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Tag: books

  • Reading ‘Polysecure’? You Need To Watch ’90 Day Fiancé’ at the Same Time. | The Mary Sue

    Reading ‘Polysecure’? You Need To Watch ’90 Day Fiancé’ at the Same Time. | The Mary Sue

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    A yellow square with the title, "Polysecure".

    If you’ve read Polysecure like many other Americans in recent years, you know there are different types of attachments we adapt throughout our lives based on our earliest relationships and circumstances. Find out why 90 Day Fiancé is the perfect TV series to pair with this popular and helpful nonfiction book.

    Polysecure and Attachment Theory

    A stack of books
    (Sukma Rizqi/Getty Images)

    It’s going to be the summer of the book Polysecure if my local New England queer community and the 700,000 TikTok views about the book are any indication. This nonfiction book by psychotherapist Jessica Fern covers relationships with others and oneself in the world, and how we form attachments of many types. The book is billed as being about ethical non-monogamy, also referred to as polyamory, a romantic relationship approach that many American queer relationships have found themselves experimenting with. The foundation that Fern lays in order to take the reader into a space where it is comfortable to explore the ideas behind non-monogamy is based in something called attachment theory.

    Attachment theory posits that our responses as adult humans in romantic relationships are based on how our attachments developed when we were babies—specifically, how we responded, as babies, to our parents, mentors, or guardians’ behavior towards us before we could verbally articulate our emotions and needs with words. There are secure attachment styles that help cultivate healthy adult relationships, and insecure attachment styles that make it harder to sustain a relationship through open communication and asking for what we need. The book itself is a good dive into these insecure attachment styles, but what if we could see it in action?

    90 Day Fiancé is full of case studies

    Rob and Sophie from 90 Day Fiancé Season 11
    (HBO/TLC)

    Thankfully, we can see insecure attachment styles in action, because 90 Day Fiancé is chock full of what are basically living case studies of these attachments. Wondering what a preoccupied attachment style looks like? Look no further than Mary on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way in season 5. Her preoccupied style has Brandan unable to even turn his head in church for fear he might glance at another woman. How about avoidant attachment style adaptation? That would be Rob from 90 DF season 11, when he thought giving his wife a chore list would be romantic. That’s not romantic, Rob. That’s distant and rigid.

    Jasmine, from the same season, is a perfect study in disorganized attachment style examples as she has a meltdown nearly every time a challenge appears in her marriage. If her husband Gino disagrees with her or makes a mistake, all of her trust goes out the door. Last but not least, if you’re after a study in reactive attachment, just look for any of the seasons featuring Michael and Angela. I’m pretty sure Michael is the most detached I’ve ever seen an engaged man. 90 DF is full of humanity, and its couples are great examples of insecure attachment styles. There are far more couples than the ones mentioned above that are repeated examples of what not to do when you’re dating. And don’t ask me about secure attachment styles; they don’t make for great reality TV!

    (featured image: IPG)

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Coco Poley

    Coco Poley is a freelance writer, prolific poet, and artist who has been writing professionally for seven years. When Coco isn’t writing poetry and fiction, they are creating some form of art or roller skating. You can find Coco’s features on comics, TV, games, software, and film across the web on The Stack Overflow blog, How-to Geek, Women Write About Comics, and Sidequest.Zone. Follow Coco’s journey as an author or buy their art at http://linktr.ee/youcancallmecoco.

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    Coco Poley

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  • Next Chapter Books to host talk by ‘Dearborn’ author Ghassan Zeineddine

    Next Chapter Books to host talk by ‘Dearborn’ author Ghassan Zeineddine

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    Since Next Chapter Books opened in September 2023, the store has centered local authors and community with book talks, open mics, a book club, and more. Its next event will feature Ghassan Zeineddine, the author of Dearborn, for a reading and book talk. Dearborn is a collection of pieces celebrating the diversity of the Michigan city’s Arab American community through stories spanning decades that merge tragedy and comedy. The book was named 2024 Michigan Notable Book and Best Fiction Book of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews and Booklist, among many other awards and nominations. During the upcoming event, Zeineddine will read from Dearborn and hold a discussion with Tazeen Ayub, a local musician, community organizer, and professor of Arabic at Henry Ford College. The event is free to the public.

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    Layla McMurtrie

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  • ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Dueling Trailer Breakdown: The Green Trailer and the Black Trailer

    ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Dueling Trailer Breakdown: The Green Trailer and the Black Trailer

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    It’s time, once again, to rally the realm with Mal and Jo as they return to give you their deep dive on the two dueling trailers for the new season of House of the Dragon! They begin with the “Team Green” trailer and discuss what the schemes of Alicent Hightower, Otto Hightower, Criston Cole, and more will be (07:15). Then, they move to the “Team Black” trailer to glean what they can from Rhaenyra, Daemon, and others (68:16). Finally, they take to the skies of speculation to see what they can predict using their knowledge of the book (1:43:30).

    Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson
    Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman
    Additional Production: Arjuna Ramgopal
    Social: Jomi Adeniran

    Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / Pandora / Google Podcasts

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    Mallory Rubin

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  • The ‘Acolyte’ Trailer Breakdown and the ‘Three-Body Problem’ Book Club

    The ‘Acolyte’ Trailer Breakdown and the ‘Three-Body Problem’ Book Club

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    It’s time for a jam-packed episode of House of R! Mal and Jo break down the electrifying trailer for the new Star Wars show, The Acolyte (06:12). Then they dive into their first episode of House of Reads as they enter da book club and talk about The Three-Body Problem (41:53). Later they bring on Zach Kram to discuss all of the spoiler-filled goodness that might come in the new TV adaptation (63:27).

    Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson
    Guest: Zach Kram
    Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman
    Additional Production: Arjuna Ramgopal
    Social: Jomi Adeniran

    Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / Pandora / Google Podcasts

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    Mallory Rubin

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  • Book Ban Efforts Continued To Soar, Set Record Highs In 2023: Report

    Book Ban Efforts Continued To Soar, Set Record Highs In 2023: Report

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    Dear HuffPost Reader

    Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

    The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

    Dear HuffPost Reader

    Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

    The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

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  • Inside the ’80s Art Scene of Keith Haring, Grace Jones, Basquiat, and More

    Inside the ’80s Art Scene of Keith Haring, Grace Jones, Basquiat, and More

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    New York, New York: the city that never quite got over its ’80s era, its Club 57 or Studio 54, its graffitied subway system, Warhol or his films, St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, Grace Jones clad only in Keith Haring’s squiggles; a cast of characters sometimes mononymous, always prolific, and too often short-lived. 

    In Radiant (Harper)—one of several books this spring that take on the glam and tumult of the decade—Brad Gooch traces Haring’s defiant, definitive lines. There’s his entering a 15-foot-by-3-inch fantasia into his Kutztown, Pennsylvania, junior high school student art exhibit (parsing Haring’s youth feels relevant; the image of the radiant baby would become his signature) through his 1978 move to NYC to attend the School of Visual Arts and his finding community amid a band of Lost Boys. In Jennifer Clement’s forthcoming The Promised Party (Canongate), the author of the acclaimed Widow Basquiat describes that downtown Manhattan cohort: “All of us were some sort of runaway.” Of Haring, she writes, “Keith had tenderness in him, the tenderness that one finds in jails and hospitals.” Meanwhile, Cynthia Carr’s Candy Darling (FSG), the first biography of the glamorous queer icon, serves as a temporal prequel to the scene—Darling starred in the Andy Warhol–produced Women in Revolt (1971) and Tennessee Williams’s play Small Craft Warnings (1972) long before Haring enrolled at SVA.

    Madonna and Haring in November 1989.COURTESY OF THE KEITH HARING FOUNDATION.

    The meek—the castaways, the othered, the artists and lovers—did not inherit the city. (See the well-off transplants who bemoan what little of New York’s original grit lingers in her streets.) Still, their barbed beauty lives on. At last summer’s Blue Note Jazz Festival, 75-year-old Jones beguiled a new generation of New Yorkers in a 50-foot dress that winked to Haring; this April, Madonna closes out her The Celebration Tour. (And Gagosian LA’s “Made on Market Street,” opening this month, reminds us that Jean-Michel Basquiat and his art were bicoastal.) Prescient Darling captured an era of yearning in one of her many diary entries: “I wanted to be beautiful. My friends told me I was beautiful. I lived to be beautiful.”

    HarperCollins

    ‘Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring’ by Brad Gooch

    FSG

    ‘Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar’ by Cynthia Carr

    Canongate

    ‘The Promised Party: Kahlo, Basquiat and Me’ by Jennifer Clement

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    Arimeta Diop

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  • Reading While On A Marijuana High

    Reading While On A Marijuana High

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    Marijuana can enhance a variety of things or bring things down and chill you out. While used for fun or medical reasons, sometimes you just want to cozy yourself up and have a great experience. From Boston to Mountlake Terrace, people consume and immerse themselves in a movie.  Others hike, workout, code, and more.  And for a some, the lose themselves in a good book.  Here are tips on reading while on a marijuana high.

    Similar to doing any other activity while high, what you really need to do in order to succeed is practice. Marijuana can add a lot of layers to reading, making the experience more enjoyable or even helping reconnect with it if you’ve been having a hard time focused on full books.

    Just like listening to music and reading, getting high and reading can help craft a better  mood. Once you hit the right stride you’ll disover you’re more relaxed and engaged with the story.

    Choose the right book

    Photo by Wikimedia user BrokenSphere

    RELATED: Here’s What You Can Do With Extra Weed

    If you’re just starting out pairing weed and books, you don’t want to kick it off with dense literary novels. Try something that feels easy to for you, going back to something you used to read when you were young or a genre that’s simple and compulsive, like romance or horror. Good ideas are the Harry Potter books or something by Stephen King. A graphic novel can also make for a really good starting place.

    Let go of the “right way to read”

    5 Online Bookclubs To Join Now That You're Spending More Time At Home
    Photo by Thought Catalog from Pexels

    Reading lends itself to very ritualistic behaviors. Some people prefer to read paper books and can only read when they’re surrounded by total silence. While there’s no judgment, you’ll have more success if you’re able to read while in a variety of situations. Train yourself to read in different places, even if it’s only for 5 or 10 minutes at a time. When high, try your best to read and enjoy yourself, avoiding stress if your mind can’t hold on to all of the words that are on the page.

    Pay attention to the strain

    RELATED: Forgo The Wake And Bake — And 4 Other Cannabis Productivity Hacks

    The strain you’re smoking will have an impact on your reading experience as a whole. Try to avoid sleepy strains, since they’ll make a relaxing activity even more relaxing and you’ll fall asleep, which is great but doesn’t really serve the purpose of this article. Choose a strain that’s cerebral yet contained, something that will help you feel creative but also grounded. Ask your budtender for a light indica or a sativa that doesn’t produce too much anxiety.

    Watch your dosage

    book, read, old

    When starting on your weed reading journey, watch your dosage, taking a couple of puffs to see how your body takes to this new experience. You can always smoke later if you need more, but it helps to start off slow. Happy reading!

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    Sarah Johns

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  • 20 Best Books on Minimalism and Simplifying for 2024

    20 Best Books on Minimalism and Simplifying for 2024

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    There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.

    Looking for the best
    books on minimalism?

    You may have heard that
    minimalism changes life for the better, especially these days, when many of us
    are obsessed with consumerism and the drive to have more (earn more, spend
    more, achieve more, etc.).

    Perhaps you’re already
    worn out from the aimlessness of it all, and simply want a life filled with
    meaning and purpose, but are at a loss as to where to start.

    Today’s post features
    the best minimalist books to help you start simplifying your life.

    Perhaps you’re wondering:

    • What exactly is minimalism?
    • How will minimalism affect my relationships?
    • What will I gain from becoming a minimalist?
    • Is minimalism the way to go for my family?
    • How can my kids manage without their toys?

    The books featured today
    provide the answers to these questions (and more) about minimalism and the
    minimalist lifestyle.

    Let’s get started!

    Best Books on Minimalism and
    Simplifying

    1. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

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    Takeaways:

    • Essentialism advocates for the disciplined pursuit of less, encouraging individuals to focus on what truly matters and eliminate non-essential activities and commitments.
    • The book highlights the significance of discernment and saying no to distractions in order to channel energy and resources towards the most meaningful endeavors.
    • McKeown emphasizes the value of prioritization and trade-offs, illustrating how making deliberate choices can lead to greater effectiveness and fulfillment.
    • Essentialism explores the concept of “less but better,” promoting the idea of quality over quantity and the benefits of simplifying one’s life and work.
    • The book underscores the transformative impact of embracing essentialism, from enhancing productivity and creativity to fostering a sense of purpose and well-being.

    Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less teaches you how to make the right choices when it comes to spending your time, effort, and other resources. Through the practice of essentialism, Greg McKeown believes that each of us can make a positive contribution to create a richer and more meaningful life. (Read our review of Essentialism here.)

    Essentialism is choosing
    only what really matters.

    These are some of the
    takeaway statements from the book:

    • If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.
    • We can’t have it or do it all.
    • Don’t be tricked by the trivial.

    The book is a must-read
    for those who may be feeling stretched thin with all the demands of work and
    personal life—especially those in leadership or managerial positions.

    2. The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

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    Takeaways:

    • The Year of Less chronicles Flanders’ personal journey of embracing minimalism and intentional living, showcasing the transformative power of consuming less and simplifying one’s life.
    • Flanders shares practical insights into decluttering, mindful spending, and breaking free from the cycle of overconsumption, offering inspiration for those seeking a more purposeful and sustainable lifestyle.
    • The book delves into the emotional and psychological aspects of decluttering and letting go of excess possessions, highlighting the liberating effects of releasing attachments to material goods.
    • Flanders explores the connection between mindful consumption and overall well-being, illustrating how conscious choices around spending and possessions can lead to greater contentment and fulfillment.
    • The Year of Less underscores the value of self-reflection and self-discovery in the pursuit of a simpler, more meaningful life, inspiring readers to reevaluate their priorities and embrace a lifestyle aligned with their values.

    We live in an age of mass consumerism. The jobs we work endless hours at help us earn more so we can spend more. But there comes a time when we wonder what lies beyond this seemingly senseless cycle of earning and spending.

    The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store is a perfect guide for starting to cut back on consumerism.

    In her book, millennial
    blogger Cait Flanders shares her experience of imposing a shopping ban on
    herself for a period of 12 months.

    The book details this
    year-long journey towards a richer and more meaningful life. Flanders’
    experiences will help you focus on what you truly value. Hopefully, you will
    find your own path full of purpose, too.

    3. Minimalism by Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus

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    Takeaways:

    • Minimalism advocates for intentional living and the pursuit of less material possessions, promoting the idea that true fulfillment comes from experiences and meaningful relationships rather than belongings.
    • The book explores the transformative effects of decluttering and simplifying one’s life, emphasizing the mental and emotional benefits of letting go of excess and focusing on what truly matters.
    • Milburn and Nicodemus share practical strategies for embracing minimalism, from reevaluating consumption habits to redefining success and happiness on one’s own terms.
    • Minimalism delves into the environmental impact of consumerism and the potential for reducing waste and living more sustainably through mindful consumption.
    • The book underscores the link between minimalism and mental clarity, illustrating how simplifying one’s surroundings and commitments can lead to greater peace of mind and a sense of purpose.

    Do you ever wonder how minimalists live their lives? Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life showcases how two guys live as minimalists in the midst of a world obsessed with consumerism.

    First published in 2016,
    this book by Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus isn’t a how-to for going
    minimalist. Instead, it showcases what it really means to embrace a life of
    minimalism.

    Readers are introduced
    to the “Five Values” that define what minimalism is for the authors.
    Interestingly, these values do not discuss how to get rid of stuff. Rather,
    they teach you how you can live meaningfully.

    These values aim to
    refocus your attention on things that truly matter. For the authors, this
    means:

    • Being the healthiest version of you
    • Assessing the quality of all your relationships
    • Identifying your true passions
    • Striving to constantly learn new things
    • Making a concrete, positive contribution in the name of personal growth.

    4. The More of Less by Joshua Becker

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    Takeaways:

    • The More of Less advocates for embracing minimalism as a means to find more fulfillment and freedom by owning less and focusing on what truly matters in life.
    • Becker emphasizes the transformative power of decluttering and simplifying, highlighting the positive impact it can have on mental well-being and overall quality of life.
    • The book provides practical guidance on how to adopt a minimalist lifestyle, from reevaluating consumption habits to decluttering living spaces and redefining priorities.
    • Becker explores the environmental benefits of minimalism, shedding light on how reducing consumption and waste can contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.
    • The More of Less underscores the connection between minimalism and personal growth, illustrating how letting go of excess possessions and distractions can lead to greater clarity, purpose, and contentment.

    By now, you probably
    realize that having more stuff does not necessarily make us happier. In fact,
    the clutter can cause us to become more agitated. Our possessions distract us
    from working on achieving what truly matters in our lives.

    The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own gives you a chance to make room for the things you really want in life.

    Specifically, the book
    is your guide for:

    • Recognizing the benefits of owning less material possessions
    • Understanding how your possessions are preventing you from reaching your dreams
    • Realizing that minimalism isn’t just about having an uncluttered house, but also a fuller life
    • Experiencing a more generous way of living

    If you need a book to
    walk you through the process of living a minimalist life, this one from Joshua
    Becker does the job very well.

    5. The Joy of Less, a Minimalist Living Guide by Francine Jay

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    Takeaways:

    • The Joy of Less advocates for simplifying one’s living space and possessions to cultivate a more intentional and fulfilling lifestyle, focusing on quality over quantity.
    • Jay provides practical advice on decluttering and organizing, offering a step-by-step approach to minimizing possessions and creating a harmonious living environment.
    • The book emphasizes the mental and emotional benefits of minimalism, illustrating how letting go of excess can lead to reduced stress, increased clarity, and a greater sense of well-being.
    • Jay explores the concept of mindful consumption and intentional living, highlighting the importance of aligning possessions with personal values and priorities.
    • The Joy of Less underscores the transformative nature of minimalism, from freeing up physical space to creating room for personal growth, creativity, and meaningful experiences.

    Perhaps one of the most important lessons that the coronavirus pandemic has taught the world is that we have gone overboard without consumerism and it’s time to slow down and focus on living simply yet meaningfully.

    If you’re searching for a guide on how to transition from a highly materialistic lifestyle to an uncluttered simple way of life, The Joy of Less, a Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life from Francine Jay might be the right choice.

    The book will guide you
    on how to categorize every item you own, helping you develop a sense of
    detachment from your personal belongings.

    You’ll be guided to
    STREAMLINE, a system of de-cluttering conceptualized by the author, which
    stands for:

    S – Start over
    T – Trash, treasure, or transfer
    R – Reason for each item
    E – Everything in its place
    A – All surfaces clear
    M – Modules
    L – Limits
    I – If one comes in, one goes out
    N – Narrow down
    E – Everyday maintenance

    A takeaway from the book
    that you can apply in your life right now is to act as if you’re permanently
    moving overseas. This counsel may help prevent you from accumulating clutter
    and, hopefully, keep your home tidy for a longer period of time.

    6. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

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    Takeaways:

    • The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up introduces the KonMari method, emphasizing the transformative power of decluttering and organizing possessions by category.
    • Kondo advocates for keeping only items that spark joy, encouraging readers to evaluate their belongings based on emotional attachment and personal significance.
    • The book highlights the connection between tidying and mental well-being, illustrating how a clutter-free environment can lead to a sense of calm and clarity.
    • Kondo provides practical guidance on decluttering and organizing, offering a systematic approach to tidying that focuses on simplicity and mindfulness.
    • The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up underscores the long-term impact of tidying, from creating a more harmonious living space to fostering a mindset of gratitude and appreciation for one’s belongings.

    Are you overwhelmed by
    the clutter in your home?

    Perhaps you’ve already
    tried many techniques for de-cluttering, organizing, and storing your stuff,
    but none of them have shown permanent results in your fight against clutter.

    Marie Kondo gives you a
    new perspective on tidying up. She believes that in order to be successful at
    it, one has “to tidy everything, all at once.”

    Kondo’s technique guarantees that there will be no rebounds. This is because once readers arrange their homes according to Kondo’s technique, they are surrounded only by the things they love.

    When it comes to deciding what personal possessions to discard or keep, one simply has to answer the question, “Does it spark joy?”

    If you are looking for a guide on organizing with intention, Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, is for you.

    7. Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki

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    Takeaways:

    • Goodbye, Things advocates for the benefits of minimalism, emphasizing the freedom and contentment that come from owning fewer possessions and simplifying one’s life.
    • Sasaki shares his personal journey of decluttering and minimizing, offering insights into the mental and emotional transformation that accompanies letting go of excess belongings.
    • The book explores the link between minimalism and mindfulness, highlighting how reducing physical clutter can lead to greater mental clarity and a deeper appreciation for the present moment.
    • Sasaki provides practical tips for decluttering and reevaluating one’s relationship with material possessions, encouraging readers to prioritize experiences and personal growth over accumulation.
    • Goodbye, Things underscores the potential for minimalism to foster a more intentional and fulfilling lifestyle, from reducing stress and decision fatigue to creating space for meaningful pursuits and connections.

    If you are continually
    stressed out and have fallen into the habit of comparing yourself with others,
    you might be interested to know that author Fumio Sasaki felt that way too—until
    he decided to make a drastic move that changed his life for the better.

    Sasaki decided to say
    goodbye to stuff he didn’t need. He went from being a “messy maximalist” to a
    minimalist. While doing so, he gained a lot of insight into what makes for a
    fulfilling life.

    In Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism, he shares his experience of living with less, or what he calls the “new Japanese minimalism.” His credits his minimalist life with helping him keep a tidy apartment, avoid compulsive shopping habits, and even lose weight.

    8. A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind by Shoukei Matsumoto

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    Takeaways:

    • A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind emphasizes the connection between a tidy living environment and mental well-being, offering insights from a monk’s perspective on the transformative power of cleanliness.
    • Matsumoto provides practical tips for decluttering and cleaning, drawing parallels between physical tidiness and inner peace, and highlighting the meditative nature of household chores.
    • The book delves into the mindfulness and intentionality behind maintaining a clean living space, illustrating how simple acts of tidying can contribute to a sense of harmony and tranquility.
    • Matsumoto shares the concept of “shouji,” which means treating objects with respect and gratitude, encouraging readers to cultivate a mindful relationship with their belongings.
    • A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind underscores the potential for a clean and organized environment to support mental clarity, emotional balance, and a deeper appreciation for everyday life.

    In case you weren’t aware, cleaning well is one of the cardinal skills that Buddhist monks must possess. In A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind, Buddhist monk Shoukei Matsumo provides essential tips for cleaning and tidying up your house as Zen monks would do.

    Matsumo’s cleaning tips
    include:

    • Airing the house by opening the windows to let fresh air in
    • Avoiding procrastination
    • Cleaning at the right time of the day
    • Wearing the appropriate attire when you’re cleaning

    Matsumo’s aim goes
    beyond sharing cleaning and tidying tips. He believes that the act of tidying
    up also helps people achieve a more peaceful state of mind and contemplate the
    self.

    9. 7 by Jen Hatmaker

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    Takeaways:

    • The book 7 by Jen Hatmaker encourages readers to simplify their lives by focusing on seven areas: food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending, and stress.
    • Hatmaker shares her personal experiences and challenges readers to consider how consumerism and excess impact their lives and the world around them.
    • The book offers practical tips and strategies for decluttering and simplifying in each of the seven areas, helping readers to live more intentionally and in line with their values.
    • Through humor and vulnerability, Hatmaker invites readers to reflect on their own habits and attitudes towards consumption and encourages them to make positive changes.
    • 7 is a thought-provoking and inspiring read that motivates readers to reevaluate their priorities and embrace a more meaningful and fulfilling way of life.

    7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess (Updated and Revised) tells the story of one family’s attempt to go against the culture of overindulgence and excessive consumerism.

    In the book, Jen
    Hatmaker shares how she, her husband, and her children spent seven months
    determining areas of their lives where they were prone to excesses, and then
    making a conscious effort to fight against these excesses in:

    • Food
    • Clothing
    • Material possessions
    • Technology
    • Money
    • Waste
    • Stress

    Hatmaker describes her
    family’s experience as a “spiritual journey” that taught them the value of
    simplicity and generosity in creating a richer life.

    10. The Minimalist Mindset by Danny Dover

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    Takeaways:

    • The book explores the principles of minimalism and offers practical strategies for applying them to various aspects of life, including possessions, time, and relationships.
    • Dover emphasizes the importance of intentional living and highlights the benefits of decluttering, simplifying, and prioritizing what truly matters to achieve greater fulfillment and freedom.
    • The book provides actionable steps for cultivating a minimalist mindset, such as setting clear goals, practicing gratitude, and developing habits that align with minimalist values.
    • Dover encourages readers to reevaluate their consumption habits, embrace simplicity, and let go of the excess to create space for what brings genuine joy and purpose.
    • The Minimalist Mindset serves as a guide for individuals seeking to break free from the pressures of materialism and busyness, offering a roadmap to a more deliberate and meaningful way of living.

    If you are looking for a step-by-step guide to the minimalist lifestyle, The Minimalist Mindset: The Practical Path to Making Your Passions a Priority and to Retaking Your Freedom written by Danny Dover is worth a read.

    It isn’t a book about
    de-cluttering, nor is it about the philosophical aspects of minimalism.
    Instead, this book shares the habits you need to implement in your life so you
    can prioritize the things you truly love and enjoy real personal freedom.

    Dover describes minimalism
    as “the constant art of editing your life.” Within the pages of the book,
    you’ll find tips on how to:

    • Attain more wealth by automating your finances
    • Spend more time with the people who matter most to you, while still getting to do the activities you love
    • Work remotely
    • Take control of your life

    11. Cami Kangaroo Has Too Much Stuff! by Stacy C. Bauer (author) and Rebecca Sinclair (illustrator)

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    Takeaways:

    • Cami Kangaroo Has Too Much Stuff! is a children’s book that addresses the theme of excess and the importance of decluttering.
    • The story follows Cami Kangaroo, who learns valuable lessons about the consequences of having too many possessions and the benefits of letting go of unnecessary stuff.
    • Through engaging illustrations and relatable scenarios, the book communicates the idea of simplifying and prioritizing, encouraging young readers to consider the value of experiences over material things.
    • Cami Kangaroo Has Too Much Stuff! promotes the concept of mindful consumption and the joy of sharing with others, fostering an early understanding of the benefits of living with less.
    • The book serves as a lighthearted and impactful tool for starting conversations with children about the significance of managing belongings and appreciating what truly matters.

    If you’re a parent of
    school-age children, you can most likely relate to the perpetual mess of kids’
    rooms and the mountains of stuff they seem to leave all over the house.

    Cami Kangaroo Has Too Much Stuff! is a wonderful way to introduce the idea of organizing and owning less to children. The engaging narrative and attractive illustrations help bring the message home to children aged 4 to 8.

    Stacy Bauer wrote the story
    based on the state of her own daughter’s bedroom.

    In the story, the young
    kangaroo named Cami loves to collect stuff. However, she does not know how to
    organize her personal treasures, and has difficulty finding things because of
    the clutter. How will she find the toy she needs to return to her cousin when
    she can’t find it under all the mess?

    The book has been called
    “Marie Kondo for kids.” It is one of the best books for helping children
    develop a minimalist mindset.

    12. Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

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    Takeaways:

    • Present Over Perfect encourages readers to prioritize presence, connection, and authenticity over the pursuit of perfection and busyness.
    • Niequist shares personal anecdotes and reflections on her own journey towards embracing a slower, more intentional way of living, inspiring readers to do the same.
    • The book delves into the themes of self-care, setting boundaries, and finding fulfillment in the simple moments, offering a refreshing perspective on living a more meaningful and balanced life.
    • Niequist’s writing invites readers to reevaluate their values, relationships, and priorities, nudging them towards a deeper sense of purpose and contentment.Present Over Perfect serves as a gentle reminder to slow down, savor life’s experiences, and cultivate a deeper connection with oneself and others, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and authentic existence.

    Is life too hectic right
    now? Have you been forced into committing to something that’s against your
    personal principles, all in the name of pleasing others?

    Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living is an invitation to examine your true priorities. What would life be like if you were striving to be more present instead of being perfect?

    Niequist’s message is
    presented in a collection of essays that tell of her journey of leaving a
    frantic way of life to arrive at a life lived with mindfulness.

    The author hopes that
    readers will be able to arrive at a life she envisions for everyone—one filled
    with grace, moments of rest, simplicity, and true connections.

    13. It’s All Too Much by Peter Walsh

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    Takeaways:

    • It’s All Too Much offers practical advice and strategies for decluttering and organizing living spaces, helping readers to regain control and create a more harmonious environment.
    • Walsh emphasizes the emotional and psychological impact of clutter, guiding readers to recognize the connection between their surroundings and their overall well-being.
    • The book provides step-by-step instructions for tackling clutter, letting go of unnecessary items, and establishing sustainable organizational systems, empowering readers to transform their living spaces.
    • Walsh’s approach focuses on addressing the root causes of clutter and developing a mindset shift towards intentional consumption and mindful living.
    • It’s All Too Much equips readers with the tools and motivation to simplify their homes, reduce stress, and cultivate a sense of calm and clarity, ultimately leading to a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

    In It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life With Less Stuff, author Peter Walsh shows you how to take control of clutter in order to get more out of life. He introduces a system that helps you achieve what you’ve envisioned your life to be.

    This book explains the
    underlying reasons why we’re prone to clutter, and the reason for getting rid
    of it. Furthermore, it provides tips on how you can go about de-cluttering and
    organizing your personal space.

    For some readers, this
    book gives them permission to finally toss mementos that have been lying around
    in their homes for years, accumulating dust and occupying space that could have
    been used more meaningfully.

    14. The Joy of Missing Out by Tonya Dalton

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    Takeaways:

    • The Joy of Missing Out advocates for intentional decision-making and prioritizing what truly matters, empowering readers to embrace a more purposeful and fulfilling life.
    • Dalton encourages readers to redefine productivity, emphasizing the importance of aligning tasks and commitments with personal values and goals to create a sense of fulfillment.
    • The book offers practical strategies for setting boundaries, managing time effectively, and focusing on meaningful experiences, enabling readers to cultivate a healthier relationship with productivity and busyness.
    • Dalton’s approach highlights the significance of embracing moments of rest and rejuvenation, promoting the idea that missing out on certain activities can lead to a more balanced and joyful life.
    • The Joy of Missing Out serves as a guide for individuals seeking to reevaluate their priorities, reclaim their time, and find contentment in the present moment, ultimately leading to a more intentional and rewarding lifestyle.

    The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less is the antidote to society’s preoccupation with and fear of missing out (FOMO). Tonya Dalton’s writing style keeps readers engaged as they restructure their lives so that they have more time for the things they love to do, while still remaining highly productive.

    The book is divided into
    four main sections, namely:

    • Pursue Discovery
    • Find Clarity
    • Create Simplicity
    • Achieve Harmony

    By following Dalton’s
    suggestions on how to live a guilt-free, abundant life, you’ll discover that
    there can be joy in missing out.

    15. When Less Becomes More by Emily Ley

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    Takeaways:

    • When Less Becomes More encourages readers to simplify their lives and focus on what truly matters, emphasizing the value of embracing simplicity and letting go of excess.
    • Ley shares personal anecdotes and practical insights, guiding readers to declutter their physical and mental spaces to create room for joy and fulfillment.
    • The book offers actionable steps for streamlining daily routines, setting boundaries, and cultivating a more intentional and balanced lifestyle, empowering readers to prioritize their well-being and relationships.
    • Ley’s approach centers on the principles of grace, gratitude, and mindfulness, encouraging readers to release the pressure of perfection and find contentment in the present moment.
    • When Less Becomes More serves as a gentle and inspiring reminder to slow down, savor life’s simple pleasures, and embrace a more meaningful and authentic way of living, ultimately leading to greater joy and peace.

    Busy moms, here is a book written especially for you. On any given day, if you are a mother with kids (especially if you’re a single mom), there are so many things that demand your attention. Life can get overwhelming at times. Fortunately, Emily Ley’s book has the answers you are looking for.

    Some insights you’ll
    find in the book include:

    • Less noise, more calm
    • Less chasing, more cherishing
    • Less rush, more rhythm
    • Less distraction, more connection

    Emily Ley shares helpful tips that fill your personal well to prevent you from constantly running on empty. When Less Becomes More: Making Space for Slow, Simple, and Good provides insight into what you need in order to build a life that upholds your personal core values and brings you joy.

    16. Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross

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    Takeaways:

    • Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross advocates for a more intentional and balanced approach to raising children, focusing on the benefits of simplifying their environment and daily routines.
    • The book emphasizes the impact of a clutter-free and predictable home environment on children’s well-being, behavior, and overall development.
    • Payne and Ross provide practical strategies for reducing the overwhelming stimuli in children’s lives, promoting the importance of unstructured play, and fostering deeper connections within the family.
    • The authors highlight the significance of creating calm and nurturing spaces for children, encouraging parents to prioritize quality time and meaningful experiences over material possessions and overscheduling.
    • Simplicity Parenting serves as a valuable resource for parents seeking to create a more peaceful and supportive upbringing for their children, offering insights and tools to help families thrive in today’s fast-paced world.

    Raising a family today
    has become more challenging, considering we live in a culture of accumulating
    too much stuff and being distracted by gadgets and the media.

    If you need something to guide your family in your journey towards a simpler life, Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids is for you.

    It provides a detailed
    description of the process of transitioning to minimalism. Some of the lessons
    covered in the book include:

    • Streamlining your home by getting rid of causes for sensory overload (e.g., toys, lighting, and sound)
    • Establishing rhythms and rituals
    • Scaling back on media
    • Establishing calm intervals in the family’s daily activities

    This book is an inspiration for families looking for ways to support their children as they grow up, and who want to achieve family harmony.

    17. Minimalista by Shira Gill

    Minimalista by Shira Gill | Best Books on Minimalism and Simplifying | best books on minimalismMinimalista by Shira Gill | Best Books on Minimalism and Simplifying | best books on minimalism

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    Takeaways:

    • Minimalista: Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Better Home, Wardrobe, and Life offers practical guidance for embracing a minimalist lifestyle, focusing on decluttering, organizing, and simplifying living spaces.
    • Gill provides actionable steps for curating a purposeful and intentional home environment, emphasizing the benefits of letting go of excess and prioritizing what brings joy and functionality.
    • The book advocates for mindful consumption and intentional living, guiding readers to create spaces that reflect their values and support their well-being.
    • Gill’s approach centers on creating a sense of ease and harmony in the home, encouraging readers to streamline their belongings and daily routines to foster a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.
    • Minimalista serves as a comprehensive resource for individuals seeking to cultivate a simpler, more organized, and aesthetically pleasing living space, ultimately leading to a greater sense of peace and contentment.

    18. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

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    Takeaways:

    • Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World advocates for a mindful approach to technology use, encouraging readers to declutter their digital lives and prioritize meaningful offline activities.
    • Newport emphasizes the importance of intentional use of digital tools, promoting the idea of curating a technology environment that aligns with personal values and goals.
    • The book offers practical strategies for reducing digital distractions, reclaiming leisure time, and cultivating deeper connections, ultimately leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.
    • Newport’s approach centers on the benefits of solitude, contemplation, and real-world experiences, highlighting the value of embracing a minimalist approach to digital technology.
    • Digital Minimalism serves as a guide for individuals seeking to regain control over their digital habits, fostering a healthier relationship with technology and enhancing overall well-being.

    19. Messy Minimalism by Rachelle Crawford

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    Takeaways:

    • Messy Minimalism: Realistic Strategies for the Rest of Us challenges the traditional idea of minimalism by embracing imperfection and individuality in creating a clutter-free space.
    • The book emphasizes the importance of mindful consumption and encourages readers to focus on the things that truly bring them joy and purpose.
    • Crawford introduces the concept of “organized chaos” to illustrate how a space can appear messy yet still be organized and functional.
    • The author shares practical tips for decluttering and organizing, while also advocating for sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
    • Messy Minimalism promotes the idea that minimalism is not about deprivation, but rather about creating a balanced and intentional lifestyle.

    20. Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver

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    Takeaways:

    • Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More emphasizes the importance of decluttering not only physical possessions but also mental and emotional clutter to create a more meaningful life.
    • Carver advocates for embracing simplicity as a means to reduce stress, increase happiness, and focus on what truly matters in life.
    • The book encourages readers to prioritize their well-being by cultivating mindfulness, gratitude, and self-care practices.
    • Carver shares her personal journey towards a simpler life and provides practical advice on simplifying various aspects of life, including relationships, work, and daily routines.
    • Soulful Simplicity inspires readers to let go of the pressure to constantly strive for more and instead find contentment and fulfillment in living with less.

    Final Thoughts on the Best Books on Minimalism

    A life of minimalism
    shifts the focus from materialism to what is truly important: strengthening our
    relationships with people we care about and spending time doing the activities
    we love.

    Most of the best books
    on minimalism featured today show us how to apply minimalism in our lives.
    Others provide the benchmarks to see if you’re on the right track on your own
    journey as a minimalist.

    We hope you find a book
    that suits your needs from the ones featured in this post.

    Need more resources for
    minimalism, de-cluttering, and achieving a happier life? You might be
    interested in visiting the following posts:

    best books on minimalism | what is the best book on minimalism | books on minimalism for beginnersbest books on minimalism | what is the best book on minimalism | books on minimalism for beginners

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  • 13 Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life

    13 Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life

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    There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.

    Are you looking for enlightenment?

    For centuries, philosophers, therapists, spiritual leaders, and nowadays motivational speakers have grappled with the age-old question: “What on earth am I here for?” Whether you’re a seasoned self-help enthusiast or on the cusp of your personal growth journey, the path to understanding life’s purpose can be as perplexing as it is rewarding.

    In this specially curated list of 13 profound books, we plunge into the depths of human experience to bring you a selection of wisdom-laden guides, each promising to shed light on the elusive quest for meaning.

    From Viktor E. Frankl’s poignant reflections on human resilience in “Man’s Search for Meaning” to the nuanced exploration of blissful existence with Ken Mogi’s The Little Book of Ikigai Way,” these works are more than mere pages; they are a compass for your soul.

    Get ready to flex your mental muscles and venture into the literary realms that challenge, uplift, and inspire—to find not just any purpose but one that resonates with the core of who you are.

    Whether it’s unlocking the secrets of a joyous life with “Ikigai” or discovering your unique ‘why’ through Simon Sinek’s thoughtful exercises, these 13 books are set to guide you on an unforgettable odyssey towards the fulfillment of your life’s potential.

    Join us as we reveal the best books for connecting with your ultimate calling, and perhaps, find the answers woven into your very being.

    The Advantages of Knowing Your Purpose in Life

    The following are some of the benefits you’ll enjoy when you’re aware of your life’s purpose:

    • Longevity
    • Better heart health
    • Stronger immune system
    • Lower risk of developing dementia
    • Happier disposition
    • Ability to earn more

    Quick Tips for Finding Your Purpose

    Here are some quick suggestions to help you begin the process of uncovering your purpose in life. (A detailed guide to finding your life’s purpose can be found in this post.)

    • Recall the activities you enjoyed doing as a child.
    • Recall your happiest childhood memory.
    • Take note of the reasons people come to you for help.
    • Think about the tasks or work you’d willingly do for free.
    • Think about what you’d willingly do even if others might laugh at you.

    Read on to discover 15 books that will help you discover what you were born to achieve and how you can contribute to improving the world.

    1. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

    Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

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    Takeaways:

    • Man’s Search for Meaning explores the author’s experiences as a Holocaust survivor, offering profound insights into the human capacity for resilience, meaning, and purpose in the face of extreme suffering.
    • The book delves into the concept of finding meaning in life, highlighting the transformative power of maintaining a sense of purpose and hope even in the most dire and challenging circumstances.
    • It emphasizes the importance of embracing personal responsibility and choice, guiding readers to recognize the freedom to choose one’s attitude and response to life’s inevitable hardships.
    • Man’s Search for Meaning underscores the value of finding meaning in suffering, providing a thought-provoking perspective on how individuals can transcend adversity and find purpose in their experiences.
    • The author shares profound philosophical and psychological reflections, offering valuable insights on the human spirit, resilience, and the pursuit of meaning in the midst of profound suffering and uncertainty.

    Written from the perspective of a Holocaust survivor, Man’s Search for Meaning is one of the most inspiring books about how to find meaning amidst a life filled with suffering.

    Born in 1905, Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist and neurologist. He was known for his breakthrough work in logotherapy.

    When WWII broke out, he and his family (who were Jews) were sent to concentration camps. Most of his family did not survive this experience.

    Frankl was able to make it, and wrote this book to chronicle his personal experiences in four different concentration camps.

    The book shares the following insights:

    • Our ultimate challenge, as human beings, is to find meaning in our lives.
    • No matter what situation we are in, we have the power to find meaning in our lives.
    • The way we react to suffering has an impact on how we find meaning.
    • Holding on to a sense of purpose is equivalent to having the will to live.

    2. The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? By Rick Warren

    The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? By Rick WarrenThe Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? By Rick Warren

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    Takeaways:

    • The Purpose Driven Life emphasizes the significance of discovering and living out one’s divine purpose, providing a spiritual framework for understanding and fulfilling one’s role in the world.
    • The book delves into the concept of living intentionally and aligning one’s life with God’s purposes, offering insights on how to cultivate a deeper spiritual connection and find meaning in everyday existence.
    • It explores the importance of serving others and making a positive impact, guiding readers to embrace a life of purpose, fulfillment, and contribution to the well-being of others.
    • The Purpose Driven Life underscores the value of spiritual growth and personal transformation, providing practical guidance on deepening one’s faith, living with gratitude, and finding joy in serving others.
    • The author shares actionable insights and spiritual principles for discovering and living out one’s divine purpose, offering valuable perspectives on faith, fulfillment, and a life guided by spiritual meaning and significance.

    If you’re looking for a book on finding your life’s purpose from a Christian perspective, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? is a must-read.

    It is not a passive read, but more like a workbook for finding your purpose as ordained by God.

    There are 40 chapters in the book, which Warren recommends readers take one chapter per day.

    These chapters give you the following insights:

    • You were planned for God’s pleasure.
    • You were formed for God’s family.
    • You were created to become like Christ.
    • You were shaped for serving God.
    • You were made for a mission.

    3. Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty

    Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay ShettyThink Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty

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    Takeaways:

    • Think Like a Monk offers insights into cultivating a more mindful and purposeful mindset, drawing from the author’s experiences as a monk and providing practical guidance for integrating monk-like wisdom into everyday life.
    • The book delves into the concept of self-discovery and personal growth, offering actionable strategies for developing greater self-awareness, resilience, and inner peace through mindfulness practices.
    • It explores the significance of aligning one’s thoughts and actions with personal values and purpose, guiding readers to lead a more intentional and fulfilling life rooted in compassion, gratitude, and service to others.
    • Think Like a Monk underscores the value of cultivating a positive and resilient mindset, providing insights on overcoming challenges, managing stress, and nurturing a sense of inner peace and purpose. The author shares actionable insights and practical wisdom for integrating mindfulness and purpose-driven principles into daily life, offering valuable perspectives on personal growth, fulfillment, and living with greater intention and compassion.

    If you’re looking for a book that can show you how to achieve purpose in your daily life, you might want to check out Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty.

    In this book, Shetty discusses complicated issues such as the search for self-identity, fear and negativity, and living with intention.

    In this book, you’ll find a lot of ancient wisdom, as well as anecdotes of Shetty’s personal experiences as a monk. It encourages readers to find where their true passions lie in order to start living life with purpose.

    4. Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up by James Hollis

    Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up by James HollisFinding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up by James Hollis

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    Takeaways:

    • Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life explores the psychological and spiritual dimensions of personal growth and fulfillment in the later stages of life, offering insights on embracing the challenges and opportunities of aging.
    • The book delves into the concept of self-examination and self-discovery, guiding readers to confront existential questions, reevaluate priorities, and cultivate a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in the second half of life.
    • It explores the significance of embracing change and transitions, providing perspectives on how to navigate the complexities of midlife and beyond, and find deeper fulfillment and authenticity.
    • Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life underscores the value of introspection and inner work, offering insights on how to confront fears, confront the shadow self, and embark on a journey of self-actualization and personal transformation.
    • The author shares actionable insights and psychological perspectives for navigating the challenges and opportunities of the second half of life, offering valuable guidance on finding meaning, fulfillment, and personal growth as individuals mature and transition into new life stages.

    Some people view mid-life as the point where you’ve got most things figured out. However, other people experience mid-life as a time of major changes, disappointments, and a deeper evaluation of what life truly means.

    These significant upheavals are addressed in this book by James Hollis

    It is a refreshing alternative to the usual viewpoint that mid-life is the time for material success and public recognition.

    Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up is a good option if you are looking for that crucial link in your understanding of personal development in adults.

    [Check out this post for our recommendations of the best personal development books that can help bring about the self-improvement you’re aiming for.]

    5. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

    The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven PressfieldThe War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

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    Takeaways:

    • The War of Art explores the challenges of creative work and the resistance that often impedes artistic endeavors, providing insights on overcoming self-doubt, procrastination, and other obstacles to creative expression.
    • The book delves into the concept of “resistance” as a formidable adversary to creativity, offering practical strategies for identifying and confronting the internal and external forces that hinder creative pursuits.
    • It explores the significance of discipline and perseverance in creative endeavors, guiding readers to cultivate a mindset of professionalism, dedication, and relentless pursuit of their artistic goals.
    • The War of Art underscores the value of embracing the creative process and committing to the daily practice of art, providing insights on how to overcome self-sabotage and achieve creative breakthroughs.
    • The author shares actionable insights and strategies for combating resistance and unlocking creative potential, offering valuable perspectives on cultivating resilience, discipline, and the courage to pursue artistic endeavors with unwavering determination.

    If you’re a creative type, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles is a must-read for learning how to harness your creative inspiration in order to achieve your life’s purpose.

    In the book, we are introduced to the concept of resistance, which is the reason why we do not reach our fullest potential.

    Furthermore, we learn that we have two lives: the one that we are living right now and the one that is inside us, still unlived.

    The force of resistance becomes stronger when we begin to manifest our unlived lives into reality.

    Pressfield shares tips on how to overcome this resistance in order to fully embody the creative within ourselves.

    6. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor Garcia and Francesc Miralles

    Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor Garcia and Francesc MirallesIkigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor Garcia and Francesc Miralles

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    Takeaways:

    • The book delves into the Japanese concept of “Ikigai,” which represents the intersection of one’s passion, mission, vocation, and profession, offering insights on finding purpose and fulfillment in everyday life.
    • The book emphasizes the importance of living with intention and finding joy in simple pleasures, guiding readers to cultivate a sense of purpose, satisfaction, and longevity through meaningful daily activities.
    • It explores the significance of balance and harmony in life, providing perspectives on how to integrate work, leisure, and social connections to nurture a fulfilling and purpose-driven existence.
    • Ikigai underscores the value of self-discovery and lifelong learning, offering insights on how to align one’s daily pursuits with personal values and aspirations to lead a more meaningful and contented life.
    • The authors share actionable insights and practical wisdom for embracing the principles of ikigai, offering valuable perspectives on finding purpose, joy, and a sense of fulfillment in the pursuit of a long and happy life.

    The concept of ikigai can be described as the place where your passion, vocation, profession, and personal mission intersect. It is loosely translated as “one’s reason for living.

    Garcia and Miralles share the results of their interviews with the long-living residents of a village in Okinawa, Japan, inspiring readers to embrace the things that truly make them happy.

    Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life also offers helpful suggestions for cultivating habits that bring you closer to your purpose and help you live a happier life.

    7. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer

    The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. SingerThe Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer

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    Takeaways:

    • The Untethered Soul explores the nature of consciousness and the path to spiritual growth, offering insights on transcending the limitations of the ego and embracing a more expansive and liberated state of being.
    • The book delves into the concept of inner exploration and mindfulness, providing practical guidance on releasing habitual thought patterns, emotional reactivity, and inner resistance to experience greater peace and freedom.
    • It explores the significance of surrender and letting go, guiding readers to cultivate a deeper sense of inner peace, acceptance, and connection to the present moment.
    • The Untethered Soul underscores the value of self-awareness and inner inquiry, offering insights on how to navigate the depths of consciousness and unlock the transformative power of mindfulness and introspection.
    • The author shares actionable insights and spiritual principles for achieving greater freedom and inner harmony, offering valuable perspectives on embracing the journey beyond the self and experiencing a more liberated and authentic way of living.

    What does it mean to live as an untethered soul?

    In The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself, Michael A. Singer takes readers on a journey away from the ego and into their true selves, which is his description of an untethered soul.

    Here are some of the insights to be gained through the book:

    • Change is here to stay and is a constant part of life. The only way to cope with change is to accept it and realize that it helps bring forth personal growth.
    • To gain freedom, we need to accept the presence of pain rather than avoid it.
    • True happiness comes to us when we decide to be happy.
    • You hear the voice in your mind, but this voice is not you.

    By realizing these and other insights, the reader can move away from their attachments to ego and start living more authentically, in keeping with their true purpose in life.

    8. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle

    A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart TolleA New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle

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    Takeaways:

    • A New Earth delves into the nature of human consciousness and the awakening to a higher state of being, offering insights on transcending ego-driven patterns and embracing a more enlightened way of living.
    • The book explores the concept of present moment awareness and the transformative power of living in the now, providing practical guidance on releasing attachment to the past and future to experience greater peace and fulfillment.
    • It emphasizes the significance of transcending the egoic mind and embracing a deeper sense of interconnectedness and compassion, guiding readers to shift from self-centered thinking to a more expansive and inclusive perspective.
    • A New Earth underscores the value of inner transformation and spiritual awakening, offering insights on how to cultivate a greater sense of presence, purpose, and alignment with the unfolding evolution of consciousness.
    • The author shares actionable insights and spiritual principles for achieving personal and collective awakening, offering valuable perspectives on embracing a new level of consciousness and living in harmony with the greater purpose of life.

    A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose is one of the most highly respected resources on finding your purpose. In it, Eckhart Tolle reveals how our ego-based state of existence creates our pain and suffering.

    Tolle also offers a new way of being that involves going beyond the ego’s promptings and finally living an authentic and fulfilled life.

    There are 10 chapters in the book, including:

    • The Flowering of Human Consciousness
    • Ego: The Current State of Humanity
    • The Core of Ego
    • Role-Playing: The Many Faces of the Ego
    • The Pain-Body
    • Breaking Free
    • Finding Who You Truly Are

    9. Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential by Caroline Myss

    Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential by Caroline MyssSacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential by Caroline Myss

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    Takeaways:

    • Sacred Contracts delves into the concept of archetypes and their influence on personal and spiritual development, offering insights into identifying and understanding the symbolic patterns that shape one’s life.
    • The book emphasizes the significance of recognizing and fulfilling one’s divine purpose, guiding readers to explore the archetypal forces at play in their lives and align with their higher calling.
    • It explores the importance of self-examination and introspection, providing practical guidance on how to identify and embrace the archetypal patterns that influence personal choices, relationships, and life experiences.
    • Sacred Contracts underscores the value of embracing the journey of self-discovery and personal transformation, offering insights on how to navigate the complexities of archetypal influences and live in alignment with one’s divine potential.
    • The author shares actionable insights and spiritual principles for uncovering and embodying one’s sacred contracts, offering valuable perspectives on embracing a life of purpose, meaning, and spiritual fulfillment.

    Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential helps you recognize and honor your spiritual commitments. It is your guide to discerning your true purpose in life.

    The author, Caroline Myss, is a medical intuitive. Through her work with clients, she has discovered that mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as physical illnesses, manifest when people do not know what their purpose is in life.

    Through this book, readers are introduced to the concept of archetypes and their role in helping us develop a sense of fulfillment by living life in keeping with our purpose.

    10. How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera

    How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera | Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life | life purposeHow to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera | Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life | life purpose

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    Takeaways:

    • How to Do the Work: Recognise Your Patterns, Heal From Your Past, + Create Your Self delves into the process of recognizing and addressing personal patterns, offering insights on how to navigate past experiences and foster self-healing and growth.
    • The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact of past experiences on present behavior, guiding readers to explore their patterns and develop tools for healing and self-discovery.
    • It explores the significance of integrating mind-body practices and holistic approaches to well-being, providing practical guidance on nurturing mental, emotional, and physical health.
    • How to Do the Work underscores the value of self-reflection and inner work, offering insights on how to cultivate self-awareness, release limiting patterns, and create a more authentic and empowered sense of self.
    • The author shares actionable insights and holistic strategies for personal transformation, offering valuable perspectives on recognizing patterns, healing from past experiences, and fostering greater self-awareness and well-being.

    11. Find Your Why by Simon Sinek, David Mead, and Peter Docker

    Find Your Why by Simon Sinek, David Mead, and Peter Docker | Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life | best books on life purposeFind Your Why by Simon Sinek, David Mead, and Peter Docker | Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life | best books on life purpose

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    Takeaways:

    • Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team offers a practical framework for individuals and teams to discover and articulate their core purpose, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal and professional endeavors with a deeper sense of meaning.
    • The book delves into the concept of the “Golden Circle” and the significance of understanding the “why” behind one’s actions, providing actionable guidance on clarifying personal and organizational purpose.
    • It explores the importance of authenticity and values-driven leadership, offering insights on how to create a culture of purpose and inspire meaningful contributions within a team or organization.
    • Find Your Why underscores the value of fostering a sense of belonging and fulfillment, providing perspectives on how individuals and teams can leverage their purpose to drive engagement, innovation, and success.
    • The authors share actionable insights and practical exercises for uncovering and articulating one’s “why,” offering valuable perspectives on aligning personal and professional endeavors with a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment.

    12. Discover Your Dharma by Sahara Rose

    Discover Your Dharma by Sahara Rose | Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life | books on purposeDiscover Your Dharma by Sahara Rose | Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life | books on purpose

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    Takeaways:

    • Discover Your Dharma: A Vedic Guide to Finding Your Purpose delves into the Vedic concept of “dharma” and offers insights into uncovering one’s unique purpose and path in life, drawing from ancient wisdom and modern psychology.
    • The book emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and aligning with one’s innate gifts and passions, providing practical guidance on embracing one’s dharma to lead a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.
    • It explores the significance of understanding one’s unique traits and tendencies, guiding readers to identify their dharma archetypes and leverage them to make meaningful contributions to the world.
    • Discover Your Dharma underscores the value of embracing personal growth and self-realization, offering insights on how to live authentically and in alignment with one’s dharma for greater fulfillment and impact.
    • The author shares actionable insights and Vedic wisdom for discovering and embodying one’s Dharma, offering valuable perspectives on living with purpose, authenticity, and a sense of deep fulfillment.

    13. The Little Book of Ikigai Way by Ken Mogi

    The Little Book of Ikigai Way by Ken Mogi | Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life | find your whyThe Little Book of Ikigai Way by Ken Mogi | Best Books on Finding Your Purpose in Life | find your why

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    Takeaways:

    • In The Little Book of Ikigai: Live a Happy and Long Life the Japanese Way, embrace the concept of ikigai, or finding your sense of purpose and meaning in life, to live a fulfilling and joyful existence.
    • Cultivate a positive mindset and appreciate the simple pleasures in life, such as spending time in nature and enjoying good food.
    • Prioritize building strong social connections and nurturing relationships with family, friends, and community members.
    • Practice mindfulness and live in the present moment, finding joy in everyday activities and experiences.
    • Strive for a balanced lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, healthy eating, and adequate rest to promote overall well-being.

    Final Thoughts on Books On Purpose

    In this exploration of literature on finding life’s purpose, we’ve traversed a landscape rich with wisdom and inspiration. Each book on our list has served as a beacon, illuminating the path to a more purposeful and fulfilling existence. From Viktor E. Frankl’s profound experiences to the cultural insights of Ikigai, these authors have offered us keys to unlock greater meaning in our lives.

    The takeaways are clear and compelling – leading a life driven by purpose is not merely a lofty ideal; it has tangible benefits. Those who anchor their actions to meaningful goals tend to lead longer lives, enjoy better heart health, and possess a stronger immune system. The correlation between a clear purpose and a reduced risk of dementia is a testament to the profound effect a driven mindset can have on our mental longevity.

    But the advantages don’t end with health; a purposeful life manifests joy and satisfaction, contributing to a happier disposition. It even extends to the practicalities of financial well-being, with a purpose-driven approach being linked to the ability to earn more.

    Through the narratives and lessons of books like Man’s Search for Meaning, The Purpose Driven Life, and The Untethered Soul, we find diverse perspectives that converge on a singular truth — finding and pursuing our purpose is one of life’s most rewarding journeys. Whether we’re navigating the second half of our life with the guidance of James Hollis or uncovering our creative battles with Steven Pressfield, the message resonates with clarity and urgency.

    Our list has introduced a symphony of voices, each contributing a unique note to the melody of purpose. While Find Your Why offers pragmatic strategies, Discover Your Dharma and The Little Book of Ikigai guide us through introspection and personal realization.

    In closing, these 13 texts offer more than just pages filled with advice; they serve as companions and catalysts for change. They encourage us to question, to dream, and to act with intention. Whether you are at the outset of seeking your purpose or looking to deepen your understanding, these books stand ready to assist in your personal evolution.

    Armed with the knowledge gleaned from thought leaders and experts, may you stride forward with confidence and courage on your purposeful path. May your quest be vigorous, your transformations be profound, and your life be a reflection of the very best version of yourself that your purpose defines

    If you enjoyed this article and are interested in more resources about finding your purpose, the following articles are also worth checking out:

    books on purpose | list of books on purpose | best books on finding your passion and purpose in lifebooks on purpose | list of books on purpose | best books on finding your passion and purpose in life

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    Michal Feyoh

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  • I Found Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ Script. ‘Dune: Part Two’ Is Better

    I Found Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ Script. ‘Dune: Part Two’ Is Better

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    As with the book, the script begins with the gom jabbar scene between Paul Atreides and Reverend Mother Mohiam, except in this version the Atreides have already made their trek from Caladan to Arrakis. Right after Paul passes his test with the box, the four wise men of Thufir, Yueh, Gurney, and Duncan present Duke Leto with a wounded Fremen and three others assassinated by the Harkonnens.

    HAWAT

    Assassins! They trapped three of these poor fellows over there beyond the cliffs.

    HALLECK

    There was a worm. We had to run for it.

    You can see the problem: Right off the bat, Herbert is using dialog to discuss action scenes that would be far better to see than to hear about. He’s also introducing concepts left and right (the Bene Gesserit order, the Kwizatz Haderach, sandworms, Fremen, Harkonnens) without giving any context to them.

    As in Lynch’s film (and the book itself), we get those lovely inner-thought voiceovers. Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac in Part One) thinks to himself, “We’ve been on this damned planet only two days and already the Harkonnens are at work!” Often these VOs contain psychic conversations between two characters, a technique Villeneuve uses several times in Part Two, as between Feyd (Austin Butler) and Lady Fenring (Léa Seydoux).

    The stage-play-esque stretches of barefaced expository dialog continue unabated when Herbert’s script introduces the world of the hedonist Harkonnens, who covet a globe of Arrakis made out of jewels in their Guild Ship decorated with pornographic paintings. Introducing a character not in Villeneuve’s film, they’re shown torturing Wanna with an “agony box” as Feyd essentially videotapes it for Wanna’s husband, Doctor Yueh, so he will do their bidding against House Atreides. She calls them “monsters,” with the Baron articulating, “Of course we are, my dear Wanna. We will do anything to regain our planet and its precious spice … We must rule Dune and the spice. We all need the spice. It lengthens our lives and you Bene Gesserit witches need the spice for your dreams.” Not quite Paddy Chayefsky.

    Stilgar arrives at Leto’s Great Hall with a whole contingent (including Mapes, Kynes, and Chani) to extract the water from the dead Fremen using a deathstill. Paul tells his mother, Jessica, that he recognizes Chani from his dreams, prophesying that she will bind him to the Fremen. Stilgar gifts his people’s water to Paul, whom he instantly recognizes as the Mahdi (the messiah of legend, though it is never explained beyond that he may be “the Shortening of the Way”). Duncan joins the Fremen as an olive branch, and Mapes joins the Atreides as a house servant. On her way out of the hall, Chani gives one of those backward glances to Paul that Zendaya does so frequently in the new movies.

    After Wanna unexpectedly dies during torture, the Baron plans to use Yueh to kill Paul with a hunter seeker while preserving Yueh’s wife in a “crystallis” (a crystal case). Count Fenring (who will lead the Emperor’s Sardaukar to attack the Atreides disguised in Harkonnen uniforms) arrives at the Guild Ship. Disgusted by Harkonnens and acting only in the Emperor’s interest, he takes the recording of Wanna’s torture to hand off to Yueh.

    On Arrakis, the Duke’s remaining soldiers and luggage (including atomics) are delivered, with Gurney playing accompaniment on his Baliset. Herbert was reportedly insistent that the playing of this instrument appear in the film, something which was filmed but cut from Lynch’s film and Villeneuve’s first Dune, but which finally appears in Part Two. Herbert then includes the scene where Duke Leto rescues the carryall crew from the worm, almost beat-for-beat like Lynch’s, though Villeneuve gave the scene more juice by having Paul be nearly killed. One great moment acknowledges the injustice served to the Fremen as two of them (guides) try to board Leto’s ornithopter:

    KYNES (VO)

    We have no room for them.

    PAUL (VO)

    There’s a capsule history of the Fremen!

    We get a cool scene of Duncan fighting literally back-to-back with Stilgar against a squad of Harkonnen amid the dunes. Stilgar chastises Duncan for using his shield (it attracts the worm), then they capture a Harkonnen who warns them there is a traitor in their midst. The scene where Mapes cuts herself to show fealty to Jessica is there, as is the scene of Paul and Gurney practice-fighting (although sans shields) and the hunter seeker’s attack on Paul.

    Because Herbert cannot let much go, we get the banquet scene that has been left out of both theatrical adaptations of Dune because the political machinations it reflects are not essential to the plot (Leto is going to die soon anyway). The banquet winds up eating up nearly 25 pages of the script before it is interrupted by Count Fenring’s attack on the Atreides fortress with the aid of Yueh lowering the shields.

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    Max Evry

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  • The Willy Wonka Event’s Lead Actor Speaks Out: ‘It Was Just Gibberish’

    The Willy Wonka Event’s Lead Actor Speaks Out: ‘It Was Just Gibberish’

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    This is where the Unknown is revealed, so we have tension as well.

    I arrived on the day. I was like, “So what’s going on with this tunnel?” What they’ve done instead of this incredible, magical starlit tunnel is basically just stapled up some chequered flags into a corridor and put some dirty mirrors that I think they must have found in, like, the toilet or something, just along the corridor. This was meant to be the Twilight Tunnel.

    Yes, I saw the illustrations on the website.

    You’ve probably seen the videos online. That’s where the infamous Unknown character appears from behind a mirror and starts unnecessarily scaring the kids. There’s no need! There is no need to scare the kids that much. They were scared enough.

    Then we went through something called the Imagination Lab, which I think the point was that you’re supposed to imagine it was something better. That was where I was to hand out one jelly bean.

    Where does the lemonade come in?

    The next room was the Lemonade Room, which sounds amazing. It was just some cheap lemonade, in the bottles still, that was poured. You got a quarter of a cup of lemonade, if you were lucky.

    That was the experience, me leading everyone through, just talking gibberish, slowly losing my grip on reality.

    There’s something so hilarious to me about a single jelly bean. Why did they have you guys only giving out one?

    They didn’t buy enough jelly beans! They didn’t even buy enough lemonade! We had to switch to limeade because we ran out! This is the thing that blows my mind. You know how many people are coming. One jelly bean per customer, that’s tight. Wonka’s a tight-fisted old man.

    Can you explain to me what exactly is happening in the viral picture of the Oompa Loompa (sorry, Wonkidoodle)? What is she doing? What’s her purpose at that little desk?

    I think she was asking herself the same question. It was meant to be a laboratory where the magical beans are made. She was actually doing science, you know, creating the magical beans.

    Women in STEM, yeah.

    Yes. I do know it looks like a meth lab, but you don’t know how magical beans are made, you know.

    Where is the smoke coming from? What was that?

    Something was probably on fire. No, I do think they had a smoke machine. But there was one point where we did smell burning and we were worried that something was on fire.

    I kept saying throughout the day, “Someone’s going to get hurt.” There was a bouncy castle on a concrete floor! How no kid just went bounce [smack motion] is beyond me.

    What was Coull doing during the event as this was all happening?

    Walking in circles was all I kind of saw him do. He was just running around—he should have been the Unknown, actually, because he was pretty good at just, like, appearing out of nowhere, whispering in my ear like, “You’re spending too much time with the kids,” and then disappearing into the night.

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    Megan Farokhmanesh

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  • The Narcissistic Culture of “Image” and Excessive Self-Monitoring

    The Narcissistic Culture of “Image” and Excessive Self-Monitoring

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    In a world obsessed with public image and attention-seeking, learn about the cultural forces propelling society to become more narcissistic – and how this influences us to be in a constant state of self-scrutiny.



    The idea that our culture is becoming more narcissistic and self-centered is not new.

    Historian and social critic Christopher Lasch’s book The Culture of Narcissism was first published in 1979. By that time, the 1970s were already dubbed the “Me-generation.” Americans were increasingly shifting focus to concepts like “self-liberation,” “self-expression,” and “self-actualization,” while untethering themselves from past traditions and social responsibilities.

    Interestingly, Lasch traces the narcissistic roots in America back way further, starting with the early days of the Protestant work ethic and its singular focus on labor, money, and wealth-building, including the old “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mantra.

    This early thread of American hyper-individualism continues into the New Age movement at the turn of the 20th century with its focus on personal happiness and spiritual fulfillment, as well as the popularity of Ayn Rand’s “virtue of selfishness,” and the rise of celebrity-worship and fame-seeking that still characterizes much of American life today whether it be in politics, sports, art, or entertainment.

    Things appear to be getting worse. The book was written over 40 years ago, but a lot of the observations in it seem strangely prophetic when looking at the world today. Lasch accurately describes how narcissistic trends have evolved on a societal and cultural level, and you can perfectly extend his theories to explain our modern culture.

    Before you continue reading, remember this is a cultural analysis of narcissistic tendencies and it isn’t focused on clinical or psychological definitions of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).

    Many people act more narcissistic because that’s what our society rewards and that’s how people think they need to act to get ahead in today’s world.

    One can even look at certain narcissistic tendencies as a survival strategy in an otherwise competitive, atomized, isolated – “every man for himself” – world.

    Now let’s dive into how our modern culture amplifies and rewards narcissism.

    The narcissist craves an audience

    First, the most defining characteristic of a narcissist is that they depend on the attention and validation of others to feel good about themselves.

    Contrary to the popular myth that the narcissist suffers from excessive self-love, the truth is they are deeply insecure and lack true confidence and self-esteem. The main reason they brag, show off, or puff-up-their-chests is only to appear strong when deep down they feel weak.

    As a result the narcissist is obsessed with their image and appearance. They feel they need to “win people over” to be accepted and liked by others, and this requires a carefully manufactured persona they create for the public.

    This deeply rooted “need for attention” plays a central theme in Lasch’s analysis:

      “Narcissism represents a psychological dimension of dependence. Notwithstanding his occasional illusions of omnipotence, the narcissist depends on others to validate his self-esteem. He cannot live without an admiring audience. His apparent freedom from family ties and institutional constraints does not free him to stand alone or to glory in his individuality. On the contrary, it contributes to his insecurity, which he can overcome only by seeing his ‘grandiose self’ reflected in the attention of others, or by attaching himself to those who radiate celebrity, power, and charisma.”

    Without an audience to appreciate them, the narcissist struggles to find their self-worth. They don’t believe in themselves – they need “proof” they are a good or important person through the eyes of others.

    To the narcissist, any attention is better than none at all; even negative attention like gossip, drama, and criticism feeds into their egos by letting them know they are still front and center.

    In a society that rewards attention for the sake of attention (including fame and notoriety), the narcissist grows and thrives. Who knows, that next scandal with a famous celebrity may be their big breakthrough – whatever gets them into the limelight!

    Image-centrism: The society of the spectacle

    One major contributor to the rise of narcissistic tendencies is that our culture is becoming more image-centric.

    Popular ideas on what true “happiness,” “success,” “fame,” “beauty,” and “achievement” look like are based on outward images and appearances increasingly fed into our culture through photographs, movies, television, and advertising:

      “[One] influence is the mechanical reproduction of culture, the proliferation of visual and audial images in the ‘society of the spectacle.’ We live in a swirl of images and echoes that arrest experience and play it back in slow motion. Cameras and recording machines not only transcribe experience but alter its quality, giving to much of modern life the character of an enormous echo chamber, a hall of mirrors. Life presents itself as a succession of images or electronic signals, of impressions recorded and reproduced by means of photography, motion pictures, television, and sophisticated recording devices.”

    This book was written before the internet and social media which have only increased our “image-centrism” tenfold. Selfies, avatars, memes, filters, photoshop, and AI have all continued to add more layers to this hyper-reality between manipulated images and how we choose to present ourselves.

    This constant barrage of cultural images shapes our beliefs and map of reality. It subconsciously puts ideas in our heads about what “happiness,” “success,” and “beauty” are supposed to look like.

    Once these social images are set in our minds, we naturally feel the desire to live up to them.

    Narcissists can often be the most sensitive to these social images because they fear their true self isn’t good enough, so they take society’s picture of “success” and try to mirror that image back to others.

    On the surface, the narcissist is a crowd-pleaser. They don’t trust their own judgement, so if society says this is what “happiness” or “success” looks like, then they will try to mimic it the best they can.

    Everyone has an audience now

    Technology, internet, social media, cameras, and recording devices have created a world where everyone feels like they have an audience all-the-time.

    Family photo albums and home videos were early stages in turning “private moments” into “public consumption,” but now we have people over-sharing every meal, date, and shopping spree on their social media feeds.

    Lasch correctly identifies this trend back in the 1960s-70s, including a mention of the popular show Candid Camera, which was one of the first “hidden camera” TV shows:

      “Modern life is so thoroughly mediated by electronic images that we cannot help responding to others as if their actions – and our own – were being recorded and simultaneously transmitted to an unseen audience or stored up for close scrutiny at some later time. ‘Smile you’re on candid camera!’ The intrusion into everyday life of this all-seeing eye no longer takes us by surprise or catches us with our defenses down. We need no reminder to smile, a smile is permanently graven on our features, and we already know from which of several angles it photographs to best advantage.”

    Life is recorded and shared now more than ever before. Today everyone has an audience and many people can’t help but see themselves as the “main character” of their own carefully edited movie.

    Unfortunately, we have this audience whether we like it or not. Every time we are out in public, someone may whip out their phones, capture an embarrassing moment, and upload it to the internet for millions to watch. You never know when you may go “viral” for the wrong reasons. The rise of online shaming, doxing, and harassment puts people in a perpetual state of high alert.

    That’s a stressful thought, but it perfectly represents this state of hyper-surveillance we are all in, where there’s always a potential audience and you feel constant pressure to showcase the “best version of yourself” in every waking moment, because you never know who is watching.

    Self-image and excessive self-monitoring

    In a world that rewards people solely based on the “image” they present, we naturally become more self-conscious of the image we are projecting to others.

    This leads to a state of endless self-monitoring and self-surveillance. We see ourselves through the eyes of others and try to fit their image of what we are supposed to be. No matter what we choose to do with our lives, the most pressing questions become, “How will this make me look?” or “What will people think of me?”

    While people naturally want to present themselves in the best way possible and form strong first impressions, an excessive degree of self-filtering and self-management can cause us to lose our sense of identity for the sake of superficial acceptance, internet fame, or corporate climbing.

    At worst, we increasingly depend on this these manufactured images to understand ourselves and reality:

      “The proliferation of recorded images undermines our sense of reality. As Susan Sontag observes in her study of photography, ‘Reality has come to seem more and more like what we are shown by cameras.’ We distrust our perceptions until the camera verifies them. Photographic images provide us with the proof of our existence, without which we would find it difficult even to reconstruct a personal history…

      Among the ‘many narcissistic uses’ that Sontag attributes to the camera, ‘’self-surveillance’ ranks among the most important, not only because it provides the technical means of ceaseless self-scrutiny but because it renders the sense of selfhood dependent on the consumption of images of the self, at the same time calling into question the reality of the external world.”

    If you didn’t share your meal on social media, did you really eat it? If you didn’t update your relationship status online, are you really dating someone?

    For many people, the internet world has become “more real” than the real world. People don’t go out and do adventurous things to live their lives, but to “create content” for their following.

    Who looks like their living their best life? Who is experiencing the most FOMO on the internet? In a narcissistic world, we start seeing our “digital self” in competition with everyone else – and the only thing that matters is that it looks like we are having a good time.

    More and more, we consume and understand ourselves through these technologies and images. We depend on photo galleries, reel clips, and social media posts to chronicle our life story and present the best version of ourselves to the world. If the internet didn’t exist, then neither would we.

    In the sci-fi movie The Final Cut people have their entire lives recorded through their eyes; then after they die, their happy memories are spliced together to give a “final edit” of the person’s life. Many of us are perpetually scrutinizing and editing this “final cut” of our own lives.

    The invention of new insecurities

    Everything is being observed, recorded, and measured, so we have more tools than ever to compare ourselves against others.

    This leads to the invention of all types of new insecurities. We are more aware of the ways we’re different from others, whether it’s our jobs, homes, relationships, health, appearances, or lifestyles. We can always find new ways we don’t “measure up” to the ideal.

    New technologies create new ways to compare. Before you know it, you have people in heated competitions over who can do the most steps on their Fitbit, or consume the least amount of calories in a week, or receives the most likes on their gym posts. The internet becomes a never-ending competition.

    Of course, measuring your progress can be a valuable tool for motivation and reaching goals. The problem is when we use these numbers to measure up against others vs. measure up against our past self. Always remember that everyone is on a completely different path.

    It’s well-known that social comparison is one of the ultimate traps when it comes to happiness and well-being. You’ll always be able to find someone who has it better than you in some area of life, and with the internet that’s usually an easy search.

    These endless comparisons touch on all aspects of life and heighten self-scrutiny and self-criticism. Finding and dwelling on even “minor differences” can spiral into a cycle of self-pity and self-hate. If we don’t remove ourselves from these comparisons, then we have no choice but to try to live up to them and beat ourselves up when we fail.

    Conclusion

    The goal of this article was to describe some of the key forces that are making society more narcissistic and self-centered.

    Different cultural beliefs and attitudes incentive certain personality traits over others. Our current world seems to continue moving down a more narcissistic path, especially with the increased focus on “image” (or “personal brand”) that we build for ourselves through the internet and social media.

    Most of the ideas in this article are based on the book The Culture of Narcissism which, despite being written over 40 years, is an insightful look into how these social forces continue to grow and evolve.

    Do you feel like our current society is getting more narcissistic? How have these social forces influenced the way you live?


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    Steven Handel

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  • Lots of People Make Money on Fanfic. Just Not the Authors

    Lots of People Make Money on Fanfic. Just Not the Authors

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    Fanbinding has exploded in popularity in the past few years. Many fanbinders do adhere to a strict gift-economy stance in line with the writers whose work they’re binding, often limiting the money they collect, if any, to covering material costs. But the people selling bound versions of popular fics for profit are cut from a different (book) cloth. As they make money off works the authors themselves cannot sell, they’re putting those authors—and, arguably, fan fiction itself—in an untenable position.

    “Technically speaking, the reproduction right belongs to the author of the fic, because that’s the ‘copy right’: They are the only person with the right to make copies of the fic,” says Stacey Lantagne, a copyright lawyer who specializes in fan fiction and teaches at Western New England University School of Law. Even though she notes it “might be considered an unsettled question of law officially,” fic authors do hold the copyright to the original parts of their stories, though of course not the underlying source material.

    Is it legal to bind someone else’s fic? “Here is a typical lawyer answer: It depends,” Lantagne jokes. She says “it is likely legal to print someone else’s fanfic for your own personal, noncommercial use,” adding that could likely extend to paying material costs for someone else to bind it, too. “Noncommercial” here is key. Like the legal status of fan fiction itself, the legality of fanbinding rests on fair use, the exception under US copyright law determined by factors like how transformative a work is, or if someone is profiting off it—and taking money away from the rights holder in the process.

    Fan fiction communities have historically relied on good-faith communication when it comes to doing something else with someone’s fic. Nothing’s stopping you from translating, remixing, or creating an audio version (known as podficcing)—or, yes, printing and binding a version, but it’s nice if you ask first. Some writers post blanket permissions allowing any noncommercial engagement with their works, and some, especially in these hyper-popular corners of fandom, have specific guidance about fanbinding. Last year, a charity auction that garnered huge sums of money to bind others’ work led some writers—SenLinYu included—to modify their policies to allow personal, noncommercial fanbinding only.

    While plenty of fans have respected their wishes, there is clearly demand for these books—and thus, continued supply. Lantagne says that since litigation is extremely expensive, the only recourse a fan fiction writer likely has in this situation is to file DMCA takedown notices, a very tedious process when there are multiple sellers on multiple sites. “This is what copyright holders have been complaining about ever since the DMCA was passed in the late 1990s—it’s a pain to have to file a DMCA notice everywhere copyright infringement crops up,” she says. “However, the alternative is something like YouTube’s Content ID being used to automatically block uploads, which we know is notoriously bad at accounting for fair use.”

    Although illegal sellers obviously deserve a good portion of blame, that continued demand—regardless of fic authors’ wishes—speaks to the way both scale and money has been altering the fan fiction world in recent years. To be clear, there was never one singular “fan fiction community” or universal set of norms, but the widely accepted gift-economy framing has always been undergirded by the fact that many fan fiction readers are also writers, and stories are shared within fandoms, with all the structural ties they bring. Pulling-to-publish was often framed as a betrayal—we were all in this nonmonetized boat together, and now you’ve jumped ship and cashed in.

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    Elizabeth Minkel

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  • Oprah selects

    Oprah selects

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    Oprah selects “The Many Lives of Mama Love” as newest book club selection – CBS News


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    “””CBS Mornings”” exclusively reveals Oprah Winfrey’s latest book club selection: “”The Many Lives of Mama Love,”” the powerful memoir by Lara Love Hardin. The author talks to David Begnaud in her Northern California home about her journey through addiction, legal battles and redemption.”

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  • The Immovable Mind: Schopenhauer’s Daily Routine For 27 Years

    The Immovable Mind: Schopenhauer’s Daily Routine For 27 Years

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    What does the daily life of a legendary philosopher look like? Learn about Arthur Schopenhauer’s unique routine that he consistently followed for over 27 years.


    Arthur Schopenhauer was a major figure in German philosophy throughout the 19th century along with Friedrich Nietzsche and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.

    While he’s known for his pessimism and negative outlook on life, there’s no denying that Schopenhauer was an intellectual powerhouse of his time who influenced many great thinkers, philosophers, and artists long after his death.

    His book Essays and Aphorisms is a great introduction and overview of his philosophical ideas. It explains his core metaphysical belief of “world as appearance,” continuing the legacy of other idealist philosophers like Plato, Kant, and Indian philosophy, which warn about viewing the world strictly through a materialist lens.

    The beginning of the book provides a nice biography of Schopenhauer’s family background, education, and life history. There’s one interesting section on his daily routine that caught my attention and wanted to share; it’s always fascinating to gain insights into the habits and lifestyles of influential figures, especially potential role models we can emulate and borrow from.

    This specific routine characterizes the last third of Schopenhauer’s life:

      “From the age of 45 until his death 27 years later Schopenhauer lived in Frankfurt-am-Main. He lived alone… every day for 27 years he followed an identical routine.”

    Keep in mind, I’m only sharing this for educational purposes. I don’t necessarily recommend this way of living, but there are interesting lessons to takeaway from it, including how some of these habits relate to Schopenhauer’s overall philosophy.

    Arthur Schopenhauer’s Daily Routine

    Here’s a breakdown of Schopenhauer’s daily routine for the last 27 years of his life:

    • “He rose every morning at seven and had a bath but no breakfast;
    • He drank a cup of strong coffee before sitting down at his desk and writing until noon.
    • At noon he ceased work for the day and spent half-an-hour practicing the flute, on which he became quite a skilled performer.
    • Then he went out to lunch at the Englischer Hof.
    • After lunch he returned home and read until four, when he left for his daily walk:
    • He walked for two hours no matter what the weather.
    • At six o’clock, he visited the reading room of the library and read The Times.
    • In the evening he attended the theatre or a concert, after which he had dinner at a hotel or restaurant.
    • He got back home between nine and ten and went early to bed.”

    While Schopenhauer mostly kept to this strict routine unwaveringly, he was willing to make exceptions under specials circumstances such as if he had friends or visitors in town.

    Key Lessons and Takeaways

    This daily routine seems fitting for a solitary and introspective philosopher, but there are key lessons that fit with conventional self-improvement wisdom:

    • Early Rising: Schopenhauer started his day at 7 a.m., which aligns with the common advice of many successful individuals who advocate for early rising. This morning ritual is often associated with increased productivity and a sense of discipline.
    • No Breakfast: Skipping breakfast was part of Schopenhauer’s routine. While not everyone agrees with this approach, it resonates with intermittent fasting principles that some find beneficial for health and mental clarity.
    • Work Routine: Schopenhauer dedicated his mornings to work, writing until noon. This emphasizes the importance of having a focused and dedicated period for intellectual or creative work, especially early in the day.
    • Creative Break: Taking a break to practice the flute for half an hour after work highlights the value of incorporating creative or leisure activities into one’s routine. It can serve as a refreshing break and contribute to overall well-being.
    • Outdoor Exercise: Schopenhauer’s daily two-hour walk, regardless of the weather, emphasizes the significance of outdoor exercise for both physical and mental health. This practice aligns with contemporary views on the benefits of regular physical activity and spending time in nature.
    • Reading Habit: Schopenhauer spent time reading each day, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning and intellectual stimulation.
    • News Consumption: Reading The Times at the library suggests Schopenhauer valued staying informed about current events. It’s worth noting that he limited his news consumption to a specific time of day (but it was easier to restrict your information diet before the internet).
    • Cultural Engagement: Attending the theater or a concert in the evening indicates a commitment to cultural engagement and a balanced lifestyle.
    • Regular Bedtime: Going to bed early reflects an understanding of the importance of sufficient sleep for overall health and well-being.

    While Schopenhauer’s routine may not be suitable for everyone, there are elements of discipline, balance, and engagement with various aspects of life that individuals may find inspiring or applicable to their own lifestyles.

    The Immovable Mind

    Schopenhauer was known for his persistence and stubbornness – his consistent daily routine is just one manifestation of this.

    He wrote his magnum opus The World as Will and Representation in 1818 when he was only 28 years old, and he never fundamentally changed his views despite continuing to write and publish until his death at 72.

    Schopenhauer has been described as an “immovable mind,” never letting himself deviate from the course he was set out on.

    His two hour walk routine in any weather is one of the most popular examples of this. From the biography in the book:

      “Consider the daily two-hour walk. Among Schopenhauer’s disciples of the late nineteenth century this walk was celebrated fact of his biography, and it was so because of its regularity. There was speculation as to why he insisted on going out and staying out for two hours no matter what the weather. It suggests health fanaticism, but there is no other evidence that Schopenhauer was a health fanatic or crank. In my view the reason was simply obstinacy: he would go out and nothing would stop him.”

    While this immovability has its disadvantages, you have to admire the monk-like discipline.

    Schopenhauer was a proponent of ascetism, a life without pleasure-seeking and mindless indulgence. A lot of his philosophy centers around a type of “denouncement of the material world,” so it’s not surprising that a little rain and wind wouldn’t stop his daily walk.

    This way of living is reminiscent of the documentary Into Great Silence, which follows the daily lives of Carthusian monks living in the French mountains while they eat, clean, pray, and fulfill their chores and duties in quiet solitude.

    One of the hallmarks of a great routine is that it’s a sustainable system. The fact that Schopenhauer was able to follow this regimen for the rest of his life is a testament to its strength and efficacy, and something worth admiring even if it’s not a lifestyle we’d want to replicate for ourselves.


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    Steven Handel

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  • Maximize Your Space and Effort With a Layered Garden – Garden Therapy

    Maximize Your Space and Effort With a Layered Garden – Garden Therapy

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    At some point, annual veggies took over the popularity contest. We’re so used to seeing neat rows of carrots, cucumbers, beans, and tomatoes that we forget there are other more beneficial ways for the home gardener to grow food. Let me introduce the layered garden to you!

    I’m in the midst of planning my next garden at my new house, and I’m thinking big picture. The yard was neglected and minimal, so I’m starting with a pretty well-blank canvas.

    I’ll be designing a food forest, which takes some careful planning and a few years of patience. I have an urban garden and a small yard, but even those with a patio garden can employ these more sustainable, regenerative practices.

    Christina Chung’s book, The Layered Edible Garden, is based on a concept similar to food forests. Rooted in permaculture, it’s all about maximizing your space with a layered garden based on edible perennials.

    These practices are rooted in the same values and energy, so I’m thrilled to share Christina’s approach to the edible garden with you.

    the layered edible garden coverthe layered edible garden cover

    Quotes reprinted with permission from The Layered Edible Garden by Christina Chung © 2024. Published by Cool Springs Press.

    What is a Layered Garden?

    There are many kinds of layered gardens. They are often well-planned and optimize space by combining plants with different heights.

    Christina’s layered gardening practice follows a more natural system that’s less intensive on time, energy, and resources. It tries to fill in all the empty spaces in the garden that weeds might otherwise overtake.

    “Traditional gardening often means fighting against nature taking over the space and turning it back into the thickly planted, layered space it would be without human intervention,” says Christina.

    But a layered garden is also curated. This means it still produces plenty of food similar to traditional veggie gardens. However, it encourages you to think beyond the traditional veggies and focus more on edible perennials.

    It follows permaculture practices and sounds very similar to my beloved food forest practice. But Christina’s approach is “more flexible” and perhaps more focused on gardens with small spaces.

    layered gardening for growing foodlayered gardening for growing food
    You can also include medicinal or herbal plants as well as edible ones.

    Why Layered Gardens Are the Way to Go

    One of the biggest draws of a layered garden is that it optimizes your space. Many gardeners (myself included) are always looking for more gardening space. But many of us don’t consider the vertical spaces and the gaps. Just think how much you could plant under a tree or shrub!

    “Filling in those missing layers creates so much more interest and beauty, and each one offers a chance to add something edible to the mix,” says Christina. “Each added layer can help you get more out of your existing garden space.”

    Layered gardening is also great for your local wildlife. Planting a wider range of plants and less common species may attract more pollinators and beneficial bugs. They even act as bonus natural pest control.

    One of the most immediate benefits you’ll notice is how much more low-maintenance layered gardening is. A fuller garden means less weeding, which is also great for soil health as it minimizes soil disturbances.

    These gardens also rely on perennials more, requiring less seed starting and babying tender young annuals. You will even water less as you rely on perennials more.

    Who Should Plant a Layered Garden?

    I highly recommend layered gardens for those in an urban setting, as they’re great for those with limited space. It’s just one of the best ways to grow more food in a small space.

    But absolutely anyone and any space can practice layered gardening.

    It’s great for food gardeners and cooks but will also work for those who want a beautiful space. You can also have a most ornamental layered garden with food options. Or use this method to create a more lush space and minimize empty space.

    “This is also a gardening style if you want to be creative and build a garden space that doesn’t look like everyone else’s in your neighbourhood,” says Christina. “Landscapes often take on a depressing sameness, with each garden featuring the same ten plants that are cheaply available at every nursery and big-box store.”

    Rather than having distinct rules and practices, layered gardening is more of an overall approach. This means that anyone can benefit and grow from having a layered garden.

    How to Start a Layered Garden

    The first mindset shift of a layered garden is focusing more on perennials. These will naturally fill in the space with larger trees and shrubs and, as mentioned, require significantly less maintenance and resources.

    Since annuals only grow in one season, they require significantly more work. “Supporting all of that quick growth means annuals need more resources,” says Christina. “That means more fertilizer, more water, and richer soil to grow in.”

    Perennials also provide year-round interest, have longer harvest seasons, and support the local ecosystem. Yes, perennials will take several years to establish themselves and produce food. But down the line, it’s so little work.

    When starting your layered garden, start small and work your way up. Don’t try to overhaul the whole garden in one season. Pick one area and start with that.

    Before you rip our existing garden, plan out your layers and consider how you want to use your space. Make sure it’s still enjoyable and that you’re growing what you’re most interested in.

    Start with the tallest layer, as this will affect the others. For instance, a large tree could create more shade, and you must ensure all plants match your garden’s conditions.

    layered garden cherry treelayered garden cherry tree
    Fruit trees take a few years to bear fruit but once they do, provide an abundance of fruit.

    The “Layers” of a Layered Garden

    It’s time we start planning out our layers! I’ll give you a little breakdown of all the different layers, but check out Christina’s book for an in-depth look at the layers and some suggestions on what to grow.

    Canopy Tree Layer

    Your tallest layer begins with the tallest trees. There’s a good chance you already have large trees on your property or your city boulevard. In most cases, you stick with what you have.

    “These are the large trees, reaching over 40 feet (12 m) tall, making them the layer that casts the most shade and has the greatest impact on the rest of your garden space,” says Christina.

    If you don’t have any large trees or are starting a garden completely from scratch, the canopy tree layer is one of the biggest decisions in starting your layered garden.

    Here are a few examples of canopy trees from Christina:

    • Pine
    • Sugar maple
    • Linden
    • Walnut

    Subcanopy Layer

    Your subcanopy layer consists of small trees. Most common fruit trees fall under this category. They take time to get established and bear fruit, but once they do, they provide plenty of food and year-round beauty.

    Christina suggests putting these trees on the edge of your property. “Use subcanopy trees where you need beneficial shade and to gain extra height and screening from foliage, where you want a more compact package than a larger canopy tree,” she says.

    Here are a few examples from Christina of subcanopy trees

    flowering quine flowersflowering quine flowers
    Flowering quince.

    Shrub Layer

    The shrub layer is one of the most prolific and versatile layers. Many shrubs can be edible, beautiful, and also work as privacy screens.

    Many of us already have shrubs in our backyards. And we love them because they’re so low maintenance and easy to work with.

    Here are a sample of shrubs from Christina:

    blueberriesblueberries
    Some shrubs, like blueberries, you can also grow in containers.

    Herbaceous Perennial Layer

    Your herbaceous perennial layer consists of a lot of perennial vegetables and herbs.

    “These plants are smaller than shrubs, so you can pack many of them in even the smallest garden,” says Christina. “There are also many species and varieties to choose from, with lots of edible options.”

    Here is a handful of options for this layer:

    • Hosta
    • Garlic chive
    • Anise hyssop
    • Mint
    • Asparagus
    • Daylily
    • Giant butterbur

    Climber Layer

    One of the best ways to use vertical space is by including some climbers in your garden.

    “Every building on your property has empty walls that could be covered with beautiful and delicious climbers,” says Christina. You can also create spaces just for your climbers, such as trellises, pergolas, and gates. There are many ways to beautify and utilize a climber.

    Here is a sampling of some climbers:

    hopes growing in the gardenhopes growing in the garden
    Hops is a beautiful plant also great for sleep and relaxation.

    Annual Layer

    Yes, there is still room for your traditional veggie garden. After all, how else will you delight in the taste of a freshly grown tomato?

    “Annual crops can also be a great option to fill empty spaces in time,” says Christina. “Most of your herbaceous layer will be dormant in the winter, leaving a bare and inedible garden.”

    Ground Cover Layer

    The low level of the garden shouldn’t be discounted either. Most think of a lawn, but there are more options.

    Christina says, “Small, low-growing, carpeting plants play a key role in protecting the soil from erosion and summer heat while also eliminating places for weed seeds to germinate.”

    Here are some ground cover options:

    • Wild strawberry
    • Wild ginger
    • Wintergreen
    • Thyme
    • Nasturtium

    The Rhizosphere Layer

    Another layer? Yes! There is also plenty going on below the surface. There are many edible and medicinal roots out there. The top of the plant may also contribute to a different layer.

    It should be noted that you do need to disturb the soil to plant these veggies. “Choose locations that you can access easily, such as the perimeter of beds or the back of a border,” says Christina.

    Here are some examples of edible roots:

    • Sunchoke
    • Oca
    • Taro
    • Onions
    • Radish
    harvested sunchokes in wicker basketharvested sunchokes in wicker basket
    Sunchokes.

    And that covers all the layers! For more on this very cool practice of making an edible layered garden, be sure to check out Christina’s book.

    More Tips for Growing Food in Urban Spaces

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    Stephanie Rose

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  • BookTok Books: The Most Popular Books on TikTok That Make You Forget You’re Even Reading

    BookTok Books: The Most Popular Books on TikTok That Make You Forget You’re Even Reading

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    All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

    With the rise of the “third space,” a safe haven away from home often found in bookstores and cafes, and the clean “it girl” aesthetic who has her life together, reading is more en vogue than ever (even if a good novel is timeless). BookTok, a popular vertical on TikTok, is here to help propel your summer read recommendations, whether you’re searching for a quick and juicy romance paperback on the beach or an exhilarating sci-fi hardcover perfect for Summer Friday lounging on your couch. Here, we’ve rounded up 10 of TikTok’s most popular books this season. From the tearjerkers like It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover to the thrillers like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, these novels are a great jumping off point for a summer reading list.

    What are the best BookTok books? Read on for the best BookTok books and most popular novels on TikTok in fantasy, romance and more genres.

    Image: Courtesy of Atria.

    If you’re looking for an enchanting and romantic tearjerker, look no further than It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. The novel follows Lily, a newly successful young woman who encounters a seemingly perfect neurosurgeon named Ryle. The sparks between them are undeniable, but she dreams of her first love, Atlas, who abruptly reappears into her life. There’s hot debates on TikTok on the Lily-Ryle-Atlas love triangle, but TikTok user @charleys.chapters mentions it just makes her “so happy that this book is getting the recognition it deserves.” 

    Image: Courtesy of Atria.

    Historical, romantic and psychological all at once, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is the page-turner you need to read. The glamorous and secluded Evelyn Hugo of old 1950’s Hollywood is finally ready to recount her life story to a journalist, Monica, who seems down on her luck. The book alternates between Monica and Evelyn’s point of view, and past and present, which creatively intertwines the two women’s lives together in a breathtaking way. TikTok user @thebooksiveloved reviews that Evelyn’s “story with each husband was just so devastating and…so beautiful, but it is her greatest love…that really gets you. Honestly, try not to cry!” 

    Image: Courtesy of G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

    An ode to the natural world and coming of age, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens dreams up a story about a “Marsh Girl,” Kya, in a 1969 North Carolina coastal town. When the beloved town hero quarterback Chase Andrews is found dead, Kya is a go-to suspect. A murder historical mystery intertwined with young love, it’s a must-read for appreciators of atmospheric moving writing and a juicy storyline. Most of all, according to TikTok user @ava_booktok1, the heartwrenching ending has this book firmly planted in the category of “Books That Had Me Sobbing at the End.” For the ultra-fans, you can also watch the tale unfold in theaters this summer starting July 15, with A-listers like Reese Witherspoon producing and Taylor Swift on the soundtrack.

    Image: Courtesy of Celadon Books.

    Mystery thriller lovers can’t get enough of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. TikTok user @mollyybooks quickly breaks down the narrative as it “follows a psychotherapist when he goes to work at a new facility and he gets really interested in one patient who murdered her husband and has not talked since.” The storyline continues as the psychotherapist goes on to treat and uncover the patient’s life. Spoiler alert—readers still can’t get over their shock of an abrupt plot twist ending. 

    Image: Courtesy of Bloomsbury USA Childrens.

    A YA series, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is the first of a four-book action-packed fantasy fiction collection. Our main character is Feyre, a 19-year old huntress who ends up slaughtering a wolf and needs to pay for it. She winds up in a mysterious land, Fae, and falls for her captor named Tamlin, an immortal fairy who once dominated her past world. TikTok user @katie.books includes A Court of Thorns and Roses in her video “Popular ‘BookTok’ Books That are Actually Worth the Hype,” while the rest of TikTok can’t get over the whimsical and passionately risque world Maas built, dreaming up fan castings and wardrobes for the characters. Fantasy-lovers, this one’s for you.

    Image: Courtesy of Knopf.

    Following Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel, Homegoing, is the poignantly and painfully beautiful Transcendent Kingdom. “How are you writing a fiction book and making me cry big tears on the train?” TikTok user @kyrabrucek yells. The book follows Gifty, a sixth-year PhD candidate of neuroscience at Stanford, and her determination to understand the scientific basis of her familial suffering around her. With Gifty’s once-gifted brother who overdosed on heroin and a suicidal mother who lives in her home, Gyasi paints a portrait of an immigrant family’s exploration and grappling with grief and how there is beauty in what is broken. 

    Image: Courtesy of Random House Publishing Group.

    Dive head first into the spicy summer storylines with BookTok’s current obsession, Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman. “This is the best book I’ve read in 2022,” recommends TikTok user @madymalo, who also claimed in a video that Funny You Should Ask was the first novel to give her a book hangover in a long time. “It’s about a reporter and an A-list celebrity and their relationship over ten years. It’s glamorous, it’s witty, it’s so well written, and of course it’s sexy.” Romance fans, take note and run to grab this for your beach reads stat.

    Image: Courtesy of Chicken House.

    They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but BookTokers are obsessed not only with the aesthetic of Stolen by Lucy Christopher, but its captivating thriller plot as well. A story of a young teenage girl who gets kidnapped in an airport by a male who whisks her away into isolation and expects her to love him, it’s a heartbreaking and emotional storyline of Stockholm Syndrome and survival. TikTok user @readingteen summarizes, “This book is crazy and twisted and terrifying. I read it years ago and it still lives in my head.”

    Image: Courtesy of Penguin Press.

    Ocean Vuong’s recently published sophomore poetry collection, Time is a Mother, is achingly beautiful as a tribute and discovery into grief after losing his mother. The series of poems contend with shifts in personal relationships, the aftershocks of loss and immigration, while fearlessly experimenting with language and structure. “He has an incredible ability to weave poems that are rich with imagery and vivid emotion but also being really easy to read,” TikTok user @caityreads describes. If you’re looking to be inspired paired with an ugly cry, this short but gorgeous read is a must. 

    Image: Courtesy of Thorndike Press Large Print.

    “This book is not a sad book…yet I feel the most insane, crippling sense of sadness in my chest that I don’t think will ever go away,” reviews TikTok user @sivanreads, as she holds up Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi with mascara-stained tears running down her face. The international bestseller takes place in a small over 100-year old cafe in the back of a Tokyo alley. Four customers over the course of a summer not only sip coffee but get a chance to travel back in time. A mythically charming prose that delves into human relationships, time and missed opportunities, Kawaguchi’s book is definitely a thought-provoker that you’ll want to snatch up.

    Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

    New Entertainment Newsletter

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    Jason Pham

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  • Sen. Rand Paul tackles the pandemic in his new book at Reagan Library

    Sen. Rand Paul tackles the pandemic in his new book at Reagan Library

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    Sen. Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, discussed his recently released book at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Tuesday, February 20.

    In his book “Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up,” released in October and published by Regnery Publishing, Paul slammed Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for misleading the nation about the origins of the pandemic, which he said emerged from a research lab in Wuhan, China.

    Paul is a former physician, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, and since then has advocated for limited government and fiscal conservatism among other issues. The author of six books, he graduated from Baylor University and Duke University School of Medicine with a degree in ophthalmology. Paul is also the founder of the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic, which provides eye exams and surgery to low-income families.

    In April, Paul accused Former Chief Medical Advisor to the President Anthony Fauci of committing “one of the worst judgment errors” in his tackling of the pandemic.

    During Tuesday’s event attended by several hundreds of guests, Paul said that Fauci had funded research at Wuhan Virology Institute in China that eventually caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In a report released last year, U.S. intelligence agencies wrote that there was no evidence that the pandemic started from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. The report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence found that the U.S. intelligence agencies didn’t rule out the possibility that the pandemic originated from the lab. The agency also didn’t pinpoint what had caused the outbreak.

    Christopher Wray, the FBI director, said last year that his agency has studied the origins of the pandemic and found that it stemmed from an incident that happened at the lab in Wuhan. The Chinese government has long denied the claims that it started in their country.

    Asked during the Q&A session what has to happen to military members who refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Paul said military personnel along with firemen, policemen, nurses, and doctors “should be reinstated with back pay.”

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    Olga Grigoryants

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  • The Book Club: “The Maniac” and more short reviews from readers

    The Book Club: “The Maniac” and more short reviews from readers

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    Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. So we asked them, and other readers, to share these mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email bellis@denverpost.com.

    “Five Tuesdays in Winter: Stories,” by Lily King (Grove Press, 2021)

    “Five Tuesdays in Winter: Stories,” by Lily King (Grove Press, 2021)

    Lily King’s novel “Writers and Lovers” is a favorite of mine, so I was willing to read “Five Tuesdays in Winter,” although I tend to avoid short stories. These 10 stories are varied in setting, time, mood, voice, length, character and action, but they are unified in clarity and excellent writing. Each one gave me much to ponder, but I did not feel cheated by their brevity — in fact, I’m amazed how much depth King creates with so few words. My favorite? Hard to choose, but if pressed I would say the title story. — 3 1/2 stars (out of 4); Neva Gronert, Parker 

    “Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon and the Things That Last,” by Wright Thompson (Penguin Books, 2020)

    I had to invoke my 50-page rule for this one; i.e., if it doesn’t grab me by page 50, then drop it and move on.  As I can appreciate a fine bourbon, this one initially intrigued me.  But apparently the author didn’t have enough actual information about this family-owned, Kentucky distillery to fill out a book-length narrative.  It meanders much like a road trip that is detoured, becomes lost and refuses to ask for directions. A fun idea, poorly executed. — 0 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver 

    “Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral,” by Kris Radish (Bantam, 2006)

    After the death of her friend Annie at age 56, a package arrives for Katherine Givens with the ashes of her free-spirited, altruistic childhood pal, along with instructions. She’s to head a procession from California to Manhattan with a collection of five women, strangers to one another but Annie’s closest friends. Their charge? To spread their friend’s ashes. A funeral becomes the destination and the power base for change and friendship for all. They discover her deepest secrets and share many of their own. These unorthodox mourners come to see the greatness Annie saw in them and attain the courage to act on it. — 2 stars (out of 4); Bonnie McCune, Denver (bonniemccune.com)

    “The Maniac,” by Benjamin Labatut (Penguin Press, 2023)

    "The Maniac," by Benjamin Labatut (Penguin Press, 2023)
    “The Maniac,” by Benjamin Labatut (Penguin Press, 2023)

    This novel shines a light on some of the moral questions presented by new technological advances.  Part 1 follows Paul Ehrenfest, a physicist who strove to understand “the core of things” but who was leery of the potential applications of quantum physics.  Part 2 focuses on John von Neumann, who is credited with inventing game theory and the first programmable computer, and whose work also laid the foundation for artificial intelligence.  Part 3 describes the leaps of AI beyond von Neumann’s work, exemplified by the work of Lee Sedol and his AI program, AlphaGo, which beat all master Go players. The eponymous “maniac” could be the 1950s Princeton-based Mathematical Analyzer, Numerical Integrator and Computer (MANIAC), or it could be the geniuses profiled in this work of historical fiction. You can decide. — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

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  • This 11-year-old got Port Authority to build a children’s library at Newark International Airport

    This 11-year-old got Port Authority to build a children’s library at Newark International Airport

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    NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) — A young reader dreamt her way to building a library in one of the busiest places in the Tri-State area: an airport.

    Sia Malhotra, 11, is very much familiar with the book selection on the shelves of the new Children’s Lending Library at Terminal A of Newark International Airport.

    The new library opened a month ago, but according to Malhotra, “I started making this when I was eight.”

    Creating the newly built reading space was a personal mission that first began when she saw a children’s library at an airport in Alaska.

    “She was in the little area of the books and that’s how the idea was born,” said Chetan Malhotra, Sia’s father.

    From there, the avid reader started making moves.

    “She has an idea, she nurtures it,” said her mother, Nishu Malhotra. “So, she keeps on pestering people like, ‘Hey I need to get this done.’”

    In 2021, she wrote an email to Port Authority and reached out about turning that idea into a reality.

    “It got to my desk at General Manager,” said Sarah McKeon, GM of New Jersey Airports. “And I said, ‘Yes, absolutely. Let’s make this happen.’”

    From there, Sia needed a shelf that would comply with airport safety standards. So, she emailed Home Depot in East Hanover.

    “And she was like, ‘Of course, we can do this for you,’” she recalled. “So, we talked to another man who helped build it.”

    Red tape takes time to slice through, and this journey happened to be three years in the making.

    “I was a little impatient that time,” confessed Sia. “But I kind of knew that it’s okay, it’s going to happen.”

    Sia has a website, Lets Read Today, where libraries and people who believe in her dream have donated children’s books and she could use more.

    Her journey is not over.

    “I want to propose to the Port Authority to get more libraries into the other terminals,” said Sia.

    ALSO READ | New high school in Queens will prepare students for careers in health care

    Sonia Rincon has the story.

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