Would you rather have dinner with Dracula or network with a room full of strangers? Would you rather write a spell or write that novel? Would you rather see a ghost or see your thesis reviewed by a panel of professors?
Sometimes when our minds run away from us, they make everyday life events scarier than the spooky stories we turn to for entertainment. If you’re looking to clean out the cobwebs in your head this month, here are a few books that may help to distract you.
Big Magic
“Bravery means doing something scary,” writes Elizabeth Gilbert in Big Magic. “Fearlessness means not even understanding what the word scary means.” For many people, the biggest monster under their bed is fear. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of judgement. The list can go on and on, but creatives fear not! In her latest book, Gilbert encourages readers to break free from the tortured individual stereotype by harnessing and channelling both fear and the creative magic that exists around all of us.
Radical Candor: Be a kick-ass boss without losing your humanity
Sometimes being candid with someone can be scary. This may ring particularly true if you were raised on the age-old saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” However, Kim Scott’s Radical Candor suggests being straightforward and honest in our relationships is the key to success. Part One of the book explores her philosophy of building radically candid relationships–or the ability to “care personally” while also “challenging directly.” In Part Two, she shares various tools and techniques to make it happen, including important advice on “getting/giving/encouraging praise and criticism.”
A Halloween Happening
In A Halloween Happening, children in the neighborhood enjoy a towering jack-o-lantern display, tasty treats, a big bonfire and free rides on bat-wing gliders at a real witches’ Halloween celebration. The recipient of two Caldecott Honors and the Rutgers Award for overall contributions to children’s literature, Adrienne Adams’ reminds us it’s okay to take time and celebrate friendships of all sorts.
What other books would you recommend this month? Share with us in the comments below!
