BOOKS

Hope Team Picks: Where Headphones and Bookmarks Meet happiness

CAN BE FOUND IN A STORY

Whether you reach for the bookshelf or the audio shelf, you are searching for a story that will provide you entertainment, connection and happiness. Here we share books and podcasts that the Hope team is currently enjoying!

Cheryl: “For Christmas, my daughter gifted me Becoming by Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama’s story includes her time in the White House, but I specifically relate to her writing about being a mom and a woman. My favorite quote is, ‘Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something you own.’”

Tikvah: “I recently finished the novel History of the Rain by Niall Williams. I loved how beautifully written it was. It was a slow read, but worth it, and so different from anything I’ve read before. Novelist Eimear McBride called it, “a love letter to literature and storytelling,” and I completely agree. That’s why I liked it so much.”

Jocelyn: “I just finished Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. I’m currently listening to Nurture vs Nurture with Dr. Wendy Mogel, who is a social-clinical psychologist and author. She specializes in the protection and promotion of selfreliance, resilience, accountability, and exuberance in children, and each week she sits with a new set of parents for a therapy session. You get to experience another family’s journey through intimate conversations and gain valuable advice for yourself along the way.”

Ash: “Girl on Top, hosted by YouTuber and former Star Magazine editor Shallon Lester. She discusses celebrity couples, breaks down their relationships and takes what we know about their situations to give real world, practical advice that anyone could gain value from. I also enjoy The Roommates podcast, which is a group of men who talk about dating and relationship dynamics.

Emily: “I’m currently finishing up Next by Michael Crichton. It deals with gene experimentation and manipulation and is an exciting cautionary tale about humans being too eager to play God. I’m listening to Sci Guys, which is both humorous and educational. I also frequently listen to Ted Talks Daily. They’re short (often less than 10 minutes) which makes them easy to listen to and cover the widest range of topics from health and science to sociology to business ethics and environmental consciousness. They’re engaging, enlightening, and offer new perspectives to the fascinating world we live in and engage with every day.”

Sharita: “I’ve recently finished The Purposeful Power of Introverts by Holley Gerth and Freely and

Lightly: God’s Gracious Invitation to a Life of Quiet

Confidence by Emily Lex. Gerth’s book shows the very needed and powerful purposes of introverts in a loud, fast paced world, which needs deep thinkers who take time to slow down and reflect. I like Lex’s book because it talks about the beauty of slowing down and living a quiet, confident life. We don’t have to be loud and boisterous to be confident.”

Emily Cunningham is a freelance magazine writer with a passion for wildlife conservation, civil and societal issues, and artistic pursuits including dance, creative writing, and handmade art.