Stokecast listeners and guests alike are consistently sending over their book recommendations.
We know we have some avid readers, some book devourers, if you will, in our community. So we decided to start publishing 10 recommendations per month to help keep your reading fire stoked, and more importantly, keep your nightstands stocked.
1. In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed by Carl Honore
In this engaging and entertaining exploration, award-winning journalist and rehabilitated speedaholic Carl Honore; details our perennial love affair with efficiency and speed in a perfect blend of anecdotal reportage, history, and intellectual inquiry.
Related: Listen to Sam Elias on The Stokecast
2. The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Perfomance by Steven Kotler
At its core, this is a book about profound possibility; about what is actually possible for our species; about where—if anywhere—our limits lie.
Related: Listen to Jeremy Jensen on The Stokecast
3. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.
4. Training for the Uphill Athlete: A Manual For Mountain Runners & Ski Mountaineers by Scott Johnston, Steve House and Kílian Jornet
Dovetailing on the success of Training for the New Alpinism and Patagonia’s own emphasis on all mountain use, Training for the Uphill Athlete translates theory into methodology to allow you to write your own training plans and coach yourself to endurance goals.
Related: Listen to Scott Johnston and Steve House on The Stokecast
5. The Boundless Life: 13 Lessons Learned The Hard Way by Simon Donato
In his compelling first book, Donato details the quest for adventure and the opportunities to test ourselves in a very primal way—in ways that we aren’t able to in our lives very much anymore.
Describing the key moments and adventures that put him on the path to Boundless, Simon takes you on an adventure-filled journey around the globe and shows how you can apply his lessons and experience to your everyday life.
Related: Listen to Simon Donato on The Stokecast
6. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
In her instant, multi-month New York Times bestseller, Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.”
7. Hippie by Paulo Coelho
Drawing on the rich experience of his own life, bestselling author Paulo Coelho takes us back in time to relive the dreams of a generation that longed for peace.
In Hippie, he tells the story of Paulo, a young, skinny Brazilian man with a goatee and long, flowing hair, who dreams of becoming a writer, and Karla, a Dutch woman in her twenties who has been waiting to find a companion to accompany her on the fabled hippie trail to Nepal.
8. The Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do by Wallace J. Nichols
In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water.
Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, he shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.
9. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoir by Haruki Murakami
While training for the New York City Marathon, Haruki Murakami decided to keep a journal of his progress. The result is a memoir about his intertwined obsessions with running and writing, full of vivid recollections and insights, including the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer.
Funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, this book is a rich and revelatory work that elevates the human need for motion to an art form.
10. Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen by Steve Sims
The core of his philosophy focuses on simple yet effective ways to sharpen the mind and gain practical skills that can help you learn a new perspective and accomplish anything.
Whether it’s climbing Mount Everest, launching a business, or applying for a dream job, you can make incredible things happen for yourself by applying his insightful advice. With colorful and enlightening stories of people driven to achieve the impossible, this book will inspire you to transform your life and aim for the unthinkable.
We realize that not everyone can buy all their books from Amazon, at full price. There are a lot of alternatives that you can find to get cheaper, used books (if you’re into physical books), or you can use your local library!
