March is NZ book month, so I thought I’d share with you some of the favourite books I’ve read the past few months. In general my favourite books to read are non fiction. I find biographies particularly inspiring, and I also enjoy the odd self improvement book, because I believe in becoming the best I can be.
My other love is cook books, especially ones with gorgeous photography – I have quite a collection now and I’m always willing to add to it.
So without further ado – here’s three of my favourite recent reads:
1. Bills Every Day Asian by Bill Granger
I always thought I couldn’t make tasty Asian food at home. Turns out I just didn’t have the perfect recipes. Enter Bill’s Every Day Asian. Every recipe I’ve made has been super delicious – in fact, I’d say better than some of the takeaway Chinese I’ve had. My favourites so far – the Thai basil stir fry and pork larb. Put this in your shopping cart now and be prepared for some delicious dinners.
2. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
The Happiness Project has been on the New York Times best seller list for almost two years which in its self is a testament to the fact that this is a great book. Part memoir and part self help, the book tracks Gretchen Rubin’s year long project to investigate and trial for herself wisdom of ages along with current research on how to be happier. Filled with practical tips and advice, this book lead me to examine what my own values are and how living true to those values contributes to my own happiness. She aslo has a blog and website here
3. All Blacks Don’t Cry by John Kirwan
While I’ve never suffered serious depression, I have had mild depression and it’s not a nice place to be in. There’s a lot of stigma around mental illness in society and I really admired John Kirwan (JK) for coming out in public and talking about his experiences. At the height of his rugby career, behind closed doors JK was living through a private torment that the public new nothing of until recently. I believe the act of him sharing his struggle with depression in public has made it easier for a lot of men to acknowledge their depression.
I actually enjoyed this book much more than anticipated and it has been one of my favourite reads. As well as talking about his own experience through depression, the book also provides some practical advice for people going through the same situation.
I really like how John share’s his wellness plan – the things he needs to do to stay on top of his depression and feel good. I think this is something we can all benefit from in terms of looking after ourselves. For me, I know getting enough sleep is crucial to feeling good, as is regular exercise and plenty of down time to relax and do the things I enjoy. Without this, I get grumpy and my moods get low. Reading this book lead to me thinking about the things I need to keep feeling good, and as a consequence I do my best to ensure I make them a priority.
What are some of the good books you’ve read recently? I’d love to hear some suggestions to add to my reading list.
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