were any Substack poets on here!
Oooh you are in the right place! There are tonnes! Nelly Bryce is brilliant - she does Poetry Pals. Maya C Pope is on here with Poetry Today. There’s Poetry Outlaws too. If you haven’t found those already, you’ll love them! I know there are more but I can’t read that much in my life 😅😂
Hi there!
I'm Jess, a 31 year old woman from Bournemouth (England, UK). An ex-primary school teacher now living freely and flexibly as a Children's Book Writer/Editor, private tutor and digital marketer.
I write Chapter 31 -- my cosy little space on Substack where I write whatever's on my mind. This usually tends to be about living mindfully, what it means to be human and using our limited time on Earth wisely.
I recommend reading anything by Beth Kempton -- especially 'The Way of the Fearless Writer' and 'Kokoro'. She's the writer for writers, teaching about writing by teaching about living.
Looking forward to connecting with other Substack readers and writers :)
I'm Ananya, I'm entering the tutoring business. I grew up in the UK, would love to connect and share some common knowledge!
That's really exciting that you're starting a tutoring business. My Inbox is always open and always interested in hearing from other tutors :)
Hii I'm Mansi and I am the voice behind Unwind - my weekly newsletter!
Unwind is a space where I write about the meaningful things in life. Things that go beyond building a successful career. We talk about building a successful life with intention.
My book recommendations would be:
1. What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey. I am a HUGE fan of this book (read it for the second time this year). I come back to it everytime I am in need of comfort and I get exactly that.
2. Storyteller by Morgan Harper Nichols. Morgan is my favourite writer in the whole world. Her words hit home. This is a poetry book, super easy to read and carry with you anywhere. Also the kind of book you could gift to your friends and loved ones. ♥️
https://unwindblog.substack.com
Love Morgan!! I have some of her artwork!
we have also definitely connected on substack before in another comments section - great to "see" you again!
I was just gifted another of Morgan Harper Nichols' books, You Are Only Just Beginning, which feels like the perfect read for having just turned 30 haha. It's also such a beautifully colourful book!
I have all of Morgan's books and they truly add so much value (and aesthetic) to my personal library. I'd recommend her work to everyone without any hesitations. Love her💕
Also, belated happy birthday! 🥳
Ah that's so nice to have the full collection! 🤗
And thank you so much!! 🌺
Hi Mansi - lovely to meet you! I am really enjoying reading poetry at the moment - especially anything by Donna Ashworth and in contrast (after a visit to his home in the Lake District): William Wordsworth. 'Storyteller' therefore sounds like something I need to read! :)
Hey Jess!!
So happy to meet you as well. I want to get my hands on more poetry books as well. I'll check out Donna Ashworth's work. Thank you for the lovely recommendation!
PS: Thank you for subscribing to Unwind. I really appreciate you💕
Hi everyone! Wow, I'm honored to be up there in the post! Thank you Mika! This series such a rad idea, I probably spent an hour reading the comments from last month. So many interesting stories, stoked for more stories this month.
Ok, onto the instructions:
I'm Ian and I write about inner work. Simply put, that's you writing, reading, walking, running, meditating etc and discovering who you are behind all layers; doing your own work first. A lot of this centers around the work of Carl Jung but there are many others of course. This week after finishing a three part series on working with your shadow energy, I wrote about losing a lot weight after I moved to Mexico this year.
3 book recommendations:
1. Owning your own shadow by Robert Johnson
2. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
3. Paths to God by Ram Dass
All three of those books sound interesting, I’ve put them on my list. Oh, and subbed! Looking forward to reading more!
Hi. I’m Jeanine and I write Mexico Soul, about all things Mexican—travel, news, the Maya, arts. I loved Lessons in Chemistry and Elizabeth Gilbert’s City of Girls. More serious but important, The Overstory by Richard Powers. Hello to All and happy Friday!
I moved to Mexico a year ago. I'm looking forward to reading Mexico Soul!
CONNECTION with y'all is CRACK. I'm getting high today on Substack :)
I'm Christine, a multi-passionate creatrix at Mostly Brave. We melt self-sabotage with self-compassion, clarity and connection. C'mon over for weekly 5-min. imagination games to tap your inner wisdom. Today, the Time Machine guides you to see the future, so you can make up your damn mind about a Big Decision. https://heartsquest.substack.com/p/making-big-decisions-should-we-move
Books: I geek out on time travel, neuroscience and mystical inner world explorations. My favorites include "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coehlo and "The Red Book" by Carl Jung (did you know Jung was a closet artist? Stunning mandalas). For me, a recommendation is about YOU: what you'd enjoy in that moment. Thanks for this ask, Mika 😘
Love, love, love The Alchemist! It was gifted to me by a dear friend many years ago and I’ve since gifted it (but kept my special copy) to others 😊
Same! We gifted it to many young ones 🥰 I got to meet Mr. Coehlo at a reading/signing too. Yummy
Hello hello, I'm Raine and I write Ordinary Magic. I share poetry and reflections on grief, motherhood and just being human in this funny old world.
My top book recommendations are If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie, Devotions by Mary Oliver and honestly, The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. That little fantasy book had quite an impact on 12 year old me!
Looking forward to connecting with other writers! I think that's been my favorite part of Substack so far is making connections with so many lovely creative people across the world!
Hi Everyone, I'm writing from the US, so I'm a day behind! I work in Academia as the Director of our Yoga Studies in the Kinesiology and Health Science department where I teach a variety of courses on mindfulness, movement, and yoga. I started my Substack: Hear Love Here Love when my two oldest boys moved out of the house...both at the same time!...leaving me with a giant space to fill. I write about mindfulness practices and understanding life as our greatest teacher. I'm also a trail runner, sun + water worshipper, and outdoor enthusiast. I always recommend The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm currently reading No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz, and it is mind blowing (especially from a mindfulness perspective). I am loving your introductions and book recommendations. My book list is growing by the minute. :)
I’m reading Big Magic now! I haven’t read something so inspiring in years. She’s very moving.
I’m also a yoga teacher! Lovely to meet you!
Hi! The Artist Way and Right to Write are two of my favorites both by Julia Cameron. Another is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.
I’m on Substack to share posts about yoga, running and happy trails I find in travels. My perspective is finding quality of life during menopause years learning how to manage the changes but keep doing the activities that I love and make me feel alive!
Hi Jill - Just saying hello randomly as per the instruction post for this group 😊 Hope you're well. I will check out your substack and make a comment on it. Cheers and take care.
I like your combination of yoga and running. I felt my best physically when I was doing both myself.
I love these books, I have read and worked through the artist’s way a few times now. Bird by bird was also super encouraging during my PhD.
*stumbles in fashionably late*
Hi everyone.
I'm Gunnar - biologist by training, science writer by day job, and more creative writer/idea collector any other moment. I write Subtle Sparks, which is all about those ideas. That's pretty vague. Some things I've been thinking about lately: psychology, mental heath, and society in the age of social media, what does living a good life mean, and - unavoidably, it seems - how intelligent is AI actually?
I'm going with three fiction books.
Blindsight by Peters Watts (dark, cynical, 'biological' science fiction), The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday by Saad Z. Hossain (hilarious yet deeply human near-future SF that fuses South Asian folklore with nanotech), and A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine (political SF intrigue). I didn't plan to make them all science fiction and I'll pick different ones each day, but there we go.
Also, these comments make my 'to read mountain' grow steeper at an alarming rate...
Hi Gunnar, my introduction is above, I just checked out your writing and the post on language games. very cool. We have many shared interests and I look forward to reading more of your work! 👍
Thanks, Ian. Glad to hear you liked it. I'll check out your stuff soon!
Hello! I am Ellen and really enjoyed reading up on everyone! I’m an artist who writes in hopes to inspire parents and their little ones to make art for fun and connection.
My favorite book of all time is SOUTH OF BROAD by pat conroy. He is a beautiful writer and he writes about Charleston, South Carolina … a place very near and dear to my heart. It’s a great summer read!
Looking forward to reading some of the books mentioned… and getting to know yall better here on ss!!
I loved Prince of Tides by Conroy. He is a beautiful writer.So soulful.
Soulful is such a great word to describe him. Prince of tides was amazing! I have loved them all, but south of broad really stood out to me! Happy reading!!
Hello hello! Greetings to one and all 👋🏿
My name is Yiannis, I'm 23 and I currently reside in England. I enjoy playing sports, reading and exploring new cultures. I am the author of the very creatively named "Yiannis's Substack" which doesn't have a proper name yet and is a very recent creation. https://yiannisrussell.substack.com/
Here I talk about all things personal development but in a light hearted and relatable way. Readers across 5 countries are benefiting from my insights (somehow).
2 books I'd recommend are "Digital Minimalism" by Cal Newport and "Can't Hurt me" by David Goggins.
"Digital Minimalism" really helped me to improve my relationship with my devices. "Can't Hurt Me" helped me to develop more resilience and work towards becoming desensitized to failure.
I look forward to reading through everyone else's responses and hopefully making some new friends :)
Love this: "becoming desensitized to failure." We need more of that! So fear doesn't squash our creative visions... Thank you Yiannis
Yes absolutely Christine. Because of the negative emotions we've associated with previous "failures" we stop pushing the boat out and are willing to settle for a mediocre life. I talked a little bit about this in my latest post :)
I’m working on third revision of a graphic novel about this topic. “Meet your Monkeys” is about how our brains are wired for fear, and we can change that!
Hiiiii! So glad you're doing this Mika!
Anyone who doesn't know me - I'm Melissa, and my newsletter Grow Healthier + Happier shows you that healthy eating CAN be easy and joyful! I share plenty of nutrition tips, quick + healthy recipes, hormone wellness, and simple wellness advice to nourish your body and soul. https://wellnesslovely.substack.com/
Book recs: Currently reading Gary Vaynerchuck's new book Day Trading Attention - so far it is amazing! Also reading Jay Shetty's Think Like a Monk, and my new fav cookbook that came out recently is Dan Churchill's (the healthy chef) Eat Like a Legend. His healthy eating for performance (athletic, job interview, work presentation, travel) philosophy is on point with my own.
I look forward to connecting with some new people! Off to read some comments in the 'tribe'!
Ooh! I didn’t realize Gary Vaynerchuck had a book on day trading. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for sharing!
So far I’m liking it and highlighting tons!
That’s are on my to read list! Great choices 👌
Hi! I’m an artist living abroad, sharing about my art, creative process and travel photos with the idea to inspire others to create more. I can’t quite recommend a book right now, since all I’m reading/studying are botanical floral books. But I would say, read about subject you are obsessed about or curious to learn about for a while and see how it can inspire or influence your creativity.
https://susanjimenez.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile
Your paintings are beautiful!
Thanks so much 💛🌼
So true. The Maya pyramids have fascinated me for ages, from my first trip to the Yucatán. Eventually moved there and founded a bookstore. Have met a ton of archeologists, tour guides, Maya scholars, and eventually I started to write about the Maya. Still my passion. About every third Substack post is on either the Maya, their civilization, or those who’ve explored the pyramids. Hello or Hola! I write Mexico Soul.
Hi Jeanie - thanks for your comment! I’m really forward to checking out your Substackl, and it sounds very interesting. I love the Mayan culture since it’s part of my heritage and obsessed with Mayan textiles.
Thank you Susan!
You had me at florals 😍
Hahaha, too easy 🌼
Hi Susan! Your publication name is sweeeet and I am heading over there to read! Botanical floral books are simply the best. I have a massive one. I admit I have pulled out a few pages to frame though!
Hi Melissa! Funny you mention my Substack publication name because I’m planning to change it soon ☺️ thank you!
And the bigger the floral books, the better.
mmmm.. can’t wait to see what you change it to!
Helloooo! I'm Soph, from The Quiet 20s. I write about books, films and my experiences/thoughts as a 20-something who enjoys a quiet life.
The books I recommend the most are A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I actually wrote a piece a while back about "books everyone should read at least once" if anyone wants to give it a read! https://thequiet20s.substack.com/p/books-everyone-should-read-at-least
Adored the Midnight Library! Wouldn't it make an incredible film?
love this book!! and so agree it would make a great film!
Hi Alexa, just followed you 💗 I'm a multi-passionate singer/songwriter too - I post my devotional songs for water on Fridays. Good to meet you here and congrats on your book!
Thank you so much Christine! Great to connect with you, and looking forward to hearing your songs! D
Oh yes it would! I actually think it would make a great children's film too if the references to suicide were toned down a bit, it would be a lovely exploration of mental health.
Agreed! A kid's version. They could also make their own sweet books of alternative futures for their Library.
Yes I love that idea!
These books look so interesting, thanks for recommending them!
You’re very welcome!
Hi Soph - I loved the Midnight Library, I take a look at your article, thanks!
There may be something in my website that you might be interested in. There's also a hyperlink on the homepage to the Carer Mentor bookshop where I've listed various books I repeatedly recommend ;-)
Hi Mika and everyone! I'm a day late, and this is my first time here. It's lovely reading all the introductions and comments and seeing so many incredible topics covered and so many great book recommendations. I will start with the “The Artist’s Way” 🧡
My name is Jana, and my publication is the Coffee Break Newsletter.
https://coffeebreaknewsletter.substack.com/
I aim to make it a place where we redefine success, productivity, and well-being and examine what it means to live a 'good life'. Currently, I am reading The Success Myth by Emma Gannon, Hidden Genius by Polina Marinova Pompliano and Ganzo Capitalism by Chris Guillebeau. All authors can be found here on Substack. I often have three books on the go for the variety 😂
Hi Jana - I'm new to your substack - literally just this morning I was reading "Beyond Time Management" which I think I came across through Claire Venus' essay round up recently. It's all very much up my street haha (have subscribed!) as I am also somewhat obsessed with time (have written about it and related themes of productivity etc a few times - https://laurenkatepowell.substack.com/p/musings-on-the-passing-of-time / https://laurenkatepowell.substack.com/p/cultural-compass-8 ).
I read The Success Myth twice last year lol. I used to have several books on the go always, but then fell into the pattern of just one at a time, but this month I'm just diving into the full selection of the TBR pile and enjoying the variety again! 📚
Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through my post and subscribing; that means so much. I am glad you can relate; I have a love and hate, pull and push relationship with time. We all need it but can't quite grab enough of it 😂 Oh, so you must have genuinely enjoyed The success myth, maybe I'll end up doing the same. I am about halfway in. The reason I go for more than one book is the variety. I read for pleasure, some for research and some because I need to gain a different perspective. Books have always been my go-to place. Thank you for sharing links; I am heading to your publication now.
Ah you're so welcome!!
And yes I resonate with that relationship with time, so much!
Haha yes - to be fair the first time I was reading it to review before it came out, but without putting into action any of the prompts etc, so then I went back later in the year to read more "for me".
Ah yes I get that - if I'm reading several they're all for different things/different types, I don't think I could have several fiction on the go for example.
No worries - I hope you enjoy! 🤗
To be honest, I have a few books on the go too. (That’s why I designed the bookmarks that can be printed out 😆 via my welcome email).
Currently The Artist’s Way and The Success Myth and I’m listening to Emma by Jane Austen. 😅
Hi Jana, Great to meet you here, and I hear you! Living it.
Here's my website: https://www.carermentor.com/ I hope something resonates for you there.
After 2 decades of 'successful' career, I decided to resign to help my Mum care for my Dad,
I've morphed from being a 'Corp-success' - 18 relocations, 10 countries, being a VP, leading global diverse teams, etc etc to being a Caregiver on an advocacy mission
Even with tough times, these days are more enriching for me - caregiving, having a small rewarding business mentoring and advocating for others. ;-)
Hi Victoria, that is beautiful. I will make sure I’ll check your publication. Thank you for welcoming me 🧡
Very Welcome, Jana!
Hi Jana! You're much braver than me, I can never read more than one book at once 🤣 How are you finding The Success Myth? I subscribe to Emma on here and love her writing, but I've never read one of her books!
Hi Soph! Tell me about it. It's not something I would recommend, but it works for me 😂 It does take me a while to finish all of them. Like you, I came across Emma's writing here on Substack and found the book on Amazon. I would highly recommend it. It hits all the right notes with me and my current situation—rethinking all the conventional wisdom about what success means and creating my own definition.
I’ll definitely have to give it a read!
I'd also recommend The Success Myth, especially as a good read for your 20s (I just turned 30!) - I was lucky enough to meet Emma at an event for the book last year (wrote a little here about it - https://laurenkatepowell.substack.com/p/cultural-compass-7). Would also recommend Sabotage by Emma which is a quick read but feel of good nuggets of wisdom. 🤗
Ooh thank you so much for the recommendations!
You're welcome!
Hello everyone! I’m Shinjini, an artist, tarot reader, and writer. I write Studio Diaries, where I share pages from my mixed media art journals, process videos, and notes on creativity. I came here to have a space away from the noise of social media, for some spaciousness and to connect with other artists and writers. There’s always a seat for you in my virtual studio, come on over! https://shinjinim.substack.com
In terms of books, I often recommend:
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: one of my absolute favourite books on creativity
What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt: The descriptions of the art, the story, the characters — everything about this novel is captivating! A small caveat though: It takes a dark turn in the second half. If you’re ok with that, read this!!
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: I think this was the first book I read on time travel, or at least the first one that stayed with me for a long, long time and ignited my love for time travel books (including the Outlander series, which I found only 2 years ago! Eagerly waiting for book 10, so that’s a bonus, errr…9 books I’d recommend 🙈)
Hey Shinjini, nice to meet you! I tried to watch Outlander and that cruel commander made me want to punch him through my screen. So I stopped watching at season one. Will the books make me feel the same cause I am still curious how the story goes. 😭😭😭
Loved the books..read most of them in the 1990s early 2000s so probably time for a re-read...
Oh yeah, Black Jack is horrible! But he isn’t part of all of the books. I really enjoyed the series — the books more than the series, though Sam Heughen isn’t hard on the eyes 😉
Black Jack is the devil himself, omg. I will try the books. If I fail, I will imagine the story line. Lol
These are all great books 😍
Have you read What I Loved too? I haven’t come across too many people who have! 🌸
I LOVE The Time Traveler’s Wife!!!! I think I’ve read it at least twice. Did you see the movie version?
No, I didn't. I wasn't sure if it would do justice to the book! Did you watch it? How was it?
Love all things Time Travel, and this book. Film = disappointing, but fun to see how they visualized it. PS I love all your book recs. 😘 Another multi-passionate maker here.
I had a feeling the film might be disappointing!
Hi Rose, I don't know the books you've written about, but you're substack sounds great! I'll look up the books and browse your newsletter. Thanks for sharing 😊😊
Hey, I'm Mareike, an artist and writer, sharing about being a creative and introvert in this world, while living in a tiny village and trying to build the multi-faceted business that suits me. I came here to rediscover my voice as a writer and joy for writing after an agency job that killed almost all of it. So far it's going pretty good 😊
Anyway, my top 2-3 books (standing in front of my bookshelf like "this is good, that one as well ... Oh I've got more than just three!!").
1. Why Women Grow by Alice Vincent. It's so good. I felt so much connection to the women in the stories. For anyone who loves to grow plants this is perfect.
2. Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. This one brought me back to reading after having a tough time with books. What a beautiful story.
3. Now it's getting tricky. 😬 .... The History of Bees by Maja Lunde (not sure if the title is correct, only have it in German). That one changed a lot about how I see the world and what kind of human I want to be in this world.
I'd love to know if anyone of you read any of them as well 🤗
Oh gosh and I just noticed you have an Icelandic horse ❤️
Yes! I even have two of them 😁 A 27 years old mare and a 23 years old gelding 😊 I have them for over 15 years now 💛 They are very special (stubborn), dislike strangers or kids, depending on which one you ask, and are overall very brave, tiny, fluffy horses 😂
Oh I love that description of them! I’ve become fascinated by the breed, and loved seeing them in Iceland. We just went there for the first time in April this year and I’m in love with the country. Driving past all the ponies was great, though I’m fairly certain my other half got rather tired of me pointing out every horse we saw… 😅
Hi! Nice to meet you! I bought Why Women Grow for a friend who is so into her gardening, but haven’t read it myself. I’d love to! The history of bees sounds interesting too. I’m looking it up immediately. I think any book that changes the way we see things, even in small ways, is worth a read.
I’m so sorry to hear agency tried to kill your writing off and I hope you’re finding it here. What an ideal place to find it again here.
Hey Karen 😊 Why Women Grow is definitly a great pick for any gardener. The books by Maja Lunde (she wrote another one about water, one about wild horses and one about trees, I think) are all just great reads with stories that make you reflect a bit on what we're all doing in this world and how beautiful nature is.
And yeah. It's now two years since I left the agency, but it took 1,5 for me to find a bit of joy for writing again and holding tight onto it. It's getting better since, but sometimes I still feel like I can't write and have no idea what to write about.
I’ll be checking out Maja’s books - they sound right up my street. Wild horses, sign me up!
I’m glad you’ve found your way back to that joy! I guess it’s like any path, it’ll get easier the more you walk it.
I feel so cruel to get people to limit their choices, it’s like which child is your fav? 😄
Yes! Exactly 😂
Hi Mareike! I loved Where The Crawdads Sing too. Have you watched the film and if so what did you think?
Just subscribed too, looking forward to reading your works!
Hi 👋 No, I didn't watch the film yet. I didn't dare to 🙈 I loved the book so much, I'm a bit afraid it might ruin it. Have you watched film and would you recommend watching it? Thank you for subscribing 💛 I hope to get back to writing next week, I was a bit busy with other things lately 🫠
Hello Mareike! I’ve had Where the Crawdads Sing on my to-read list since a while. I haven’t heard of the other 2 books, though! Will check them out.
Btw, im an artist too, based in India. Lovely to meet you!
Wow, I've learned about so many great books AND Substacks from reading everyone's replies!
I'm a little late to the thread, but I love a great chat about books so I'll join in anyway! I'm Cassandra and I live on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada with my husband and our dog, Chewie (yes, named after Chewbacca!). 👋
My Substack is called Notes from a Kindred Spirit and I write about chronic illness/healthcare, hobbies (reading is a big one!), and personal development. You can find it here: https://cassandrabumpus.substack.com/
Like several other people in this thread, I too recommend Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Big Magic. I also highly recommend the (unfortunately short-lived) podcast she did after the book came out called Magic Lessons. I often recommend Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Anne has such an infectious zest for life! I love reading books that have chronic illness or disability representation and Seven Days in June by Tia Williams is one of my favourites!
Okay, off to add some more titles to my TBR!
I have such fond memories of Anne of Green Gables from my childhood 💕
I used to try to collect the series from the scholastic book club 😊
Oh I love that! I've really enjoyed rereading the series as an adult. And I used to love the Scholastic book fairs!
Hi everyone- looking forward to making some new friends on here as always. Thank you Mika!
I am Catriona. I write Notes from Saving the World. I write about journeys, nature and how to navigate what life throws at us. You can read my latest post here about what I learned about gardens from Egyptian revolutionaries:
https://open.substack.com/pub/notesfromcatriona/p/growing-roses-in-a-revolution?r=fydqj&utm_medium=ios
My best books ever:
- The Poisonwood Bible
- Women Who Run With the Wolves
- The Hungry Caterpillar 🦋🌱😉
Anyone else have the same choices? 💕🙏🏻⭐️
-
Yes! Women Who Run With the Wolves is also a favorite of mine. :) ...Currently listening to her series "The Dangerous Old Woman' on Audible, (also on Sounds True), and I am blown away by her voice, her wisdom... it's incredible.
Yes her voice is beautiful. I hve been lucky enough to attend two workshops with her and its beautiful to listen to her voice for days 💕
I love being introduced to new books! Although the Hungry Caterpillar is a classic! 👌
100 % 🐛🍡🍑🍏
Mika - I love these!
My name is Sarah, and I am a psychologist based in Asia. Many of my posts are related to psychology, but I also post about other bits too.
Goodness 2/3 books that I would recommend!? This is difficult... but I would go for Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, 4000 weeks by Oliver Burkeman, and Maybe you should talk to someone by Lori Gottlieb.
Thanks again, Mika - I have discovered loads of fantastic writers and newsletters here.
Thanks for joining in!
I haven’t heard of these books. What kind of genre are they?
Olive Kitteridge is a fiction book based in Maine in the US - it’s funny and really beautifully written. The other two are both non fiction. 4000 weeks is about how we think about time (a really simplistic explanation - it’s great!), and the other one is about therapy.
Lots of great recommendations in this thread!
I would also recommend 4000 Weeks! I've read it twice and even got my partner onto it as I was talking about it so much lol.
Also enjoyed your recent podcast episode with Hannah Ashe, Sarah! 🤗
That book is fantastic, I love how you have got your partner into it too 🤣 Oh wonderful! Thanks for listening to the podcast ☺️
It's also such a lovely cover! 💙
Ah you're so welcome - lovely to hear your story!
Hi everyone!!
My name is Lilly, and I run a Substack called, "A Fraction of my Mind." I named it that because through writing about what I'm thinking, it's almost like I'm sharing a fraction of my mind. I write essays mostly about music, books, and pop culture. While those are the main categories, I do also occasionally branch out and write about other topics.
This is my Substack here: https://afractionofmymind.substack.com/
As for this month's question, 3 books I'd recommend would be Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Emma by Jane Austen.
I look forward to reading through everyone else's responses and hopefully making some new friends :)
Hi Lilly. Big Jane Austen fan but hated Emma lol. She irritates the skin out of me. Probably only detest her as much as Mr Collins...
That's valid haha. For most of the book, Emma is a vain, judgemental, self-absorbed snob. Austen herself said in a letter to one of her nieces that she intentionally made Emma dislikeable. The novel is centred entirely around the character development of Emma; in the end, she realises how awful she's been, and makes a conscious effort to change her behaviour. That's the effect that Austen wanted to achieve. And having a female character that was portrayed as intelligent and opinionated in the 1800s was quite rare (although Elizabeth Bennet is similar in this sense). But I understand the character is not everyone's cup of tea.
Oh wow! I love all these books! 😍😍😍
Currently working through Emma again. (All I want is to rewrite it so Frank Churchill gets some sort of consequence for his behaviour - especially keeping away for so long and only coming back when he was chasing someone - and even then, acting in a way that could be quite hurtful.)
Oh yes, I agree it's annoying Frank gets a happy ending after everything he does to both Emma and Jane Fairfax. Jane Austen's so good at writing intentionally unlikeable characters, that's for sure (take George Wickham as another example haha)
Hi everyone, my name is Eliza, as in Doolittle and Haywood.
I write book reviews and short essays that draw on my background in novel theory, feminist literary theory, and 18ce BritLit. Find me at thefemalespectator.substack.com !
Currently I’m telling everyone I know to read Fredrick Backman’s novel A Man Called Ove. But you can always find me recommending one Jane Austen novel or another too. ☺️
Loved A man called Ove. Need to get to a few of his other books...
Thanks for the recommendation! I’m adding it to the list. 😊
Thanks for hosting, Mika!!
You’re so welcome!
Hi everyone! Thanks for hosting this, Mika!
I'm Serena. I write "Evidence of Grace," where we address parenting teens with eating disorders, depression and anxiety through the lens of hope, authenticity and faith. I'm still in the process of walking with my 19-year-old daughter through her healing journey and happy to share what we've learned in the past 3.5 years.
It's so hard to pick just a few books. For writing inspiration, I love Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. For thoughtful fiction, I love anything by Jhumpa Lahiri. For inspiration about parenting teens with mental health challenges, right now I'm re-reading Sharon Garlough Brown's "Shades of Light," which is Christian fiction but provides an amazing and empathic commentary on the pain of mental health with some subtle inspiration for both parents and teens.
Such an important topic. It’s a family illness because everyone in the family is affected. 💕
Thank you for shining a light on it and holding space for those who are going through it. ✨
Agreed! It's really important, thanks for taking initiative to write about this
Thanks for saying that, Mika! Grateful for you!
Hello everyone, it's lovely to be here. Thanks, Mika.
Sage Sanctuary, (Because Life Is Messy) is my publication. I write personal narrative, and essays from the Tanrtic yogic perspective, on how to navigate life in these modern times. I also host a monthly workshop on Zoom where I offer a teaching and practices. https://paulettebodeman.substack.com/
Currently I'm reading a novel about the lives of Mary Wollstonecraft, and her daughter Mary Sheeley, written by Stephanie Marie Thornton. It's inspiring and well written. I'm awed by these revolutionary women who stood for women's rights and were prolific writers. Their work seems especially poignant considering the current climate regarding women.