Books to Read When You Need Some Inspiration

There are two types of people in this world: those who suffer from imposter syndrome and those who don’t admit they suffer from imposter syndrome. In her first book, Ash Ambridge, creator of the popular Middle Finger Project blog, lays out a roadmap for giving your insecurities the middle finger and putting yourself on the path to living your best life. It’s a fearless, fascinating, and witty guide to finding the “unfuckwithable you.”

When she sat down with the works of the 13th century Persian poet Rumi, Melody Moezzi expected to find some sage wisdom in each simple verse. What she discovered instead was a lifeline she did not entirely realize she needed. Immersing herself in these works, Moezzi discovered a path to living a life with intention and ease, while embracing love, against the chaotic backdrop of an ever-more divisive modern world. The Rumi Project charts that journey.

Simply listening is one of life’s greatest skills and one that is too often ignored. Following his first book tour, Brad Montague realized the one thing he sincerely missed was hearing the stories of others. To remedy this, he launched his first “Listening Tour.” Montague made his way around the country visiting elementary schools and nursing homes in the hopes of finding his way to becoming a better person. This jubilant, sometimes whimsical book is the result of that journey.

Dr. W. Lee Warren was a seasoned neurosurgeon who thought he had seen it all. He had seen patients who suffered all kinds of tragedies, offering hope where little existed despite knowing, “I’ve seen the end of you.” However, when tragedy struck his own family, Dr. Warren was forced to confront his own faith and the brutal realities of illness in a way that he never had. This stirring and fascinating memoir is his story.

In these particularly divisive times, it can be easy to overlook the transformative power of grace and forgiveness. With The Gift of Forgiveness, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt presents a number of in-depth interviews and recounts her own struggles and reflections on the concept of forgiveness. From well-known stories like Elizabeth Smart’s journey toward forgiving her captors to more everyday examples of forgiveness, this is an inspiring and humbling read to lead the way into 2020.

Following the tragic events of the Parkland shooting in 2018, the surviving students, seeking a way to channel their rage and grief, took to action organizing one of the largest youth-led movements in history. Their fight is ongoing, but it is a beacon of hope in dire circumstances. Glimmer of Hope is their story.

Hoda Kotb, long-time co-host of the fourth hour of Today and the current co-anchor of Today, began sharing her favorite inspirational quotes on Instagram a few years ago. The quotes, meaningful to Kotb for various reasons, began to resonate with thousands of fans across the platform. Encouraged by the way this allowed her to connect with and possibly comfort others, Kotb has curated 365 of her favorite sayings and quotes alongside a number of inspirational stories and anecdotes in I Really Needed This Today.

Any parent can tell you that there’s nothing quite like being in the trenches of it all. Dealing with a tiny person is a humbling, tiring, oft-hilarious, oft-infuriating experience that is hard to quantify until you’re actually in the thick of it. Fortunately, Kristina Kuzmic has made a name for herself by giving parents a well-hewn dose of hilarity and advice on getting by and trying to thrive in the wilds of parenthood.