10 Books on My Self-Isolation Reading List

by | Mar 24, 2020 | Health

Estimated Reading Time: 1 minute, 49s.
10 Books on My Self-Isolation Reading List Because I’m spending so much more time all of my time at home these days, I’m finding myself reading a lot more. I’m using the books that I’m reading during self-isolation to do two things: both give my mind a healthy break from thinking about current events, and to invest in my knowledge and skills. In case you’re looking for a read as well, here’s what I’m digging into!
I’m not a fan of when authors include their own books in these roundups, so I don’t. If you’re looking for some reading beyond the books on this list, though, here’s a link to my books!

To Become Better

Don’t Overthink It, by Anne Bogel

Anne Bogel is one of my favorite nonfiction authors—I love the way she looks at the world. If you’re feeling a bit anxious right now, this book might just be for you. I’m just around 50 pages in, and am finding the book incredibly helpful so far.

The Chemistry of Calm, by Henry Emmons

Calm is something else we need a lot more of right now. This book digs deep into the science behind how we can feel more calm, and what strategies work best.

The Joy of Movement, by Kelly McGonigal

Any book of Kelly McGonigal’s is, in my mind, an instant-buy. In this book, she tackles the science of exercise—and how it makes our lives better in pretty much every measurable way. Kelly has previously written books about the science of willpower and stress.

How Music Works, by David Byrne

This book has been recommended by three friends of mine, and is a fascinating look at music, as well as the music industry in general. I’m loving it so far.

The Happiness Hypothesis, by Jonathan Haidt

One of the most-cited books on happiness, this book touches on psychology, economics, evolution, and cognitive science. I can’t wait to dig into this one.

To Escape

The Little Book of Sloth Philosophy, by Jennifer McCartney

This book really is little, and it’s a nice little reminder to chill out and relax—something we all need right now.

This Won’t End Well, by Camille Pagán

This one’s a book about a woman who decides to cut herself off from meeting new people—an oddly-prescient topic right now. Like many of the others on this list, I haven’t been able to put this book down so far. A fantastic escape.

The Hidden Life of Trees, by Peter Wohlleben

A fascinating look at how trees communicate, this is a book that has been on my to-read list for a while now. Needless to say, these days I’m spending most of my time indoors; this book should serve as a nice reminder of the beauty of the natural world.

Forest Bathing, by Qing Li

Another book about trees, this book covers why time in nature—and around trees—can help promote happiness and wellbeing. Nature has a whole host of benefits: it boosts immunity, improves sleep, and even improves cardiovascular health. I’m not entirely sure whether this book will make me long for more time in nature, or give me a mental escape to think about it—but I’m excited to find out.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling

This book doesn’t need an introduction, so I won’t give it one. Out of all of the books I’ve ever read, I’ve gotten the most lost within this one—which easily makes it easily worth a reread.

Written by Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey has written hundreds of articles on the subject of productivity and is the author of three books: How to Calm Your Mind, Hyperfocus, and The Productivity Project. His books have been published in more than 40 languages. Chris writes about productivity on this site and speaks to organizations around the globe on how they can become more productive without hating the process.

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