I’m confidently calling 2018 the year books changed my life.

I’ve always been an avid reader, I still remember my library card number off by heart. But until last year, I hadn’t prioritised reading since I was in high school. In 2018, I stepped back into my book worm ways.

It just so happened, that I read books that weren’t basic novels, rather life changing pages I will never come back from.

MY TOP 5:

• Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown

• Rise & Resist: How To Change the World, by Clare Press

• Eating Animals, by Jonathan Safran Foer

• Stuffocation: How we’ve had enough of stuff and why you need experience more than ever, by James Wallman

• Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcom Gladwell

In no particular order, here’s a quick review about why I’m not asking, but TELLING you to read these books before it’s too late.

P.S. Ideally, get these books out from the library, or download them as an e-book. If you need the hardcopy, and know you will pass it around your friends, follow the links I’ve popped in above.

Note: Outliers was a library book, so not in this picture.

1. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

I say this list is in no particular order, but this book is at the very top for a reason: it legitimately changed my life.

Expect to have the most simple life theory explained in a beautiful way. Expect your ‘busyness’ to turn into productivity, your stress to become peace, and your self-respect to sky rocket. Greg McKeown explains in the most brilliant way, how to become an essentialist; someone who focuses their energy in all the right places, and knows how to say ‘NO’.

2. Rise & Resist by Clare Press

Perhaps I’m biased, as you’ll find yours truly on page 201, but Clare’s book was more inspiring than I set out for it to be.

I finished the book with a new found passion to change the freaking world. My internal fire was stoked after hearing stories of greatness from all over the world, and I felt less like a small ant (as we often find ourselves feeling), and more like wonder woman.

READ THIS BOOK if you want a kick up the bum to change the world for the better, so we can keep existing on earth, and live in harmony with each other, animals, and the environment.

3. Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

Quite the controversial topic these days, my uncle (a friendly vegan and one of my greatest inspirations) gave me this book, and I’m so glad he did.

Many read this and come out the other side a raging vegan; be warned.

On the contrary, I’m not a vegan. I’m not even a vegetarian. I’m an ethically sourced/plastic free infrequent meat eater. That’s the closest I’ll get to a label.

This book dramatically added to my knowledge of the horrific processes in the meat industry, and made me stand stronger in consuming sustainably farmed animals and animal products. It is a great eye opener to the truth of ‘eating animals’, particularly filled with relevant examples if you’re in America.

4. Stuffocation by James Wallman

I never knew I was ‘stuffocated’ until I read this book and realised why I was so stressed out all the time. After reading this book, I stopped buying anything, I did the minimalist challenge, twice, and have a far better quality of life.

If you feel stuck in your home, and overwhelmed by your ‘stuff’… read this. You don’t need to turn into a minimalist, but at least you won’t be stuffocated!

5. Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

I aspire to be an ‘Outlier’, and this book taught me that it’s totally possible.

I learnt why the greatest successors of this world succeeded, what it takes to be great, and theories behind greatness. I thought it might make me feel like I cannot succeed, even if I try. But instead, it gave me the hope and dream of being different and unique. This book presents a good thing to hold onto.

NOTE: Main image taken by Nectar Photography. All other photos taken by me; obviously in a rush, and without a care- sorry they’re terrible.