Book Mentors: Great Life Guides

I read to find answers, I read to feel less alone. A lot of times the books I read are from amazing women, mentors that guide me along the way. Whether I’m having a hard time, I’m super anxious, I don’t know what the next step is, I need help—I go-to books. They tend to help me solve my fears and worries.

In a combination of life, career, spiritual and creative advice—here are five books I recommend if you’re feeling lost and need a guide to show you the way.

You Are A Bad Ass by Jen Sincero

I listened to this book the first time I read it. It was the pep talk I needed. It was a tough-love self-help book that actually helped you. Jen introduced me to my confidence and helped me to own whatever room I walked into. She also connects The Universe to everything you do which made it easy for me to learn how to manifest and affirm my greatness. Dang. Thank you for coming to my #TEDTalk.

#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

This book guided me through my solo trip to Ireland. I was at a point in my life where I didn’t know what was next. With Sophia as my tour guide in life goals among the backdrop of the Emerald Isle, I began to realize what I had control over and what I didn’t, along with what I wanted to do. It was the book that sparked my creative life and my career goals for the new chapter I pledged to start on once I arrived back home from my travels abroad.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Contrary to the buzz and cliche-ness of this book, Liz’s book was the first travel memoir I read that inspired me to actually start traveling and explore my relationship with God. I continued to follow Liz’s work and would also highly recommend Big Magic if you’re a creative soul who needs to hear that it’s okay to go out there and create!

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

I listened to the audiobook and let Shonda herself affirm the life I was going for. I had just finished a year of yes myself, and it was so good to hear and be able to feel less alone after living through that whole experience. While Shonda didn’t inspire me to do another year of yes right away, she did give me some writing advice and made me feel less alone as a writer.

Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

This book found me. I was embarking on a 40 day cleanse off social media and was itching to understand why I couldn’t come to peace with the silence bubble I had just created for myself. I highlighted the shit out of this book. Maybe it was because I was so focused, not distracted from the buzzing world on my phone, that I was able to listen to Shauna’s words and take the time to really pause and reflect on all the growth I had been doing.