written by Stacey Lindsay

The early days of January tend to conjure up images of radical renewal. This month, this year, we say to ourselves, I’ll take the plunge, follow the plan, eat healthier, start that org, shift habits. Then life gets in the way. 

Evolving oneself is a more nuanced, longer, deeper journey than the pages found on the self-help shelf tell us. We love a good how-to guide, but when we want to make lasting impressionable changes within ourselves, their succinct tips and actions may sometimes serve in different ways than we hope. To truly reinvent, we need a light that helps us understand the inner person we want to grow.

In startling contrast, these books and podcasts are honest about the recalcitrant nature of being human. Every word digs into the hardships that come with reinvention—fear, unease, pain, embarrassment—and still serves the most stunning hope. Covering stories of people navigating loss, depression, physical disability, aging, and more, these works convey that we can change, we can grow, and we can move forward into new waters. They also take the edge off when we get frustrated and help us put the focus on all that is wonderful (and often, really funny—because we are human, after all). 

Whether you're seeking to start over or merely want a boost, these works offer the light and solace to set you on a trail toward beautiful, imperfect, at-your-own-pace reinvention.

Easy Beauty: A Memoir by Chloé Cooper Jones

Easy Beauty is a book you'll remember for days, months, and likely years after spending time with it. This is because its author, Chloé Cooper Jones, is one of the most stunning writers alive today. (Her being a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize underscores this bold statement.) Born with the physical condition sacral agenesis, Chloé has long navigated the world, separating herself from others in many ways in an attempt to protect herself in a cruel world that doesn't feel accepting of her. But she is ever curious and honest about her defense mechanism and goes on a journey—across the globe and in her heart—to see if she can, in fact, find a new way of being with herself and others. Her words are heartbreaking, stunning, and soul-stretching. (Editor’s note: Chloe’s conversation on the podcast ‘We Can Do Hard Things’ is worth a listen.)

Lessons for Living: What Only Adversity Can Teach You by Phil Stutz

Phil Stutz captivated the hearts of countless readers with The Tools, the groundbreaking 2012 book on self-growth he co-authored with Barry Michels. In his time before and since that launch, Phil has explored the significant challenges we face—from fear and stagnation to inner criticism and loss. In his new book, Lessons for Living, the radical, kind, empathetic, and brilliant therapist offers his tactics for moving forward in short but mighty essays. He reveals brutal, harsh life truths but accompanies them with concepts for facing them with strength. Even reading just one page of this book offers radical hope.  

The In-Between” Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments by Hadley Vlahos

Stories about those passing on can teach us about living in ways other tales cannot. These narratives shed light on how we must savor the time we have. But there is something particularly edifying about The In-Between, Hadley Vlahos' book about being a hospice nurse. Hadley—a beautiful writer— tells of the wild things that "defy medical explanation" she's seen working with people on their deathbeds. She also weaves in anecdotes about her struggle as a single mom facing poverty. This book is as edifying as it is comforting and one of the most unexpected treasures for finding the inspiration to carry forth your dreams.

The 'On Being' Podcast with Krista Tippett

Veteran interviewer Krista Tippett spent two decades as host of public radio's 'On Being' podcast before she branched off on her own to produce the show (which aired on more than 400 stations around the world) on her own. To say the show is successful is an understatement. Krista speaks to hearts and minds in countless places, exploring questions of what it means to be a human with the most profound thinkers of our time. The podcast site states that these conversations include "wisdom to replenish and orient in a tender, tumultuous time to be alive." Indeed. (If you're looking for a podcast to start, go to Krista's 2008 talk with the late John O'Donohue called 'The Inner Landscape of Beauty.'

Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad

At 22, Suleika Jaouad was fresh out of college, living in Paris, and excited to become a foreign correspondent. Then, an itch took over her body, followed by extreme exhaustion. She went to the doctor and received the news: acute myeloid leukemia. Life as she had planned changed in that moment, which is now more than 15 years ago. 

Since then, Suleika has grown in the public eye as a heartfelt, arresting writer. She developed a column for The New York Times about her illness. She also recounts these details in her memoir, Between Two Kingdoms. With every page, she takes us with her as she navigates the depths of the unknown. Suelika is a fearless writer and journalist who reminds us over and over again that we are constantly changing and constantly evolving without a map. And we must hold onto the beauty along the way. As she writes, "May I be awake enough to notice when love appears and bold enough to pursue it without knowing where it will end"

‘How I Built This’ with Guy Raz

There's a reason why 19 million people keep returning to Guy Raz's interviews each month: the guy knows how to get the juiciest, grittiest, most real truths out of people. In every episode, hardworking founders behind some of the most successful companies dig into what the show's title suggests, leaving us listeners with an education in invention, reinvention, business, and perseverance.

Remember Love: Words for Tender Times by Cleo Wade

Cleo Wade was born with an innate ability to put people at ease. The poet's newest book, Remember Love , is the equivalent of a warm blanket on a cold rainy day. Cleo's words are as heartfelt as they are stunning, and they make you feel less alone about experiencing loss, depression, sadness, and inertia, all the while leaving you feeling a hopeful capability within yourself.

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