A Social Isolation Reading List: 33 Books That Will Inspire & Uplift You
We asked our community what they would read during these uncertain times to help them feel inspired, uplifted, or entertained. Read our social isolation reading list below to see what they picked. If you have other suggestions, hit us up on social media here!
1) ESCAPE
Books to Escape Into or Get Lost In
The Light After the War by Anita Abriel
Mr. Churchill’s Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal
A Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar
Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Check out our review on The Nightingale here.
2) LAUGH
Books to Make You Laugh
Why Not Me? By Mindy Kaling
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
3) LEARN
Books to Learn From
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown (anything by Brené actually!)
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer
Lunch with Lucy by Sherry Stewart Deutschmann
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Messengers: Who We Listen To, Who We Don’t, and Why by Stephen Martin and Joseph Marks
4) GET INSPIRED
Books to Inspire You
The Untethered Soul by Michael Alan Singer
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
The Book of Gutsy Women by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton
Becoming by Michelle Obama. Check out our blog post about In Conversation with Michelle Obama
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. Check out our review on Tuesdays with Morrie here.
Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
5) GROUND YOURSELF
Books to Ground You
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
When Breath Becomes Airby Paul Kalanithi
The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed
6) SOOTHE
Classics to Soothe You
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R.Tolkien
How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm
P.S. – We have a massive list of amazing reads in our Brookstore going back to when we first launched. Check it out here!
What books are getting you through this time? Tell us on social media. Daily at 12pm EST, we will be hosting a short 7 min intention setting mediation live on Instagram. It’s free, it’s open to all. Tell a friend and join us!
We’re a global community of book and food lovers who meet locally to discover new hot spots, make new friends and discuss the latest read over brunch
