Three Books to Read this Summer (It’s Not Over Yet!)

I don’t care what anyone says, in my mind summer’s still in full gear and will be until my kids head off to school after Labor Day. For me, that means squeezing in a few more books to read before the busy-ness of September kicks in.

So, for a lighter blog post this week apropos of the final days of summer, I thought I’d share what’s currently on my bookshelf. Hopefully, it will inspire you to grab a copy yourself, or perhaps pick up another book you’ve been dying to read before we find ourselves in the throes of the fall season…

I always try to always be reading at least one book related to finances and money, and this book is a perfect summer read because it is calming, accessible and relatable. Bari Tessler Linden, the author, is a financial therapist and specifically addresses something that I am also extremely passionate about – our relationship to money. Be forewarned: you’ll find no graphs or historical data on investments here so if that’s what you are looking for, this is not a book for you! Rather, this is about one’s emotional response to money and how to deal with things like shame, fear, and avoidance around it. That being said, it’s also extremely positive and uplifting. Highly recommend.

I am riveted by this memoir by American photojournalist Lynsey Addario. She takes you through her travels through war torn countries like Afghanistan, places undergoing historical transitions like Cuba, and countries like East Congo where women’s struggles are particularly pronounced and need a voice – or in this case, an image- so that the world is more aware. Addario is an inspiration both as a professional photographer and as a female having the courage to put herself on the front lines in often dangerous, life-threatening situations to document the lives of people, the struggle for freedom, and the human experience.

Ok, we all need some lightness and fun too! I picked up this book by Marissa Ross because I know absolutely nothing about wine, except that I enjoy an occasional glass with my dinner. This “casual guide to confident drinking” is light, funny and sometimes irreverent AND also a surprisingly very practical introductory guide on wine – different varieties, how to read labels, basic wine-food pairings, etc. Excellent, not intimidating, and the perfect book to read when you need a little me-time.

So there you have it – the three books that are currently sitting on my nightstand, which I’ll finish in the next week before the un-official end of summer is here…

(As a side note, I happen to have “books” as a category in my budget because my husband and I are avid readers and need to be mindful about how much we are spending here; but if you do not, yet are tracking expenses regularly, remember that you can always shift money budgeted elsewhere to this category. Also, as a PSA, public libraries are a beautiful thing – as is the Amazon used book section, where you might find a great bargain!)