Summer is here and that means summer reading!  I don’t always have a lot of time to read
these days but when summer comes along we do spend a little bit of time up at
the cottage and I always have a book for the dock. This summer I am focusing on
a few books from my online circle of friends and books that make my life
lighter, brighter and more abundant. 

One thing to note here is that when I say read sometimes I
mean listen. I have a relatively long commute to work every day. Sometimes it
can take me an hour and a half to two hours to get from my house to my
office.  I decided a while ago that I
needed to use that time to improve my life rather than just get angry while
being stuck in traffic so I use the time to LISTEN to audio books.  It is a great way to spend my commute time
because it helps me stay sane while driving in bumper to bumper traffic. 

Here are a few books on my summer reading/listening list.

Money Love by
Kate Northrup

This book is still in my NEED-TO-GET-TO pile. I follow Kate
on Twitter and Facebook and enjoy her philosophy about money and finance. I am
looking forward to reading her book. It is all about charting your own map to
financial freedom! 

The
Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor and Before
Happiness by Shawn Achor

I loved both of these books. Both deal with happiness, how
to get happy and how being happy benefits your personal and work life. It had
me rethinking a lot of things in my life.

The Gifts of
Imperfection by Brene Brown 

Brene Brown is a leading expert on shame, authenticity, and
belonging. Be sure to check out her TED Talks, she is amazing. In this book she
shares ten guideposts on the power of Wholehearted living. It is a way of
engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.

A New
Earth by Eckhart Tolle

I listened to this book for hours on my commute to work. It
really got me thinking about how I talk to myself and how I interact with
others.  It is worth a read or a listen
to for sure. 

Success
Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple by Russell Simmons

This one is on my must-read or rather must-listen-to. I have
tried meditation. It is still a work in process. I always feel better, more
focused and thankful after meditating but I feel like I am still learning to be
still and focused. I am hoping this book will help me learn to find success in
meditation. There are real mind, body, spirit benefits to meditation so I am
looking forward to this book. 

What the Most
Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam

This was a quick listen for me. It is a fun book about
helping readers (listeners like me) build habits that lead to a happier and
more productive life.

I would love to hear what you are reading right now or have
on your must-read list. I enjoy anything that is about improving my life,
helping me become happier, healthier and more productive!