Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
This is the kind of book you read and then buy another copy to send to a friend who lives in Brisbane. The kind of book you keep close after finishing it just because the messages about creativity are ones you want to hold onto. I love everything that Gilbert writes but I’m not a self-help book person so the fact I was easily able to stay engaged until the end of this book says a lot. It has a companion podcast called Magic Lessons where Elizabeth Gilbert calls up people who are ‘stuck’ with their creativity and gives them homework.
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Kaling started as a writer on The Office and now has her own show called The Mindy Project which she stars in and writes. She’s of the Lena Dunham school of kick-arse women who are redefining what women look like on TV. She’s also a smart, sharp, funny writer.
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
This isn’t a new book. It’s a really old one but it’s often referenced by female writers I love as being one of their favourites so I bought it as an iBook and loved it. Only took me a couple of hours to read. Now I’m diving into her back catalogue.
The Anti-Cool Girl by Rosie Waterland
From one of the Mamamia family, my friend Rosie Waterland flew out of the gate with this hilarious heart-breaking memoir that stays with you long after you put it down. In her first book (no doubt there will be many more to come), Rosie dives deep into the murky swamp of her childhood in a way that makes you wonder how she is a walking, talking, functioning human being today, let alone the extraordinary successful woman she has become.
The Wife Drought by Annabel Crabb
Along with Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, I’d say this is one of the most important books for working women to read in the past decade. Annabel writes with her signature dry wit, sharp humour and delicious phrasing about how women need wives and men need lives. And how the two things rely on each other.
Flesh Wounds by Richard Glover
After writing a magazine piece about his mother and their fraught relationship, Richard diverts his course from his usual humourous books to deliver something more raw and emotional than anything I’ve read from him before. He’s such a gifted storyteller and his willingness to be honest about some confronting subjects makes this book a great read.
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
The woman who created Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and Private Practice, Shonda Rhimes is the most powerful and accomplished woman in television. This book is a memoir sparked by the realisation that she was saying no to everything in her life as a way to hide from the world. Some parts are a big repetitive and “you go girl” but there’s some great behind the scenes stuff about her shows and it’s written like she’s talking to you.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Lots of people have said it’s not as good as Tina Fey’s Bossypants but I say pah to that. Why can’t they both be good? Why do we have to compare? Some parts dragged a bit but there were lots of great nuggets and I loved the insights and advice that didn’t feel preachy. Lots of lolz too.
Ask Me Anything by Rebecca Sparrow
Remember Dolly Doctor? Bec Sparrow is the new version. She’s the person I trust to give my daughter advice and since she selfishly refuses to allow said daughter to come live with her through her tween years, I have been forced to settle for the book version as well as the younger sister to this book, Find Your Tribe which my daughter and I are reading together.
So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
I listened to this as an audio book and just had the best time listening to Jon Ronson’s lilting voice. A must-read for anyone who has a social media account: this book is about the terrifying reality of how your life can be irrevocably changed in the course of a single tweet or Instagram post. It’s a rollicking narrative and my goodness Ronson’s a terrific storyteller.
Watch Jon Ronson discuss public shaming.
Top Comments
I've read some great books this year, and some awful ones as well... One of my favourites was The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer, though she's not everyone's cup of tea, the other that's stuck with me all year was Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, now I wonder why I'd never read it before now.
I'm not convinced to read Mindy Kaling's book, her first book was awful and I just can't bear to put myself through that again.
Gilbert and Poehler's books are already on my to read list, and I may have to pick up Ask Me Anything and Find Your Tribe for my girls.
I've only read 44 books this year, so will struggle to name 10 "best".
Pavel and I & The Crooked Maid by Dan Vyleta. I read The Quiet Twin the year before. Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada, God Bless Little Sister by Patsy Crawford, One Of Us:the Story of Anders Brievik & the Massacre in Norway by Asne Seierstad. (which is the only non fiction I read this year, though God Bless Little Sister is based on fact). I've also read lots of enjoyable thrillers. I rarely read non fiction, and rarely read what I "should".. I read what I like.