10 Ways Books Will Help You Have a Better 2016

1. Connect with other humans (in New York or otherwise)
This collection of stories from the wise and good Humans of New York blog is filled with colorful portraits and deep-dive interviews with ordinary and extraordinary people that will leave you saying “Me too!” and “We’re all in this together.”

2. Feel confident
Amy Cuddy’s Presence is all about intentionally using body language to help us bring our best selves to conflicts, negotiations, interviews, performances, and the other daily moments that can sometimes leave us feeling small or filled with regret.

3. Be organized and calm
Marie Kondo’s follow-up to the bestselling The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up builds on the ideas she has become famous for. Spark Joy gets even more specific, offering detailed instructions and illustrations for organizing problem spots like the kitchen and the dreaded junk drawer.

4. Develop good habits
Gretchen Rubin has mastered the art of creating and keeping habits, and she’s done her best to turn it into a science, or at least a guidebook, that anyone can use to learn more about themselves and develop their own habits. Whether you want to exercise more, eat less sugar, or get up earlier in the morning, Better Than Before will help you master new habits and live with integrity.

5. Appreciate your strengths
Introverts of the world unite (from within our own homes, of course)! Susan Cain’s thoughtful and engrossing book, Quiet, has been a favorite of introverts since its release. If you’re feeling insecure because being around people leaves you tired and frazzled, this is book will help you see the strengths that come with being part of the quiet minority.

6. Fall in love
In Modern Romance, comedian Aziz Ansari and sociologist Eric Klinenberg investigate love and dating today with humor and intelligence. It’s not a how-to book, but after reading interviews with serial daters, philosophizing about the role tech plays in our relationships, and hearing from everyone from the parents to the experts, you’ll be more prepared for what’s out there. And preparation is the key to success!

7. Stay in love
The love languages have been on the scene for a while, but when both genders are talking about them, you know they’re having a moment. Love expert Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages will help you find out how you and your significant other can connect in meaningful ways and make your relationship more resilient.

8. Eat well
A believer that making food taste good doesn’t require excessive fussing, Nigella is my favorite famous “home cook.” Her new book, Simply Nigella: Feel-Good Food, is filled with soothing and scrumptious recipes that will help you transform the way you eat in 2016. There are recipes for dinner parties, because life is better with dinner parties! But mostly the recipes are meant for simple, cozy days at home.

9. Unleash your creativity
If you haven’t seen the gushing on Instagram, Pinterest, and blogs everywhere for Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic, get ye to the internets. This title is getting lots of love, and for good reason. It’s filled with heartfelt and practical advice for living a creative life. Because being creative is what makes us human, and we’re all the worse for wear if we deny that.

10. Say yes
Is this the year you’ll say yes? Yes to love? Yes to adventure? Yes to growing? In 2013, Shonda Rhimes declared a Year of Yes. Her chronicle of this brave experiment will inspire you to live a bigger, bolder life and say yes to the surprises that await us all in 2016!
How can books help you have a better year?