Winding down after weeks of stress can be a challenge. A challenge not made any easier by the fact that summer vacation has come and gone. Now that you’re back in the swing of things, you finally find some time to relax again only to discover that your brain refuses to play along and chooses instead to continuously nag you with worry after worry. Rather than beat yourself over the head until you literally fall unconscious only to have your stresses haunt you in your sleep, try distracting your brain with an interesting read instead.
Mystery, adventure, romance, fantasy/sci-fi, and humor are great genres for challenging your brain in a fun way. Even how-to books can be just as fun, providing even more of a mental escape as they challenge you to learn while inspiring you to dream big. So, in celebration of Book Lovers Day, here are 10 great reads that will get your mind off of everything else:
“DIY: 365 Days of DIY: A Collection of DIY, DIY Household Hacks, DIY Cleaning and Organizing, DIY Projects, and More DIY Tips to Make Your Life Easier (With Over 45 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas)” by White Lemon – Wow! That is a long title, but it gives you a great idea of what to expect. We know those of you who love TalkLocal are also advent DIYers. So, here’s a book for you to have a fun thing to do for every day of the year.
“Humans of New York: Stories” by Brandon Stanton – You might have already liked this page on Facebook, but now, Brandon Stanton is compiling a collection of the photos and quotes he’s taken from people all around New York in his marvelous book.
“Cabin Porn: Inspiration for Your Quiet Place Somewhere” by Zach Klein – Not focusing on the name, Cabin Porn is a book filled with beautiful scenery and homes filled with people’s cabin creations that let you enjoy the moment and get inspired.
“Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Patterns” by Blue Star Coloring – You remember how relaxing it was to color, but then you grew out of it? Well, Blue Star realizes the importance of it in your adult life, and is providing you a book with beautiful designs that you can color to your heart’s content.
“The Epicurious Cookbook: More Than 250 of Our Best-Loved Four-Fork Recipes for Weeknights, Weekends & Special Occasions” by Tanya Steel and the Editors of Epicurious – For those of you who enjoy the Epicurious website, it is now in book form! So many delicious and delightful recipes for you to try one at a time. Just start from the beginning and work your way up, or dive straight into your favorite traditional holiday recipes.
“Go Set a Watchman: A Novel” by Harper Lee – Did you know that Harper Lee’s famous novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” was actually a rewrite of an earlier work? That original work, the aforementioned “Go Set a Watchman” is very different from the story you know and love, but it’s a great read none-the-less.
“The Wreath Recipe Book: Year-Round Wreaths, Swags, and Other Decorations to Make with Seasonal Branches” by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo – Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are all around the corner, and you’re going to need pretty things to decorate your home. So what’s prettier than wreaths made from your own backyard? Answer: nothing.
“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson – In an effort to get to know the man behind so many gadgets we use in our daily lives, there’s his fascinating biography. Getting a closer look into his mindset and imagination may influence your own creativity.
“Unlimited Memory: How to Use Advanced Learning Strategies to Learn Faster, Remember More and be More Productive” by Kevin Horsley – Who doesn’t want to be able to remember more stuff? This book is meant to give you ways that will help you tap into your brain’s potential (sadly, it won’t be like Lucy where you’d be able to stop time…or will it?).
“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo – Sometimes, all you need for your home to look nicer is to declutter and reorganize, but it’s easier said than done. That’s why we have handy how-to books to tell you how to make it easier and make your home look so much lovelier.
And there are ten fun books you can look at to calm the ever raging storm that is your brain. And while you’re reading those books, why not find a handyman through TalkLocal who will take care of whatever house project that’s plaguing you? Happy reading.
