Have you read a book recently that had an impact on you, your life or the way you think? Let us know and check out some great responses from the community below.

Lindsay Hope | ✨ Inbox Whisperer✨ ~ Email Marketing Strategy, Storytelling, & Copywriting

The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown This book will change your perspective on how you spend your time! Right from the beginning of this book, the Essentialist mindset clicked for me. Essentialists focus on the most important thing and spend time and resources only on that— ignoring the rest. When you start thinking about all the unnecessary meetings you attend, hours scrolling through social media, and straight-up distractions that pull you away from doing the most critical work, it’s eye-opening. By asking yourself, “What is essential?” you eliminate busywork. You find more time for doing things you love and less time wasted doing things that don’t move the needle — for your business or your family. For me, the idea of Essentialism helped me niche my copywriting business to email strategy and copy. (I used to offer all forms of direct response copywriting. Read more>>

Lauren Anderson | Fine Artist & Squarespace Website Designer

When I was in high school, I read “My Name is Asher Lev” by Chaim Potok for English class; it struck a chord in me and made me consider a career in art for the first time. The book is about a young art prodigy who finds his voice in painting and has to navigate the tensions and conflicts it causes between his art and his identity as a Jew, his community, and his family. It’s been a long time since I read the book, but I think I was drawn to the concept of identity and to Asher’s complete dedication to his path, his creative voice, and his gift for art. Despite the many conflicts that arose as a result of Asher’s art, I was inspired by him and wanted some part of the life he led. I distinctly remember wanting to take my artistic inclinations seriously, beyond being a nice hobby, for the first time. Read more>>

Zoe Van De Voorde | Musician & Oncology Research Coordinator

Every book I’ve ever read had some impact in shaping my soul, but it’s funny how when asked this question I have an immediate answer– “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel. This book has so much going for it and goodness knows pre-quarantine I could sip a whiskey in a bar and chat up any willing patron about the merits of this novel and why I’ve read it more than once. A few things though: St. John Mandel’s writing has inspired me as a writer and lyricist. It’s understated, poetic, and full of meaning. Her use of language in describing every action and environment inspires me to think more about the beauty of the everyday in the world all around us. I work everyday on my craft but I aspire to write more like her, for every word I use to have purpose, and that purpose to be to create something larger than myself. Additionally this novel speaks to several themes I have experienced in my life– loss, perseverance, and the desperate need for music and art even amidst utter chaos. Read more>>