{"id":6153,"date":"2021-12-30T01:54:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-30T06:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theexecutivehappinesscoach.com\/?p=6153"},"modified":"2021-12-27T14:02:28","modified_gmt":"2021-12-27T19:02:28","slug":"book-reviews-top-2-for-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theexecutivehappinesscoach.com\/2021\/12\/book-reviews-top-2-for-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Reviews – Top 2 for ’21"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I used to curate an Annual Reading List, but after a while I learned two things: 1) a LOT of people and organizations do the same, to the point where mine felt redundant, and 2) based on click-tracking, I determined what people most appreciate is the surfacing of the BEST of the best. So I stopped publishing lists of what I read and appreciated and instead share the just my top choices. I offer 2021’s top picks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top Non-Fiction Pick<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the non-fiction side, the book that I learned the most from was Once a Girl, Always a Boy,<\/a> by Jo Ivester. I read it in response to my wife\u2019s confusion when a long-time tax client, Matt, showed up as Emma to complete her taxes this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like I said, confusing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the true coming-out story of a transgender man, Jeremy, told from multiple perspectives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The audio version is beautifully read by Jeremy, his mom Jo (the author), his dad, siblings, and a few friends. It speaks to their struggles, their own learning journeys, the challenges of being different and fluid in a world that wants everything to be binary and unchanging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I learned a lot from this book. I took away both new language to help me understand the reality of a non-binary world as well as more compassion for those who just want to be their authentic selves in a world that refuses to allow them to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those in leadership roles, coaches, and others in serving professions. In a world increasing focused on polarity and us\/them conversations, it’s critical that more of us understand that people are not statistics that neatly fit onto a short list of binary characteristics.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are, all of us, changing from one thing to another, all of the time. Let’s give others the safe space for their own change journey, even if it is not one we would take ourselves.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Top Fiction Pick<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My favorite fiction read in 2021<\/strong> was The Starless Sea<\/a>, the sophomore novel by Erin Morgenstern, author of The Night Circus (which I also loved).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I won\u2019t lie \u2013 some people hated this book, often for the same reasons I loved it<\/strong> \u2013 it\u2019s complex and fantastical. It\u2019s stories within stories within a main story that takes readers deep underground, alternates past and present, and includes cats and keys and bees in some interesting ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mostly I loved it for the magical way Morgenstern uses language.<\/strong> It\u2019s rare that I underline things while reading a novel, yet this book had lots of dog-eared pages and sticky notes by the time I finished. Here are three that spoke to me: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quote that felt like all of 2021<\/strong> (p 127):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He rests his head against the door and sighs. \/ This can\u2019t be real. \/ Then what is it?<\/em> the voice in his head asks and he doesn\u2019t have an answer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This felt like a coaching conversation!<\/strong> (p 351):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cMay I ask you a question?\u201c \/ \u201cYou may, but I might not have an answer, or if I have an answer it might not be the right one or a good one. Questions and answers don\u2019t always fit together like puzzle pieces.\u201c<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

And some wonderful advice<\/strong> (p 396):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBe brave,\u201c she says. \u201cBe bold. Be loud. Never change for anyone but yourself. Any soul worth their star-stuff will take the whole package as is and however it grows. Don\u2019t waste your time on anyone who doesn\u2019t believe you when you tell them how you feel.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

May you enter 2022 feeling brave and bold and kind and asking the right questions, and leading in the way you want to be led. <\/strong> <\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I used to curate an Annual Reading List, but after a while I learned two things: 1) a LOT of people and organizations do the same, to the point where mine felt redundant, and 2) based on click-tracking, I determined what people most appreciate is the surfacing of the BEST of the best. So I … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5789,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,79,13,274,228,11,62,499,21],"tags":[580,51,191,582,585,586,583,584,581],"yoast_head":"\nBook Reviews - Top 2 for '21 - The Executive Happiness Coach\u00ae<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Book reviews of two of my favorite books from this past year, and how they can both provide insight in your life and leadership.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theexecutivehappinesscoach.com\/2021\/12\/book-reviews-top-2-for-21\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Book Reviews - 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