2021 Book & Podcast Faves

I'm the type of person that loves to read, listen to podcasts, and watch documentaries. I genuinely just love to learn. But my reading wishlist is literally 300+ books strong, so I am more likely to actually read something if it's been recommended to me personally (or by someone I trust on Instagram 😅). Maybe you're like this too? If so, here's my favorites from this past year to add to your list if you want!

Pregnancy/ Postpartum Books:

(I spent the first 6 months of the year pregnant, so there's a lot of these.)

• Doula's Guide to Empowering your Birth: I've read this book with my past 3 pregnancies & 10/10 recommend!

• Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth

• Birth Without Fear

• Mindful Birthing: Training the mind, body, and heart for Childbirth and Beyond

• Transformed by Birth

• Lactivate! A User's Guide to Breastfeeding

• The Fourth Trimester: This is another book that I've read for multiple pregnancies. The first time I read, it completely transformed the way I view postpartum and how I set things up to take care of myself. I reread it each time as a refresher on how to honor the fourth trimester. A necessary read in my opinion!

Other Books:

• The Nature Fix

• Simplicity Parenting : This is literally my favorite parenting book of all time (and I read a lot of them). This was my 3rd time reading it and I still got so much out of it! I recommend it to everyone.

• Decluttering at the Speed of Life : This book really surprised me in the best way possible. I only started it to keep me motivated in the decluttering started by Simplicity Parenting. I've been an aspiring minimalist for years now, so I didn't think there was much else to learn. I was wrong. It gave me new ways to look at things, strategies, and would be applicable to people in all points of their decluttering journey.

• The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in your Child

• Hope for the Animals and their World by Jane Goodall

Podcasts:

• Sharon Says So

• First Name Basis

• Good Inside with Dr. Becky

• 1000 Hours Outside

***I also think it's worthwhile to note that at least 2/3 of this list are things I listened to in audiobooks format. I get mine for free using my library card on the Hoopla and Overdrive apps. If you're also a parent (particularly of little kids) with only a few minutes to sit down with a physical book, I see you. I am you. I know it can often feel futile to even try reading when you're interrupted nearly every page. But don't give up. Keep a book in your diaper bag, car, bathroom and/or nightstand. Read what you can and it'll add up bit by bit.

Happy reading!

What were some of your favorite reads of 2021?