Jenn PavlickI always have a sprawling list of books to read; it seems to be ever-growing with titles that have been gathering for months or even years. Every so often, the top of the list becomes redundant, for I find that if I don’t read a particular title within a few months of adding it to the list, I never get to it. Here, I will aim to combat this by outlining the five books I plan to read next, and share them in case they interest you as well. While I can’t count this as a formal recommendation quite yet, I have heard good feedback about each one and am excited to see how they turn out.
1. How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell
I have seen this title in bookstores for the past few months and continue to pick it up and decide ‘maybe later.’ However, I finally purchased a copy and am excited to see how artist Jenny Odell theorizes our lives in a world of constant demands on our attention. From work to social media, we are taught to make the most of every moment by valuing productivity above all else, and in today’s world, it is near impossible to find a way to ever truly rest and be at ease. The subject certainly sounds relatable, and I am hopeful it will offer insights into how to manage this situation in which we all find ourselves.
2. Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap
I have been a fan of Tori Dunlap and an avid listener of her podcast ‘The Financial Feminist.’ She is a uniquely conscientious personal finance thought leader, and I always find her advice tangible, relatable, and deeply considered. Beyond that, her mission to empower women through financial responsibility is noble, as she seeks to help people gain the power to build a world that reflects their values. I am eager to see her ethos laid out in her first book.
3. The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd
Ali Abdaal interviewed this author Paul Millerd on his podcast, and his story immediately compelled me. He describes the standardized paths we are all encouraged to move through in our society and the opportunities and risks that lie in breaking from those paths. As someone who never felt committed or certain in any professional path, I am excited to gain insights from what sounds like a kindred spirit.
4. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
While I typically lean more towards reading non-fiction, I usually like to have a fiction and a non-fiction book going simultaneously so I can sit down and read according to the time of day or my mood. While this list is slightly non-fiction heavy, these last two fiction choices definitely make up for the lack of representation through their length and density. This title promises to be beautifully written and touching in its subject matter, as it explores male friendships, physical pain, and mental health in a first-person narrative structure.
5. Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellman
When I was buying A Little Life, the bookstore employee also recommended this book to me. As another sprawling book, this story spans over 1,000 pages and is notable for its stream-of-consciousness style that features one long sentence with interspersed interruptions. As a writer, I cannot wait to see how author Lucy Ellman managed this linguistic feat.
If you have read any of these books and have feedback, get in touch with to let me know your thoughts and suggestions! If any of these titles look appealing to you, check them out through my lists on bookshop.org – a website that supports local booksellers.
