Explorer Club of Book Lovers – November

I follow my enthusiasm by reading…a lot. And once a month, I share (some of) the books I read last month and the books I intend to read this month. You can join the informal book club by sharing your own list in the comments!

What I read in October

Whew! I read quite a bit this month (thanks to all that time in airports + the following Introvert Recovery days).

My favorites:

• Where'd You Go, Bernadette? Recommended by just about everyone, this was the perfect airplane read!
• Homeward Bound: Why Women are Embracing the New Domesticity. I wrote a lot more about this book and the topic in this post. (Don't miss the smart comments!)
• Choose Yourself, by James Altucher, is a straight-forward take-down of the traditional career path and a rallying cry to choose yourself. I wrote more about what I learned from Choose Yourself, here. (Bonus: It's only $1.99 on the Kindle!)
• The Art of Being Unmistakable, by Srinivas Rao (podcaster behind BlogcastFM) was a quick, easy, inspiring read. I found myself jotting notes and having ideas constantly during the reading. Have a notebook handy!

The good:

• I got a good start on the ginormous Steve Jobs biography but had to return it to the library about halfway through (he's just made Toy Story with Pixar!). Whenever it comes back in, I'll pick it up again.
• Turning Pro was fantastically inspiring. I'll probably be writing more about it soon, in the style of this book review.
• Someday, Someday Maybe. Lauren Graham's novel is funny and tender, and felt a lot like being in my early 20's. Fun + quick!

The meh:

• The Culture Code. This was interesting, if a bit reductionist. All the same, it helped me understand a little more about what drives people's buying decisions.

November's To Read List

• I already slurped up Erika Lyremark's smart book on the 2nd day of the month! It is a collection of her stories from stripping (yes!) which she transforms into business lessons you can apply to your own work. So inspiring, I read it in one day (and came up with a whole new offering!) Best yet, you can download it free when you join her list!
• A carry-over from last month's list, I'm hoping to get to Shawn Achor's second book soon!
• Wool is the mega-successful self-published sci-fi novel. I've been hearing about it forever and I just started it last night. Gotta read anything with “Wool” in the title, right?!
• If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland is one of my all-time favorite books. I checked it out again to get me through NaNoWriMo.
• Wired for Story is another writing-fuel book.
• Allegiant is the third book in the Divergent trilogy and I am on pins + needles waiting for this book to come in for me at the library!

What are you reading this month?

What was your favorite book of October?

Disclaimer-y Disclaimer! Srini sent me Turning Pro + Erika gifted Think Like A Stripper. But I’m not in any way coerced into saying nice things. Or course I’m biased when my friends write a book, but I don’t mention things I don’t like. Read the usual disclaimer here.