As the end of 2023 began drawing closer, I started tearing through books like my life depended on it. Maybe it was to escape burnout, or to fill up the creative batteries again, but it got me thinking more on the stories I’ve read this past year that have had some sort of significant impact on my own life. Whether it be an entrepreneurial journey that kept me in the fire for a bit longer, or a poetic novel that inspired me to lean back into the artistry of what we do online, the following are a collection of books you should read this upcoming year.
An easy read that I ended up finishing in a few hours on a roadtrip down to Maryland. Chop Wood Carry Water is reminiscent of those age-old Aesop fable tales, yet is modern enough to be relatable to any scenario. This is a book that I will no doubt return to several times throughout my life, as it provides guidance on most things that we’ll encounter in our lives. Pulling from philosophy and other texts, the story breaks down complex ideas into simple bite-sized chapters that will have you reflecting on how to improve your own life and relationships. More importantly, it comes to answer the question of how we learn to enjoy the process, hardships and successes that lay on the path before us.
It has its moments of corniness for sure and sometimes feels as if it’s written far too simply. However, it’s concise and won’t waste your time.
It was on a flight back to Austin that I came across a random documentary called “American Symphony” on Netflix. Having recently binged through other documentary-style films such as the Beckham Doc and Big Vape, I clicked on the title without much hesitation.
Little did I know that this piece of media would end up having such a large impact on my life. The story of the documentary follows Jon Baptiste, a composer, pianist, and incredible musician (who scored the movie, Soul, which I’m sure you’ve watched before) as he goes on to have the most emotionally draining year. From winning Grammys, to his wife - Suleika, returning to hospitalization due to her Leukemia, the story had me in tears by the end.
It was from this doc that I came to learn more about Suleika’s story. She was not only a cancer survivor, but also an incredible public speaker and author. So you could imagine my glee when I learned that she had also published a book about her journey years prior.
This book was incredible, it’s hard to put it into words. However, I promise it will give you a new perspective on illness, life, hope, and all the little things in between.