Reading List

 

Feels like we should include this!

I am a big fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafón due to his detail-oriented writing and his storytelling. The most incredible aspect of his writing is his remarkable flexibility, which allows readers to pick up any installment of his series without being constrained by chronological order. Regardless of which book you pick up first, the narrative remains coherent and comprehensive, and the characters all connect throughout five different books. This unique feature adds an extra layer of engagement and accessibility to his body of work, making the reading experience all the more enriching and enjoyable.

Just an interesting and honest read about one of Mexico’s globally renowned and talented chefs. His vivid experiences crossing the border, the harsh realities of life as a child migrant farmer intertwined his innocence in appreciating the roadtrips chasing the seasons across the USA, discovering his culinary superpower, and working for the likes of Eric Ripert, to deportation and building not only some of the best restaurants in Mexico, but also creating jobs that offer a better quality of life so Mexican cooks can fight for progress in their country. Learn more >

In the hope after hardship category, I’m also reading the memoir of the UK’s top emergency planner — who got her start during 9/11 and has helped manage the aftermath of all kinds of disasters. She writes so honestly about the things that matter to people when they’ve faced the worst and how to keep moving forward. Click to buy >

I’ve been reading this NYT best-selling book about creating boundaries to improve quality of life, reduce stress, and develop better, fairer relationships. It’s been a total game-changer for me and even includes interactive exercises to practice some of the methods explained in the book. Click to buy >

This book was a really good read and one that I value as a mom of two teenage girls, both perfectionists and high achieving (A+ grades across the board). They are already stressing about college, and this put things into perspective in a big way. Click to buy >

Shaina and Julia are the dynamic duo behind the weekend New York Times’ illustrated op-eds. I got to work with them on a piece about emergency preparedness for the paper earlier this year and am so excited to have just received a copy of their new book with more than 100 “stories of survival, resilience, and hope through hardship” all beautifully painted. Click to buy >

I was immediately hooked by two things: 

  1. There is a five-star rating included on various aspects of humanity

  2. There was going to be an evaluation of Canadian geese (aka the dreaded cobra chickens)

This book is a series of essays sharing John Green’s perspective on a random collection of things, from the mundane to magical (think: Dr Pepper, NASCAR, and sunsets). It shares an honest and very personal take on our world that is also chock-full of facts and histories. Click to buy >