Hi there,
I’ve always wanted to be a person who is well-read, but I have plenty of excuses – books can be expensive, they’re heavy to carry around, and reading on a moving vehicle is bad for my eyes.
But I have no excuses with audiobooks. I love listening to audiobooks and podcasts, especially when they’re narrated by the authors themselves—like Michelle Obama, James Doty, or Belle Burden—or by people with a calming, soothing voice.
I started listening to podcasts that interested me during my long commute—The Daily, The Splendid Table, BBC News, Economist Podcasts, and Franklin Covey On Leadership. One after another, they became my escape from the loneliness I felt back then. When I was caring for a young child, I didn’t have time for newspapers or books. I prioritised sleep and being fully present for my kid instead.
Reading via Libby
Now that my divorce is mostly done and I have more mental bandwidth, I’ve committed to reading more books. (I’ve also emphasized reading to my kids, so I better lead by example!) I became more active with the Libby app.
Libby is a free app where you can borrow ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines from your public library. I linked my library card and started borrowing multiple books at once.
The best part? Books return automatically after 3 weeks. I can renew loans, put books on hold, and keep borrowing without guilt or late fees.
Connecting the Dots
Great books and recommendations come from blogs and podcasts. Imagine random dots on a wall—podcasts –> authors/writers –> books –> borrowing in Libby –> open mind –> personal and professional growth.
This year, I heard neurosurgeon James Doty speak on the Mel Robbins podcast. I was curious about his book, and Libby had the audio version.
“Into the Magic Shop” was a great listen. It’s part memoir, part self-help, part science—about when James was growing up with little, how he learnt to focus the mind, becoming successful, and arriving at compassion.
Hearing James narrate his own book was comforting and motivating, especially during hard moments when I was recovering from feeling anger and unjust at court documents and guilt about leaving a marriage that no longer worked for me.
What books have you read recently? Which ones would you recommend?
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