Recommended Reads

If you like the idea of reading but may not have the time/resources/patience/effort to do it, then this book club archive is for you. Below are a list of books that changed my life for the better. The list will be updated every month with something new. To see reoccurring snippets of the book I'm reading currently, I post often on my Insta-stories.

 
 

Letters to Young Filmmakers: Creativity and Getting Your Films Made by Howard Suber

In learning about filmmaking as an emerging producer, I found that a lot of my skills were gained on-set. With this book, it was valuable to read this because the second quickest way for me to learn was through other people’s experience.

This book was really insightful for me as I continue in this industry. Below are some key lessons that I picked up:

  • It’s about who knows you

  • You must continue to promote your work, even after it is done

  • Live life, it brings about the best stories

  • Negotiation is everywhere, not just with contracts

  • Filmmaking is collaboration in a sequence

 
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Creative Confidence - Tom Kelley and David Kelley

One more library find that really changed my mind around creativity and innovation. Some of my favourite concepts from the book include:

  • Creativity myth

  • Growth mindsets vs fixed mindsets

  • Failure sucks but instructs

  • Addressing our fears of failure by practicing it first

  • Creativity Scars

  • Engage in a beginner’s mind to encourage creativity

This book is great for anyone that might be feeling a little stuck or creatively blocked.

 
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Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

In 2019, my mom and I booked a trip to Las Vegas. Now, little did we know, we wouldn’t have as much disposable income while travelling there. Nonetheless, we still went! In the airport, I picked up this sparkling gem of a book. Trevor is a spectacular story teller. I got through this book in two days - and that was me pacing myself. I laughed out loud, I cried, I had moments of reflection on my own life. This book really had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I highly recommend it for anyone that want to escape into a well-crafted book and understand the challenges that Trevor endured as he was growing up.

 
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#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso

Sophia is a great storyteller and I wish I read her book when I was working at Canada’s Wonderland in the Food and Beverage department as an assistant supervisor.

In the book summary I expand on my biggest lessons that came up for me while reading this book:

  • You don’t get what you don’t ask for

  • You can be entrepreneur without being an entrepreneur

  • Be willing to let go

  • Starting a business can be as easy as tiny tasks

  • Know your weaknesses

  • Zig-Zag & Speed Date through jobs until you find the right one

 

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim

Another library find, I didn’t realize I needed until I saw it. At the time I was overwhelmed with works and projects so I instantly gravitated towards the book. Whenever I spared a few moments with the book I gained new insights, here are some below:

  • unfavourable situations can be quickly changed with my mindset

  • there is a delicate balance between living my life according to what I want vs. what I think others want for me

  • my identity is not based on where I live, what schools I attended, or my job title

  • memories and past experiences help mold me, but they are not the only thing that determine who I am and who I will be

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy poetic and thought-filled reflections.

 
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Cold Hard Truth: On Business, Money & Life by Kevin O'Leary

I picked this book up in the library when I was browsing through the business section. I heard Kevin O’Leary’s name before but never knew his story. After reading his book I began binge-watching Shark Tank (how could I not?).

My biggest lessons after reading the book:

  • Money doesn’t care about your feelings, so why are you emotionally attached to it?

  • If you want to make the sale, pick up the phone and ask for the sale

  • Everyone is replaceable, including the CEO

  • If you own a business (even as a freelancer), you should know your numbers

I would recommend this book for folks that are entrepreneurial and have the entrepreneurial spirit. The people who are excited to work long hours, make tough decisions, and not let emotions get in the way of hitting it big. He goes to the extreme a bit in his experiences, but he offers some great tips that many people can benefit from.

 

You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero

Jen makes me want to get my rear in gear and stop thinking with a brokeness mindset, and instead shift the way I think about money with a mindset of abundance and possibility.

My biggest lessons after reading the book:

  • Understand and use the Law of Attraction

  • “You have to want your dreams more than you want your drama.”

  • Have two chequing accounts

  • Yes, new friends.

I recommend this book for people who feel stuck with cashflow, for people who claim their are broke all the time, for people who need some help with their thought process around their finances. Check out the book summary to read the breakdown of my biggest lessons and how I am different after reading the book.

 

How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life by Lilly Singh

Lilly Singh is #goals. When I want to feel motivated, I look up to Lilly, Issa, and Beyonce. They’ve put in so much hard work, collaborate often, and continue to hone their craft.

Lilly’s audience is primarily teenagers, but I’ve had major takeaways from this book such as:

  • Take control of your own life

  • Fail forward and put yourself in uncomfortable situations in order to grow

  • Dream big, aim high, and trust your team to make it happen

  • Surround yourself with people who are more skilled then you

  • Include pictures in the book where you are SLAYING!

If you want to read a motivational book filled with stories and hilarious puns, this is the book for you!

 

Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook

Before reading Unshakeable:

  • I never knew I had a mutual fund, I thought I just had a TFSA and RSP. I also didn't know I was paying almost 3% in fees vs other places where I could pay less than 1% in fees.

  • I thought you could ONLY invest in stocks in the stock market

  • I thought all major companies were publicly traded

I learned so much about investing from this one book. Unshakable is one of my top books, hands down. 

 

Upgrade: Taking Your Work and Life from Ordinary to Extraordinary

If you want your organization to succeed or want to achieve success personally, you need to think of leadership as a collaboration in which you utilize people for their strengths. This approach will engage and inspire your team to work harder, be more productive, and be more involved.

- Rana Florida

 

How to be Here

No one is just a mom, just a construction worker, just a salesperson, just a clerk - because you doing your work in your place at this time is highly original and desperately needed.

It may have been done or said by someone else. That’s a distinct possibility. It may have been done or said before.

But it hasn’t been done or said by you. It hasn’t come through your unique flesh and blood, through your life, through your experience and insight and perspective.

- Rob Bell

 

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Extra information is more than useless. It’s harmful. It confuses the issues. What screws up doctors when they are trying to predict heart attacks is that they take too much information into account.   

- Malcolm Gladwell