7 Must-Read Books To Ignite Your Inner Badass
Need some inspiration? Or a good swift kick in the pants? These 7 books will deliver both.
What do a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and a comedy writer have in common?
They’re co-authors of one of my favorite books, aptly titled F*ck Feelings.
“Given life’s cruelty and unfairness, F*ck Feelings believes profanity is a source of comfort, clarity, and strength. It also helps to express anger without blame, to be tough in the face of pain, and to share determination without sentimentality. On the other hand, we don’t tolerate the reverent use of truly obscene f-words, like “fair” or “feelings.”
Billed as “The only self-help book you’ll ever need,” F*ck Feelings was written to “help you put aside your unrealistic wishes, stop trying to change things you can’t change, and do the best with what you can control — the first steps to managing all of life’s impossible problems.”
I couldn’t recommend this book enough!
If you’re looking for a softer, gentler type of #badassbook, grab a copy of Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar. Strayed is the best-selling author of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail (now a movie starring Reese Witherspoon), but Tiny Beautiful Things is a collection of her Dear Sugar advice column (along with some never-before-published pieces) that offers honest, compassionate advice with a healthy dose of humor.
“Life can be hard: your lover cheats on you; you lose a family member; you can’t pay the bills — and it can be great: you’ve had the hottest sex of your life; you get that plum job; you muster the courage to write your novel. Sugar is the person thousands turn to for advice.”
For my spiritual badasses, I highly recommend Gabrielle Bernstein’s The Universe Has Your Back, which “teaches readers how to transform their fear into faith in order to live a divinely guided life.”
Filled with personal stories and insightful lessons on how to release the blocks to the things that most of us long for: happiness, security, and meaning.
While you’re at it, grab Gabby’s 52-card The Universe Has Your Back deck — a beautiful way to indulge yourself with daily reminders that you’re strong, safe, and capable of living a badass life!
Of course, the quintessential #badass book is Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. I have a copy of it on my nightstand and refer to it often for inspiration, a good laugh, or a sorely needed kick in the ass.
You’ll love Jen’s no-nonsense style of writing, inspired by her wish to write a “self-help book for people who desperately want to improve their lives but don’t want to get busted doing it.”
YES!
Lest you feel alone in your struggle to ignite your inner badass, Alexis Jones has you covered in I Am That Girl: How to Speak Your Truth, Discover Your Purpose, and #bethatgirl.
Featuring inspiring stories from thirty incredible women, Alexis show you how to “stop listening to that voice inside your head that tells you you’re not good enough. Stop worrying that you don’t have the perfect body, perfect job, perfect relationship, or perfect anything for that matter. Stop letting other people draw boundaries and limits around your life. And start living the life that you truly want (now!)”
Now, if you REALLY need a good swift kick in the pants, get your paws Get Your Sh*t Together: How to Stop Worrying About What You Should Do So You Can Finish What You Need to Do and Start Doing What You Want to Do (A No F*cks Given Guide).
In this no-holds-barred book, “anti-guru” Sarah Knight introduces you to the joys of “mental decluttering” — aka organizing the f*cks you want and need to give, and cutting through the bullsh*t cycle of self-sabotage to get happy and stay that way.
“Ever find yourself stuck at the office-or even just glued to the couch-when you really want to get out (for once), get to the gym (at last), and get started on that “someday” project you’re always putting off? It’s time to get your sh*t together.”
Of course no self-respecting #badassbooklist would leave out Mark Manson’s best-seller, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life.
Manson backs his outspoken argument that “improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better” with academic research (and well-timed poop jokes). If you haven’t read the brilliantly hilarious blog post that gave birth to this book, READ IT NOW. I promise, you’ll thank me.
Of course, if reading’s not really your thing, you can a weekly dose of inspiration and practical how-to advice by joining my Ignite Your Inner Badass club. Each week, members receive an audio recording and PDF action plan that guides you through a simple, 10-minutes-a-day practice designed specifically to stoke the flames of your #badassery and help you stop playing small and start living LARGE.
Download a free sample of this program here or grab a one-year membership for just $19 (available for a limited time only! Regular price is $99/year or $9/month. Cancel anytime).
Got any books to add to this list? Hop over to the Ignite Your Inner Badass Facebook page and share!
Here’s to igniting YOUR inner badass!
All love,
Marta
