My Favorite Books of 2018
These are my favorite books of 2018 because they educated, expanded and inspired me.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This is the most impactful book for me in 2018. It it is not pictured here because I leant it to a friend. The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned. Punishing the broken only ensures that they remain broken and we do too. Each of us is so much more than the worst thing we've ever done. The central question behind Stevenson's work is: how and why people are judged unfairly?
The Longevity Diet by Valter Longo, PhD. Valter Longo is one of the top experts on aging, longevity and intermitent fasting. In this book, he discusses the ideal diet for healthy longevity. His research on the profound health benefits of fasting is fascinating.
Essentialsim by Greg McKeown. In our very overcommitted, overloaded world, it is easy to lose sight of what is really important. The way to get things done is to do less but do them better. This book inspired me to let some things go. After doing so Ihave become much more productive and happier.
Atomic Habits by James Clear. I heard James Clear interviewed on the Rich Roll podcast about this book and I was intrigued. There are a few similar themes to "Essentialism," such as pare things down to only the important and start very small. He shares his four laws of success when it comes to creating a habit: 1. Make it Obvious 2. Make it Attractive 3. Make it Easy 4. Make it Satisfying. Good habits create freedom as well as learning how to stop habits that do not serve you.
The Circadian Code by Satchin Panda, PhD. When it comes to achieving optimal health, research shows us that what we do is as important as when we do it. This book will make you think carefully about the timing of your meals, sleep, exercise and work to optimize your life.
The Truth About Food, by David Katz, MD, MPH, FACP, FACLM. This book is hands down my most trusted resource for nutrition. This is an epic piece of work at 750 pages and is excellent resource to have on hand. So, the next time you read a headline about nutrition that makes you think, "Is that really true?" you will have a trusted resocurce to turn to. Go out and get this book!!
The Younger Next Year Back Book by Chris Crowley and Jeremy James, DC,CSCS. Most of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives. The good news is that learning how to move correctly and regularly following a well designed exercise program can make back pain a memory. Reading, and most importanty following the programs in this book, can free you from your back pain. Jeremey is a colleague of mine, and I have seen first hand how effective his programs are. This book would be a great gift for anyone you know who needs help with their back or wants to avoid back pain.
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. If you are looking for some deep work on bringing out the creative parts of yourself, this book is for you. Julia argues that we are all creative. My Women's Forum group spent the last four months working on the exercises in this book and we all gained insight into ourselves and our creative lives. You can go through this process by yourself, but I think it is more powerful going through it with others.