Looking for some reading suggestions this August? You’ve come to the right place…

My mind has been on school a lot lately. The new school year starts in a couple of weeks and I am surrounded by school supply sales, excited kids, and thoughts of new routines that will best serve our family this go around.

I love beginnings because they are so full of possibility. Whether it’s a new school year, an upcoming vacation, or a new book, the anticipation makes me giddy. I love planning and preparing, which feeds right into these scenarios. And when it comes to reading, well, that’s just me preparing for a different kind of trip.

Books, good books, have the ability to sweep us away to something and somewhere new. Some even leave us right where we are, but allow us to see our world through brand new eyes.

I’ve been reading a lot lately, and part of that has to do with my kids. Spending the summer with them has given me time to really see the world differently. We’ve been exploring and talking about things that have reminded me of what it’s like to love learning as a child does — haphazardly and wholeheartedly.

So, I’ve been enjoying children’s books as much as the adult versions and can’t wait to dive into this month’s picks. I’m still only choosing four, basically one per week, but that’s because I tend to pick up a few books throughout the month spontaneously. Sometimes, something just catches my eye and I’ve got to check it out!

I love having a plan, but I don’t want to curb my curiosity or interests because I’m a slave to my own too-long list. (Ahem, 2016…)

Here are my August Reading List picks…

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My Life with Bob by Pamela Paul

I believe this book was written by the me from an alternate reality. The author is the editor of the New York Times Book Review (sigh) and this is about every book she has ever read (Bob= book of books). It’s not so much about the books themselves as the relationship between books and their readers. I am both curious about how these books changed her life and what books were read. (I am very nosy about other people’s reading preferences, if you haven’t already gathered that.)

 

 

10% Happier by Dan Harris

I watched the author anchor GMA as I made breakfast on the weekends, and also saw his live TV anxiety attack. I’m curious about his trip into mindfulness, how a skeptic can become a believer, and how it affected his life long-term. Also, I like that he said it only makes him 10% happier. If he’d said 100%, I’d probably pass the book by. But 10% sounds about right and I appreciate the honesty, so I’ve added it to the August reading list.

 

 

Triggers by Amber Lia and Wendy Speake

If you’ve ever yelled at your kids and just thought, “There has got to be a better way,” you might want to pick up this book. I like books that look at parenting in an honest way. It’s not all hugs and kisses, sometimes it’s stress and losing your cool and acting as childish as your children. This book looks at practical ways to work around those responses and do something better.

 

 

You’re Going to Be Okay by Holley Gerth

Truth for the hard days. Yes, I could use some of that. I think of encouragement as something that needs to be taken in on a daily basis, like coffee. Sometimes, the people around us don’t have the time to stop and give us the atta girl we need to push through a rough patch, so I try to get some of that strength from the books (and The Book) that I read each day. The author’s writing style is gentle and inspiring, and perfect when you need a little lift to get over the next hurdle life puts in front of you.

 

In other August reading…

I am happily reading The Lifegiving Home Experience and really looking forward to this month’s chapter. And I picked up the Own Your Life Bible Study Guide and Planner recently and will start that soon, too. I am also up-to-date on my daily readings from the Big Picture Bible Reading Plan by Serving Joyfully.

I’m looking for some titles for September, so if you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments below, or on Facebook or Instagram. I love hearing about what you’re reading!

 

Happy reading, all!

 

Missed last month’s list? Then check it out here!

 

[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]