11 Books to Get You Ready for 2021

Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. And the holiday break is always a treasured time to dig into a new book.

There are also books I read time and again and recommend to anyone who’ll listen. They’re my go-to’s because they changed my thinking and taught me something powerful and helpful as I grew in my career—and other areas of my life, too.

As you consider your priorities and goals—whether to grow as a leader, build your resilience, share more of your gifts, or start a side hustle—there’s a book here for you. I hope you’ll add these to your list for 2021.

If you want to develop as a learner…

Mindset – Carol Dweck

Earlier in my life and career, I was afraid of failure. I had somehow convinced myself that everything had to be done the “right” way or you shouldn’t try. Through learning about the importance of growth mindset from Carol Dweck, I began to understand the power of improvement. Growth mindset means not yet. It means you have to work to develop further. This way of thinking helps you be more open to when things don’t go as planned.

If you want to focus on optimism…

The Happiness Advantage – Shawn Achor

There’s a common belief that success leads to happiness, so people spend their lives working toward their goals, believing they will eventually find happiness. Except it doesn’t really work this way, because when you reach a goal, you keep setting new ones, and when you don’t reach your goals, there is still an opportunity to learn. This book changed my thinking on the role of optimism in my life and the importance of celebrating the journey. Achor says, “Happiness comes from fulfilling your potential.”

If you want to preserve your energy…

Burnout – Emily Nagoski, PhD

How many conversations have you had with a friend in recent months who said she felt burned out? This book shares practical tips on how to end the cycle of overwhelm and exhaustion, including insights and understanding of the science and societal effects. I received this book as a gift (my love language!) from a colleague/friend, complete with flags for the sections that resonated most with her. One of my favorite sections she highlighted: “Being compassionate to yourself—not self-indulgent or self-pitying, but kind—is both the least you can do and the single most important thing you can do to make the world a better place.”

If you want to create a more positive family dynamic…

The Secrets of Happy Families – Bruce Feiler

As first-time parents, my husband and I felt at a loss on how to handle certain situations with our son growing up. We had a sense about what was important to us, but weren’t sure how to teach our values. We found this book when our son was four and implemented several of the strategies, including defining our family values into a mission statement of sorts and telling our family story to help give our son better sense of where he comes from. (Research shows that children can better overcome their hardships and have a stronger well-being when they know about their family history.) Though it’s now been many years since we read the book the first time, I’ve been feeling all pandemic like it’s time to take the book out again.

If you want to value the moments for yourself and others…

The Power of Moments – Chip Heath and Dan Heath

The book’s premise is that most of the defining moments of our lives seem to just happen to us, but you can create them for yourself and others. By understanding what defining moments have in common, it shows you how to proactively produce them. These insights have implications for your personal life, your leadership, and your customer experience. (If you work in fundraising, this is a must read for donor stewardship!)

If you want to maximize your time…

When – Daniel Pink

If you’ve felt more creative or productive at a certain time of day, there’s science to back up that feeling. Pink shows you how to maximize your time by aligning your natural rhythms and energy to certain activities. Want to know when to schedule your next team meeting? Depends on whether you plan to brainstorm with the group or share information. Having a better understanding of the science of timing can help you do your best work and live your best life.

If you want to explore a side hustle…

Entrepreneurial You – Dorie Clark

If you’ve ever dreamed about starting your own business or working as a freelancer part-time, this book provides you with a thorough overview of how to get started. Dorie Clark writes about business in an approachable way, sharing stories of her own experiences and other entrepreneurs. You don’t yet have to have a business idea to gain value from this book, but keep a notepad nearby for all of the ideas you’ll have after reading this.

If you want to develop a more cohesive team, even while working remotely…

Rituals Roadmap – Erica Keswin

Rituals help people transition from one activity to another, mark a point in time, or transform a moment. They create a sense of unity, meaning, and connectedness. Right now when time feels so fluid and days blend together, rituals help us keep track of what we value. They are also an important way to foster employee engagement. If you’re looking for new rituals to create for your team or office, you’ll want to check out Erica Keswin’s book when it comes out in January. Thrilled to share I’ll be featured in this book sharing two of my favorite work rituals!

If you want to write/create more…

Bird by Bird – Anne Lamott

A friend recommended this book, which is a laugh-out-loud primer for writers. Even with the clear purpose I have, my own thoughts can stop me from creating some times. This book reminded me that if you don’t create something, you’ll never be able to create THE thing—and that’s what I’m working toward. Whether you want to write for yourself or others, you’ll get the inspiration to keep going.

If you want to read a fiction book that feels like real life women in leadership…

The Female Persuasion – Meg Wolitzer

I read far more nonfiction than fiction, and yet, I love great fiction. What was so fascinating to me about this book is that it explored many of the topics I enjoy reading in nonfiction: women in leadership, mentorship, and ambitious women. The novel explores feminism from all perspectives while telling the story of friendship, power, and growth. This was the first Meg Wolitzer book I read and then I promptly went out to buy nearly every other one she has written.

If you want to remember the importance of being present…

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse – Charlie Mackesy

This illustrated book tells a story of friendship for all ages. Charlie Mackesy’s drawings are as beautiful as his words. It’s a great book to read together as a family: Though children may enjoy this on their own level, there are important reminders for adults, too. Because right now, we could all use a bit more of the messages of hope, kindness, vulnerability, and presence.

I’d love to connect with you as you read these, and I hope you’ll tag me on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram when you do! I’m here to support you.

Looking for more of my book recommendations? Here are the 9 Books That Made Me the Leader I Am Today and 6 Books for Working Women Leaders.