12 Books that inspired me last year…
When I found time to read in 2023, I immersed myself in understanding motherhood, the experience of working parents, and what can be done to help. If this is space you work in, or something you are experiencing first-hand, please find my recommendations below 👇
📚 1. The Mother of All Jobs by Christine Armstrong. This book is five or so years old, but all rings true (because obviously nothing has changed!). It includes helpful perspectives and ideas for juggling motherhood and work.
📚 2. Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon. Everyone needs reminding how remarkable the female body is. Eve rewrites the story of evolutionary biology by placing women at its center.
📚 3. Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood by Lucy Jones. My top recommendation. This book felt ground breaking in how it captures the physiological and psychological experience of matresence (the transition into motherhood).
📚 4 - 7: HBR Working Parents Series Collection (HBR Working Parents Series) This is a collection of the top HBR articles from a variety of leaders on the topic of careers and succeeding as working parents. These books are full of really practical strategies and tips.
📚 8. Joy Rider: How gratitude can help you get the life you really want
by Angela Scanlon. A fun read on the importance of gratitude, how to practice it, and reap more joy in the day-to-day.
📚 9. Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy. The only piece of fiction I read all year and it was exquisite. A raw detailing on the experience of early motherhood.
📚 10. Transitions by William Bridges. Recommended reading by the wonderful Penelope Jones. This simple model for thinking about the experience of transitions has been hugely influential in how we approach the Branch programme.
📚 11. The Motherhood Penalty: How to Stop Motherhood Being the Kiss of Death for Your Career by Joeli Brearley. I found this a very helpful (and somewhat depressing) primer on maternity discrimination in the workplace and how motherhood impacts careers. Joeli Brearley’s organisation does really valuable work, helping women on an individual and collective level as they lobby for change.
📚 12. What Mothers Do: Especially when it looks like nothing by Naomi Stadlen
Emma Barnett (Woman’s Hour) recommended this as a must read for women heading on maternity leave. It articulates the ambiguous, endless and nebulous nature of mothering a baby. I found it a real comfort.
If you've got a favourite book in this space let me know in the comments! And if you are interested in speaking more about this get in touch here or on our website www.joinbranch.co 🌿
