Top 5: Books I’m reading right now {and you should too!}

November 7, 2012 By 14 Comments Fat Mum Slim

I don’t often read books. I buy them, but can’t commit to reading them. It has to be amazing on those first few pages to really grab me. And I don’t like fantasy or fiction very much. Fussy little reader, aren’t I?

I do think that word-of-mouth books are usually the best finds. You know when someone is so moved/entranced by a book that they have to share it. I like that. I once was reading My Sister’s Keeper at the park {when I was a nanny} and a lady came up and told me the ending to the book. Ruined.

I’ve been getting back into my book-reading-mojo and thought I’d share them with you. These are good enough to read. Promise.

→ 642 things to write about
This isn’t so much of a reading book, but a ‘doing’ book. It’s a really thick book that will spur on your creative writing side and have you thinking. Buy it here.

→ Things I Love
Having met Megan Morton a few times now, I know this book is just SO her. It’s like we get a great little insight into the inside of her creative mind. It’s for people that like beautiful things, homes, bits and bobs, people, anything. It’s eye candy, and even has postcards of pretty things that you can rip out and display. Buy it here.

→ Blog Inc
If you’re into browsing blogs on the internet there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Joy Cho {of Oh Joy!}. This blogging book covers everything you need to know about blogging, in a easy-to-read way. I love a book on blogging. I do. Buy it here

→ Happier At Home
I loved Gretchen Rubin’s first book. I gobbled it up in a matter of hours and felt changed after reading it. I scribbled notes on the pages, turned corners over to remind myself and even got the highlighter out. It’s a brilliant. This is similar and still good, and worth picking up. Buy it here.

→ $100 Start-Up
Chris Guillebeau was a guest speaker at the conference that I recently attended. I hadn’t heard of him before that day, but I felt like I should have. He’s super charming and after talking to him at the dinner, I went back to my room and bought his book online. Having just started working for myself this book is brilliant. It’s how business has changed and it’s easier to go out and do it on your own, as well as how to do what you love and reinvent the process. Buy it here.

What are you reading at the moment? Have you got a book you can recommend?

Filed Under: Fat Mum Slim fat mum slim
  • Kristy O’Kane

    Hi Chantelle,

    Great selection, thanks for the recommendations. I’ve added Blog Inc and 642 Things to write about to my Amazon wishlist. I read the $100 Startup on holiday in Byron Bay earlier this year, it’s wonderfully inspirational. I love reading and find that I often have 3 or 4 books on the go at once as well.

    A few that I’ve really enjoyed recently are:
    - App Empire by Chad Mureta – fascinating story and really interesting look into the world of creating Apps.
    - The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan – this one’s a bit dense but if you’re interested in food and where it comes from in this day and age this is a must read. His other books Food Rules and In Defense of Food are also great.
    - Kaz Cooke’s Up the Duff – such a funny and lighthearted look at pregnancy that’s a welcome relief when you’re having a little freak out (29 weeks and counting!)
    - My Cool Caravan by Jane Field-Lewis and Chris Haddon – allows me to indulge my fantasy of taking off for a trip around Aus in a really cool caravan.

    Cheers,
    K

    • karenmundt

      Thanks for these suggestions. I’ve also read Chris Guillebeau’s book “The Art of Non-conformity” which is also a great read.

  • Lauren

    I’ve just started reading Gretchen Rubins first book, it is fantastic!

  • http://oddlovescompany.com/blog/ Katybeth

    These look great! Thanks for sharing. I am in need of a few new books.

  • http://www.yTravelBlog.com/ yTravelBlog

    Chris’ book is brilliant. I am haflway through it, spending my 15 minutes at midnight reading it

  • Corrie Sebire

    ohhhh thank you! nice timing close to christmas and great books for us mummies to read! going to have a look at a few of them! I need to make some time for reading!

  • http://twitter.com/katrinas_tweets Katrina

    Thanks for these, I’m always looking for a new inspiring book to read! X

  • http://twitter.com/realitychickaus reality chick

    Fab selection… didn’t know about a few of these so thanks! Rachel :)

  • Stavroulaki A

    I had the same feeling with happiness project, now just started happier at home, let’s see!

  • Tiia

    I read. A lot! I used to almost live in the libraries and bookstores when I was younger. I always have a book on my night stand, one or two on my Kindle/iBooks and I have a huge pile of “to read” books in my bookshelf! My main genre is thriller and crime books (fiction), but for some reason, every year around this time I find myself sucked into the vampire and other supernatural stories.. maybe it’s the darkening days and all that.. I’ve also been reading a few rock autobiographies lately, I can truly recommend The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx (it’s a very rough read, but makes you appreciate life even more). I’ve also found quite a few really cool and inspirational books about creative photography and rock photography (unfortunately they’re all in Finnish!), that I like to go back to every now and then to get new ideas into my own photography.

  • helen

    Great recommendations! I desperately want a copy of Things I Love, and plan to get one pre-Christmas.

    I do not generally read a lot of books as I do not have heaps of free time so do not feel like I can commit to an entire book, but love design books and vintage / antiques guides. I also read stacks of magazines.

    I have recently discovered Herve Tullet whose most famous book is probably Press Here. His books are generally aimed at ages 3-99 and are fun for the coffee table / kids presents.

    I do like reading (semi)biographical books and literary fiction. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is an absolute classic, and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. I used to read stacks when I was younger, and loved to get lost in a novel during my spare time.

  • samstone76

    I am currently reading How would love respond by Kurek Ashley

  • Tracey

    I love book recommendations! I’m an avid reader, so anything that is supposed to be a good read, regardless of genre, goes on my list! Thanks for these! :-)

  • laura bell

    I just bought Happier at Home. I also loved the Happiness Project. I’ve read the $100 Startup. Chris leads and interesting life. It would be cool to talk to him. I just finished the book 7 and The Casual Observer. Not a big fan of the 2nd one, but would recommend 7 by Jen Hatmaker. And I’m going to order Blog Inc.