2020 was a hard year for everyone, so let’s look forward to a new year. The dawning of a new year always inspires changes. Most commonly, we choose New Year’s Resolutions that we aim to focus on for the coming year. Some of the most common resolutions include living a healthier lifestyle, saving money, quitting bad habits, prioritizing mental health, and traveling more.
Here I have compiled a few books from each of those very common resolution categories. All of these books are relatively new to our collection and come in a variety of formats. Check out some cookbooks, financial help books, books on habits, books on mental health, and even travel guides (let’s hope we can all begin to travel again in 2021!).
Click on a book cover or the links under each summary to place holds on the physical books or check out the digital materials automatically. Come pick up your holds at any EVPL location using EVPL To Go, a contactless curbside pick up service, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm!
Everyone here at EVPL is wishing you and your loved ones a very happy and healthy 2021!
Eat Healthier
(Please consult with your primary health provider before making changes to your diet or fitness routine.)
A Visual Guide to Easy Meal Prep by Erin Romeo
“Conquer your healthy eating plan while saving time and money and eliminating food waste. Let nutrition coach and meal-prep master Erin Romeo, the food prep princess, show you how to prep a week’s worth of meals–over the course of a few hours, one day a week.”
Epic Air Fryer Cookbook by Emily Paster
“Everyone loves fried food. In Epic Air Fryer, you can enjoy eating and cooking your favorite fried foods guilt-free. Epic Air Fryer combines everything you love about air frying with the easiest, everyday recipes to enjoy conveniently crispy meals. Air fryer meals are family favorites because of taste, but they also create healthy everyday meals, which makes everyone happy. In this book you will find: 100 globally-inspired air fryer cookbook recipes that are favorites from around the world with recipes inspired by cuisine from, among others, the Mediterranean (shakshuka), the Middle East (falafel), the United Kingdom (Toad in the Hole), and India (tandoori chicken skewers) All the recipes feature quick prep and cook times and use easy-to-find ingredients for quick cooking.”
How to Eat: All Your Food Questions Answered by Mark Bittman and David L. Katz, MD
“What is the ‘best’ diet? Do calories matter? And when it comes to protein, fat, and carbs, which ones are good and which are bad? Food writer and cook Mark Bittman and health expert David Kats, MD, answer all these questions and more in a lively and esasy-to-read Q&A format… Topics include dietary patterns (Just what should humans eat?); gains (Aren’t these just ‘carbs’? Do I need to avoid gluten?); meat and dairy (How much meat should I eat? Does grass-fed matter?); alcohol (Are there benefits to drinking?); and more.”
Book | Audiobook | eAudiobook | eBook
Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole
“Since it was first published in 1995, Intuitive Eating has become the go-to book on rebuilding a healthy body image and making peace with food. It shows us that the problem is not us; it’s that dieting, with its emphasis on rules and regulations, has stopped us from listening to our bodies.”
Just the Good Stuff by Rachel Mansfield
“Welcome to food freedom: 100+ recipes that prove you can make healthy choices without sacrificing the meals, snacks, and sweets you love-with plenty of gluten-free, Paleo, and plant-based options. Rachel Mansfield’s vibrant debut cookbook proves that living a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean adhering to restrictive diets or giving up all the foods you crave. Using better-for-you ingredients, such as grain-free flours, collagen peptides, and coconut sugar, you can indulge while still maintaining a balanced approach to eating.”
Save Money
The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan by Liesl Clark
“In the spirit of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning and The Joy of Less, experience the benefits of buying less and sharing more with this accessible 7-step guide to decluttering, saving money, and creating community from the creators of the Buy Nothing Project.”
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
Budgeting 101 by Michele Cagan
“This clear and simple guide provides tons of practical advice for keeping track of your finances. With useful tips on setting financial goals, reducing debt, finding ways to save money, and creating and following a budget plan, you’ll have your dollars and cents under control in no time. Why spend more of your hard-earned money on a financial advisor? Filled with expert advice on a wide range of the most common financial concerns and step-by-step instructions to managing your money both now and in the future, Budgeting 101 has you covered.”
Mastering Money by Norm Champ
“Plainspoken, straightforward advice on how to overcome debt, make smart money decisions, and build a financially-secure future. Mastering Money delivers the knowledge and tools you need to prevent and eliminate debt, make smarter financial decisions, save your money, and invest wisely-a fool-proof approach to restoring financial peace of mind and security.”
Money Hacks by Lisa Rowan
“Many people are afraid to talk about money, which means that you might be missing some of the best money-saving skills out there! In Money Hacks you will learn the basics of your finances so you can start making every penny count. Whether you’re trying to pay down debt, start an emergency fund, or make the smartest choice on a major purchase, this book is chock-full of all the useful hacks to make your money work for you in every situation!”
Personal Finance 101 by Alfred Mill
“Full of must-have advice and organized in an easy-to-read format, this book provides a wealth of knowledge on personal finance basics including: Choosing your bank (and why it matters), building an emergency fund, salary and benefit packages, where your money is going (and how to keep more of it), refinancing or consolidating student loans, health and property insurance, building credit responsibly, how to get a mortgage, use this guide and make the most of the money you have, plan for future purchases like a house or a vacation, save for retirement, or simply become more financially responsible.”
Quit Bad Habits
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
“In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. With penetrating intelligence and an ability to distill vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives, Duhigg brings to life a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation.”
Book | Audiobook | Playaway | eBook | eAudiobook
Willpower by Roy F. Baumeister
“In Willpower, the pioneering researcher Roy F. Baumeister collaborates with renowned New York Times science writer John Tierney to revolutionize our understanding of the most coveted human virtue: self-control.”
The Craving Mind by Judson Brewer
“This book provides groundbreaking answers to the most important questions about addiction. Dr. Judson Brewer, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who has studied the science of addictions for twenty years, reveals how we can tap into the very processes that encourage addictive behaviors in order to step out of them. He describes the mechanisms of habit and addiction formation, then explains how the practice of mindfulness can interrupt these habits.”
Irresistible by Adam Alter
“Alter shows that we’re only just beginning to understand the epidemic of behavioral addiction gripping society. He takes us inside the human brain at the very moment we score points on a smartphone game, or see that someone has liked a photo we’ve posted on Instagram. But more than that, Alter heads the problem off at the pass, letting us know what we can do to step away from the screen. He lays out the options we have to address this problem before it truly consumes us. After all, who among us has struggled to ignore the ding of a new email, the next episode in a TV series, or the desire to play a game just one more time?”
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
How to Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price
“Award-winning journalist Catherine Price presents a practical, hands-on plan to break up — and then make up — with your phone. The goal? A long-term relationship that actually feels good. You’ll discover how phones and apps are designed to be addictive and how the time we spend on them damages our abilities to focus, think deeply, and form new memories. You’ll then make customized changes to your settings, apps, environment, and mindset that will enable you to take back control of your life — both on your phone and off.”
Prioritize Mental Health
The Healthy Brain Book by William Sears
“Whether you’re experiencing “normal” mental and emotional burnout or wrestling with diagnosed illness, The Healthy Brain Book can help you thrive. It explains: how what we think can change how well we think, the role of inflammation in the brain, and how food and activity can reverse it, what drugs enhance and suppress the brain’s ability to heal itself, actionable advice to improve your memory, promote learning, and prevent common brain ailments, how to personalize the book’s tools for your unique brain.”
Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge
“We live in soul-scorching times. The mad pace of life, the number of demands on our time and energy, and the overwhelming torrent of information coming at us 24-7 have left us ragged, wrung-out, and emptied. By practicing a few wonderƯfully simple practices–or what John Eldredge calls “graces”–you can begin to recover your soul, disentangle from the tragedies of this broken world, and discover the restorative power of beauty. After reading this book you will learn how to insert the One Minute Pause into your day, begin practicing “benevolent detachment” and truly let it all go, offer kindness toward yourself in the choices you make, drink in the simple beauty available to you every day, take realistic steps to unplug from technology overload. These simple practices and others are ready for the taking. You don’t need to abandon your life to get it back. Begin restoring your life here and now. Your soul will thank you for it.”
Book | eBook | eAudiobook
Brain Wash by David Perlmutter, Austin Perlmutter, and Kristin Loberg
“Brain Wash builds from a simple premise: Our brains are being gravely manipulated, resulting in behaviors that leave us more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before. Based on the latest science, the book identifies the mental hijacking that undermines each and every one of us, and presents the tools necessary to think more clearly, make better decisions, strengthen bonds with others, and develop healthier habits. Featuring a 10-day bootcamp program, including a meal plan and 40 delicious original recipes, Brain Wash is the key to cultivating a more purposeful and fulfilling life.”
The Mind-Body Stress Reset by Rebekkah LaDyne
“In this practical and accessible guide, you’ll find powerful and effective tools for calming stress in both mind and body. Based on the innovative Mind-Body Reset (MBR) program, you’ll learn how to stop stress in its tracks with simple somatic exercises. You’ll also discover how you can “reset” your nervous system, alleviate stress flare-ups, and boost your overall health and happiness. If you’re ready to combat stress, cultivate calm, and live a more vital life, it’s time for a reset!”
Your Life, Your Way by Joseph Ciarrochi
“Building on the success of The Thriving Adolescent and Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens, psychologists and teen experts Louise Hayes and Joseph Ciarrochi show teens how to face common daily challenges-including bullying; feeling lonely, depressed, or anxious; failing school; achieving peak performance in sports; and much more. With this fun and illustrated guide, teen readers will find solid and actionable skills to help them overcome these challenges, increase psychological flexibility, and achieve their goals.”
Travel More
Learn more about CDC considerations for domestic traveling.
National Geographic 50 States, 5,000 Ideas Joseph Yogerst
“The best travel experiences in every state and province, from the obvious to the unexpected. Sights include national parks, beaches, hotels, Civil War battlefields, dude ranches, and out-of-the-way museums. Discover the world’s longest yard sale in Tennessee; swamp tours in Louisiana; dinosaur trails in Colorado; America’s oldest street in NYC; a string of lighthouses in Nova Scotia; authentic Chinese night markets in British Columbia; and the best spot to watch for sea otters on the central California coast. Each entry provides detailed travel information as well as fascinating facts to help fuel your wanderlust and ensure the best vacation possible.”
Complete National Parks of Europe by Justin Kavanagh
“Discover European wilderness-from Croatia’s coastline to Scotland’s highlands-in this comprehensive guide to pristine parks and wild spaces, full of photos, maps, and tips. In these rich and informative pages, the travel pros at National Geographic bring you the premier guide to 460 national parks of Europe.”
“Written by locals, Fodor’s Essential England is the perfect guidebook for those looking for insider tips to make the most out of their visit to England. Complete with detailed maps and concise descriptions, this travel guide will help you plan your trip with ease. Join Fodor’s in exploring one of the most exciting countries in Europe.”
Road Food by Jane Stern
“The 40th-anniversary edition of Road Food includes 1,000 of America’s best local eateries along highways and back roads, with nearly 200 new listings, as well as a brand new design. Filled with enticing alternatives for chain-weary-travelers, Road Food provides descriptions of and directions to (complete with regional maps) the best lobster shacks on the East Coast; the ultimate barbecue joints down South; the most indulgent steak houses in the Midwest; and dozens of top-notch diners, hotdog stands, ice-cream parlors, and uniquely regional finds in between.”
“Experience 60 of the world’s greatest and most unforgettable train journeys, from classic long-distance trips like Western Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer and Darwin to Adelaide’s The Ghan, to little-known gems on regular commuting lines. We’ve always had a soft spot for trains. We know the moment a train pulls out of a station bound for somewhere fantastic is when the adventure truly starts. Amazing Train Journeys is the culmination of asking more than 200 travel writers for their absolute favorites. Some are epic international adventures, others short suburban routes along stunning coastline.”
*Book covers and some summaries from Goodreads.com
