After the holiday season, the chilly and dark nights that make up the rest of winter are best spent at home with a pot of tea and a stack of inspiring reads for the year ahead.
Whether you’re in the mood to daydream about your next vacation, ponder a professional change or just get lost in a good piece of fiction, this list of books is sure to fit the bill and kick off your new year with new ideas.
Happy reading!
Want more? See other features on gratitude and thankfulness here!
Travel
Lonely Planet’s The Travel Atlas
Lonely Planet has a reputation for being a go-to travel website, and this book is sure to inspire your next fabulous vacation in 2019. With gorgeous maps and itineraries ranging from a couple of days to weeks, world travelers cannot afford to miss this.
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Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips
National Geographic has always provided inspiration for those who seek adventure, and the second edition of the Journeys of a Lifetime series will not disappoint. With destinations for those who crave a trip off the beaten path — plus the kind of photos National Geographic is known for — this one makes a great coffee table book or reference guide.
Self-help/inspiration
The Messy Middle by Scott Belsky
For those of us who dare to follow a dream, author Scott Belsky is here to help you weather the difficult parts of the venture. As the chief product officer at Adobe, Belsky is both knowledgeable and forthright in his advice.
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
In an era where people can order groceries to their doorsteps and ignore their neighbors, Parker’s timely book reminds us how to shake things up and be part of a group.
Featuring key communication tips for any gathering, this one will convince you to start a new book club or, if you’re a foodie, a dinner club for 2019.
Fiction
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
We’ve loved Kingsolver since The Poisonwood Bible, and there’s no way we’re missing this! Mirroring the Victorian era against our own, the novel compares two different stories and shows how the journey we share in life is more similar than we expect.
Cherry by Nico Walker
Nico Walker wrote this while in prison. That was enough for us, frankly. But it’s also a realistic and gritty novel about the opioid epidemic. What other reason do you need?
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Warlight by Michael Ondaatje
Fans of the romantic classic The English Patient are likely familiar with Ondaatje’s award-winning work. In his latest novel, two teens have their lives intertwine unexpectedly and learn to cope with the horrors of World War II.
Memoir/biography
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Admittedly, we’re total groupies for Michelle Obama! But this memoir transcends party lines, because everyone we’ve spoken to agrees it’s a good read.
As the first Black First Lady in the White House — not to mention a feminist in the best possible way — Obama’s story is bound to inspire your new year.
Raw: My Journey into the Wu-Tang by Lamont “U-God” Hawkins
Whether you were a fan of the Wu-Tang Clan back in the day or you just crave a fantastic memoir, this one is definitely on our shelves for 2019.
Featuring honest, first-person narration about everything from rap fame to life on the streets, Hawkins has reviewers raving.
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American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by America Ferrera
We love America — both the country and the woman! In this collection of 31 carefully chosen perspectives, Ferrera illustrates how important it is to find commonalities despite cultural rifts. And, really, can you think of a better way to kick off the year?