Good Vibes Book Club 2

        If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you probably know by now that I LOVE BOOKS, and reading in general. I’m seriously a book addict, and consider it a real tragedy that I don’t get to read as much as I want to during the regular school year. However, I’ve been out here in Missouri for about a month now, and definitely have a lot more time on my hands to read as much as my heart desires. So, in the spirit of the Good Vibes Book Club post I did last year, I’m following up with a list of books and other reading materials that come highly recommended by yours truly :) 

Adbusters

If you are anywhere on the leftist/radical scale and you haven’t picked up a copy of Adbusters yet, do it now, as soon as you can. Adbusters is super inspiring and great to have around as a pick-me-up whenever you need help keeping the faith in your radical anti-colonial, anti-empire beliefs. They also do a great job at being really visually inspiring, so it’s great for artists. They publish a new issue every two months, and will definitely keep your revolutionary flame burning. 

Cait Flanders

What I really like about Cait Flanders’ blog is that even though she can be categorized as a finance writer, her blog is really more about deeper subjects. She talks about how her finances reflect what she values, and what she spends her time on. She asks questions about what time means to her, and what her baseline income is for still being ok and happy. Her writing contains strong leanings toward mindfulness, minimalism, and sustainability. I love it! Plus, this is where I got the idea for a shopping ban from. 

Viva La DIY

Dulce and Jazmin have been blog buds of mine for a long time, and what I really like about their blog is that, as the name suggests, they are truly hardcore DIYers. These days they sell a lot of what they make, and everything they post on their blog is really handy and admirable. They have a really cool aesthetic going and are just generally inspiring DIY babes :)

The Last of Her Kind

by Sigrid Nunez

This is one of the only fiction books I’ve read this year (I just don’t really do fiction that much!), but it definitely made an impression on me. It’s written from the point of view of a girl from poor, rural upstate New York who comes of age in the 70s and goes to college at Columbia in NYC. Her roommate is a political radical, friends with members of the Weather Underground and Black Power activists. The book recounts the events of the 70s from an inside perspective and using historical events. It’s a really interesting read, and gives the reader an idea of what it might have been like to be alive during that time.

The Next American Revolution

by Grace Lee Boggs

I confess, I’m not finished with this book. I’ve only read a few chapters and excerpts. But what I have read has been awesomely inspiring, and I can't help but recommend it to everyone. Grace Lee Boggs is an icon and hero in activist history, and reading this account made me want to pack up and move to Detroit (still a plan for future Madeleine). In this book, she enlightens us to new pathways to revolution, many of which are already taking shape, like the organic food revolution. Please read this if you ever lose hope. At 93, when she wrote the preface to this book, she still believed in a better world. Amazing :)

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

by Marie Kondo

I’ve been made fun of for reading this, but this book honestly changed my life. Marie Kondo basically just gives you permission to get rid of anything and everything and walks you through how to do it. Plus, the book is a satisfying size and weight and very fun to hold in your hand. 

Those are my recommendations! You'll notice not all are books, because I read all kinds of things. In fact, my favorite things to peruse are blogs, simply because of the way they provide you with a good sense of another person's values, actions, and story. It's interesting to be able to delve into someone's life like that, even if what they're writing is not entirely personal or over-sharing. But of course I will always love books and and the printed word too. I hope that y'all will try out a few of these recommendations and enjoy what you do look at. Also, what are your recommendations? Of course I'm always looking for new things to read, so if you have any thoughts, send 'em my way in the comments! Thanks :)

Love, 

Madeleine

Photos all found via Google Images, none are mine.