In the spirit of exploration, we’ve collected a short list of self-growth books that center around exploring skills, emotions, habits, and lifestyle changes. Pick up one, or all, of these titles at Bookshop Benicia and begin the New Year with pages full of positivity and discovery.
A Wilder Way: How Gardens Grow Us by Poppy Okotcha
Poppy Okotcha invites us to spend a year with her in her wild little garden in Devon, where she shares the inspiring, the mundane and the magical moments that come from tending a garden through the seasons, and what that process can teach us about living more sustainably.
Part memoir, part gardening guide, part cookbook, A Wilder Way is sure to inspire anyone who loves spending time outdoors. Poppy places a strong focus on sustainability and how we can integrate eco-consciousness into our lives, starting in our very own gardens.
The book also includes English and Nigerian folktales that connect back to our relationship with nature and our shared responsibility for the natural world. The writing is lovely and intimate, making this book the perfect remedy for a busy mind.
For fans of: Braiding Sweetgrass, This One Wild and Precious Life, and Is a River Alive?
The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World by Christine Rosen
The Extinction of Experience is a reflective and original exploration of how to recover and cultivate the human experiences that have atrophied in our highly virtual world. Rosen investigates the cultural and emotional shifts that accompany our embrace of technology, using warm, philosophical prose to reveal key human experiences at risk of disappearing. She touches on face-to-face communication, sense of place, authentic emotion, and even the benefits of boredom.
This book is more an exploration of ideas than a guide on how to “fix” the issue at hand. With technology being so deeply ingrained in our day-to-day lives, there is no easy cure, and Rosen doesn’t pretend that ridding yourself of your smartphone or deleting your social media is realistic for everyone.
If you’re looking for concrete answers, this one may not be for you. But if you want to dive deeper into the effects technology has had on the human experience, you’ll find The Extinction of Experience extremely engaging.
For fans of: Against the Machine, The Sirens’ Call, and Superbloom
Frequently Happy: 52 Mindful Moments to Bring Hope and Joy by David Larbi
Popular online personality David Larbi shares poetry, topics of self-reflection and journaling prompts to help readers find the joy that’s all around them. Frequently Happy is like medicine for the heart, easing the stress of everyday life by showing readers how to see beauty in every moment and build pockets of joy, inspiration and calm.
The book is designed to help readers explore emotions, seize opportunities to grow, and find happiness all year round. The journaling and activity prompts create space for deep self-reflection and encourage us to bring motivation and gratitude to the forefront.
Sweet and uplifting, Frequently Happy makes a great gift or book club pick for the start of a new year. David’s insights and poetry, along with his thoughtful prompts, help readers begin the year off with a positive and grounded mindset.
For fans of: Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, The Miracle of Mindfulness, and The Little Book of Calm
Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You by Karolina Rzadkowolska
For those of us participating in Dry January, Euphoric is the perfect eight-week plan for shifting into an alcohol-free lifestyle. Focusing on women’s experience, this book serves as a guide to relaxing without alcohol, finding freedom from cravings and the pressure to fit in, and creating a lifestyle clearly aligned with your goals, priorities, and values. Karolina has helped thousands of casual drinkers transform their relationship with alcohol, and through Euphoric she shares a proven strategy for making alcohol insignificant in your life.
Although the plan spans eight weeks, this book is beneficial for anyone, regardless of the length of their intended break from alcohol. Whether you’re trying to quit for good, take a month off, or simply shift your relationship with alcohol while still enjoying the occasional glass of wine with friends, Euphoric is a great launching point.
For fans of: Sober Curious, Quit Like a Woman, and The Sober Lush
