“So I’m reading this book…” This is something that I say on a daily basis! And the funny thing is, I always have to correct myself and follow that up with “well, listening”.
To say that I’m an Audible junkie is an understatement!
To select these first 3 was difficult. I’ll follow this up with “the most impactful” books I’d recommend. There are many books that have helped me and for so many different reasons. Life, work, efficiency, stress, funny, spiritual, fiction, non-fiction –you get the point. “I’m reading this book right now” is my catch-phrase and you’ll get sick of me saying this…I promise 🙂
Here are my top 3 recommendations for must-listen to books (in no particular order) while cleaning or decorating:
- Will by Will Smith, Mark Manson
- Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
I grew up watching the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I remember the profound moment when Will’s dad was leaving without him (again) and Will was trying so hard to not let it bother him. As Will rattled off a stream of reasons why he didn’t need his dad and Uncle Phil calmly agreed with each remark – Will ends this intense emotional scene with “how come he don’t want me?” and Uncle Phil grabs him in his arms and holds him tight. My throat closed, tears swelled up in my eyes and I lost it.
This behind the scenes memoir taps into Will Smith’s entire life (he doesn’t hold anything back). It was interesting to me how the person I saw on TV and in movies was pushing himself, and those he surrounded himself with, to such extremely high achievement levels. He wanted to be number one in everything he did and saw his life as checking boxes. When he finally realized that those he loved so much, his family, didn’t see him the same way -he knew he had to change. Such extreme expectations led him on a journey of trying to figure out how to be happy.
There were SO many moments in this book that took me by surprise. I can relate in some areas and definitely not in others. I would read (listen to) this book again.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Not only is the book incredible –I could listen to Matthew McConaughey’s voice all -day -long! A HUGE bonus when you listen to audiobooks and celebrities or musicians read it to you. Matthew McConaughey, Tom Hanks, Lauren Graham (aka Lorelei Gilmore) are just a few –you get to enjoy a familiar voice telling you the story.
Anyways! I also read this book several times. Matthew grabs your attention immediately by revealing the violence he grew up with and then proceeds to tell you how he turned every situation into an opportunity. A “greenlight”.
What was the meaning of all of this? This life. When things don’t go our way. When things do. How can we take our situations and understand that it may be a hard stop (a red-light) or a temporary road block ( a yellow-light) and make it an opportunity (a greenlight)?
I laughed. I cried. I loved this book. I think I’ll listen to this again today (while I decorate the living room).
I laughed so hard I was crying during the part when Trevor is in the kitchen trying to cover up his mistake and his grandmother is trying to figure out what is going on! I don’t want to spoil this part for you so that’s all I’ll say but that story, among many others, made me laugh so hard I could barely see through my tears.
This book will make you laugh. It’ll also make you cry. And it will also teach you about what is was like growing up in South Africa, the apartheid, race, poverty, and the power of language. Trevor does use profanity so if you have little kiddos, I wouldn’t recommend listening to it when they are present.
I hope these three books surround your ears (or eyes if you’d rather cozy up with the book) with stories filled with laughter and insights. I’ve downloaded hundreds of books and listened to many of them multiple times. It’s amazing to me that even if I start one and I’m not relating with the context at that moment in time, I usually will in a few months when my life gets turned upside down. I’m sure you can relate.
Anyways, what books do you listen to while cleaning or decorating? Let me know in the comments below!
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