With long, sunny days upon us in the northwest, many of us are finding lazy ways to pass the time. What better way to spend a summer's day than to dive into some great reads that will give you a lasting glow from the inside out. In response to popular demand, I compiled a list of some of my favorites.

About the books:

These books are of the inspiring, motivational, educational (or all three) variety; and contain fascinating topics to help you work on a little self- improvement and learn some cool new things this summer!

Some of these books are presented as though they are focused on women, but that’s just for marketing purposes (i.e. women tend to buy more self-help books). These books are for anyone that wants to improve.

Lindsey’s summertime reading list

Positivity: The 3-1 Ratio that will change your life, by Barbara Fredrickson PhD. One of the mothers of Positive Psychology, Dr. Fredrickson talks about the research behin d positive self-talk and gives some honest insight into her own experiences with it. This is not simply her opinion on self-talk. Every claim she makes has been rigorously tested. Much of our training on self-talk has been based on her research.

Playing Big: A Practical Guide for Brilliant Women Like You, by Tara Mohr This book guides you through a journey of examining yourself and where you might be limiting your potential. The author talks about her own struggles with this, how she has seen it manifest in her clients lives, and gives concrete tools and techniques to work through our own self-imposed limitations.  

The Female Brain, by Louann Brizendine, M.D. A friend of mine, who also happens to be a brilliant C-level employee at a billion dollar company, loaned this book to me. One chapter in, I had to go buy it so I could mark it up with my highlighter. If you are a woman, coach women, or have any significant relationships with women, you should read this book. It truly looks into the research behind brain development and explains so much about how men and women differ.    

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, by Jen Sincero By Jen SinceroThis author is less research-based and more practical. She has a way of telling it how Reading this book is almost like sitting down with a really bossy but really smart friend who tells you to ‘get over your shit’… but in a really positive way!  

The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know, by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman These two women dove into the research behind confidence; how it’s developed, what’s happening on a cellular level, and most importantly, how we can build more of it. They searched far and wide for advice from super smart people, and they found a lot. This book will definitely get you thinking in a new way about confidence.

So get to reading and here's to a summer of self-improvement!