Best Booksummaries Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 476: Offbeat, intricately plotted books for an ambitious reading project 1:13:42

5d ago1:13:42

1:13:42

Reading projects take all shapes and sizes, and today's guest has set a goal to read all the Women's Prize for Fiction shortlists and winners. Today, Anne is talking books with Kathryn, who lives on the island of Okinawa, Japan, with her military husband and energetic golden retriever. Kathryn works for a nonprofit and spends her leisure time readi…

1
The Building Blocks of Wellness: Your Essential Guide to Functional Health with Vicky DiSanto 59:57

5d ago59:57

59:57

We've been hearing the term "functional health" everywhere lately -- but what, exactly, does that mean? Join Misty as she sits down with functional health coach Vicky DiSanto to explore the fundamental principles of functional health, what conventional approaches often miss, and the small changes you can make right now to create optimal wellbeing. …

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Ep 475: Help for a fiction lover who wants to read more nonfiction 48:59

12d ago48:59

48:59

Today's guest is an avid reader, retired social worker, and What Should I Read Next? completist who lives in New Jersey. Jill Jaclin has a reading conundrum: she really wants to read more nonfiction, but she's struggled to find a way to incorporate it into her reading life. As she told Anne, she also knows that there are nonfiction books out there …

1
Battle to the (Ego) Death: Misty Faces Lisa In a Self-Improvement Trivia Showdown (Again) 24:01

12d ago24:01

24:01

This week on Go Help Yourself, Misty and Lisa are joined once again by special guest and trivia master Josiah Jenkins, who has crafted a second self-help trivia battle for the two best friends to go head-to-head. Play along as we find out if this this epic battle will end their friendship or help a good cause. Want more GHY? Download our secret epi…

1
Ep 474: Burnout and the reading life 51:22

19d ago51:22

51:22

Readers, if you are feeling burned out right now, you are not alone. In our team meeting last week, we talked about the fact that things are hard right now. That's why this feels like a great time to revisit a favorite past episode from another time not so long ago when we were also feeling burned out. Today we're sharing Anne's May 2021 conversati…

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Aging Sucks... But You're Gonna Love It!: A Woman's Survival Guide to Getting Older by Brenda Ackerman 34:10

19d ago34:10

34:10

This week on Go Help Yourself, Misty is joined by special guest Mandy Kaplan to review the book Aging Sucks... But You're Gonna Love It!: A Woman's Survival Guide to Getting Older by Brenda Ackerman. Mandy Kaplan is an actress, voiceover artist, singer, writer, podcast host and stinky cheese addict living in LA. Her voice can be heard in hundreds o…

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Ep 473: Refining an out-of-date TBR system 1:00:46

26d ago1:00:46

1:00:46

When the world feels heavy, many of us look to books for distraction, inspiration, or reassurance. Today's guest has a unique spin on what she's seeking and would love Anne's help in figuring out how the types of reads she wants right now fit into her existing to-be-read (TBR) system. Émilie Weidl lives in Wales, where she's taken a year off before…

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Lisa vs Misty: The Self-Help Trivia Showdown 24:28

1M ago24:28

24:28

This week on Go Help Yourself, Misty and Lisa are joined by special guest Josiah Jenkins, who has crafted a self-help trivia battle for the two best friends to go head-to-head for a good cause. Will this epic battle end their friendship? Will a local library benefit from their antics? Tune in to find out -- and play along! Want more GHY? Download o…

1
Ep 472: Literary + Genre = match made in heaven 56:55

1M ago56:55

56:55

Finding highly discussable books for book clubs often feels like a full-time job, especially if you're a member of multiple long-standing book clubs like today's guest, Lara. Today, Lara joins Anne to talk about her constant search for fiction that explores the human condition in all its messy glory. She loves these sorts of books because they give…

1
Secret Episode: Our Top 10 Self-Help Book Recommendations 2:15

1M ago2:15

2:15

Download our secret episode here for FREE! Want more GHY? Follow us on instagram @gohelpyourselfpodcast For self-help tips delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at gohelpyourself.co If you enjoy the podcast, please leave us a review as it helps other people discover our show. xo Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/br…

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Ep 471: Don't let perfectionism ruin your reading life 1:07:42

2M ago1:07:42

1:07:42

Over the past few years, today's guest has been on a journey of self-discovery. Florida reader Casey has been working on coming to terms with her perfectionism and along the way, she's been noticing what it means for her reading life. Casey's noticed she tends to save highly anticipated books for later: some uncertain time down the road when circum…

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Is Happiness Overrated? Why Joy Is Your Stronger Emotional Ally 23:46

2M ago23:46

23:46

What's the difference between happiness and joy? In this episode, Lisa and Misty explore an article by Ingrid Fetell Lee about happiness and joy: how they differ, and how they impact our emotional well-being. Want more GHY? Follow us on instagram @gohelpyourselfpodcast For self-help tips delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter …

1
Ep 470: Revisiting childhood favorites for a nostalgic reading project 57:30

2M ago57:30

57:30

Re-reading is a practice fits into every reader's life in a different way, and today's guest has embarked on a unique reading challenge that brings a fresh perspective to her re-reading. Sarah Swarbrick joins Anne today from the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, to talk about the special project she's crafted in advance of her 53rd birthday. With her…

1
The Power of Incompletion: Why Leaving Things Unfinished Can Actually Boost Creativity and Well-being 17:38

2M ago17:38

17:38

On this episode of Go Help Yourself, Misty and Lisa discuss a powerful & counterintuitive approach to the self-help and productivity industry's obsession with getting things done. Take a listen to learn how leaving creative projects "wonderfully unfinished" can actually boost creativity and well-being. Want more GHY? Follow us on instagram @gohelpy…

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Ep 469: Book Club is for discussing, discovering, and dissenting 1:08:29

2M ago1:08:29

1:08:29

Readers, we often receive questions from you about our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and what actually goes on in our online reading community, and today's guest is here to help Anne take you behind the scenes! You may already know Ginger Horton, our MMD Book Club Community Manager, from her prior appearances here on the podcast or because you interac…

1
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis, LPC 1:09:22

2M ago1:09:22

1:09:22

On this episode of Go Help Yourself, Lisa and Misty review the USA Today bestseller How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis, LPC. In this How To Keep House While Drowning book review podcast, we discuss the morality of care tasks, the functionality of care tasks, why most "methods" don't work for a…

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Ep 468: Books for an adventure out West 1:00:54

2M ago1:00:54

1:00:54

Today's guest is a mood reader who often finds herself falling down a reading rabbit hole. Madelyn Kresinske is an elementary school librarian, wife, and mom who reads widely from middle-grade and picture books to romance, family dramas, and more. Madelyn doesn't hate her pattern of falling into sometimes a rut, sometimes she actually quite enjoys …

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It Begins with You: The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life by Jillian Turecki (Part Two) 1:19:28

2M ago1:19:28

1:19:28

On this episode of Go Help Yourself, Misty and Lisa review the #1 New York Times bestseller It Begins with You: The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life by Jillian Turecki. In part two of this It Begins with You book review podcast, we cover the last five of the 9 core truths Jillian Turecki says we must accept in order to change our…

1
Ep 467: I love literary fiction... don't I? 1:05:45

2M ago1:05:45

1:05:45

Today's guest has a common readerly dilemma: what to do when reading tastes change? In her submission to join Anne on the show, Philadelphia dweller and avid book thrifter Phoebe Mellinger shared that she'd had pretty consistent reading tastes for her whole life, until last year when she noticed that her taste suddenly and vastly changed. Her go-to…

1
It Begins with You: The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life by Jillian Turecki (Part One) 1:11:02

3M ago1:11:02

1:11:02

On this episode of Go Help Yourself, Misty and Lisa review the #1 New York Times bestseller It Begins with You: The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life by Jillian Turecki. In part one of this It Begins with You book review podcast, we cover the first four of the 9 core truths Jillian Turecki says we must accept in order to change ou…

1
Ep 466: New stamps for your literary passport 1:05:08

3M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

Today's guests excel in pairing the perfect read with worldwide destinations: joining Anne today are her friends, fellow book lovers, and podcasters Mel Joulwan and Dave Humphreys. You may know them as the literary minds behind Strong Sense of Place. They've also been guests on our show a handful of times across the years. Today, Mel and Dave are b…

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We’re Back! The L.A. Wildfires, the New Look of GHY, and What’s Coming up Next 10:22

3M ago10:22

10:22

After a hiatus to work on some big projects for GHY, we're back! On this episode of Go Help Yourself, we talk about the LA Wildfires, the new look of GHY, and what's coming up next. For self-help tips delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at gohelpyourself.co Get in touch with us: [email protected] Follow us on …

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RE-RELEASE: Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear 59:33

3M ago59:33

59:33

This week we are re-releasing a classic episode from the Go Help Yourself archives! In this episode, originally released in 2019, Misty and Lisa review the New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear. Atomic Habits was an instant New York Times bestseller and one of Fast Com…

1
Ep 465: What's saving your reading life? 46:57

3M ago46:57

46:57

Every year on the Modern Mrs Darcy blog, Anne shares a post about what's saving her life right now, and today she's joined by team member Shannan Malone to talk about what's saving their reading lives lately. Shannan is our What Should I Read Next Patreon community manager, and also our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club co-host. Today, she and Anne explor…

1
Ep 464: Travel-minded books for a fantastic European adventure 55:30

3M ago55:30

55:30

Today's guest has a bookish birthday trip in the works. When Barbara Andrade DuBransky told us about her tradition of taking big trips with her best friend to mark big life milestones, Anne knew she wanted to talk about Barbara's upcoming European trip. Barbara and her friend are passionate readers who rely on their libraries to help them plan and …

1
RE-RELEASE: What to Do When You Say Something Stupid 17:37

3M ago17:37

17:37

We're releasing another classic from the GHY archives! On this minisode, originally released in 2020 (and lovingly called the "Weekly Beef"), Misty shares an article on what to do when you say something stupid. It was recommended by her brilliant friend Bryan Kett, who has a brilliant TedTalk. Watch it here and learn more about him at his website. …

1
Ep 463: Remarkable stories that demand to be told 1:03:53

3M ago1:03:53

1:03:53

Readers, today we're thrilled to share a delightful conversation with Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, authors of The Personal Librarian. This conversation originally took place over in our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club community, where Marie and Victoria joined Anne, our MMD Book Club Community Manager Ginger Horton, our MMD Book Club …

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RE-RELEASE: You Are A Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness And Start Living An Awesome Life by Jen Sincero 1:05:42

3M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

This week, we are re-releasing a classic episode from the Go Help Yourself Archives! Please enjoy one of the first five books Misty and Lisa ever reviewed: the New York Times bestseller You Are A Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness And Start Living An Awesome Life by Jen Sincero. According to Sincero: “by the end of You Are A Badass, you’ll…

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Ep 462: LISTEN: Spring Book Preview excerpt 14:35

4M ago14:35

14:35

We hosted our Spring Book Preview last week, and if you missed out on that event you're in luck: today we're sharing an excerpt to whet your spring reading appetite! In this sneak peek at our Spring Book Preview live event, you'll hear Anne tell you about 3 of the 35 titles included in the preview. Spring Book Preview is one of our marquee events t…

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RE-RELEASE: The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown 54:54

4M ago54:54

54:54

This week on GHY, we're releasing another classic episode from the GHY archives. Originally released in 2021, Lisa & Misty review the #1 New York Times bestseller The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation - Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The…

1
Ep 461: Backlist books that make your brain fizz 52:24

4M ago52:24

52:24

Many of the readers we talk to tune into the seasons to inspire their next read, and today's guest has a twist on the usual seasonal reading dilemma: Nell Cavallo is joining Anne today from midsummer in Sydney, Australia. When Nell sent in her guest submission for the show, she told us that as a southern hemisphere reader, winter meant reading the …

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RE-RELEASE: The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey 1:16:17

4M ago1:16:17

1:16:17

This week we are re-releasing a classic episode from the Go Help Yourself archives! In this episode, originally released in 2019, Misty and Lisa review the New York Times Bestseller The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey. Dave Ramsey is a personal money-management expert and radio personality. His seven best-se…

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Ep 460: Anne's best books of 2024 1:01:32

4M ago1:01:32

1:01:32

We're kicking off 2025 with a special episode: today Anne is joined by her husband Will Bogel to discuss Anne's best books of the past year. Every week here on the show, we take a personal approach to the reading life, really digging into what readers love, what they don't, and why. Our conversations are about individual readers and their individua…

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RE-RELEASE: How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie 52:37

4M ago52:37

52:37

This week we are re-releasing a classic episode from the Go Help Yourself archives! In this episode, originally released in 2019, Misty and Lisa review How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Published in 1936, this is one of the best-selling books of all time. In 2011, it was number 19 on Time Magazine's list of the 100 most infl…

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