Lisa notes

I have lived a thousand lives and I’ve loved a thousand loves. I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read.
—George R. R. Martin

Each of these eight books felt meaningful to me in its own way about connecting with other people and with ourselves, whether through a well-told story or through the wisdom of life lessons.

[See previously recommended books here]

NONFICTION

1. So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed
by Jon Ronson

What’s your secret? Jon Ronson asks:

Maybe our secret is actually nothing horrendous. Maybe nobody would even consider it a big deal if it was exposed. But we can’t take that risk. So we keep it buried.

I found this to be a totally fascinating topic about how ordinary mistakes can explode into viral outrage and public humiliation (examples included in the book). It makes you wonder about how and why our modern culture uses public shaming as a powerful—and dangerous—tool.

2. Secrets of the Killing State
The Untold Story of Lethal Injection
by Corinna Barrett Lain

I highly recommend this one, especially for readers in the U.S., where executions still occur regularly.

My state of Alabama has one of the most active—and most botched—execution systems, so this book felt especially important to read. I learned even more through a virtual book club with the author, whose research takes apart the myth of lethal injection as humane. She finds instead a system full of secrets, incompetence, and deep human suffering among people all along the process, not just those sentenced to death.

3. Rule Makers, Rule Breakers ***
Tight and Loose Cultures and the Secret Signals that Direct Our Lives
by Michele Gelfand

Do you live in a country with a tight or a loose culture? This book shows how different regions perceive rule-following, and how those differences shape everything from daily behavior to politics and relationships.

4. All in This Together
Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World
by Jack Kornfield

This is a collection of stories and teachings that remind us of our shared humanity and the importance of tapping into our goodness, especially in uncertain times. Although Kornfield draws from Buddhist wisdom, you don’t have to be a Buddhist to appreciate his guidance about connection and compassion. I read the review copy (thanks, NetGalley!).

5. Beyond Belief
The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Breakthrough Results
by Nir Eyal

Beyond Belief shows how many of our limits are psychological, not physical, and how reshaping those often unconscious assumptions can create real shifts in our lives. I was able to participate in a Zoom call with the author and found it fascinating to hear how other readers are putting his science-backed strategies into practice—for me, that gives the book more weight.

6. Real Love
The Art of Mindful Connection
by Sharon Salzberg

Real Love shows how ancient Buddhist wisdom can help us experience love more fully—with ourselves, others, and life itself (again, you don’t have to be a Buddhist to appreciate these writings). It also offers practical mindfulness exercises for cultivating more authentic connections.

FICTION

7. The Frozen River
by Ariel Lawhon

Very good story and storytelling. The Frozen River follows Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife in Maine (based on a real person!). When there’s a suspicious death on the frozen river in her town, Martha has to overcome obstacles to uncover the truth.

8. The Names
by Florence Knapp

Such a fascinating concept for a novel—I loved it. The Names follows Cora and her family based on a single decision—the name she gives her newborn son. The book reads like three separate stories, based on three alternate life paths over thirty-five years determined on which of the three names she chose. It was a little hard to follow at times, but completely worth the effort to think it through.

WHAT I’M READING NOW

• The Look
  by Michelle Obama
• The Unfolding: Poems
  by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
• All the Way to the River
  by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The Extinction of Experience
  Being Human in a Disembodied World
  by Christine Rosen
• Truly
  An Inspirational Journey Through the Life of a Musical Legend
  by Lionel Richie
• Year of Wonders
  by Geraldine Brooks

*** Books from Daniel Pink’s 21 Favorite Books list; you can find it here. I’m working through the list. I’ve read 15 so far, and have 6 more to go. Getting closer!

Have you read a good book lately? I’d love to hear in the comments.

I’m sharing at these linkups