My Favorite Books

Reading has always been more than just a hobby for me—it’s an escape, especially when I’m recovering. During those moments when I’m resting or healing, I find myself diving deeper into pages, getting lost in stories that offer comfort, reflection, or just a thrilling distraction. Although I still enjoy reading when I’m healthy, I don’t get through quite as many pages, but I always come back to it.

As a teenager, I was all about Nicholas Sparks. I devoured those romance novels like candy, letting them sweep me away into those sentimental love stories. But as time passed, my taste in books shifted. Now, I gravitate towards self-help books, biographies, and my absolute guilty pleasure—true crime and murder novels.

Here’s a peek into some of my favorite reads

Self-Help: A Guide to Growth

Self-help books have been a significant part of my reading journey. They offer tools and insights that have helped me both personally and professionally. Whether it’s understanding mindset shifts, learning about resilience, or discovering new ways to improve my lifestyle, these books have been a constant source of inspiration.

• Atomic Habits by James Clear *currently reading 90% through

• A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller (i’ve read this 3x)

• The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau

Biographies/Memoires: Learning from Lives Lived

There’s something about reading someone’s life story that’s incredibly powerful. I enjoy biographies and memoirs because they show you that everyone, no matter how famous or accomplished, has struggles, triumphs, and lessons to share.

• Bossy Pants by Tina Fey (she also narrates the audiobook & it’s lovely)

  • Yes Please by Amy Poehler (same as above)

• GreenLights by Matthew McConaughey (he narrates it, who doesn’t love his voice?)

True Crime & Murder Novels: My Guilty Pleasure

True crime and murder novels are the genres I turn to when I need to just get lost in a story. There’s something fascinating about the way these books unfold—whether it's piecing together clues or diving into the minds of complex characters. They’re a thrilling escape that I can't resist.

• 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher (the netflix show was good too!)

• Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

• Red Notice by Bill Browder

Adapting to Disabilities: A Deeper Connection

Felt like I needed to cover this since….well it’s our name! But I love learning about other disabilities. We are not unique in that aspect. Many people are living with disabilities that are entirely different than ours! I grew up as an amputee and worked in the prosthetics industry so I feel like I have a large knowledge base on that disability. But, when I participated in Dare2Tri paratriathlon camp I felt…ordinary? I was surrounded by athletes of all sorts of disabilities of which I knew nothing about!

• Do You Dream in Color? by Laurie Rubin

• Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet

• What Can a Body Do? by Sara Hendren

Reading has always been my way of escaping, learning, and growing. Whether it’s diving into the practical advice of a self-help book, exploring someone’s life story through a biography, or indulging in a suspense-filled murder novel, books offer a refuge no matter where I am in life.

And my all-time favorite book since i was a kid is - Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes. I read it every year (and i cry each time)!

What are some of your favorite reads? Let me know—I’m always on the lookout for my next escape!