07April
Book Recommendations for the Millennial Gal
You know how they say travel is the only thing that can make you richer? I feel that way about reading, too. That’s exactly why I’m finally putting this list together of my top book recommendations for the millennial gal – just like me!
Getting the opportunity to get an intimate look inside some of the most successful people in the world’s brains for me is just beyond. I mean – I can spend my nights hanging with everyone from Oprah to Gabby Bernstein to Tony Robbins or Jessica Simpson? Count me in! We will cover everything from non-fiction to entertainment to business inspiration to wellness. Let’s get into it!
Cookbook & Wellness Book Recommendations
- A Face of Anxiety by Trish Barillas: If you’re human, you need to read this book. It helped me uncover what my “story” was that was limiting
- Body Love & Body Love Every Day by Kelly LeVeque: Kelly LeVeque changed the way I viewed nutrition. I teach my clients daily the principles of her ‘Fab Four’ and balancing blood sugar. Read Body Love first to learn and then Body Love Every Day to really implement.
- Do What Feels Good by Hannah Bronfman: Hannah is a powerhouse in the wellness space. I couldn’t be more behind the message in this book – it’s so simple yet so aspirational!
- Eat Clean, Play Dirty by Sakara Founders: You know I LOVE my Sakara meal program, but the price tag isn’t always in budget. However, if you want to try, use my code XOALYSIA to get 30% off your first meal program. This book has all of their best plant based recipes you can make at home!
- Eat Feel Fresh by Sahara Rose: This modern, plant based Ayurvedic book covers Sahara Rose’s journey, as well as a deep dive in to Ayurveda for the modern gal – it’s super interesting. Think about it as the Indian Zodiac signs but for everything in your life, including food!
- Just the Good Stuff by Rachel Mansfield: I’ve been absolutely LOVING this cookbook. It’s packed with gluten, dairy and sugar free recipes. Right up my alley! Non of them are overcomplicated either. Do yourself a favor and start with the chocolate chunk banana bread.
- Kintsugi Wellness by Candice Kumai: Learn all about Japanese wellness and traditions from the beautiful soul that is Candice Kumai! She’s a goddess in every form and I loved learning about Japanese traditions and love what a holistic approach they take on wellness.
- Malibu Farm Cookbook: Malibu Farm is my favorite restaurant in LA – if you didn’t already know that, checkout this post where I cover all of my LA MUST See’s. Their recipes are absolutely incredible, but definitely start with the raw Brussel sprout salad!
- Recipes for Your Perfectly Imperfect Life by Kimberly Snyder: Kimberly is someone I look up to wholeheartedly in the nutrition space. She’s a plant based goddess and believes food is fuel, medicine and your friend. This book is a must buy!
- The Inflammation Spectrum by Dr. Will Cole: Dr. Will Cole is one of the top functional medicine doctors in the world. He’s FULL of knowledge and this book dives deep into inflammation being the root cause of a majority of our disease, as well as ways to combat and discover food intolerances to build a healthy gut.
- True Roots by Kristin Cavallari: Anyone else obsessed with good ‘ol Laguna Beach and The Hills? Anyways, Kristin is such a babe and this book is FILLED with gluten, dairy and refined sugar free delicious recipes. I love the green muffins!
Fiction Book Recommendations
- A Beautiful, Terrible Thing by Jen Waite: If you’re into any sort of mystery/thriller, this is for you. It has a ton of twists and turns throughout a modern day love story. It’s also based on a true story by the author which is insane! I couldn’t put it down.
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: OK this one is on my LIST to read, and actually already on my bookshelf. I absolutely LOVED the HBO Series, and everyone has told me the book is 10x better..SOLD!
- Ghosted by Rosie Walsh: As with all of these books, this was an absolute page turner. A woman + a man meet, and of course she gets ghosted. But why?! I can’t divulge too much, but the main character takes you along on her rollercoaster of a journey as she’s been ghosted by who she believes to be the love of her life.
- Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll: I read this ages ago and may reread TBH..It’s focused on an ‘it girl’ and to the outside world, her life seems perfect. Don’t all of our lives seem that way?! But, she has a secret.. 🙂
- The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena: This is a SUSPENSEFUL drama and another page turner. The book follows a couple and their seemingly friendly neighbors. The couple is at a dinner party next door while their baby girl is sleeping at home – and then something terrible happens..it’s a cliff hanger for SURE!
- The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle: This whole book is based off of the premise of the question everyone loves to ask – ‘If you could have dinner with anyone, dead/alive, who would you choose?’ The main character gets to choose 5 people and the book toggles between her present day + the dinner. So much unravels and it’s fun to keep up!
- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins: I’m pretty positive that everyone + their mother as read this book, but in the case you haven’t, definitely do! Basically it’s a thriller between a troubled women who passes a couple every day on her commute to work. Until one day something drastic happens, which she is a witness to – she reports this to the police and gets in DEEP.
- The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty: This book is INTOXICATING. I was absolutely addicted. The book follows the tales of multiple women, each with different tales in their relationships and battling different struggles. You slowly but surely come to find out they’re all intertwined + all of their husband’s have a secret.
Inspirational Book Recommendations
- I Forgot to Die by Khalil Rafati: Khalil Rafati is the founder of SunLife Organics – one of my favorite spots in LA (and now has 13+ locations across the west coast.) Khalil tells his story from the start: his abusive childhood to traveling across the country moving to LA and ending up on skid row at age 33. From there, he turned his life around and it’s insanely inspirational to know where he’s at now & where he came from.
- It’s All in Your Head by Russ: I just started reading this, but it was a recommendation from Nick! It’s all about encouraging the reader to take a chance and bet on yourself, and believing in yourself every step of the way, no matter what your goal is. For those of you who don’t know, Russ is a 17 y/o rapper, song writer and producer who has already made it on ‘Forbes 30 under 30,’ sold out multiple arenas globally and did it on his own – with no record label.
- Open Book by Jessica Simpson: One word: JUICY! Jessica dives into her alcoholism, every relationship she’s ever been in – Nick Lachey, Justin Timberlake, John Mayer, Tony Romo + her current hubby. She also dives into the pressure of the media, fame, etc. for giving her an unrealistic standard to hold her body to, and of course how she built her BILLION dollar brand.
- The Daily Stoic: I read a passage from this book every single morning. It gives you a message from the great stoics and breaks it down for you into modern day terms. This book has helped me greatly for focusing on my mindset and knowing at the end of the day, it’s truly the only thing I can control.
- The Five Minute Journal: Another book I used every morning, The Five Minute Journal has truly made such a difference in my life. It’s complete with an inspirational quote each morning. Then, you’re prompted to share 3 things you’re grateful for, 3 things that would make the day great + a daily affirmation. At the end of the day, you reflect. It’s changed my outlook on life + made my days 1000x better.
- What I know for Sure by Oprah: Need I say more?! Essentially this is life lessons from Oprah with little stories on all different areas of life – love, career, health, etc. – I BLEW through this book. It was a gift to me from Tanya Zuckerbrot & I could never thank her enough. It’s my favorite thing to gift people by far.
Business & Career Book Recommendations
- Becoming Superwoman by Nicole Lapin: This book is for any career driven gal. Nicole talks about her journey of ‘becoming superwoman’ and how to avoid + overcome burnout while killing it in your career!
- Relentless by Tim S. Grover: I just started reading this, but it’s from Tim Grover, who has trained some of the greatest athletes of all time from Kobe Bryant to Dwayne Wade. He dives into what it takes to be unstoppable and therefore, relentless and to keep going to matter what, even after you’ve achieved great accomplishments.
- Rich Bitch by Nicole Lapin: If you’ve ever been clueless about finances like I’ve been, this book is for you. Nicole dives into her, sometimes unconventional, advice for us working women. She gives you all of the tools and knowledge to get your finances in check!
- The Defining Decade by Meg Jay, Phd: This book goes into why your 20’s matter – and why they’re the most important (and defining) decade of your life. She also goes into how you can make the most of them! It’s such a good read that I was recommended in my early 20’s and I loved it so much.
- The Four Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris: This is on my nightstand to read right after Relentless. Nick has already read it + gave rave reviews. It teaches you how to become a ‘lifestyle entrepreneur’, and how to lead a rich life, make a lot of money, boost productivity and live the life you’ve always wanted – from anywhere.
- That Will Never Work by Tim Randolph: From one of the co-founders of Netflix – ever heard of it?! He talks about the life of an idea, how to generate ideas + how to tell which are good vs. bad, and of course the birth of Netflix and how it came to be the massive success it is today.
- The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger: From Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, this book is INSPIRING. Bob Iger is a leader in the truest form and dives into his journey from working an entry level position to making it to the top of one of the largest companies in the world. You learn practical lessons throughout the way, as well as amazing leadership skills to follow.
- When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead by Jerry Weintraub: Jerry Weintraub was the producer of Ocean’s Eleven, The Karate Kid and managed artists such as Elvis Presley & Frank Sinatra. He came from and grew up in the Bronx and made his life what it became through his hard work and persuasive nature. He never doubted himself and always threw himself right in + learned on the job. This is a page turner chalked full with a TON of amazing life and business lessons.
- Work Party by Jaclyn Johnson: From the founder and boss babe behind Create & Cultivate, get an inside peek into how Jaclyn Johnson built her massive empire that now brings and supports women in the workplace and empowers them daily through media + live events.
Grab all of the book recommendations in one place here, under my ‘reads’ section of my amazon store. Enjoy my little book worms!
xoxo!Alysia (Purely) Pope
PS, If you enjoyed this post, checkout this post to see some of my top Podcast Picks!