My Nonfiction Reading List for This Winter

I’m a list maker.

Lists make me feel organized, but it’s more than that. I get a thrill out of creating a list.

Maybe you can relate?

They can also help me from going overboard.

There’ve been a lot of amazing nonfiction new book releases this summer and fall. And, there are some good ones coming up.

Ack…I want them all!

But, I don’t think my husband wants me to bury us under books, so I have to restrain myself.

With restraint in mind (see babe…I’m capable!), I put together a list of the top 10 nonfiction books I want to read this winter and now I’m sharing it with you (because #bookloversunite).  

Hopefully we can read some of them together…

1. Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff

Where my starters at?

I’m a beginner all the way. I luuuuuurve to begin things and I know I’m not alone.

You know that scene in Gilmore Girls when Lorelai has collected all the magazines they get from stores, with the good intention of calling to let them know they get “x” number of copies and to please stop sending them? And then Rory points out that this project is going to end up sitting on their kitchen table forever like when Lorelai tried to learn how to make seashell candles.

Yep…I relate to that in a big kinda way. I’m not that bad. I complete most of my projects now, because I force myself to before I allow myself to move onto something new.

But, I used to be the girl who would start a new scrapbook, leaving sheets of paper, stacks of photos, stickers and bits of glitter strewn about for over a month before actually putting it away or finishing it.

When I saw this book, I knew I needed the contents in my brain ASAP. If you’re a “starter,” you should getcha a copy, too. I’ve heard really good things about this book from real human beings that I trust!

2. The Influential Mind: What the Brain Reveals About Our Power to Change Others by Tali Sharot

One of my keywords is influence. If a book in the psychology/business realm has the word “influence” in its title, I do a triple take. And, I usually preorder it or buy it immediately if it’s already out.

This book is now safely on my nightstand ready to be devoured. I’ve looked over the table of contents and if you’re like me and are interested in how people are influenced, you should check it out.

3. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown

It’s Brené Brown…do I need to say more? I’ve read three of her past books and enjoyed each of them. They’re all based around such important messages.

4. The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip and Dan Heath

The Heath brothers are auto-buy authors for me. They publish…I buy. It’s that simple.

I love how they mesh storytelling and science together. For a psychology and business nerd like me, a day with a chai tea latte and one of their books is better than a day at Disneyland.

I counted down the days until this book released and when it came in the mail, I did a bad thing. I stopped all work and read the first section of the book because I couldn’t help myself. I can’t wait to dive back in. I learned a lot but it also left me wanting more.

5. When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink

This is another author that my nerdy brain tends to drool over. Drive (also by this author) is a book that I’ve re-read, use consistently in the work that I do, and feel very grateful for having access to for only sixteen dollars.

When is not coming out until January, but that’ll give me time to dig into some of these others first. You can bet I’ll preorder this gem.

6. The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking

Flipping through this book has already sparked happiness.

I’ve read some bits of it which inspired me to purchase a couple of throw blankets for our living room couches. Because it’s getting colder, I picked some faux fur options and they make the room so snuggly.

It makes me want to spend more time with a warm cup of tea, under one of the blankets, curled up next to one of my big lab mixes. I’ll grab a book, light a couple candles and turn down the lights. It feels more homey and luxurious and the only change I made was investing in a couple of faux fur throw blankets.

From what I can tell, the author explains Hygge throughout this book and it has a lot to do with making your space comforting. It seems like a great read for Christmastime.

7. Blue Ocean Shift: Beyond Competing – Proven Steps to Inspire Confidence and Seize New Growth by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne

I’m still trying to decide if I want to read this one, because I read most of the first book, Blue Ocean Strategy, and maybe it’s just me, but I found it reaaaaaaally boring. And, I’m into business books which means I can deal with some stale writing.

My plan is to read some of it the next time I’m in Barnes and Noble to see if I like the writing style any better, because I really love the message. We shall see. (If you’ve read this one, let me know in the comments if you thought it was dull or not.)

8. Psyched Up: How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help You Succeed by Daniel McGinn

This topic tickles my cerebrum. Warm up routines. Fight or flight. Dealing with performance anxiety. Motivating playlists. Visualization.

I’m in. I’m so in.

9. The Wellness Project: How I Learned to Do Right by My Body, Without Giving Up My Life by Phoebe Lapine

I regularly search on Amazon for books written by other women who have struggled with chronic health issues.

I want to read their memoirs. I want to read what they’ve learned along the way. And, I especially want to read about women who’ve fought to get healthy and what they’ve found to be most successful.

Thankfully, I’ve found a treatment that is making a huge difference to my life. I couldn’t be more grateful. But, I still have a battle ahead and it never hurts to build up my defenses.

For instance, you would have no idea how much taking a daily Probiotic (a really good one–not a cheapo one) changed my health. For someone like me who has severe health issues, I wouldn’t have believed that something so simple would make a huge difference. It did.

Taking a daily probiotic allowed me to stop taking prescription nausea medicine. I used to take it once or twice a day. Now, I might take it once a month. A probiotic did that–something natural allowed me to stop taking something artificial with loads of negative side effects.

So, I look for books like this one to see if I can glean any insight from it.

10. Worth It: Your Life, Your Money, Your Terms by Amanda Steinberg

Money.

What a loaded topic.

I’ve got a much better, much healthier money mindset than I did ten years ago. Some of that is due to my husband. Some of that is due to the work I’ve done on my own to get right with money.

But, I’m a firm believer that we can always grow and learn more. I know I’m not anywhere close to perfect when it comes to money.

This book looks like an excellent resource for the topic and a great refresher for me for 2018.

Those are the top 10 nonfiction books I’m looking the most forward to reading this winter.

Now, how about you?

What nonfiction book are you most interested in reading as the year is winding down or in the beginning of 2018?