#WritersRead: Books That Nudge by Rochelle Melander

Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly. —Francis Bacon

Although I devour mysteries and novels, I also like to have a nonfiction book around to nibble at. Here are a few that you might want to taste as well. These books have nudged me to think differently about myself and life. Enjoy!

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown. I’ve read this book twice. Like Brown’s book, Daring Greatly, my copy is filled with notes, marks, and brightly colored bookmarks. In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brown presents ten guideposts to wholehearted living. Each guidepost is backed up by her research with people who were resilient. For each guidepost, Brown includes what we need to let go of. For example, in order to cultivate creativity, we need to let go of comparison. This slim guide to wholehearted living includes more wisdom than anyone can digest in a single read. In fact, I think I might read it again!

Walking Home: A Poet’s Journey by Simon Armitage. Next to taking a long walk, there’s nothing quite so fun as reading about one, especially if the traveler is the poet Simon Artmitage. In this journey memoir, Armitage tells the story of how he traversed the 260-mile trail, living off the kindness of strangers who came to his poetry readings each night. No doubt, being somewhat famous helped Armitage navigate this journey—but still the book is interesting, insightful, and filled with a few laugh-aloud moments (as well as poems and photos).

When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams. Just before Terry Tempest Williams’ mother died, she said to her daughter, “I am leaving you all my journals.” In the Morman culture, women were required to bear children and keep a journal. After her mother’s death, Williams discovered that all of her journals were blank. Williams meditates on this conundrum, considering what it means for women to have a voice.

How to Be Interesting (In Ten Simple Steps) by Jessica Hagy. With intriguing diagrams and short, quirky sayings, Hagy nudges readers to get off the couch and tackle their dreams. Keep this book in the bathroom or on the coffee table and open it when you need a good kick in the pants.

The Scribble Diary by Lisa Currie. This fun little book offers templates to help readers reflect on their lives through words and pictures. With Currie’s simple drawings you can create a passport for the places visited during the day, draw your hoped-for future adventures in a crystal ball, or doodle your own survival kit.

Craft-a-Doodle: 75 Creative Exercises by Jenny Doh. If you love art but can’t really draw, this book is for you. Collecting projects from 18 artists, Doh provides a fun, attractive collection of projects for artist wannabees! Create a visual diary of your day, make a doodle monster, or use ink splats to make tiny bugs.