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15 December 2020

December Better Reading BE: Inspiring Reads for the Holidays

December Better Reading BE: Inspiring Reads for the Holidays

Welcome to our second Better Reading BE, where we do a Facebook LIVE that focusses on titles we feel inspire, educate, empower and nurture readers, and afterwards list them here. We’re looking for special books: books written by experts in their field, books that celebrate women, and books that educate. Subjects that are covered include mindfulness and meditation, healing and health, powerful memoirs, and self-development.

To watch our December BE, click here.

To rewatch our first BE LIVE in November, click here.

BE BOOK OF THE MONTH: The Reset Switch by Pina Di Donato

Why we love it: The Reset Switch is a lovely book that highlights the benefits of slowing down, putting the need for reset under the microscope and offering newness and the promise of what is to come. Could true happiness be just around the corner?

What it’s about: Having passed through a period of gradual awakening, and having made many changes in order to create the life she felt she deserved, Pina Di Donato was looking forward to the new year. But just when she thought she was finally in control of her future, the Universe had other plans. Covid-19. So she, too, would be banished to her corner of the room where she could rest, reflect, reset and contemplate her next move. 2020 became a year of reset.

Happy (and other ridiculous aspirations)

Why we love it: Practising gratitude, working on kindness, self-love, strengthening your relationships and accepting the hard times and bad days… Turia unpacks all of these with easy-to-implement tips and strategies, hilarious insights into her own life and relationships, and introduces us to some of the world’s most fabulous people along the way. Down-to-earth and inspiring.

What it’s about: Happiness. Everyone wants more of it. But can you actually get happier? Inspirational Australian Turia Pitt dives into this idea, interviewing high-profile athletes, comedians, scientists and world experts to explore how everything from money to our relationships has an impact on how happy we can be.‘

Unbecoming by Joanne Fedler

Why we love it: Unbecoming is a funny, heartbreaking and provocative homage to midlife unravelling as women on the brink of elderhood speak honestly about their lives and wonder what the hell to do with vaginas that are not ready to be put out to pasture just yet. A must-read for any woman over 50, but a delight for all. This is a novel but reads like a memoir, or an invitation into a secret sisterhood.

What it’s about: While on her three-month marriage-and-motherhood sabbatical in the country, Jo bumps into her old friend Fiona who invites her on a ‘sacred silent walk to mark her 57th birthday. The last thing Jo wants is to share anything about herself – these are Fiona’s friends, not hers. And what’s she going to say? That she has no idea who she is anymore? But under the canopy of the open night sky, around a small, tended fire, the women share wise counsel, spill their secrets and offer up their stories, each exposing corners of truth the others – and all women – need to hear.

Parting Words by Benjamin Ferencz

Why we love it: This stunning book contains the nine humble, compelling and life-affirming lessons that Benjamin has learned along the way in his extraordinary, and long, life. These are lessons that we can all harness for ourselves. A gorgeous gift for any friend who needs support right now.

What it’s about: 100-year-old Benjamin Ferencz is the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg Trials, where he prosecuted 22 leading Nazis. Parting Words follows the story of Benjamin’s life, and each chapter includes his learnings on how we can all make the most of ours – from the subjects of ambition and determination to happiness and love.

Stories of Hope by Heather Morris

Why we love it: Stories of Hope examines Heather’s extraordinary journey, in the form of a series of beautifully rendered tales of the people she has met, the remarkable stories they have shared with her, and the lessons they hold for us all. This is a wonderful book about the power of listening.

What it’s about: From a young age, Heather Morris discovered that people would tell her their stories if she stopped and listened. In Stories of Hope, she explores the art of listening – a skill she employed when she met Lale Sokolov, the Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Also mentioned:

The Quokka’s Gide to Happiness by Alex Cearns

The Resilience Project by Hugh va Cuylenberg

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    November Better Reading BE: Books that Inspire, Educate and Bring Light to Your Life

    News | Book Life

    25 November 2020

    November Better Reading BE: Books that Inspire, Educate and Bring Light to Your Life

      Publisher details

      The Reset Switch
      Author
      Pina Di Donato
      Genre
      Non Fiction
      Released
      08 December, 2020
      ISBN
      9780648870630

      Buy now

      Synopsis

      The turn of a new decade held such promise. A chance to close off a cycle and begin anew in 2020. And then every corner of the globe was exposed to a new type of highly contagious and unpredictable virus. With no pre immunity, vaccine or treatment, every human was susceptible. Sounding much like a science fiction movie, this was to become the world's reality and worst nightmare of leaders and frontline medical experts. Covid-19 has ripped through entire countries, causing widespread isolations, lockdowns, death and crippling economies all over the world. The effects and impacts of this virus are far-reaching and complex, bringing every part of our lives under the spotlight, requiring reflection and adjustment. All the solutions and management points to a need to shut down everything, reset, and work out ways to effectively reboot the system. But for every dark cloud there is bound to be a silver lining; an opportunity that could, in fact, make a difference to our future. 2020, a year of reset, on an individual and global scale. Having passed through a period of gradual awakening, and having made many changes in order to create the life she felt she deserved, Pina Di Donato was looking forward to the new year. But just when she thought she was finally in control of her future, the Universe had other plans. She, too, would be banished to her corner of the room where she could rest, reflect, reset and contemplate her next move. This book is the result of her reflection and offers an original perspective on the experience. The Reset Switch is a friendly book that highlights the benefits of slowing down, putting the need for reset under the microscope and offering newness and the promise of what is to come. Could true happiness be just around the corner?

      Publisher details

      Unbecoming
      Author
      Joanne Fedler
      Publisher
      Serenity Press
      Genre
      Fiction
      Released
      20 October, 2020
      ISBN
      9780648937654

      Buy now

      Synopsis

      You can do one night, Jo reminds herself as she follows five women into the Australian bush. Where are they going to sleep? And pee? Jo probably should have let her husband Frank know. Just in case. Because you never know what can happen in the wild. While on her three-month marriage-and-motherhood Sabbatical in the country, Jo bumps into an old friend Fiona who invites her on a 'sacred silent walk to mark her 57th birthday - the first since her husband Ben died. The last thing Jo wants is to share anything about herself - these are Fiona's friends, not hers. And what's she going to say? That her young adult children have made life choices she doesn't understand? That she has no idea who she is anymore? That everything is falling apart - even her 'happy marriage' to Frank? But the unexpected intrusion of a young backpacker into their secret location, unleashes powerful and conflicting emotions in each woman, provoking conversations and confidences that stray into the shadowlands of motherhood, the mysteries of midlife, the future of monogamy and mother Earth. Under the canopy of the open night sky, around a small, tended fire, the women share wise counsel, spill their secrets and offer up their stories, each exposing corners of truth the others need to hear. Unbecoming is a funny, heartbreaking and provocative homage to the midlife unravelling as women on the brink of elderhood speak honestly about their lives and wonder what the hell to do with vaginas that are not ready to be put out to pasture just yet.

      Publisher details

      Happy (and other ridiculous aspirations)
      Author
      Turia Pitt
      Publisher
      Penguin
      Genre
      Non Fiction
      Released
      15 September, 2020
      ISBN
      9781760892883

      Buy now

      Synopsis

      Happiness. Everyone wants more of it. But can you actually get happier? Inspirational Australian Turia Pitt dives into this idea, interviewing high-profile athletes, comedians, scientists and world experts to explore how everything from money to our relationships has an impact on how happy we can be.‘Thank god for Turia! She is an absolute rock star. I’m stoked to be in the world at the same time as her’. Celeste BarberThousands of people have told me the one thing they’re searching for in life is happiness. So, I set out on a dragon-free quest to prove if ‘happy’ is, actually, an attainable goal, and not just a ridiculous aspiration. In this book, with her characteristic humour and gutsy intelligence,* Turia Pitt goes on a quest to answer the question, Is it possible to be happier?What does she discover on her journey? Well, look, that’s why we want you to buy the bloody book, but we can tell you that it entails, among other things, practising gratitude, working on kindness, self-love, strengthening your relationships and accepting the hard times and bad days.Turia unpacks all of the above with easy-to-implement tips and strategies, hilarious insights into her own life and relationships, and introduces us to some of the world’s most fabulous people along the way, including Leigh Sales, Scott Pape, Zoë Foster Blake, Maria Forleo and Mick Fanning.
      Pina Di Donato
      About the author

      Pina Di Donato

      Pina Di Donato is an avid philanthropist, business person, highly experienced marketing professional and author. She has held many board positions with not-for-profit organisations, including being Deputy Chair of Northern Health Foundation and established a pivotal charity arm, whilst helping to rebuild one of the largest poultry producers in Australia. As a co-author of the history and business book, A Long Way from Home, she brings her articulate documentation skills to Who Switched the Lights On? which shares such important themes of hope, faith and gratitude and is a reassuring book about life. Pina is passionate about sharing her experiences through storytelling, in a way that may inspire others to step out of their comfort zone and onto the path of fulfilling their own unique purpose. Pina lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her three children.

      Books by Pina Di Donato

      The Reset Switch
      Pina Di Donato

      The Reset Switch

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      Joanne Fedler
      About the author

      Joanne Fedler

      Joanne studied law at Yale on a Fulbright scholarship and was a law lecturer and a volunteer legal counsellor at People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) in Johannesburg, South Africa, before setting up and running a legal advocacy centre to end violence against women. She was appointed by the Minister of Justice to sit on a project committee of the Law Commission to design new domestic violence legislation. Some day Joanne hopes to set up a writer's colony, grow her own vegetables and live in a place where she will never be stuck in traffic. She currently lives in Sydney with her husband and two kids.

      Books by Joanne Fedler

      Unbecoming
      Joanne Fedler

      Unbecoming

      Retail partners

      Turia Pitt
      About the author

      Turia Pitt

      Turia Pitt has a double degree in mining engineering and science. Trapped by a grassfire during an ultra-marathon in 2011, she suffered burns to 65 per cent of her body. Today she is studying for a Master’s degree, walking in marathons, and would one day like to run again. Her mission is to raise the profile of skin as a donated organ.

      Books by Turia Pitt

      Everything to Live For: The Inspirational Story of Turia Pitt
      Turia Pitt

      Everything to Live For: The Inspirational Story of Turia Pitt

      Retail partners

        Unmasked
        Turia Pitt

        Unmasked

        Retail partners

        Happy (and other ridiculous aspirations)
        Turia Pitt

        Happy (and other ridiculous aspirations)

        Retail partners

        Koko and the Coconut
        Celestine Vaite, Emilie Tavaearii, Turia Pitt

        Koko and the Coconut

        Retail partners

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