This week, I finished five incredible books by some amazing authors. The first book on the list is one of the best books I’ve read about poverty in America. We also have one of my new favorite books on finding meaning and purpose in your life. We also have some books on becoming a better writer and one about being a better leader/co-worker. Enjoy!
Each of the links to the books are affiliate links, so if you use my link to purchase any of these books, some comes back to support what I do (and it also helps fund my reading habit).
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
This is a must-read book. It’s such an amazing book, yet I was infuriated throughout my entire time reading it. Why? Because Matthew Desmond did such an incredible job highlighting all of the problems that have led to the massive amount of poverty we have in the United States, which is one of the wealthiest nations on the planet.
I grew up without much money and spent most of my life without much money as well. It wasn’t until I “fortunately” received an inheritance when I was 37 years old and educated myself on personal finance that I have been able to barely get my head above water (and I put “fortunately” in quotes because we shouldn’t have to have a loved one die to get to a half-decent financial situation).
I binged this book in less than a day because it basically explained the story of my life that millions of other Americans are going through. Our country exploits the poor, profits off the poor, and is also designed to keep people poor. Desmond not only highlights this, but he also highlights how we are the problem. He explains how everyone’s always willing to shed a tear for the poor or put bandaids on the problem through donations, but when it comes to real change, we refuse to give anything up to help people have a reasonable standard of living.
This is a short book, and I wish I could force everyone to read it. The chapter on payday loans and banking and how they exploit the poor alone should be enough to have people rethink what low-income people deal with in this country.
The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters by Emily Esfahani Smith
This is by far one of my new favorite books, and I’ll be reading it again in the future. I’ve dealt with mental health challenges my whole life and also worked in the mental health field. Something I used to struggle with is something so many people struggle with, and that’s finding meaning and purpose in life. If you’ve ever struggled with depression, existentialism or nihilism, this book is a must-read. Emily Esfahani Smith wrote this incredible book that has a wealth of research to help people find meaning and purpose in their lives.
The book not only has a ton of research, but it also has a bunch of heart-warming stories about people who have found meaning in their life. When I got sober, I found that finding ways of being of service to others on a daily basis has given me meaning, and it’s something I teach my son. In this book, the author explains the research to back up what I found through 12-step programs 11 years ago that changed my life forever in the best way possible.
The one criticism I see this book having is people discussing the issues with our capitalist, individualistic society. I can see how some can take this book as saying, “Even if you’re broke and have a terrible, soul-crushing job, you can find meaning”, and that’s not the solution. I’d argue that while yes, there are many systemic issues we need to work on, they aren’t getting fixed today. And by taking the scientific advice from this book, you can stop being miserable enough to get out there and do the work to try and create a better society for all of us and our future generations.
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser
This is definitely one of the better books on writing well that I’ve read. I get a little skeptical of older books, but it seems like William Zinsser was way ahead of his time with the advice he gives. This was written long before the internet age, but Zinsser puts a major emphasis on brevity in writing and making it scannable and easy to digest. If you’re interested in improving your writing, this book is short and fantastic.
Writing About Your Life: A Journey into the Past by William Zinsser
I wrote a sort of memoir years ago, and I wish I had read this book before writing it. It almost makes me want to go back and rewrite it at some point. Like is other book, Zinsser provides a ton of great advice while also reminding you to cut a lot of the stuff you don’t need out of the book. Great book for anyone planning on writing a memoir.
Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success by Gary Vaynerchuk
I read an early copy of this book before it came out but wanted to give it another read. This specific book is about not just being a better manager/leader, but it also has a ton of great advice about navigating the workplace and climbing up the ladder. Gary Vaynerchuk gets a lot of unfair criticisms, but I think this book (as well as his others) really shows people who he is and how much he promotes empathy and kindness. Whereas most people discuss the workplace as a cutthroat environment where you have to step on people to move up and succeed, Gary’s advice is the exact opposite, and I think he sets the bar for what a good workplace should look like while also giving the reader some tough love.
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I read pretty much exclusively nonfiction, so lists like these are really appreciated!