Header Top Banner

Join my tribe of empowered women. Get fitness tips, life hacks, and inspiration delivered to your inbox.

Series

Everything fun and light. This section is best for those Friday mornings where you just want to read a good blog and relax.

7 Empowering And Inspirational Books For Your Summer Reading List

Books are like a gateway to a different world. 

 A place you create that can be anywhere you want; with any people you want. The words on each page feed your mind and help you focus on subjects that can educate, empower, inspire, relax or feed your soul. I used to read only fiction books, but recently, I’ve opened my reading palate and broaden my horizons by reading non-fiction, memoirs, and spiritual books.

Reading has always been a passion of mine, but lately, it has been hard to find time for it. In fact, the only time I do seem to read is either in the car as I’m waiting for my kids to finish practice or right before bedtime- which means I’m falling asleep as I read. Sad I know!

With that in mind, I started keeping a book wish list, for all the best books I want to read. LOL! I picked my favorite one for my last vacation with Bini. No work, no children, no chores, nothing to do but write and read. I spent hours laying on the beach just doing that, and it felt amazing.

Summer is the perfect time for more reading. Vacations are planned, the pools are open, and the weather is warm. If you want some great empowering and inspiring books for your summer, I’m sharing 7 books from my wish list. I’ve only gotten to read two of the below books (Where in the OM am I and Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood) so I’ve copied blurbs from Goodreads for the books I have yet to open so that you can get a better feel for it.

Where in the OM am I 
By Sara DiVello

By far my favorite book of the year, it is a page turner, and I was hooked from the moment I opened it. Sara DiVello takes readers on her personal journey of self-discovery as she transitions from the corporate world of banking and finance, where she felt trapped and unhappy as a PR director to the wonderful meditating world of yoga. It shows you that anything is possible, to never give up on following your dreams and lastly, that your heart always knows best. An easy read, funny, motivational and mind opening to say the least. A MUST READ!

The Miracle Morning 
By Hal Elrod

My best friend’s boyfriend can’t stop talking about this book, so of course, I added it to my list, and I’m so glad I did.

Hal Elrod questions the life you live by asking these simple questions: What if you could miraculously wake up tomorrow and any- or every area of your life was transformed? What would be different? Would you be happier? Healthier? More successful? In better shape? Would you have more energy? Less Stress? More Money? Which of your problems would be solved?

Then he goes on to tell his readers that there is a “not so obvious” secret that is guaranteed to transform your life and that it only takes 6 minutes a day.

My best friend’s boyfriend is a true testimony that Hal’s system really does work.

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood 
By Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah is a big deal in my home. Bini loves the Daily Show and won’t sleep without watching at least 15 minutes of it. Trevor’s story is incredible… here is a man who came from nothing, in fact his mere existence was a crime at the time of his birth, and therefore he was kept indoors and hidden. Born to a white Swiss father and black Xhosa mother, his book gives a clear vision of what it was like growing up during the apartheid days in South Africa. He gives full details of his upbringing and how he struggled to find himself in a world where he was not supposed to exist. He gives full credit and love to his amazing mother and explains the hardships she succumbed to save her son.

If you love Trevor on T.V, you will LOVE his book. He brings the same sense of humor and wittiness to life with each page. 

You’re a Bad Ass: How to stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life 
By Jen Sincero

Another highly recommended book by my best friend, who highlights sentences and sends us screenshots (yes it’s that good).

A refreshingly entertaining how to guide that will help you identify and change the self- sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, blast past your fears so you can take big exciting risks, learn to love yourself and others, set big goals and reach them and figure out how to make some darn money while you’re at it. It shows you how to create a life you totally love.

#GirlBoss
By Sophia Amoruso

Now here is a real boss! Sophia had a hard life growing up and went from being broke, directionless and working a mediocre job to being the founder/CEO and creative director of Nasty Gal in eight years. Her company- a $100 million plus online fashion company with over 350 employees, is anything but typical. Her books tells her story and shows readers that trusting your instincts and following your gut will lead you down a successful path even if that path is as winding as ever and full of naysayers.

The Power of Positive Thinking
By Norman Vincent Peale

Written with the sole purpose of helping readers achieve a happy, satisfying and worthwhile life, Norman really outdoes himself with The Power of Positive Thinking. With the practical techniques outlined in this book, you can energize your life and give yourself the initiative needed to carry out your ambitions and hopes. You will learn how to:

  • Except the best and get it
  • Believe in yourself and in everything you do
  • Develop the power to reach your goals
  • Break the worry habit and achieve a relaxed life
  • Improve your personal and professional relationships
  • Assume control over your circumstances
  • Be kind to yourself

I can’t wait to read this one myself‼

Personal Kanban: Mapping Work- Navigating Life
By Jim Benson

I recently took an amazing time management training at work, and the trainer brought this book as a guide for everyone. I knew I wanted to add it to my list the second I read the first sentence.

Personal Kanban is about choosing the right work at the right time. Recognizing why we do the things we do and understanding the impact of our actions. It helps us with creating value and not just products, for ourselves, our families, our friends, and our co-workers. He asks his readers to visualize their work and limit their work in progress. By doing so, we allow ourselves to transform our conceptual and threatening workload into an actionable, context-sensitive flow. It also helps us complete what we start and understand the value of our choices.

Our trainer had us do an exercise where we wrote our daily tasks (big and small) on large constriction paper and created 4 columns- Ready/ Doing/ Pending/ Done.

I took this project home and did it with my children, and they loved it. My daughter now has sticky notes on her window, which has become her vision board.

‍Working on our vision task boards

‍Teaching the children how to value their time

All these books have an empowering effect on them, which is exactly what we all need. So grab a book, let your body soak in some sun while your mind and soul soak in the words.

Now, your turn… What are you planning to read this summer? Leave a comment below with your favorite empowering and inspiring book for the summer.

Always,

Related Posts

My Favorite Books of 2020

My Favorite Books of 2020

Read More

Welcome Back

Read More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Please input your email for access to the freebie!

      Please input your email for access to the freebie!

        Please input your email for access to the freebie!