Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here!
If you want to chat about books, reading, and living + working with intention and purpose, you’ve come to the right place. And on this ‘About’ page, I’ll briefly tell you about Reading And Purpose, about me, and maybe a bit about you, too - at least as it applies to this newsletter and community!
About Reading And Purpose
I’ve started this newsletter to blend two of my greatest passions: Talking about books, and sharing practical ideas to live and work in meaningful ways. Each week, you can expect an article or two sharing Reading And Purpose-related insights, such as:
Top tips and takeaways from recent reads
In-depth book reviews
Monthly reading wrap-ups
‘Book flights’ - recommended books on a specific theme or topic
Discussion / reflection questions to consider while you read
Practical ideas and tools to help you live, work, and read with greater intention and purpose
Many of these articles will be free and available to all subscribers.
Paid subscribers will also receive additional perks, including participation in the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club! Starting January 2025, we’ll select a book each month geared toward personal growth, making a difference, and bringing meaning + purpose to work, goals, and all aspects of life. Paid subscribers can join in the community chat forum to discuss the book each month, as well as attend a quarterly Zoom meeting where we’ll talk about our recent book club picks and any other excellent books you’d like to share. As a paid subscriber, you can also expect bonus articles and personal essays, Q&A opportunities, and additional tools to support your growth, too.
On a related note: I’ve hosted professional book and coaching groups for over 20 years now, and I know everyone is different and that life doesn’t always go as planned. You’ll be able to fully participate in our discussions even if you haven’t read the book, and if you’re more of a listener than a talker, that’s fine, too! You can participate in the ways that serve you best.
About Me
I have been an avid reader since childhood and typically read about 100 books a year, with a pretty even balance of fiction and nonfiction. My tastes are quite eclectic, and I’m willing to try most any genre or style of book.
On the fiction side, I am particularly drawn to literary and contemporary, with a healthy dose of mystery and historical as well. I love exceptional character development, family/found family stories, and growth of any kind. I’ve recently been trying out more sci fi, graphic novels, and romance, and I am really enjoying those, too!
For nonfiction, I love reading on personal growth, professional development, leadership, mindset, goals, productivity … you get the idea. I also enjoy powerful memoirs, the occasional science read (particularly around nature), and books on feminism, social issues, and solution-focused ideas to help our world become a more kind, supportive, and positive place. If it will help me grow into a better version of myself and make a purposeful difference, I want to read it.
I rarely stop at reading: I love to distill what I learn and share it in practical, purposeful, actionable ways. Another reason why Reading And Purpose is here!
By day, I am a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), specializing in helping clients engage in meaningful work and purposeful lives. I earned my PhD in Human Resource Development and have owned my coaching firm for over 21 years. I spend the bulk of my days coaching and writing, and I absolutely love it.
And whether at work, at home, on a plane, or walking through town, I somehow manage to bring up books in pretty much every conversation ever. :-)
About You (Perhaps!)
If this newsletter speaks to you, I suspect you might:
Be a reader or book enthusiast
Describe yourself as a lifelong learner
Jump into conversations you overhear, if they’re about books
Spend a free day browsing a bookstore, perusing the shelves of your library, or curling up with a yummy beverage and your latest read
Agree that whether you read one book or a thousand books per year, you’re a reader
Max out your Libby checkouts and library holds on a regular basis
Proudly claim the title of Book Nerd
If one or more of those resonates with you, and if you also strive to live and work with intention, meaning, and purpose, I hope you’ll subscribe and stick around. I can already tell we’ll have much to talk about!
Thank you for being here!
I’m excited to chat about all things Reading And Purpose, and I am so glad you’ve decided to stop by. Please take a look around, subscribe, and leave a comment letting me know what you’re reading these days. Chances are I will immediately add it to my TBR! :-)
With gratitude,
Christi
