Motivational Reads of 2016

Five reads to inspire your best year yet, chosen by our editors:

Our Turn by Kristine Stewart: If 2016 is the year you’ll go for that promotion or start a business, you’ll want to read Kirstine Stewart’s Our Turn. The former head of the CBC and Twitter Canada argues that women are uniquely poised for leadership roles in the information age because of our ability to multi-task, work on tight schedules, adapt quickly to change, find consensus, and use emotional intelligence. "We are living in the time of the unorthodox," she writes. "In many ways, women are primed to take advantage of that unorthodoxy because our mere presence as leaders is still so novel that it instantly signals a new approach…" Touché! $26 at amazon.ca—Sarah Bancroft 

Crazy Sexy Juice, 100+ Simple Juice, Smoothie & Nut Milk Recipes to Supercharge Your Health by Kris Carr: Loaded with helpful tips such as how to create tasty flavour combos and how to best store and prep your fresh ingredients, this book is packed with inspiring recipes that will make sticking to New Year clean eating resolutions a pleasure. Every morning we now look forward to drinking a zesty Rise ‘n’ Shine juice (it’s the grapefruit and ginger in it that is the most delicious wake-up call). $26.99 atamazon.ca — Karen Kwan

Spark Joy, An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo: “Only when you know how to choose those things that spark joy can you attain your ideal lifestyle,” writes Japanese de-cluttering guru Marie Kondo in this follow up to her New York Times best selling The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This poetic and eloquent read (she chooses her words as carefully as the items in her home) is filled with her wisdom—nuggets like “the correct order for tidying” and "how to create a bathroom that sparks joy"—often accompanied by adorable sketched diagrams. If that doesn’t make de-cluttering sound fun, we don’t know what does. $15 atamazon.ca —Lise Boullard

The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey: Getting more done in less time is always an attractive proposition, which is why this business grad spent a year of his life studying all things productivity through a series of personal experiments: from rising very early to limiting cell phone access. In this read he shares his learnings, (which include caffeinating strategically for optimal energy, and following the “Rule of 3” when determining which tasks to tackle in a day). Straightforward and packed with practical tips, it’ll have you reevaluating how you spend your precious minutes. $28 at amazon.ca —L.B.

True to Your Roots, Vegan Recipes to Comfort and Nourish You by Carla Kelly: Who knew so many varieties of root vegetables existed! This cookbook celebrates all things root, with recipes ranging from stews to juices, salads and even desserts incorporating the nutritious vegetables (from celeriac to Jerusalem artichokes). It’s also packed with vibrant illustrations to help inspire those healthy eating resolutions. What better way to brighten up winter’s dark days? $27 at amazon.ca — Krystin Tysire

Happy reading! —Vitamin Daily