New Year, New You Audiobooks

2020 was a rough year for all of us. Our lives were flipped upside down and we were forced to adjust to a lot of change in our lives very quickly. In doing our best to just survive and keep busy, some of us found it hard to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves at the start of the year. For instance, if you resolved to cut back on snacking, 2020 was not the year for that. So we felt that in 2021, we should be setting our expectations appropriately given the current circumstances in the world and our new lifestyles. Here’s to a happier year and a happier you. —The Audible Editors

The Pursuit of Healthiness with Blake Griffin

I’ve had a real on-again-off-again relationship with the gym and the whole health and wellness world for the past decade. I’ve even impressed myself with how one month I could be as disciplined as a boxer trying to make weight for a fight, and then the next month I’m just crushing pizzas like a Ninja Turtle. The problem for me has always been all-or-nothing, and the second I slipped up from my workout routine or my diet, I would just threw it all out the window. If I couldn’t be exactly ''perfect,'' it wasn’t worth it. As I get older, I’m finally starting to internalize that perfection is not the goal and never should be—especially in a pandemic. It should be about what works for you: creating routines and plans that are realistic for you, your body, and your lifestyle. That’s what I loved about The Pursuit of Healthiness with Blake Griffin. Griffin and his long list of celebrity guests talk about what has worked for them, how they manage the expectations set by themselves and their industries, and how being healthy isn’t about how you look—it’s about how you feel. It's taken some time, but I’ve accepted that I’ll never look like an action figure, and you know what? I’m happy about that.

Aaron

Editor Audible

Laziness Does Not Exist

I like to think I have a pretty great work ethic. From the time I turned 16, I’ve never not had a job, which I’d then supplement with freelance work, side hustles, and jobs for friends—whether for money, passion, or the inability to say no. But perhaps I’ve been buying into something bigger: the cultural lie of laziness. As social psychologist Devon Price argues in their fascinating new book, contrary to what the #riseandgrind lifestyle suggests, there is no intrinsic link between productivity and self-worth—and the myth of laziness as a moral failing goes all the way back to colonial America (and not just my dad!). Though antiproductivity books have been around a while, the pandemic has helped more of us see how pointless it is to equate being busy with being a success. Instead of chipping away at that to-do list, why not pop on this listen (bonus points for not multitasking while doing so) and let the deprogramming begin?

Kat

Editor Audible

Alanis Morissette: Words + Music

There’s a distinct magic that surges through the audience at a live show, from the way each chord resonates, crackling and full and bright, to the temporary kinship that develops as you shamelessly sing, scream, and cry alongside complete strangers. And as terrifying as the very thought of being wedged in with a general admission crowd is right now, it’s also perfectly natural to yearn for a sense of normalcy and connection or even some semblance of escape. The past year was one of loss and sacrifice, an exercise in fear and collective grief that stripped us not only of our safety in the most literal sense but also of those secure spaces and communities that left us feeling near invincible. It’s no secret that live music is that very refuge for so many. Personally, I’m still lamenting the cancellation of Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill anniversary tour. As I count down the days until the rescheduled date, I’ve found comfort and a glimmer of the electricity of live performances in the sounds and storytelling of Alanis Morissette: Words + Music. The same meditative, incisive thinking that makes Morissette’s lyrics so skewering and brilliant shimmer as she walks listeners through her creative process and the fight to honor her own identity and complexities in both art and everyday life. Morissette offers up an intimate, genuine reflection that spotlights her unparalleled genius and gives music fans something to ruminate. And if that weren’t enough, the exclusive unplugged performances strewn throughout this Original offer a much-needed balm to those feeling musically deprived.

Alanna

Editor Audible

The Little Book of Hygge

Now more than ever (emphasis on now) it's important to find the time to do things you love and create spaces that allow you to be comfortable and relaxed. Whether it's sitting down next to a window to read, lighting a candle, or sipping something hot, anything counts. In The Little Book of Hygge, Meik Wiking emphasizes incorporating these cozy environments into your life to create, well, hygge. This Danish way of living can be described as the sensation you get when you're near a campfire with friends or at home listening to the rain hit the window pane—warmth, weightlessness, happiness. In a time when everyone just wants to experience those little moments of happiness, Wiking's guide serves as a great place to start.

Luis

Editor Audible

Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie

''Life gets greater later.'' That's just one of the gems (or “bevelations”) Bevy Smith drops in her new memoir, Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie, chronicling her transformation from magazine advertising executive—she was a powerhouse at Vibe and Rolling Stone—to the pop culture personality you’ve seen on TV recapping red-carpet fashions (remember when that was a thing?). It was the perfect listen to kick off my 40th year. Like Smith, I also made a career transition at age 38, and that leap of faith came with its fair share of doubts and insecurities. What I only imagined then, but fully realize now two years later, is that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. So as the new year brings thoughts of new goals and career aspirations, let Bevelations be your guide. Full of laugh-out-loud moments, emotionally charged confessions, and delightfully dishy scoops, like that time Smith enjoyed a late-night meal with rapper Tupac Shakur, Smith’s trademark wit and charm will inspire, encourage, and entertain you on the road to reinvention. Because remember, it does get greater later.

Margaret

Editor Audible

Option B

Let’s not mince words—2020 sucked. My husband and I lost a family member due to COVID—and three more unrelated to the virus—and we weren’t allowed to go through the normal grieving process for any loss because of the current state of the world. That traditional type of grief aside, we’ve also had to mourn more minor losses—like the joy of taking our kids to the playground, seeing friends and family for the holidays, or even having a date night. I first came to Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant in the wake of my father’s passing, and now, with the dawn of a new year after the rough one we’ve all collectively endured, it feels like the right time to revisit it. Sandberg and Grant demonstrate how to find, accept, and own your Option B when Option A isn’t viable anymore. They give you the tools to build up your resiliency—and ''resilient'' sounds like the perfect word to anchor a healthy 2021 mindset.

Katie

Editor Audible

Network Effect

If quarantine cohabitation is getting to you and, like me, you’re the kind of person who needs abundant solo time—preferably with plenty of TV to binge (the less realistic the better)—may I introduce you to Murderbot? I’ve come to think of this character as a kindred spirit—it’s anxious (check), obsessed with serial dramas (check), and has a hard enough time understanding itself, let alone the humans who insist on interacting with it (check, check, check). It’s a funny thing though: while enjoying Murderbot’s adventures—which include plenty of interplanetary conflict and space battles—you might just also find a deep, sincere reflection on the human condition and what it means to relate to others. Which may just make you appreciate those human cohabitants a tiny bit more.

Sam

Editor Audible

The Art of Screen Time

With the widespread adoption of remote schooling, our youth’s reliance on screens has understandably skyrocketed. Add to that their social video calls and other electronic activities, and parents are feeling a range of emotions about the impacts of such a digital uptick on their well-being. NPR education reporter Anya Kamenetz has some good news: turns out the damaging effects of screen time have been largely overstated. This measured and well-reported work will equip you with strategies to maintain balance—and peace of mind that you’re not rotting your kiddos’ brains.

Courtney

Editor Audible

I Know How She Does It

Now that we're deep into winter, and nearing a full year in quarantine, a lot of people (myself included) feel like they're approaching a next-level breaking point. So I'm going to be revisiting this listen that I found incredibly fascinating a few years back. Though Covid wasn't yet a thing, being overwhelmed with work and family certainly was. Professional coach and motivational speaker Laura Vanderkam puts the ''woman who has it all'' trope on a gurney and performs a thorough autopsy. Surely there is some methodology to those who seem to successfully strike the elusive work/life balance? The result of her deep investigation is an incredibly granular guide to effectively using all the hours in your day (everyone has the same number afterall) to deliver the biggest bang for your temporal buck. While this blew my mind back in 2015, I'm hoping that a re-listen will unearth some gems relevant for the home bound working and schooling parent (and it's worth noting that though the title is female-focused, the practical advice is entirely gender neutral!).