2019 Summer Reading Guide: Gripping Memoirs

I love a memoir that lets you step into someone else’s life for a few hours. Whether it’s starting a billion dollar company, running the most famous food magazine in America or giving up shopping for a year, there four books let you live another life from the comfort of your couch!

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Before Shoe Dog, I knew virtually nothing about Nike except that they made shoes. And some athletic clothing. If you’d asked me who Phil Knight was, my response would have been a blank stare. But since I read this book a year or so ago, I LOVE Nike. I loved the story of how Nike started because Phil Knight just really loved running and wanted a great running shoe, how he began by selling shoes out of his trunk, and how Nike grew from nothing to the billion dollar powerhouse it is today. It’s completely fascinating from start to finish and it’s incredible to see how many times Nike almost perished. Bart and I both devoured this one.

More Than Enough: How One Family Cultivated A More Abundant Life Through A Year Of Practical Minimalism by Miranda Anderson

I’ve loved Miranda’s writing for years and her debut book didn’t disappoint. I read an early copy back in January in a single sitting and teared up several times. This story of her family’s year of no shopping has no hint of a holier-than-thou attitude. Instead, it’s full of practical ideas for finding happiness in the life you have and helping your family step back from societal pressure to find joy in consumerism. It’s full of great stories and applicable advice, and I promise you’ll finish it feeling empowered to make the most of your own life. And I especially like it as a summer read to encourage taking advantage of all the wonderful things there are to enjoy without spending a dime. Release Date: June 25, 2019

Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl

I’ve read several of Ruth Reichl’s books but haven’t been sucked into any of them since Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise (which I absolutely loved). Save Me the Plums reminded me why I like her so much. Ruth Reichl was the New York Times restaurant critic before being offered the job of editor in chief at Gourmet, America’s most beloved food magazine. She’s such a great storyteller and despite the fact I’m not sure I’ve ever picked up a single copy of Gourmet, I loved every bit of this behind-the-scenes look at running a magazine, the changing landscape of print, and, of course, her deep love for good food (it has recipes too!). She also narrates the audio version and she’s a fantastic reader – it really made it even more of a special book. And if you haven’t read Garlic and Sapphires, fix that soon. You’ll laugh your head off!

Wait ’til Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin

When I was in college, I took a sports history class (if I had $10 for every guy who told me “I could pass that class without even studying” I would have had at least $200 and also, they were wrong. Unless they happened to know a ton about colonial-era boxing and also the integration of American baseball off the top of their head) and this book was my favorite thing we read that semester. It’s a memoir of Goodwin growing up in a town obsessed with baseball and split evenly between Dodgers and Giant fans and also the changing face of the American suburbs as the 50s turned into the sixties. I chose this for my bookclub about six years ago and we had popcorn and hot dogs and peanuts to accompany our lively discussion. I’ve read this book multiple times and I love it more each time. It’s warm and funny and absolutely fascinating.

CHECK OUT THE OTHER CATEGORIES ON THE 2019 SUMMER READING GUIDE:

CHICK LIT

BOOKS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

ABSORBING AUDIOBOOKS

PAGE-TURNING NOVELS

FANTASTIC NON-FICTION

Want a printable version of the Summer Reading Guide? It has all the book titles, covers and descriptions in one handy place, plus a single page with all 24 titles that you can print out and take with you to the library or bookstore or use to mark off the books as you read them!  Just pop your email in the form below and it’ll come right to your inbox: