Lifestyle
Book Club: 10 books to help you refind your mojo
Feeling a bit stuck, flat or just not quite yourself? Bestselling author Allison Tait has rounded up 10 non-fiction books to help you reset and rediscover what lights you up in midlife.
By Allison Tait
Midlife is having a coming-of-age moment. No longer the ‘blah’ bit between youth and old age, life’s ‘middle bit’ has thrown off the ‘crisis’ hashtag and become a place of evolution, reinvention and reassessment.
Of course, that’s not to say this life stage doesn’t have its challenges. Fortunately, there are a slew of new books out to help us navigate the highs and lows of the middle years of our lives – and hopefully find new purpose and fulfillment.
From taking back control in the menopausal years to taking care of our mental health and everything in between, we’ve found 10 books to help you not only survive midlife, but thrive.
I’m Your Peri Godmother by Shelly Horton
Journalist and health advocate Shelly Horton shares her own story of perimenopause, along with insights from leading health experts. With trademark humour, Horton outlines how her hormones turned her world upside down – and how she discovered the tools to take back control. The book aims to equip women with the information, guidance and practical tips to navigate this stage of life with confidence.
Click to read an extract from Shelly’s book.
A User’s Guide To The Mind by Professor Ian Hickie and James O’Loghlin
From the hosts of the popular Minding Your Mind podcast, this empowering book examines the key moments in our mental health journey and how we can maximise our mental longevity to achieve deeper happiness, better relationships and a values-directed life. Hickie, a psychiatrist, and O’Loghlin, a broadcaster and author, acknowledge that every season of life brings its own ups and downs, unique challenges and breakthroughs – and then aim to offer a wealth of practical tools to help weather the tough times and develop an overall strategy for lasting mental wellbeing.
Sensible Money by Emily Stewart
ABC finance reporter Emily Stewart, aka Sensible Emily, has amassed a strong following thanks to her no-nonsense tips and focus on educating her readers to help them make their own financial decisions based on their circumstances. This book offers practical tips and advice for your money journey, from setting up financial foundations to managing your money and sorting out your super. It’s easy to think that by mid-life we should have it all figured out, which can make it harder to ask questions. Sensible Emily may have the answers you’re looking for.
The Art of Forgiveness by Rachael Coopes
Combining personal stories and perspectives with extensive research, Rachael Coopes digs into the complex topic of forgiveness. Whether you’re struggling with anger, bitterness or regret, or you simply yearn for a calmer life, Coopes explores a range of philosophies – from Stoics to Zen Buddhism – to uncover practical tools to help you let go and find peace.
Looking Inward by Purnesh
Feeling anxious, stressed or restless? It’s not surprising, given how noisy and uncertain the world is today. Meditation is often touted as a simple, cost-effective way to reduce stress, but what is it and how does it work? Looking Inward blends anecdotes and interactive exercises to lead you step-by-step towards understanding your own mind, collecting your distracted thoughts and finding ways to refocus your energy.
Prime Time by Bec Wilson
From the bestselling author of How To Have An Epic Retirement, this guide offers 27 practical lessons to help you make the most of what Wilson calls your ‘prime time’, aka the years between your late 40s and into your 70s. Divided into key pillars – power, money, health, work, purpose, happiness, family and travel – the book is underpinned by financial advice to help you make the most of this stage of life.
Midlife Matters by Katie Taylor
The Latte Lounge began as a Facebook group when founder Katie Taylor experienced her own difficulties with perimenopause – and has grown into a thriving platform for midlife women to find information and each other. In Midlife Matters, Taylor draws on advice from leading doctors, psychologists, dermatologists, dieticians and more to explore key areas in every woman’s life and create a midlife ‘manual’.
The Midlife Male Handbook by James Davis
Aiming to address not just the physical symptoms men experience in midlife, but the emotional and psychological challenges that often accompany this life stage, Davis offers a comprehensive resource for men over 40 and their loved ones. Advice is practical and rooted in the latest research, and the book includes a 30-day program focused on diet, exercise and mental wellbeing.
Unstuck by Dr Emily Musgrove
It’s easy to feel stuck in the midlife years, pinned into place by responsibilities, financial challenges and more. But there are many reasons we feel this way and it can look and feel different for different people. In this book, practicing psychologist and author Dr Emily Musgrove creates a practical guide to finding your way forward, focusing on key areas, from defining your values to overcoming stress, working with painful emotions and more. If change feels impossible, Unstuck may give you the tools to realise that staying stuck is harder.
Rough Patch by Kathy Slack
When Kathy Slack was forced to quit a high-flying London career, she was burnt out, anxious and depressed. This is the story of how she started a kitchen garden – and what happened next. Weaving her own story of recovery with the year she spent growing and cooking her harvests, this book is a candid and hopeful story about the healing powers of nature. Perfect for anyone who’s ever said, ‘I’d love to grow my own vegies one day.’
Allison Tait is a bestselling author, dedicated reader and co-founder of the Your Own Next Read and Your Kids Next Read Facebook groups. Find her on Instagram.
All book images sourced from Amazon, used with permission. Citro may receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using the links in this article.
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