I'd Rather Be Reading

Alzheimer's disease is devastating across the board -- to the one diagnosed, and to his or her loved ones and caretakers. Today, for our season five finale, we tackle a tough topic, but one that matters: Alzheimer's disease, sometimes referred to as "The Longest Goodbye." The Longest Goodbye: A Family's Hope-Filled Journey Through Alzheimer's by Shelly Calcagno

I promise this isn't slowly morphing into a music podcast, but this book was too good to not share with you! What does the Billboard Hot 100 chart mean not just to American music, but to American culture? We dig in! The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music by Tom Breihan Also, check out "The Number Ones" column on Stereogum!

This one is a BIG DEAL for me -- it's Melody Beattie! The author of perhaps the most well-known self-help and relationship book of all time, Codependent No More, on MY show! Unbelievably cool. Melody has rereleased the book 30 years after its 1992 revision, and 36 years after its original publication. If you've read it, it likely changed your life -- and if you haven't, grab a copy and prepare to...

What an absolute delight it was to talk to an American hero -- a former U.S. Secret Service agent who served five presidential administrations, from Eisenhower to Ford. You won't want to miss Agent Clint Hill's stories about traveling around the world with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, chronicled in his new book. My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy by Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin Hill

We are on a music kick over here -- and today we're chatting about Stevie Nicks. Mirror in the Sky: The Life and Music of Stevie Nicks by Simon Morrison

Brian Wilson is one of the most influential and iconic artists of the 20th century. What impact has he had on music and on culture, and who is he as a man, not just a musician? God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, and the California Myth by David Leaf

Friendships are a force -- but why are friendships harder to come by as adults? And why do we not find them as important as, say, romance? We delve deep into the power of friendship in today's episode. Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--and Keep--Friends by Dr. Marisa Franco

Today, we unpack the impact belonging -- or not belonging -- has on our lives. It's a crucial and critical part of the human experience, and Rachel is lucky to have THE belonging expert, Geoffrey Cohen, on the show to discuss. Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen Also check out The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by a talent we lost far...

Boundaries are essential to living your best life and feeling empowered -- but, when it comes to enforcing them, the deck seems to be stacked against us, especially if you're a woman. Brave Boundaries: Strategies to Say No, Stand Strong, and Take Control of Your Time by Dr. Sasha Shillcutt

The twenty-first anniversary of September 11, 2001 is this week -- may we never forget the sacrifices made. Five Floors Up: The Heroic Family Story of Four Generations in the FDNY by Brian McDonald

Someday, that glass ceiling will shatter -- and we may be closer than we think. Electable: Why America Hasn't Put a Woman in the White House...Yet by Ali Vitali

This week, Rachel would rather be delving into a time capsule of life in Los Angeles in the 1960s alongside then-married couple Dennis Hopper and Brooke Hayward. Everybody Thought We Were Crazy: Dennis Hopper, Brooke Hayward, and 1960s Los Angeles by Mark Rozzo Also check out An Unexpected Appearance by 13-year-old Isabelle Addo-Yobo!

This week, Rachel would rather be reading about how to get to the life she wants -- one day and one very important question at a time. How Are You, Really?: Living Your Truth One Answer at a Time by Jenna Kutcher Jenna is a podcaster, herself -- her Goal Digger podcast is a must listen.

This week, Rachel would rather be reading about liking herself rather than depending on others to do so. This is such a powerful book and conversation! Liking Myself Back: An Influencer's Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Acceptance by Jacey Duprie

This week, right in the heart of baseball season, Rachel would rather be reading about the Bronx Bombers. Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't deny their power. The Franchise: New York Yankees: A Curated History of the Bronx Bombers by Mark Feinsand

This week, Rachel would rather be reading about her writing inspiration -- the one and only Nora Ephron. Nora Ephron: A Biography by Kristin Marguerite Doidge

This week, Rachel would rather be reading about one of the most influential forces in both fashion and culture, the one and only Anna Wintour. Anna: The Biography by Amy Odell 

Tonight on Showtime, a brand new and FANTASTIC anthology series premieres: "The First Lady." It zooms in on three First Ladies in particular -- Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford, and Michelle Obama. (All of whom have written memoirs, by the way!) To break it down, Rachel invited C-SPAN's Susan Swain to chat about these three women and the Office of First Lady. Check out C-SPAN's phenomenal First Lady...

In 2016, Ian Halperin wrote a book about the Kardashian family -- and my oh my, SO MUCH has happened since then! The next chapter for the world's most famous family begins tomorrow, with their new show, "The Kardashians," set to premiere on Hulu. So Rachel sat down with Ian to talk to him about it, and we got an exclusive we weren't expecting! (But were more than happy to receive.) Heads up: There...

First of all, in case you didn't know this already, Rachel is a graduate of Kansas -- so ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK! But, even though her team won the NCAA college basketball championship this week, she was still torn up over Coach Mike Krzyzewski's final game being a loss to, of all teams, North Carolina in the Final Four. So she rung up the guy who literally wrote the book on Coach K, Ian O'Connor, to h...

For the season four finale, Rachel would rather be reading about a paradigm shift in our understanding of anxiety and mental health. This book is an absolute game-changer and a must read. The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body's Fear Response by Dr. Ellen Vora We'll be on hiatus for a while -- never hesitate to reach out at helloidratherbereading@gmail.com! So proud to be pa...

This week Rachel would rather be reading about how to become a better leader through digging into community. Mastering Community: The Surprising Ways Coming Together Moves Us from Surviving to Thriving by Christine Porath

This week Rachel would rather be talking to her new friend Madeleine about letting yourself off the hook and shelving today's to do list -- and learning how to NOT do the thing today. I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt by Madeleine Dore

This week Rachel would rather be reading about life as an heiress -- one can dream, right? Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies by Laura Thompson Stay tuned after the chat for some spring book picks, everything from fashion to beauty to memoirs to social change and more!

This week Rachel would rather be reading about the three women who married a generation of Kennedy men -- Jackie, Ethel, and Joan. What were their lives like as the women of Camelot? Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot by J. Randy Taraborrelli