Happy New Year! I’m excited to share my book list for 2024.
I like to vary my reading material throughout the year by choosing books from several different categories. This year’s categories include:
Business
Personal & Intellectual
Music & Teaching
Health & Lifestyle
Nonfiction & Memoir
Fiction
You may notice that my book list at the end of the year is often a little different from the list I start with in January. That’s because I like to stay open to books I may encounter during the year: books I find on a shelf at an independent bookstore or in our neighborhood lending library, books I hear others recommend on Instagram, or books I pick up at a rummage sale.
That being said, I’ve found that having some idea and intention of what I want to read in the year ahead helps me get started. Hence, a January book list.
Looking for a few books to add to your reading list this year? I hope you find something from my list below. Happy reading!
My 2024 Book List
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Business
Entrepreneurs Will Save the World: Why the best hope for our economy is you (Michael Hyatt)
A short book published in 2020 with practical insight (drawn from research and real-life stories that can be applied to the world of classical music) into the world of entrepreneurship and how it fits into our present economy.
NYT-best-selling author Michael Hyatt teaches eight traits of an entrepreneurial mindset including grayscale thinking, resilience, resourcefulness, and patience.
The Freelance Mindset: Unleashing your side hustles for better work, play, and life (Joy Batra)
For many of us, freelancing and side hustles are part of being a musician in the 21st century.
In this new book (published in 2023), Joy Batra shares wisdom and insight into developing a freelance mindset drawn from her decade of freelance experience and interviews with 50+ freelancers. With a focus on cultivating a freelance mindset, it provides valuable tips for music educators and private studio teachers working in the gig economy.
The War of Art: Break Through the blocks and win your inner creative battles (Steven Pressfield)
This book has been on my TBR (that’s To Be Read) list for years, but this year, I actually ordered a copy and have it sitting on my bookshelf.
Best-selling novelist Steven Pressfield outlines what holds us back in our creative work, how to overcome these obstacles, and reach our full potential as creators.
From a teaching perspective, I think this book can empower music teachers to inspire their students to break through creative barriers.
A World Without Email: reimagining work in an age of communication overload (Cal Newport)
I love Cal Newport’s books. In his latest (published in 2023), he shares insights into productivity and the way we communicate that I think apply to musicians looking to streamline their professional lives.
Exploring effective strategies for email management, this book offers practical solutions for busy musicians and teachers to help them work more efficiently.
The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories that Inform, Influence, and Inspire (Karen Eber)
I came across this book when searching for books on copywriting and storytelling. Karen Eber teaches us the value of writing and communicating in a way that informs, influences, and inspires others.
I’m looking forward to developing a better understanding of the power of storytelling.
The Gap and the Gain: the high achievers guide to happiness, confidence, and success (Dan Sullivan)
This book came recommended by someone on Instagram.
I think Dan Sullivan's approach to achievement and progress can inspire classical musicians to focus on personal growth. By studying and embracing these two concepts ("the gap" and "the gain"), musicians can cultivate a healthy mindset around achievement and success.
both/and thinking: embracing creative tensions to solve your toughest problems (Wendy K. Smith & Marianne W. Lewis)
As indicated by the name, authors Smith and Lewis challenge binary thinking in this 2022 book for creatives.
Embracing both/and thinking can help musicians and creatives foster flexibility in their work and teaching methods, remain open to new possibilities, and be more adaptable as small business owners.
Personal & Intellectual
A Heart on Fire: 100 meditations on loving your neighbor well (Danielle coke Balfour)
I’ve been following illustrator and entrepreneur Oh Happy Dani (@ohhappydani) on Instagram for a few years now and was excited to see news of her new book.
With personal anecdotes and thoughtful insights, this book encourages readers to love their neighbors well, exploring themes of justice, empathy, hope, community, love, consistency, awareness, creativity, honesty, and redemption.
Upstream: selected essays (Mary Oliver)
I enjoyed listening to an interview with Mary Oliver on the OnBeing podcast last year and am looking forward to exploring some of her writing.
In this collection of essays, Mary Oliver explores the deeper currents of life and creativity: the pleasures of artistic work, her curiosity for nature, and the responsibility she feels as a writer “to live thoughtfully, intelligently, and to observe with passion.”
Dog Songs: Poems (Mary Oliver)
In November, we had the opportunity to visit the AKC Museum of the Dog in NYC. We loved the photography exhibits and art collections, the sculptures and figurines (so many greyhounds, like our sweet Rory!), and Molly, the virtual puppy.
This collection of poems by Mary Oliver captures the unconditional love and companionship between humans and dogs.
The Secret Lives of Introverts: Inside Our Hidden World (Jen Granneman)
Jen Granneman's exploration of what it means to be an introvert offers valuable insights, discoveries, and affirmations.
This book is a compassionate exploration of the introvert world, drawing on scientific research, in-depth interviews, and the author’s personal experience.
Music & Teaching
Inspired Piano Teaching (Marvin Blickenstaff)
Marvin Blickenstaff is a legendary pianist, teacher, pedagogue, and author. I’ve been waiting for this book to come out!
I’m looking forward to learning more from Marvin’s decades of teaching experience, hearing his stories, and gleaning insights that I can apply to my teaching practice this year.
Life, Death, and Cellos (Isabel Rogers)
The first in a series of four books, this novel written by cellist Isabel Rogers follows the Stockwell Park Orchestra, an amateur ensemble in South London, through an adventurous and disastrous season: love affairs, the sudden death of their conductor, a stolen cello, and financial hardship.
Will the musicians be able to work together to save the orchestra?
Health & Lifestyle
Daily Rituals: Women at Work (Mason Currey)
Steve and I loved reading Mason Currey’s Daily Rituals: How Artists Work last year (so much so, we made it our Musician & Co. Book Club pick for January).
In this book, Currey details the daily routines of 143 creative women. With stories from various fields, including music, this book offers valuable insights into time management, routines, self-care, and the diligent pursuit of the creative life.
The Book of Delights: Essays (Ross Gay)
A collection of essays celebrating joy in everyday life and “the rewards that come from a life closely observed.”
Ross Gay shares his year-long commitment to finding moments of joy and delight amid a tumultuous year.
A refreshing perspective on how to make joy a daily practice.
Nonfiction & Memoir
Thicker than Water: A Memoir (Kerry Washington)
Actor, director, producer, and activist Kerry Washington shares some of the challenges she faced growing up, her search for identity and belonging, her most influential mentors, and how she grew and developed her career.
Throughout this memoir, Washington attempts to answer the questions so many have struggled with: “Who am I? What is my truest and most authentic self? How do I find a deeper sense of connection and belonging?”
Hidden genius: The secret ways of thinking that power the world’s most successful people (Polina Marinova Pompliano)
Polina Marinova Pompliano (a fellow UGA grad—Go Dawgs!) has studied and interviewed thousands of the most successful and interesting people in the world through her work with The Profile.
In this book, she shares the lesser-known stories of remarkable people, encouraging readers to uncover and foster their own hidden genius in a variety of different fields.
Everything is Figureoutable (Marie Forleo)
Businesswoman, entrepreneur, speaker, educator, and now author Marie Forleo has written a motivational book that provides an important mindset shift that she learned from her mom: Everything is Figureoutable.
In this book, Marie Forleo empowers readers to tackle challenges with resilience and creativity, offering practical advice on how to overcome obstacles in their lives.
Fiction
The Midnight Library (Matt Haig)
I heard about this book from several people last year, but never got around to reading it.
In this novel, Matt Haig takes readers on a reflective journey exploring missed opportunities and alternate lives parallel to the one they’re living, offering a thought-provoking perspective on our life choices.
All the light we cannot see (Anthony Doerr)
I read another one of Anthony Doerr’s books last year and, though the writing was lovely, I wasn’t crazy about the characters or the storyline.
I’ve heard that this one, All the Light We Cannot See is exquisite—everyone who’s read it seems to love it.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is set during World War II, reflecting on the power of art and human connection.
I’d love to hear from you:
Have you read any of these? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts. What's on your book list this year?
