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The best books to read during your vacation

  • 3 min read

Whether you go on holiday or stay in your own backyard, the (summer) vacation is the time to dive into the books. Reading a book is still seen as one of the ultimate ways to relax and although I am not the biggest reader, I also really enjoy sitting outside with a good book.

Today I'm sharing my favorite books that I've read lately, so if you're shy about good titles to read during your vacation or staycation, this is the blog post for you!

big magic

big magic book

You may know her from the 2010 film 'Eat Pray Love', but Elizabeth Gilbert has also written a very special autobiographical book called 'Big Magic'. In this book she describes how she believes phenomena like creativity and inspiration work and let me tell you: that's not obvious! She also gives you guidelines on how to lead a creative life, even if you don't think you have the talent for it. A special guide to a colorful life (literally and figuratively) that is definitely worth reading. Available at Bol.com - €6.99 (e-book)



Breeding pressure - Home Launspach

Holidays are the time to relax and to think about what we do and don't want when daily (work) life starts again. Although I have not yet finished this book by Thijs Launspach (I am about halfway), it has turned out to be a nice eye-opener for me. The book is written in such a way that situations from our (too) busy daily lives seem too absurd for words and that you secretly start to think that way. I have regularly closed the book with the thought 'yes, what are we actually doing'. Available at Bol.com - €15.99

The secret lives of color - Kassia St Clair

Give me a book worth knowing about color and I'll be a happy person. Anyone who knows me and my illustration work a little knows that color is one of the most important things in my life and work. This book describes the history of color, social and religious connotations associated with some colors and how color impacts our daily lives. My favourite? The story about the color Baker-Miller Pink, which in the 1970s and 1980s was labeled in the US as 'sedative' and 'aggression-reducing' and was therefore regularly used in large quantities in prisons. Secretly I think the color has the same calming effect on me, because I can't get enough of it. Available at Bol.com - €16.99

The Big Tiny - Dee Williams

This book is a physical and mental souvenir of our road trip in America in 2014, but the corona pandemic has made it more topical than ever. During our road trip we visited the World Domination Summit in Portland, Oregon; a conference for and by small entrepreneurs and do-gooders. Dee Williams gave a key note speech there about how she changed her life after being diagnosed with heart problems, built a tiny house and chose a 'simpler' life. I think that in the past year and a half, in times of lockdown, everyone has realized more than ever what is really important, but it is nice to read that there are also people who have really started to live by it. Available at Bol.com - €9.99 (e-book)

Feel good book

And... then there is another ultimate feel good book coming up. A workbook written by Mariko, in which you map out your own route to happiness. If you look at books you will see it 🍳 I can't say more about it yet, because it's not official yet, but you can pre-order!

Vera Bertens

Author - Vera Bertens from Franje Design
Vera Bertens is the creative heart and brain behind Franje Design, which she founded in 2009. Besides her wonderful world full of sweet and funny creatures, she also illustrates and designs on commission from her studio in Tilburg. We love her work and invite you to this Dutch gem to discover for yourself .

Do you also like to inspire others? Do you want to write or visualize about finding happiness in small, simple or logical things? click here

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