The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023

Book cover of How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self

Genevieve Hawkins Why did I love this book?

Despite writing my own book on mental health in the workplace, I got burnt out. I took a break, caught up on sleep, but wasn’t re-energized. I then read How to Do the Work and the supporting workbook How to Meet Yourself.

LePera writes from the perspective of being burnt out herself, not recovering, and trying to work out why. Ultimately recognizing the impact that her past self was having on her current patterns of behaviour. This book is for those wanting to lean in and become aware of how your past has imprinted ways of thinking and behaving and how to influence that. LePera’s book gives practical ways to understand how stories get stuck in your head and what you might learn from them.

An easy, insightful read, which definitely helped me "do the work" and come out the other side stronger and wiser. Love it. She is also on Instagram as theholisticpsychologist if you want to understand more before taking the plunge.

By Nicole LePera,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked How to Do the Work as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'My favourite Instagram account in the world.' Dr Rangan Chatterjee

'If LePera's Instagram feed is full of aha moments illuminating the inner workings of your psyche, the revelations in the book are more like a full firework display.' Red magazine

'This book is a must-read for anyone on a path of personal growth.' GABBY BERNSTEIN, author of number one New York Times bestsellers Super Attractor and The Universe Has Your Back

'The book I wish I had read in my twenties.' ELIZABETH DAY, author of How to Fail

'How to…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

Genevieve Hawkins Why did I love this book?

Our world is so very challenging and it is easy to get overwhelmed with what isn’t right/needs fixing.

The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have seen both personal and world hardship up close, and yet both have found ways of finding joy each day despite this. Being both grounded and finding joy in the little things helps our mental health, and this conversation between these two was both light and reflective and immensely useful to me, when feeling challenged by all that was in front of me. A joy to read and to apply in real life.

By Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Carlton Abrams

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Book of Joy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Two spiritual giants. Seven days. One timeless question.

'The ultimate source of happiness is within us.' DALAI LAMA

'We grow in kindness when our kindness is tested.' DESMOND TUTU

Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama have been friends for many, many years. Between them, they have endured exile, violence and oppression. And in the face of these hardships, they have continued to radiate compassion, humour and above all, joy.

To celebrate His Holiness's eightieth birthday, Archbishop Tutu travelled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala. The two men spent a week discussing a single burning question: how do we…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work

Genevieve Hawkins Why did I love this book?

I had always thought of myself as an inclusive leader. Then I discovered my child is transgender. This opened up my eyes to biases I just didn’t realize existed and I am so grateful for this experience.

Reading Inclusion on Purpose helped open up my eyes to further biases we have when we are in positions of privilege. Filled with incredible stories, data to support them and practical ways of making change, it is well worth a read by those who want to create more inclusive workplaces. Belonging is a foundation of mental health and this book helps with ideas on how to create this.

By Ruchika Tulshyan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Inclusion on Purpose as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

How organizations can foster diversity, equity, and inclusion: taking action to address and prevent workplace bias while centering women of color.

Few would disagree that inclusion is both the right thing to do and good for business. Then why are we so terrible at it? If we believe in the morality and the profitability of including people of diverse and underestimated backgrounds in the workplace, why don’t we do it? Because, explains Ruchika Tulshyan in this eye-opening book, we don’t realize that inclusion takes awareness, intention, and regular practice. Inclusion doesn’t just happen; we have to work at it. Tulshyan…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Mentally at Work: Optimising health and business performance through connection

By Genevieve Hawkins,

Book cover of Mentally at Work: Optimising health and business performance through connection

What is my book about?

The book combines science and real world to give people practical ways to understand how we can look after our own mental health, and the mental health of those we work with to unlock better health AND performance. What’s not to love about that! 


Book cover of How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self
Book cover of The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
Book cover of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work

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