Christine’s Top Book Picks For a Cool, Creative, and Confident Summer

Welcome to Christine’s Top Book Picks For a Cool, Creative, and Confident Summer! If you're looking to ignite your creativity, design a meaningful future, gain wisdom from the experienced, and discover the power of small actions, you've come to the right place. Join me on this literary journey as we explore four captivating books that will inspire, empower, and transform your summer and beyond.

These books are:

• Steal Like an Artist | Austin Kleon

• Design the Life You Love: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Meaningful Future | Ayse Birsel

• 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans | Karl A. Pillemer

• Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World | William H. McRaven

Steal Like an Artist | Austin Kleon

"Steal Like an Artist" encourages readers to embrace their unique voice and express themselves authentically. It challenges conventional notions of originality and instead promotes embracing influence, remixing ideas, and creating something new from existing inspiration. 

The book empowers readers to adopt a creative mindset and view the world with curiosity and openness. It promotes the idea that everyone has the capacity for creativity and that embracing creative pursuits can lead to personal growth, fulfillment, and more vibrant life. 

Written by Austin Kleon, an artist, author, and speaker known for his unique perspective on creativity and the artistic process, "Steal Like an Artist" has gained popularity for its fresh insights and practical advice for creative individuals.

Why you’ll love this book:

Kleon's writing style is engaging, relatable, and easy to digest. The book is filled with illustrations, quotes, and anecdotes that make it an enjoyable and accessible read for both seasoned artists and those exploring their creative side. 

It also includes tons of exercises and prompts that readers can apply immediately to their creative endeavours. It offers guidance on finding inspiration, cultivating habits, managing time, and sharing creative work with others.

Design the Life You Love: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Meaningful Future | Ayse Birsel

The book "Design the Life You Love" is written by Ayse Birsel, a renowned designer and creative director. Ayse Birsel has a background in product design and has worked with numerous global brands. Her book combines her design expertise with personal development principles to guide readers in designing a life that aligns with their passions, values, and aspirations.

Drawing holds a powerful creative and introspective potential, and "Design the Life You Love" harnesses the transformative power of drawing to help readers envision and shape their ideal lives.

Why you’ll love this book:

The book embraces a creative approach to life design, utilizing design principles and methodologies to spark innovative thinking. It encourages readers to think outside the box, embrace experimentation, and find unique solutions to create a fulfilling and meaningful life. 

Through engaging exercises and visual prompts, the book encourages readers to tap into their imagination, use drawing as a tool for self-expression, and visually explore different possibilities for designing a life they truly love. By embracing drawing as a medium of exploration and communication, readers can unlock new perspectives, uncover hidden insights, and bring their dreams and aspirations to life on paper.

30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans | Karl A. Pillemer

The book draws from the wisdom and life experiences of over a thousand older adults. It offers valuable insights and lessons learned from individuals who have lived through various challenges, successes, and transitions, providing a unique perspective on life. 

The author, Karl Pillemer, conducted extensive research and interviews with older adults to distill their wisdom and life lessons into this insightful book. His gerontology expertise and commitment to understanding the complexities of human experience make him a trusted author for living a fulfilling life.

Through practical suggestions and exercises, readers can apply each lesson to their own lives. The book empowers individuals to take action and implement positive changes based on the lessons learned from older adults.

Why you’ll love this book:

“30 Lessons for Living” will help you foster personal growth and a deeper appreciation for the wisdom gained through life experience. The best part is that the lessons shared are relevant to all ages and are told from the perspective of the actual “experts” Karl A. Pillemer interviews throughout the book. So if you like stories about lived experiences, this book is definitely for you. 

While the wisdom is derived from older adults, the insights can resonate with readers at any stage of life, offering timeless principles and perspectives to contemplate and apply.

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World | William H. McRaven 

"Make Your Bed" encourages readers to cultivate a positive mindset and attitude toward life. It promotes the idea that individuals can foster a sense of purpose, resilience, and optimism by taking control of small actions and embracing challenges.

Admiral McRaven's experiences in the military provide valuable insights into developing resilience and mental toughness and offer practical strategies for facing challenges head-on, embracing discomfort, and maintaining a positive mindset in difficult circumstances.

Why you’ll love this book:

"Make Your Bed" offers practical wisdom and actionable advice that readers can easily implement daily. It provides tangible strategies for building good habits, embracing challenges, and finding meaning and purpose in everyday tasks.

The book makes it easy to start with ​​small actions and highlights how they can profoundly impact one's life. It encourages readers to recognize the value of consistency, attention to detail, and the cumulative effect of small daily habits.

In closing,

As we wrap up this enriching literary journey, I hope you've found inspiration and motivation from Christine’s Top Book Picks For a Cool, Creative, and Confident Summer. Whether you're an artist seeking fresh perspectives, an aspiring life designer, or someone looking to glean wisdom from those who have journeyed before us, these books have something exceptional to offer.

Remember, creativity knows no bounds, and you possess the power to shape your future and embrace life's challenges with resilience. Small actions can make a big difference, and you can unlock your true potential through curiosity, openness, and continuous growth.

Thank you for embarking on this adventure with us. May these books accompany you on sun-kissed afternoons and quiet evenings, sparking new ideas and guiding you toward a brighter, more fulfilling summer and beyond. Happy reading!