Favourite books to read during lockdown
There’s only so much Netflix you can take, right? How about putting aside the noise and distraction and digging into a good old book? Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just trying to find a bit of zen, here are the books I’ve been flicking through more often during lockdown. If any of these take your fancy, they are all linked.
#1 Do Purpose; Why Brands with a Purpose Do Better and Matter More, by David Hieatt
This is one of those books that I bought because I thought I should and then left it to sit around for six weeks. Sound familiar? Well, no fear, because once I finally tucked in I found this to be packed with various gems that have really helped me out while I try to redefine my routine. From the first page’s statement, I was intrigued, and I feel that, now, more than ever, brands are going to have to make us feel something. (I’m looking at you Sephora, laying off all of those staff after saying you’d pay them, tsk, tsk… ) The premise is that, if you do what you love, despite the hours, the poor pay and lack of support, you will continue to find purpose in what you do. At the same time, the book advises that in order to succeed at our passion, we must remove emotion from it; instead of being all ‘hot passion’, it’s more beneficial to possess ‘cold passion’, one that allows you to see your path clearly.
Easily read in a matter of hours, this is a great book to refer back to for its practical advice. While it has tons of ‘you can do this’ type messaging, it’s also very clear about what you will need to do in order to make your business a success. Although I’m a small business (writing about beauty, photography and podcasting are my main sources of income) and I don’t have employees, I still took a lot from this, and even wrote out several of the quotes and pinned them to my vision board. Every little helps.
#2 The Longevity Paradox; How To Die Young at a Ripe Old Age, by Dr Steven R. Gundry
Full disclaimer; I haven’t quite finished this yet. Because I really want the info to ‘stick’ I break it up into read-able chunks, then sit there for a while and think about how and if I can make any changes. As a certified sugar addict I really appreciated the numerous warnings, accompanied by mildly entertaining examples, of just how bad it is for us. In fact, sugar is basically public enemy number 1 if you’re someone who wants to age as slowly as possible. The book focuses heavily on gut health and it’s been a catalyst for revisiting fasting. I’ve been intermittent fasting for months now (eating within the same eight hour window each day) and have experimented with several 72 hour water fasts (tough), but since starting this book I’ve made things simpler by adding a couple of 24 hour fasts to my week. So say from Monday night, after dinner, I won’t eat again until Tuesday night at the same time. I feel it opens up my options for getting more done massively. I don’t have to think about what to eat, or make it, or eat it. Instead I know that food will come eventually, and until that time I focus on drinking water and getting my work done. Honestly, I think this has really helped me during lockdown, because, like many of us, I’ve been going in on the snacks and alcohol way more than I usually would. Added bonus? My stomach is a lot flatter after a 24 hour fast. Anyway, this book isn’t about fasting! But it is about ensuring we live longer, healthier lives and I’m all for that.
#3 Palette, by Funmi Fetto
Sometimes, I buy books purely because they’re pretty. I was tempted by Funmi’s Palette because she was doing a talk with beauty columnist and author Sali Hughes that was £32 and included a copy of the book. Content-wise, it’s more of an encyclopaedia of Funmi’s favourite products and why she uses them. It’s a great addition for beauty geeks who may well be familiar with all of the brands, but its real value is in how Funmi writes about each product. Each page is a mini love letter to various hair, skin and makeup products and you feel like you’re having a chat with your beauty enthusiast big sister.
The only ‘negative’ I can think of, and it’s a very personal one: I would have loved to have seen more images of Funmi in there, and also, would have liked some photographs of the products scattered throughout. Each product is beautifully illustrated but I guess I’m a sucker for a product shot!
#4 Private Spaces, Personal Style, by The Coveteur
I’ve always been nosy; I think as a beauty writer and photographer you kind of have to be nosy, or at least super curious, about people and their habits, which is why I’ve been an avid Coveteur reader for as long as I can remember. I’ve always enjoyed their investigative reports into peoples’ homes seeing everything from how they decorate to how they organise their fridges or beauty cupboards. Honestly, some of these reports had me emotional because of the sheer beauty and emotion that goes into how people choose to create their habitats. Favourite profiles from the book include designer Michelle Elie, stylist June Ambrose and Linda Rodin, most of whom are photographed in Jake Rosenberg’s signature style that The Coveteur has become infamous for - the super bright flash, indoors. I’m hoping for a new version soon.
#5 The New Black Vanguard, by Antwaun Sargent
I knew I had to have this book from the first time I saw the cover image. Taken from Tyler Mitchell’s 2019 couture shoot for American Vogue, the image shows model Ugbad Abdi wearing the most beautiful pink hijab, a statement that celebrated diversity. Throughout the book the worlds of fashion, beauty, art and history are explored, as is the notion of the ‘new gaze’. How blackness has been and continues to be portrayed and/or utilised within these industries is also discussed, and of course, there are many, many breathtakingly beautiful images. I look forward to seeing more books like this, where the likes of Renell Medrano, Dana Scruggs and Quil Lemons (creator of portrait and interview series Glitterboy) are brought together in one stunning package. There is room for every one within this book, which is what makes it so refreshing. We need more of this.
I’d love to know which books you keep going back to - let me know in the comments!