book love: better than before


in january, i decided 2015 would be the year of more reading. 

i have held tightly to that commitment & have thoroughly enjoyed my new hobby. i've always loved reading, but college left me exhausted from required reading & endless textbooks. it's been such a gift to snuggle close to a book at night with tea in hand, falling back in love with the many stories i've dearly missed.

i've read some incredible books over the last six months, but one that has completely changed me from the inside out is better than before by gretchen rubin.

even if we've failed in the past, gretchen encourages her readers to master the art of habits by implementing strategies based on how we interact with the world & our own personality types. she then shares ways to make those habits even easier so that they become natural rhythms of our everyday lives.  

better than before has also helped me to better understand the people around me & how/why they make the choices that they do. i feel better equipped now as a wife & friend to encourage & interact with those closest to me. 

friends, i hope you'll snatch up a copy of this book & let me know what you think!

for more reading inspiration, check out elise's book report posts & shannan's book list. i visit these two places often.

what's one book you've recently read & loved? i'm on the hunt for another good read!
love,
natalie

10 comments:

Ali @ Anything You Want said...

Thanks for the suggestion - looks like a great read! I read "Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play when No One Has The Time" a little while back and it was also a very inspiring book. It is so hard to find balance in life and work, so it was really interesting to read others' perspectives on it!

Alia said...

Hey natalie! We were in the same small group at Hope Spoken and I just wanted to stop by :) I've been reading "Anything" by jennie Allen and it is totally wrecking me in such an amazing way. I'll definitely have to check your suggestion out. xo

Unknown said...

I have this book on hold from the library and can't wait to read it! Heard an interview with Gretchen Rubin on The Lively Show podcast - definitely worth a listen since they talk all about the book!

I read Orphan Train this summer and thought it was a beautiful story.

deb said...

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball or Animal Vegetable Miracle are both wonderful reads. I read and implemented Gretchen's Happiness Project book. Will have to check out this one.

Bethany said...

Sounds good! Thanks for sharing!

Danielle said...

Thank you so much for sharing, I'm always looking for new inspiring books to help me continue my own personal growth! Lovely!

Brittney said...

Speaking of Gretchen Rubin, I just finished reading her book The Happiness Project and loved it! It was so inspiring, so if you haven't read it, you should! Next on my list is Better Than Before, for sure!

Unknown said...

Like Lisa Valinsky I was also going to mention The Lively Show's interview with Gretchen Rubin. I listen to Jess Lively's podcast every week. If you don't yet, you should - I think you'd love it! I also listen to Elise's podcast. I can't read while I sew, so podcasts have become a great way to quieten my thoughts and absorb information while enjoying the movement of fabric under the needle (you'll know what I mean!)

candidshotphotography said...

So many good ones lately!! The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner, The Magic Art of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I have read more books over this summer than in the past five years (at least) combined by getting up super early and carving out time for stillness and quiet. I'm adding your suggestion to my list! I'm about to switch to novel mode and read Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman. I'll let you know how that one goes. :)

Unknown said...

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is a wonder book. Full of so much love and mercy! So glad that mercy is given daily.

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