Good Reads

A few months ago, I compiled a Summer Reading Guide to get you through what was (hopefully) a well-rested holiday break. How did you go? Get through a few that tickled your fancy? Or perhaps you're waiting for the movie? *wink wink*

Well, if you're like me and continually on the hunt for something good to read, I've got a few titles to add to the list (and if you're like me in another way, you might have three to ten books on the go at the same time, depending on what you feel like reading and/ or if something else good comes up).

Before I start my reviews, I would like to mention that there is a bit of a theme: both books are written by female authors and largely discuss the female experience - however this is not to the exclusion of men. In fact, I strongly encourage men to read these books, they are very insightful (and if we are going to get political about it, women have endured male authors for centuries for similar insights into human psyche, so naturally woman have insights that are just as valuable).

The Confidence Code By Katty Kay & Claire Shipman 

I discovered this book through a website that is based on how to make ideas happen. This book is brilliant for identifying what barriers impact on ideas reaching their full potential - in particular the neurological factors that will impact on decisions individuals make in their pursuit of getting ideas off the ground - or in everyday life generally. 

Kay and Shipman are journalists who have spent time producing work that centres around how women can and should achieve success in a range of domains. What is fascinating about this book is that it focuses less on what action people can take in life, but more on what factors are influencing them at an psychological level and specifically, the role of confidence. Confidence is one of those character traits that often we (falsely it turns out) assume is inherent in some but not in others - either you have it or you don't. Throughout their research, Kay and Shipman have investigated genetic, biological and environmental factors, all of which affect confidence. It's amazing. 

What I love most about the book, is that Kay and Shipman have written in such a way that that they avoid suggesting that failure to achieve success is because of effort. This is often what I find frustrating about some self-help and motivational books. Mantras like 'follow your passion' and 'think positively' or 'stop wishing, start doing' are counterproductive. They are not helpful for people in developing an understanding of their sense of self - what it is that ticks in each of us to either enable or inhibit our process for achieving (which is obviously different for everyone). Whereas The Confidence Code is actively identifying how our neurological and psychological processes are effecting so much more that we ever truly realise. When we know what is happening psychologically to ourselves, only then can we implement strategies for how to move forward and get where we want to go.

**Strongly recommended if you've ever second-guessed yourself. EVER.

The Fictional Woman by Tara Moss

You may or may not have noticed that there has been a lot of media focus with regard to women and the women's movement. If you follow Daily Life or Mamamia online, you are probably well aware of modern feminist issues, equality and feminism generally. If you read Mark Latham or listen to Tony Abbott ever, you will probably understand a lot of the fuel that fires robust (and important) discussions about gender equality. Also, you may either be encouraged by it or completely sick of hearing about it. If you are one of the latter, before you roll your eyes, I want you to consider the cover opposite. 

Your immediate thoughts may be 'pretty', 'ugly' or 'nice lipstick', but for a mo' just forget the face and instead consider the words and think about this - would you ever see a book cover with a male face with similar labels written on it? Would such a book about a man exist?

Simple answer is, not really. Men are just men. They might have labels, sure - and I'm not arguing that they don't, but what is important to consider is that labels for men have less of an impact on society's view of who they are and who they should be, than labels have for women and how society view them, their actions and what their part in society should be. Tara Moss is exploring this theme in her book, though her own experience and her observations of women in our everyday culture.

To clarify another point, I am not necessarily advocating a particular position on feminism, but I do believe it's important to understand that women have an experience different to men and what that experience looks like - Moss herself is an excellent example of how labels do impact perception, and usually in a negative way. A timely memoir, it's a valuable insight we can all benefit from.

**Strongly recommended if you like to be informed on issues beyond facebook.

Happy reading! If you have any titles you can recommend, please leave a comment below!

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