We’ve already made our feelings about book recommendations pretty clear. As with all good things — nachos, reality TV, cocktails, online shopping — it really is possible to get too many of them. And with summer winding down (sorry, but it’s true), we know you want to make good use of that remaining blissful reading time we hope you’re making for yourself at whatever beach or pool you choose to call your warm weather home base. We want that for you. In that spirit, we’re back with another addition to the bulldog book club. Our latest pick is the perfect book to transition you from a summer of fun to a fall of getting $#!t done.
Author, speaker, and international success coach Jen Sincero has no time for the usual self-help hand holding (does anyone?), and she seriously cut the crap when she wrote You Are a Badass. The book is a snappy, direct, straight-to-the-heart-of-the-matter guide to general awesomeness. It approaches advice for success just like we approach yoga — candidly, sharply, and with a healthy dose of fun and humor to spice things up. Basically, if you don’t see yourself as a “self-help person” but want to dip your toe into the self-help pool, Sincero’s bestseller is a great place to start.
It’s hard not to love this book’s playful, unique spin on what we usually think of as “written wisdom.” You Are a Badass meets you right where you are. There’s no pressure to fake a deep understanding of the psychology of relationships, no expectation that you need a business degree in order to jumpstart your career-building efforts, and no hippie-dippy language about the root of true happiness.
In 27 short chapters, you’ll learn how to take control of all aspects of your life in the most successful way possible, and while Sincero isn’t appealing to the traditional self-help crowd, she’s not taking any prisoners, either. You better show up ready and willing to make some positive changes. Like any good bulldogger, you better leave your fear behind and get. into. it.
Everyone’s favorite Top Dog, Katy, read You Are a Badass earlier this year, and she dug it. Check out a few of her favorite passages:
“We are all perfect in our own, magnificent, fucked-up ways. Laugh at yourself. Love yourself and others. Rejoice in the cosmic ridiculousness.”
“When it comes to the creatures you love and the things you love, what on earth could possibly be more important than soaking them up right now while you still have the opportunity? If it’s something you want to do, don’t wait until you’re less busy or richer or ‘ready’ or twenty pounds lighter. Start right now. You’ll never be this young again… Don’t get so tangled up in the stupid little stuff that you miss out… If you’re not where you want to be in life, keep going. Treat yourself like you’re the closest friend you’ve got. Celebrate the magnificent creature that you are. Don’t let anyone mess with you and your dreams, least of all yourself. Your life is happening right now. Do not snooze and lose.”
“There’s nothing as unstoppable as a freight train full of fuck-yeah.”
If a self-help book generously punctuated with the f-bomb isn’t enough to sell you, then we don’t even know what to tell you. Go out and grab this one, guys. You are, after all, a badass.
Do you have a favorite book that you’d like to nominate for the bulldog book club? Tell us on Facebook + Twitter!
***You can get the bulldog experience anywhere, anytime with our online classes — and make sure you check out our full line of bulldog swag, too! Don’t forget to subscribe to the bulldog blog so you can get e-mail notifications about every new post.***
Book cover image c/o Charelle Griffith