Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

This thread is for dropping ideas, questions, resources, comments, and discussion about Task 24: A Self-Improvement Book ((can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)

http://bookriot.com/2014/08/26/helpin...

I'm writing my dissertation proposal, and dissertation (?) this year. So lots of these are writing, I'm going to try a bunch out and see what works/makes sense. These double as books recommended to me :)

How Writers Journey to Comfort and Fluency: A Psychological Adventure
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
Demystifying Dissertation Writing: A Streamlined Process from Choice of Topic to Final Text
Becoming an Academic Writer: 50 Exercises for Paced, Productive, and Powerful Writing
Write Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day
How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing

These are sort of professiona; development, so I'm planning to look into them as well.

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right
StrengthsFinder 2.0
Making Data Talk: The Science and Practice of Translating Public Health Research and Surveillance Findings to Policy Makers, the Public, and the Press

Then this, which was recommended to me, and I think sounds interesting
The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World

I picked The Bulletproof Diet: Lose up to a Pound a Day, Reclaim Energy and Focus, Upgrade Your Life.

I picked How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. It's been on my TBR forever.

Melissa wrote: "I picked How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. It's been on my TBR forever."

It's sooo good. I loved that book.

Melissa - me too! It's either that or Bad Feminist (which I bought a few weeks ago bc I adore Roxane Gay on twitter). Probably both.

Malvina wrote: "Melissa - me too! It's either that or Bad Feminist (which I bought a few weeks ago bc I adore Roxane Gay on twitter). Probably both."

You can't go wrong with Bad Feminist, it's great. Also, if you like Roxane Gay's twitter check out her Tumblr page. She posts new entries/short essays all the time, and they're really wonderful.

I'm not normally one for self-help books, but on a whim I checked out the audiobook for Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke from my library earlier this year. I even liked it (surprising myself) and found myself thinking of it often. Nonjudgmental, with plenty of anecdotal stories. I especially appreciated the sections on getting rid of the mental clutter/baggage.

For this category, I plan to read Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long.

I have a couple of books in this category that I reacently added to my TBR pile.


Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program that Allows You to See and Heal the 7 Types of ADD

I ended up reading both books below for this challenge:

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Gratitude and Trust: Six Affirmations That Will Change Your Life

I am thinking of this one: Daily Rituals: How Great Minds Make Time, Find Inspiration, and Get to Work by Mason Currey. Or, I might read one of Anne Lamott's non-fiction books, which for me are self-help!

I decided on The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs, which totes itself as being a self-help handbook for lady geeks. :D

Melissa wrote: "I picked How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. It's been on my TBR forever."

I think I'll pick this one too! I've been meaning to read it for a long time

This might be right up my alley personality-wise: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.

Can't wait to read Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be a Grown-up!

Kenny wrote: "This might be right up my alley personality-wise: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking."

I read this a few years ago and it was great!

Sam wrote: "I decided on The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs, which totes itself as being a self-help handbook for lady geeks. :D"

I won an ARC from LibraryThing and it's pretty good! Really introductory, though.

Alanna wrote: "Sam wrote: "I decided on The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs, which totes itself as being a self-help handbook for lady geeks. :D"

I won an ARC from LibraryThing and it's pretty good! R..."

That makes me very excited. I got an ARC too from Random House Canada so I have to review it any ways, but I'm excited and Sam's a lovely person! Glad to hear it's fun!

My very favorite self improvement book: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson. You won't regret reading it.

Meh, I have zero ideas for this. I have no interest at all in traditional self-improvement books. Maybe I'll look for humorous guide to parenting or something along that line, I'm expecting at the end of January.

Angela wrote: "Meh, I have zero ideas for this. I have no interest at all in traditional self-improvement books. Maybe I'll look for humorous guide to parenting or something along that line, I'm expecting at the ..."

Angela, I'm not much on self-improvement books either, so I'm going with . It's not humorous, but it does look very interesting to me. It's a thought.

I'm planning to read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō. It looks intriguing--and was already on my TBR list!

Angela, this might be somewhat of a stretch for self-improvement but if you are ok with a loose definition, consider French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon

Would books from any of the following lists qualify as suitable choices? I know the lists are called self-help but I'm not sure what actually qualifies and I'd like to be very genre specific. I think it would open up new reading avenues for me :)

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

I just finished "One Minute Mindfulness" by Donald Altman. It's a quick read and really helped me refocus on what's important in my life. I'd recommend it as a self-help choice for anyone that feels depressed, like life is too hectic, or just needs a quick reminder to take a second and breathe :)

Angela wrote: "Meh, I have zero ideas for this. I have no interest at all in traditional self-improvement books. Maybe I'll look for humorous guide to parenting or something along that line, I'm expecting at the ..."

I felt the same way when I first looked at this topic, but I am interested in subjects like psychology, marketing, education, etc. - why people behave as they do, and I think those would count. For instance, Quiet (mentioned above) is not only for introverts to read. It's not necessarily about fixing yourself. And I think the lists suggested by Ruchika are fine, you could go with the more "inspirational" choices if those appeal to you, rather than "how to be better at x or y".

Nancy wrote: "I'm planning to read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō. It looks intriguing--and was already on my TBR list!"

I also immediately thought about a de-cluttering book on my TBR, Breathing Room: Open Your Heart by Decluttering Your Home by Laura Rosenfeld and can't wait to read it now!

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamont. Can't wait to read this!

Angela wrote: "Meh, I have zero ideas for this. I have no interest at all in traditional self-improvement books. Maybe I'll look for humorous guide to parenting or something along that line, I'm expecting at the ..."

It seems to me that even a book on improving your hobby or craft/skill/career (whatever they may be) would count as a 'self-improvement book.

Indeed I was wondering whether some sort of cookery book could cover this, I have no interest in traditional self help books, but learning to cook something completely different would improve my self ;)

Amy wrote: "Angela wrote: "Meh, I have zero ideas for this. I have no interest at all in traditional self-improvement books. Maybe I'll look for humorous guide to parenting or something along that line, I'm ex..."

That's the view I'm taking. I'm considering How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character a self-improvement book since I work with children and it will therefore support my ability to do my job well. I'm also a parent, but at 16 and 18 it's probably too late to fix any mistakes I've made, lol.

Ultra wrote: "Indeed I was wondering whether some sort of cookery book could cover this, I have no interest in traditional self help books, but learning to cook something completely different would improve my se..."

I'd go with it. It goes along the lines of the post before yours.

I really dislike self improvement books.. so I was thinking of reading The Zombie Survival Guide.. I mean its improving my chances of not dying. would it fit for this category?

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead is totally a self-improvement book. ^^

Personnally I'm going with A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook, since improving my cooking skills will definitely make me a better person. ^^

I'm going with Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar.

Karena wrote: "I'm going with Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar."

Great idea!

Ruchika, I hope the GR lists that you posted are acceptable. I plan to read Eat, Pray, Love with hopes of discovering how to balance my life.

Bea wrote: "Ruchika, I hope the GR lists that you posted are acceptable. I plan to read Eat, Pray, Love with hopes of discovering how to balance my life."

I hope you find that book more pleasurable than I did. I found it incredibly lacking. I hope you have more fun reading it than I did. :)

Ruchika wrote: "I hope you have more fun reading it than I did. :)"

I hope so, too. I will be reading it for several challenges.

Bea wrote: "Ruchika wrote: "I hope you have more fun reading it than I did. :)"

I hope so, too. I will be reading it for several challenges."

I cannot wait to read your review of it! :D

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food-Lysa TerKeurst

How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines is my pick for this one

Melissa wrote: "How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines is my pick for this one"

If only I can find myself a copy :) It's been on my tbr for a long time now!

I read "a Bead and a Prayer" in Nov, but way to quickly. Plan to reread. Plus my sister insists I read "The Kitchen Counter Cooking School." I am always working to improve what I dish out!

Nancy wrote: "I'm planning to read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō. It looks intriguing--and was already on my TBR list!"

I want that! But not in a cluttering way...

Clémence wrote: "The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead is totally a self-improvement book. ^^

Thanks, now I have to rethink my guilty pleasure book. I will read The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks as a self-help. I didn't think of it this way until now.

Angela wrote: "Meh, I have zero ideas for this. I have no interest at all in traditional self-improvement books. Maybe I'll look for humorous guide to parenting or something along that line, I'm expecting at the ..."

Angela, you should try The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood.

Would a cookbook or a how-to book fall under this category? Something like "Excel 2013 Bible" or "Meal Planning for Dummies" or "How to Cook Everything"?

Betsy wrote: "Would a cookbook or a how-to book fall under this category? Something like "Excel 2013 Bible" or "Meal Planning for Dummies" or "How to Cook Everything"?"

Sure!

Melissa wrote: "How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines is my pick for this one"

Great pick!