By Andrés Muñoz

2020 was a year that threw up all sorts of challenges, making us deal with massive amounts of change, both in our homes and at work (wait a minute… those are now the same place for most of us!). 

While many have taken up activities like breadmaking, meditating, or binge-watching every show Netflix has to offer, I’m a firm believer in the power of books. They have brought comfort and entertainment throughout the ages.   

Now, as we face the inevitable “new year, new me” resolutions, the following books can show you a glimpse of that “new” person. These books will help you navigate 2021 with a sense of direction, positivity, and appreciation.

Happy Inside – How To Harness The Power Of Home For Health And Happiness  By Michelle Ogundehin

2020 has made me reconsider my relationship with the space that I live in. I have spent more time indoors this year than at any other time in my life. 

Michelle Ogundehin, interior designer, television personality, and former Editor-In-Chief of Elle Decoration UK, wrote Happy Inside to help make our homes a catalyst for wellbeing. Her premise is that we are shaped by the environment we live in, and we must harness its power to become the best version of ourselves. Relying on key concepts like Intention, Balance, and Harmony, each chapter provides you with useful strategies and tips, ranging from lighting your rooms to picking furniture that clicks with the atmosphere of your home—no matter how big or small it may be.

The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art Of Decluttering And Organizing By Marie Kondo

This book has also heavily changed the way I see and interact with many objects in my house. Decluttering guru, Marie Kondo takes you on a journey of rediscovery through your home. She teaches you how to stay organised without hassle, inviting you to hang on to the things that bring you joy, and discard all the things that weigh you down physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up sold over 3 million copies, so use this New York Times’ bestseller to declutter your space, find joy and free your mind for 2021!  

Daily Rituals: Women At Work By Mason Currey

I explored several ways to feed my creative process this year. Be it waking up before sunrise and meditating, or drinking an espresso at 9 pm and writing well into the night. I also learned that everyone has their own way of unleashing their creative side. 

With this in mind, Mason Currey brings us the second part of his “Daily Rituals” series. But as the first book, “How Artists Work”, included more men than women Currey states that this is both a “sequel and a corrective”. 

In Daily Rituals: Women at Work, he presents profiles of 143 successful women, such as Isabelle Allende, Marie Curie, Frida Kahlo, and Virginia Woolf, spanning a wide range of fields such as science, painting, literature, music, and more. This book shows you the little rituals that drove these women to success. If it worked for them, it might work for you!

The Century Trilogy By Ken Follett 

Acclaimed novelist Ken Follett takes us on a cinematicesque journey across the twentieth century, showing how different families around the world lived through the trials and tribulations of their generation. With a gripping storyline and fascinating characters, I’m puzzled as to why this hasn’t been made into a movie yet. 

Humans Of New York By Brandon Stanton

What began as a photography project has evolved into one of the most fascinating accounts of random individuals in the world. Brandon Stanton’s mission was to create a blog with 10,000 portraits of the people of New York City. He began captioning the photos with small sections of their conversations. 

Nowadays, the Humans of New York Facebook group has 18 million+ likes, and Brandon has travelled to over 20 countries, sharing stories of people from all over the world. He has published 2 volumes, Humans of New York, and Humans of New York: Stories, with longer tales about the subjects in the frame. 

And there they are, a selection of books that will help you find happiness at home, boost your creative output, remind you that every generation has its 2020, and show you that as different as our faces and stories may be, the new year will arrive and with it, there’s always a chance to reshape the narrative of your life!

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