Every year I try to read at least 12 books. Up until three years ago, the bulk of my reading was from the fiction section (think Pride and Prejudice, Twilight, Confessions of a Shopaholic). That may have been due to my status as a student for so long and getting into the habit of using my personal reading time for something light and entertaining. Nevertheless, when I watched the movie Julie and Julia, I realized I might be missing out on a plethora of interesting stories, people, history, etc. So, I decided to start my journey into non-fiction by reading Julie’s book, on which the movie is based.
It was an interesting read. Definitely entertaining, but not in the same “light” way as the fiction I had been reading. There were many moments when the book made me ponder what my own reaction would have been. All in all, I determined it was time to change gears.
Since then, I have been reading mostly non-fiction. It is thought provoking and personally challenging. Although, I still feel much of it is delightfully entertaining, there are moments when I wish it wasn’t real. It causes deep personal reflection on matters that I would otherwise avoid through my choice of fiction.
Below is the list of non-fiction books I have read since my encounter with Julie and Julia. My goal is to publish a post for each of these books in the coming months, sharing what motivated me to read the book and some thoughts that have stuck with me. So stay tuned!
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
A Civil Society by Peter Hart
The 100-Mile Diet by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon
Carjacked by Catherine Lutz and Anne Lutz Fernandez
Bottlemania by Elizabeth Royte
Mom Inc. by Amy Ballon and Danielle Botterell
You Can Change by Tim Chester
Self-Reliant Cities by David Morris
Nurtureshock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Hold Onto Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Mate
Switch by Chip and Dan Heath
My Life in France by Julie Child and Alex Prud’homme
Joyride by Mia Birk
The True History of Chocolate by Sophie D. and Michael D. Coe
A Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
The New Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman