I'd Rather Be Reading

This week Rachel would rather be reading about the wonderdog Piglet. Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family by Dr. Melissa Shapiro Click here to learn more about Piglet's important work!

This week Rachel would rather be reading about the Kennedy dynasty. The Ambassador: Joseph P. Kennedy at the Court of St. James's 1938-1940 by Susan Ronald

This week Rachel would rather be reading about how to have successful mornings! Own Your Morning: Reset Your A.M. Routine To Unlock Your Potential by Liz Baker Plosser

This week Rachel would rather be reading about presidential friendships. Check out: First Friends: The Powerful, Unsung (And Unelected) People Who Shaped Our Presidents by Gary Ginsberg

This week Rachel would rather be reading about Aaliyah. Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah by Kathy Iandoli

This week Rachel would rather be reading Out of the Pocket by Kirk Herbstreit. Out of the Pocket: Football, Fatherhood, and College GameDay Saturdays by Kirk Herbstreit

This week Rachel would rather be reading about Miss America. There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America by Amy Argetsinger

This week Rachel would rather be reading Leave No Man Behind by Dr. Tony Brooks. Leave No Man Behind: The Untold Story of the Rangers’ Unrelenting Search for Marcus Luttrell, the Navy SEAL Lone Survivor in Afghanistan by Dr. Tony Brooks You should also check out Dr. Tony Brooks' website HERE . We were going to take a longer break, but this book was too poignant not to discuss given current events.

This week Rachel would rather be reading literally anything written by Michelle Williams. Seriously, who doesn't want to read this? Michelle Williams really doesn't need an introduction ( she has a nice long wikipedia article if you're interested ). Checking In: How Getting Real about Depression Saved My Life---and Can Save Yours by Michelle Williams If you are struggling, please reach out to the...

This week Rachel would rather be reading Worthy of Wearing. Worthy of Wearing: How Personal Style Expresses Our Feminine Genius by Nicole Caruso You are #worthyofwearing

This week Rachel would rather be reading Style Therapy. Style Therapy: 30 Days to Your Signature Style by Lauren Messiah Producer's note: I need style. Rachel has great style.

This week Rachel would rather be reading Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be A-holes! This is relatable and poignant. Make sure you listen to the whole thing because every second of this interview is good. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be A-holes: Unfiltered Advice on How to Raise Awesome Kids by Karen Alpert

This week Rachel would rather be reading This Beautiful Mess. Shelly Bartholomew is a former Miss Teen USA and a fantastic writer.  This Beautiful Mess: Let Go of Perfection, Embrace Your Mess and Find Beauty In Your Story by Shelly Bartholomew

This week Rachel would rather be reading Fierce Self-Compassion. Dr. Kristin Neff has a great website! Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive by Dr. Kristin Neff Rachel also suggests: You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience by Tarana Burke and Dr. Brene Brown

This week Rachel would rather be reading something to help her be great, and it sounds like she found it! Rachel welcomes Ron Friedman to talk about his fantastic book. Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success by Ron Friedman Rachel has some companion books that she think would be good reads, too: Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire by Brad...

Will you accept this rose?  Rachel would rather be reading this book on the beach this week. The Road to Roses: Heartbreak, Hope, and Finding Strength When Life Doesn't Go as Planned by Autumn Krauss and Desiree Hartsock Siegfried In true Thursday Three fashion, though, Rachel doesn't want to leave you without a companion pick: Thanks for Waiting: The Joy (& Weirdness) of Being a Late Blo...

If you're an American who survived the start of the pandemic thanks to Netflix, these guests need no introduction. This week, Rachel would rather be reading Leap of Faith by Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed. Leap of Faith: Finding Love the Modern Way by Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed Rachel also has some books to suggest: Nothing Personal: My Secret Life in the Dating App Inferno by Nancy Jo S...

This week's Thursday Three has a special guest -- C.J. Wade. You can find C.J. Wade's musings and a link to all of her most important writings on her site thewritewade.com . You may also enjoy her podcast Queens be Like . C.J. Wade's Picks: I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith by Lecrae Rita Moreno: A Memoir by Rita Moreno Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Ye...

Check out the book mentioned in the show: Be Where Your Feet Are: Seven Principles to Keep You Present, Grounded, and Thriving by Scott O'Neil

Calling this a Thursday Three would just be lying to you. It is 38 minutes of pure book loving bliss. If you can't find a book you enjoy reading from this list of picks from these two, well, you shouldn't be listening to a podcast about books. So, for this week's "Thursday 33" we have the incomparable Sparky Reardon, a legend from the Ole Miss family and as voracious a reader as our inimitable hos...

This week Rachel would rather be reading Body Talk by Katie Sturino . Body Talk: How to Embrace Your Body and Start Living Your Best Life by Katie Sturino Rachel suggests the following four books as companions to Katie's book: The Wreckage of My Presence: Essays by Casey Wilson Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth Comparisonitis: How to Stop Comparing Yourself...

This week for our Thursday Three, Rachel is joined by fellow voracious reader and writer Carla Jean Whitley . First, check out the three books that Carla Jean has written: Birmingham Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Magic City by Carla Jean Whitley Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music by Carla Jean Whitley Balancing Act: Yoga Essays by Carla Jean Whitley Carla...

Check out the books mentioned in the show: The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush's Post-Presidency by Jean Becker Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush by Jon Meacham And here is a link to our People magazine piece -- such a delight!

Check out the books mentioned in the show: Best Seat in the House: 18 Golden Lessons from a Father to His Son by Jack Nicklaus II The Bench by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex Stronger: Courage, Hope, and Humor in My Life with John McCain by Cindy McCain Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty: A Novel by Lauren Weisberger That Summer: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner

Check out the books mentioned in the show: The Housewives: The Real Story Behind the Real Housewives by Brian Moylan Sign up for Brian's Housewives newsletter at vulture.com/housewives Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary