The wonderful Briony Benjamin was introduced to me by my best friend Jordan’s fiancé a few months before her book Life is Tough But So Are You was published. Written after Briony’s devastating cancer diagnosis three years ago, Life is Tough But So Are You is a must have for anyone looking to overcome life’s hurdles.
It was a real pleasure meeting Briony and seeing her book baby out in the world, and I was thrilled when she agreed to share with me the eight books she would take to a desert island.
Read on to find out which eight books Briony would take to the sandy shores of a desert island.
Buy life is hard, but you can also buy it at Bookshop.org, Book Depository, Amazon or Amazon AU.
Factfulness by Anna Rosling Rönnlund, Hans Rosling and Ola Rosling
Bill Gates said this was one of the most important books he had ever read to think clearly about the world. This book made me feel about 1,000,000 times better about the state of the world. As humans, we have a tendency towards negativity. It protects us, but put that into a 24 hour news cycle where we are constantly bombarded with negative news and it’s no wonder so many of us feel so anxious and depressed about the state of the world. Facticity is a breaker for all of this,
Buy factfulness at Bookshop.org, Book Depository, Waterstones, Amazon or Amazon AU.
Great Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Ahhhh read this book and I read it over and over again for anyone who ever wants to try something remotely creative or doesn’t think they’re creative. (Spoiler alert: you’re human; which means you’re creative, so stop saying I’m not creative bullshit and get started).
Buy Big Magic at Bookshop.org, Book Depository, Waterstones, Amazon or Amazon AU.
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
This book changed my life and it will change yours too. If you need a little more help to be convinced that sleep should be at the top of your list – BRING THIS BOOK IN YOUR EYEBALLS and treat your body like the goddamn magical vessel it is by giving it the number 1 give needs. SLEEP! Okay, maybe after water and food, but yeah after that it’s a life saving magical medicine available to all of us)
Buy Why We Sleep at Bookshop.org, Book Depository, Waterstones, Amazon or Amazon AU.
Way of thinking from Carol Dweck
Not just if you dream that you can do it – this book will change the way you think about what you are capable of. For me it was a GAMECHANGER and it changed my entire worldview about what I can actually do with my life.
Buy Mindset at Bookshop.org, Book Depository, Waterstones, Amazon or Amazon AU.
How to Make Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
An oldie, but a goldie – you have to read this book! So much about people never really changes, so this book is as relevant as ever – key takeaways “We all long for a feeling of importance”, “The sweetest sound in the English language is the sound of your lovingly uttered name “- in other words, remember people’s names or find out people’s names from waiters and the like!
Buy How to Make Friends and Influence People from Bookshop.org, Book Depository, Waterstones, Amazon or Amazon AU.
The proof lies in Simon Hill’s plants
After chemotherapy, I went plant-based and this book is a fantastic guide to get you started and learn how to be plant-based and healthy – and that a plant-based diet is actually better for you, animals, and the planet! We can change the world through what we eat.
Buy The Proof is in the plants from Bookshop.org, Book Depository, Waterstones, Amazon or Amazon AU.
Scott Pape’s barefoot investor
Scott Pape is my Beyonce, this guy is awesome. It purports to be the only money guide you will ever need, and it is essential read if you want to understand your money, live a stress-free life, and have the resources to go through medicine with your girlfriends in their 80s to go.
Buy The Barefoot Investor at Bookshop.org, Book Depository, Waterstones, Amazon or Amazon AU.
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
I’m just trying to buck the trend (and ooohhh god, I mean Lizzy’s quick, funny banter and Colin Firth …. need I say more ?!) This book is still funny, the characters jump off the page and laugh out loud i probably go back and read it once a year. For me it is a pleasant read!
Buy pride and prejudice at Bookshop.org, Book Depository, Waterstones, Amazon or Amazon AU.
Do you love this post? Click here to subscribe.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you when you shop through this link.