5 Books For Single Women To Read In January
I started reading again in 2019. Reading and I have had a rough relationship since I entered law school in 2005 and reading became punishment as opposed to pleasure. That and the rise of Netflix happened somewhere between then and now and I like watching the pretty pictures on the screen. But this year, I got back into books. More specifically, I started digging into non-fiction, for real. I even started dabbling in that section of the book store you never want people to catch you in: Self Help. Honestly a re-branding of the Self Help section wouldn’t be the worst idea…
Is anyone else the sort of person who carries a book around everywhere but only ever reads on her couch? I don’t know what part of my birth chart this is but it’s weird. So all of the books below have been read by me, in my home, with the smug knowledge and satisfaction that only come from knowing you’re feeding your brain and often your soul, something good. Make whatever resolutions you want, but if you like your self care and self love with a side of taking some real action, keep reading.
Start the year off having one “OMG YES” moment after another while you read Singled Out by Bella DePaulo, Ph.D.. Bella is one of the (if not THE) leading voices in the single space, and has been for over a decade. This book, though she’s written many, is essentially the manual when it comes to explaining all of the ways society (and even the law) favors couples over singles, sometimes to the severe detriment of singles, and also how all of that is absolute trash. I am one of Bella’s biggest fans and I LOVE the idea of women kicking off 2020 with this on their nightstand. (If you are a podcast listener btw, you have a TREAT coming to you very soon…)
Super Attractor, Gabrielle Bernstein
Thus begins the “woo woo” section of this post. This year, I explored spirituality as it relates to self care and self love in a way that I’d not only never done before, but had also previously rolled my eyes at for my entire adult life. I’ve been pretty open about doing Lacy Phillips’ work (because it’s definitely nothing to hide), but I’ve also been supplementing that work with lots of books. This is one of them. Gabrielle Bernstein is a powerful and comforting voice in the spiritual space. If you’re interested in things like meditation, manifestation, or just you know…feeling better all the time, I cannot recommend this book enough. While I have a hard time connecting with Gabby regarding her fertility journey, I can absolutely glean the message she’s trying to send here, which is that we all have the ability to feel better, all of the time, and I love the sound, and the feeling, of that very much.
There’s really nothing I could say that would “explain” or “sell” you on shamanism. If the very idea of it is even remotely interesting to you, if the very idea of there being more to life than what we can see and hear and Instagram sounds plausible, this needs to be the next book in your life. I first heard Shaman Durek on Lacy Phillips’ podcast, and I was floored. This is a human being who will change you, who will open your mind and your eyes to so much more possibility and connection and a sense of the infinite. That probably all sounds very abstract but I’m not as good at explaining this stuff as he is. I loved every second of this book. It challenged me and inspired me and while I LOVE giving books away to friends, this one’s staying in my permanent collection, forever.
Better Than Sane, Alison C. Rose
I have absolutely no idea why this book is so expensive to buy new, but there are many options to buy a used one that I suggest you nab. This is the book that, for me, started it all. Alison Rose writing about the “dishes of poison” that married people serve to single women was what really helped me find my bravery to talk about this stuff. That bravery led to a Refinery29 column and work on Medium and a little podcast I make that you might have heard of. It’s an incredible memoir, and it very literally changed my life. Endless thanks to Christene Barberich for suggesting I read it. She was, as she so often is, right.
Buy it on Amazon (Just opt for a used one)
The Dark Side Of The Light Chasers, Debbie Ford
If you get into subconscious or self worth work at ALL in 2020, this book is required reading. Like literally if I taught a class on this stuff (I won’t) it would be in the syllabus. It is a national bestseller that really takes you deep into work on your “shadow self,” or the dark parts of us that we hide away and won’t admit to because we’re ashamed of them, so then that shame comes out as judgment and dislike of others. (Read it, you’ll see what I mean.) I gave my copy away and it made me so happy to know this wisdom was moving onward outside of my living room. You’re going to be so motivated and optimistic about making positive changes for yourself after reading this book.
That’s my list! My couch and I look forward to giving you more book recommendations in 2020.
*All of the Amazon links above are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission when you make a purchase on Amazon after clicking them. Thank you for supporting an independent creator. She appreciates you very much.
