My January 2021 Book List

Each book you read changes you - that's why it is also imperative that you choose which books (or authors) you read. For my 2021 reset, one of my goals is to read at least 52 books this year, or about one book per week.

For January 2021, I focused mostly on self-help/improvement and books. I completed reading five books and started with one but I wasn't able to finish it. (47 more to go, Yey!). Here's a rundown of the books I read this month (and see which one I started but can't complete):

 

Book # 1

The 8 Minute Organizer: Easy Solutions to Simplify Your Life in Your Spare Time by Regina Leeds

Title: The 8 Minute Organizer: Easy Solutions to Simplify Your Life in Your Spare Time

Author: Regina Leeds

Finished Reading on: January 3, 2021

My Takeaways: Zen organizing | tasks you can do in 8 minutes or less that will help you organize the bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, paper clutter, family room & kid's room

 

Book # 2

A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind by Shoukei Matsumoto

Title: A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind

Author: Shoukei Matsumoto

Finished Reading on: January 6, 2021

My Takeaways: Buddhist monk's whys and hows of cleaning the surroundings and your body

 

Book # 3

Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space by Kathi Lipp

Title: Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space

Author: Kathi Lipp

Finished Reading on: January 10, 2021

My Takeaways: A (surprisingly!) comprehensive book on clutter in just a 224-page book | the why's, what's and how's of clutter | I will be reading her other books

 

Book # 4

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Title: Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up

Author: Marie Kondo

Finished Reading on: January 25, 2021

My Takeaways: Organizing and tidying up the house | creating an environment that sparks joy | thank things before discarding them

 

Book # 5

The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story by Marie Kondo

Title: The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up

Author: Marie Kondo

Finished Reading on: January 31, 2021

My Takeaways: Manga on organizing and tidying up the house | creating an environment that sparks

 

Unfinished Book # 1

Singletasking: Get More Done — One Thing at a Time by Devora Zack

Title: Singletasking: Get More Done — One Thing at a Time

Author: Devora Zack

Stopped Reading on: January 8, 2021.

My Takeaways: can't tell much

Status: I stopped reading halfway through Chapter 1.

Unfinished Book # 2

Uncluttered: Free Your Space, Free Your Schedule, Free Your Soul by Courtney Ellis

Title: Uncluttered

Author: Courtney Ellis

Stopped Reading on: January 14, 2021. Credit: 0.5 book only.

My Takeaways: More of a Christian book instead of uncluttering and organizing | will probably turn off most non-Christian readers

Status: I stopped reading at Chapter 10 (out of 14). I REALLY tried to finish reading this book but even though I am a Christian, I zoned out in the last few chapters. I probably will read it some other time but right now, this is not the genre I want to read. I think it should have been given a different title and sub-titles because the contents are entirely different from what one would expect.

Thoughts

I know how hard it is to write and publish a book so I am a bit disappointed that I just can't finish reading some of the books listed above. However, I'm glad that I was able to learn a lot about organizing and decluttering from the books that I read this month. I hope I'll be able to apply what I learned at home and in my day to day activities.

 

Extra! Extra! 

My daughter and I got a chance to read the book, Kiki & Jax by Marie Kondo on the 29th of January on Kindle. It was a very short read, and it's for kids, so no points earned for me.

Kiki & Jax: the life-changing magic of Friendship by Marie Kondo

 

Care to Recommend?

Care to share the title of your favorite books or the name of your favorite author in the comment section below? I would like to hear about your recommendations! Although I already have one personal finance book lined up for February, Know Yourself, Know Your Money, suggestions of books from all genre are welcome.