🍴My Top 5 Books of 2024 (so far)

I can’t believe there was a time in my life I thought reading was lame…

Dare I say, a waste of time.

Me to my younger self:

I’ve since grown up and screwed my head on properly and now consider myself an avid reader.

Anyways, I have a goal of reading 20 books this year (I’m on #12), and, in honor of National Book Lovers Day, I thought I’d share my top 5 reads of 2024 (so far).

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towels

I’m a non-fiction girlie. 99.9% of the time, I’m reading a self-help, business or marketing book. However, I follow this Instagram account, @getbetterwithbooks, and one of his suggestions was A Gentleman in Moscow.

So, I downloaded it to my Kindle, and….

Started reading another book.

It was too slow. But a few weeks and a different book later, I told myself to try again.

And, wow, I’m glad I did.

This might be one of my favorite books EVER. I loved the characters, the storylines, and how they all perfectly intertwined.

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

His storytelling abilities, quirkiness and eccentricity made it hard for me to put this book down.

It makes you think that while things might not seem like “Greenlights” at first, with time, those yellow and red lights can turn green.

Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday

It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of life. We’re here, there, and everywhere. We’re multitasking. We’re trying to optimize and bio-hack our very existence so we can squeeze MORE out of ourselves.

But this book makes you slow down and think. It motivates you to straddle the treadmill of life, even for just a moment, and lean into the stillness that’s in and around us.

Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

I’m a marketing nerd. I love it. My friend, Andy Milligan, posted about Donald Miller’s work.

So when “Building a StoryBrand” popped on my radar and his name fresh in my mind, I knew I had to read it.

It’s about writing for your audience, positioning your customer as the main character, and making it crystal clear how your product/service is the guide that leads them to their solution.

Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

My experience with the hospitality industry is limited to my stint as a dining room server at an assisted living facility and a worker at a smoothie shop in LA Fitness.

Honestly, those were two of my favorite jobs.

ANYWAYS.

I loved this one. Will’s stories and lessons, although based on the restaurant world, can be applied to every industry.

It’s about building a strong culture that serves as the foundation to create memorable experiences for the customers.

What are you reading?!

I’m always open to book recommendations!