S3 #4: Book Pharmacy

If you're a business owner, then you know they call it running a business for a reason. EQ Bank knows it too, knows you're running the team, running the show, and you're definitely running the numbers. EQ Bank's business account is built to help you make a bank. It has no monthly fees and earns high interest, so you can keep running.

What really matters? Sign up today at EQBank.ca. Welcome to the RUSEN Shine Pubcat, featuring us, the Swedish sisters, Josephine Ruse and Victoria Ruse-Olson. Based in Brighton and Atlanta, we share experiences from our international lives and careers.

Good afternoon. This is Victoria sending from Atlanta. And good morning. This is Josephine from Queenstown, New Zealand.

And as it happens, I am in this once a week moment where possibly it's better to be a bit behind in time because I'm Friday afternoon and you are Saturday morning. So I'm like, okay, work week is done, ready for the weekend. But you're in the weekend. You are popcorn and wine.

And I am early Saturday morning with poor sleep. But I still, I mean, it's still good. But I know what you mean. You are the possibly best moment.

Yesterday I was winning. Yes. So you were my motivation. That's where I wanted to go.

All right, Josephine. So as it happens, for me then, it's still World Book Day today, which is pretty awesome because we had planned this episode not knowing that. I mean, where is this list where all the days are? Like where you know if it's the cinnamon roll book or it's the siblings day or the world book.

Yeah, I can know. It feels like it's someone on Facebook. It just sits and pumps out. Because would we have any idea if it wasn't on Facebook or Instagram that these days even existed?

Yes. So yeah, maybe Sickenburg is sitting on the master list. Yes. So give us a status update.

And it has like over there on the other side of the globe. And it's good. In New Zealand, I woke up to a sunny morning with there's snow on the mountaintops outside. So they're frosty and nice.

And winter is around the corner or at least a fall feeling. Wow. Now it's really nice. But a lot of in our family, a lot of decisions about when we're going to go back to Europe and all of that madness.

So you love making decisions, right? Gosh. Yeah. And I make so many decisions.

And I was saying to you because you said that to me. And I just feel like, yeah, but I make pretty big decisions. Because it's, you know, we move a lot, having lived in four countries during this pandemic, as I think I've said before in this podcast. But yeah, so it's a lot of big decisions.

And of course, when you are in a situation where there's COVID all around, you just deal with it. Yeah. Now when you're here, it feels extremely fortunate and also a bit more like, yeah, scarier maybe to go back. Big decisions.

Yeah. And I guess it doesn't help. I mean, you were doing all this work for the UN right now, right? And talking to people from all these countries where it's really, really bad.

Exactly. I'm doing these mindfulness sessions through a piece on purpose in the UN foundation where we, we speak with colleagues around the world and provide them these sessions in mindfulness. And, and it's really needed. And people are really, really stressed.

And things are, yeah, in some countries, of course, going really poorly, really, really poorly. And of course, if you work for the UN and if you're an international staff, you're far away from home as well. So you're navigating another context where you don't exactly know what the healthcare will be like and so on. So a lot of anxiety and stress and fear from people in somewhat vulnerable positions around the world.

Yeah, I can imagine. So here on the contrary, we were so blessed. I thought you got my second shot of a scene two days ago and I'm thinking, hopefully, we can. You're like post COVID, Matt.

Yeah. Not entirely. I mean, there's so many things going on. But what I wanted to say is like, sometimes when we're having hard times or when it's difficult, you know, a really good book can actually make a big difference.

And that was our idea. Let's create like a book pharmacy, right? Yeah. So a pharmacy, a book for every different type of situation that one might be in and maybe our list is not that comprehensive, but you will all get the point and you can create your own list and add on to it to whatever special needs that you might have.

Yes, I must say, when we started to prepare, I got a bit of an excitement. I'm like, oh my goodness, there's so many good books and I can think of any, right? But we've done our best to give you all a little bit of inspiration and some ideas and books we're reading right now, I would say, right? Yes, it's a snapshot because of course I'm always on a traveling foot here.

So I didn't have a book shelf to look into. So I can see and remember like, oh, this is a mess. So I haven't shared a lot of books on my Kindle at the moment, but there are a lot of good books on the Kindle at the moment. Yeah, they are.

So the setup sort of for this episode, we thought we will share a list and we haven't listened to each other's list. But different books we'll have on there. We'll also talk a little bit about book club ideas and best practices around that because I know many people find that want to hear more about that. And then I think that our listeners want to listen to our book club in Brighton and in Alfa Retta, these sister clubs insisting on different sides of the world.

And also I would say the book club is the reason that I have so many books on my Kindle at the moment, but I'm actually reading so much. It's really helping me to power through. And then, you know, I think you are in the time of life where I also didn't read that much when the girls were that young, right? Because it's super busy with career and young children.

But now it's like two teenage girls. It's like the only thing competing with my reading is my husband wanting us to watch the Netflix together, right? But it's like, so it is all the nice. But so that's it.

And we want to give you a little bit of inspiration where else you can find more books to read and how you can share your books with us. And really sitting and preparing this list. So I took 30 minutes today and sort of tried to think about all the books I love. It made me think of a moment.

So my eldest daughter Isabelle, she's a senior in high school. So by the way, that's something cooking over here in Atlanta. We're preparing this graduation party for her and she's off to college and all of these different things, right? But as it happened, she changed schools in the past four years, three times because first it was the Swedish school system.

So she was like him for the Swedish listeners in Hugs, Daudia, then she went on to New Knoss yet. And now she's in high school, right? And then finishing off and doing her final two years in high school over here. And in all these three different schools, they have read the great Gatsby, the same book, like in our literature course, it's like, yeah, and the book of this semester is going to be the great Gatsby.

So she's had it for three times. Yes. Three times. So I'm like, oh my goodness, how is this going?

Well, actually it is extremely interesting because all the three teachers have been very well educated, but they've also had very strong opinions on the book, right? On like what part, what, how all these different things, what they really mean and the behind scenes and ideas and thoughts and they have all been quite different. So that for her in itself, I mean, she's going to study her undergrad now in psychology. So it's been such a good point of discussion for us that so all these educated teachers, this very famous book, but very, very views of like what to read into it and how to use it and what was really good and how to evaluate the different characters.

That's fantastic. I mean, that just really shows the richness of books and how much meaning you can get out from it, right? And of course, depending on what you wanted to be as well and however it relates to your life, but that is what's been so amazing with these book clubs as well. And just get to see people's perspectives.

And sometimes you pick up all of the obvious and sometimes these perspectives are, oh, wow, I had not thought about that at all. Yes. You know, I can walk away from a book club thinking that I liked the book a little bit more than I did before I got there. Yes.

Absolutely. Me too. I mean, I think we both adore our book club and the people in it, but I think that it would be quite a different thing that we would reflect on in Brighton, which is, you know, more like if we give the stereotype more progressive and, you know, the UK and then we have more maybe traditional Atlantic is that a way of describing it, at least from the outside. Maybe one could say that better way.

And I would just completely well, maybe completely different news. Yeah, we can we happen to read the same book for the last book club. So maybe that might end up on our list too. So we can talk about it too, right?

Yeah. Yeah. Perfect. All right.

So let's start like the categories here that we start with. Which one shall we start with just being on our sort of our pharmacy? Um, on our pharmacy. What should we start with the book for a difficult time?

How it's lifting. See after all. Yes. All right.

Okay. That's right. You have a no, no, I'm just kidding. You go ahead.

Let's start with the book for a difficult time and you get to start. Okay. A book for a difficult time. Okay.

Well, no, it doesn't feel so uplifting, but oh well, um, it's a book like, but one that I'm recommending. So there's two actually. Good. Because I'm not sure I was moving some books around which category they actually fit into.

But all right. Okay. So both of us in our book clubs have just now read the Midnight Library. Oh, yes.

That's with author. Hey, Matt, hey, who is based in Brighton? Yes. Yes.

So very subtly uplifting in the sense that it provides this opportunity to think about our life and our regrets. Yes. But maybe not maybe realizing that going back and changing it is not what's the most important. Yeah.

Okay. So I think it's more around the plot of this book because I think you see it very quickly and it sort of describes it at the start. So basically the main character is having a life that you feel is pretty miserable in and she decides to commit suicide and she dies, but she doesn't get really to have an or hell or anything like that. She ends up in this Midnight Library in this library.

It's so interesting. She meets early Barry and from her like middle school or something like that. And there's one big book that it's called a book of regrets. And then it's like a massive amount of books and each book represents like what would her life have looked like if she would have picked or made a different choice.

Yes. Talking about your and your choices, right? I think that's why I recommended it for you. That's why it's so good for me to read that book.

Yes. So all different choices. And of course she gets lots of different experiences and so she gets to travel to all these lives and see what if I would have that point like if I would have stayed with that boyfriend or if I would have pursued my swimming career or if I would have like studied hard for that subject that I really love, what would have happened to my life? Yes.

And the essence of the book is I see it and people will have different takeaways. I still haven't had my discussion with my book. But it's really around. You're saying like, oh, you will be equally happy wherever you are.

So this is maybe a little bit smaller. I'm not going to tell what happens. No, no, no, no. It's not going to happen.

But I think the essence of it still is that in a lifetime you will feel a number of different sensations and different experiences. And it's much more about savoring those than necessarily the wealth or the partner or the job or the career. And because you have those, you know, those sensations and feelings and so on will be available to you in all of your lives. Yeah.

So actually I must know, share talking about our different book clubs, right? So the first discussion point when we, because we've had our debrief, I'm not going to share it, and it was really a good debrief, was one of my, the members in my book club said, because we're here in Atlanta, in the south and people are a little bit more church going, right? And at least what we are used to being from Sweden and I imagine other parts of the world that here are very traditional going to church. And one of the first comments was like, yeah, I wasn't sure I felt comfortable reading this book because I'm like, this is going against my religion.

Oh, and that was my reaction. Oh, oh, wow. How interesting. So we ended up saying that is a different.

I don't think my Brighton book club would say that. See, that's what I mean. It's a difference. And, but it was so interesting.

And that's why I also love having a book club because it really sets the scene that everything is open to talk about. But then she said, well, then I thought about it's like, no, this is fiction. It's actually not stating that this is the way it is, like it's not proposing that there is the Midnight Library. And then she'd gone on and really enjoy that book.

And that's what I find so fascinating, but I not just reading it, but by talking to others and see and hear what are the different perspectives, right? Absolutely. With that, I wanted to move on. I want to say my other one for a difficult time.

And it was actually a book that you a lot of my listeners books that you have recommended because you're reading so much more at me in the moment than just my bottom you books. But it is I had a difficult time last half year ago or so. And you told me to read on tape. Oh, yeah.

I put that one on for a pep talk. The book for a pep talk. Yeah, that could be the same thing. Maybe it could be the pep talk as well.

Maybe I have it down there as well. But yes, because it is really a pep talk. And I guess maybe in a difficult time, depending on what you need, but I have to pep talk. Actually, I have bought that.

I've recommended it to you and I've got it to two friends that I felt needed a little bit of a boost, right? Yeah. This is not fiction. It's her life inside having been first successfully married but then her husband having cheated on her and then she falls in love with famous football star.

There's a female and it's named, cannot remember what she's called. It doesn't matter. Famous female star and the famous Christian vlogger, which we didn't know. Yeah.

But she was a famous Christian. So that also, again, adds another interesting perspective. And dimension. Yeah.

So incredibly interesting, very empowering. I think it leads to maybe more divorced than then it's healthy. all about, you know, finding the essence of you, you, you, right? And like, break free, I would say, it's a big message in it, but it's incredibly...

I actually gave it to a friend who just got divorced, because I thought that... So maybe that's our list, a book for a divorce. That's awful. No, I mean, that's not for a divorce thing, but if you have divorce, it's a good thing to read.

Yeah, and I think for me, it was not planning to have a divorce, and feel really happy. I felt that it was a really good pet park. Like, it was just really... And I thought it was fun and crazy, and also good insights on bringing up children.

Yeah, I like that. Yeah, it's really good. Okay, now you pick something. Well, let's go for a book for a good cry and laugh.

I made it into the same category, actually, but then... So, and I have two books here. Well, actually, I have one author and another book and another, because there's one author and his books makes me both cry and laugh, and it's a Swedish author, Jürich Bachmann. Oh, yeah.

And a man called Uve, and I think I actually really, really like Britsmarie was here. Have you read any of his books? Yes, I have. No, I love them too.

They are very, you know, would you say subtle humor or it's like under humor? It's tragic comic, but it's it's always fun and always with deeper insights. Yes, so that's one that I really can recommend. Man called Uve, or Britsmarie was here, both of them.

And should I take my second one on this one? Yeah, category or book? Because you can't change categories. No, I'm still in the same category.

Okay, so and this book could have gone in so many different categories, but I put it here. So, this is a non-fiction book, and it is actually, I guess, not supposed to make you laugh or... But it's called The Person You Mean to Be by Dolly Shud, and it's about how good people fight bias. And I think it's one of the best books that I've read in this past year.

And I think the reason why it may make me cry or laugh and cry even almost like, so this is this author and she's writing this amazing book about all of us trying to be sort of goodish and trying to do the right thing, but sort of not really, you know, and not really knowing what to do and how to do it and probably failing all the time and actually just really opening our eyes to what is actually happening. So, it's full of stories and examples and facts and like so many insights, which basically sometimes really almost want to make you cry, but also like I love how she starts out one of like the starting points is like, yeah, I'm not really an activist, but now somehow I'm lying on the floor at the department store Toys R Us with like makeup blood on top of me and pretending to be dead right? So, they're just like, and I'm doing this and I'm super stressed and somehow I should be really focused on this, but at the same time I'm starting looking around the aisles to see if there's possibly to be any good Christmas gifts for my children and I'm doing this and I thought it was like just bringing in all the good like interesting things that we think about and no, I would recommend everyone I know really to read that book. Okay, perfect.

Say it again, the name, the person you mean to be by Dolly Chup and it's about how good people fight bias. So, it's yeah, it's a little bit challenging thought provoking and you learn a lot of things reading this book. Fantastic. When I saw that category of book that made you cry, it reminds me of a book that we share.

So, like you're 10 years older than me and do you know what I'm going to mention? Yes, I know. So, we were, you were at exchange student in the US and we were visiting early 90s and early 90s and our parents have rented a car and we drew like across 25 states. So, you picked me up in Kansas and we were driving through Oklahoma and all these states going down to the south.

Yes, and we passed by all of these Indian reserves and you picked up a book about an Indian girl about a white girl and slave. Yes, by the Indians, but ended up marrying the Indian chief and oh my goodness, I was at the 18th of all up today. But you were crying through the whole book and our dad was, you know, completely upset with you. But I wasn't looking at the beautiful Oklahoma landscape but reading.

Exactly. And you gave it to me on my 18th birthday. I think I cried a lot as well and then you reminded me that I probably don't know where the book is now. So, I haven't kept the sentimental value of it.

Do we know the name of this book? No, we don't. But you know what? It was based on the true story.

I just want to point that out. So, it wasn't sort of made up. It was really based on the true story. Yeah, so that's a great book and recommendation.

We don't know the name or the author. But anyone, true story about white girl Mary's India. A cheap. Yeah.

All right. What's the next category? Well, what about the book that we think that everyone should read? Yes.

The aspirational book. So, the adler level books. Yes. So, I think that the book that has been most influential for me has been The Power of Now by Ikar Toli.

It's not such a long or big or difficult book, but it's all about accessing the present moment. All that we have is now. And I read it when I was living in Myanmar at the time and was a bit close to, you know, you're close to monks and close to spirituality in Myanmar. It's a nice place to access a book like that, a lot of temples, a lot of holy places.

Yeah. But it's a book that I would really recommend anyone and everyone to read at some stage of your life. Yeah. So, I have read it and I think I wasn't there really when I read it, but my other daughter, Philippa, who's also really into this and she also read it and she loves it.

And she's telling me how much has helped her with her anxiety, with how she feels about things, and she finds it amazing. Yeah. What about you? Well, I guess I have a little bit more of a practical book, but which sort of shaped me a lot.

And it's the seven habits of highly effective people. And of course, so for me, I think like the world would be a better place if people would just look into this, if we could all be like really thinking a little bit ahead, being proactive and the way that we how we listen to each other. It's everything. It's from like big life thoughts to quite pragmatic things.

So, it's really one of these books. I'm making a book list for Isabelle going off to college that I think like, yes, I would really like for her to read this course. It's a book. I mean, for us, it's of course, I facilitate that content too, right?

So, but it's definitely life skills, I would say in that book. Yeah. All right. So, Josephine, actually, let's go to our next category because now you have two helpers joining you in this podcast.

So, Philippa has managed to cut out the crying that was constantly in the background. Yes, our wonderful editor. But now we have Luca and Raphael here joining us as well. So, what better fit than to talk about the best books for parenting and the best books for reading with your children?

Yes. So, what about Oh, crap. I have a toddler tackling these crazy awesome years, no time out and sneedered by Jamie Gureki. Yeah, that's funny.

That's one toddler agreeing. Exactly. So, no, that's a really good book that I would actually recommend the funny name. And then I looked through my Kindle and also another one that has shaped me a bit and I should probably reread it.

It's a grit, the power and passion of perseverance by Angela Duckworth. Yes. And it's a lot more than just preparing thing, of course, but it has all of these ideas around perseverance and grit, which can come in handy. But I guess it's also in like how you help your children focusing on the ability of having grit.

Yeah, I've also heard that when I like it. Yeah, that's what I meant. I mean, it's not like ironic as to how to survive as a parent. But that is not what I meant.

But what it is really about is to think around motivation and about, you know, should they go to football class or not after school and how to think about it when they want to stop. So a lot of practical things around that, which is based on the latest science, which is very different. It's that whole reward system, right? That actually takes a motivation more than adds to it.

Yeah. Yeah. So I was thinking more like, which books are really good for you to read with your children? So my girls are of course a little bit older.

So, but one book that are a series that I would recommend every parent to read, which I truly, truly loved reading with my girls were a Harry Potter. So I read that book out loud for the girls, all of them, all the entire series. I don't remember if it's eight, how many books? And that's something that I can just truly recommend every parent to do.

And we started when my youngest was six years old and we read the first one. And that's, I think, a good age. But then we sort of needed to take a little bit of a break because they get a little bit scarier. So we're like, okay, maybe wait a year or two before we continue on the other.

So you can definitely start later as well. And one thing that we did, and I don't know, I, but it felt special when I did it. Let's see if it's going to, but what I did was at the, when you open the cover on the first page of the book, you know, this is all clean, I actually wrote a little summary about where we were in life when we read this book together. So like, oh yeah, so it's a battle is in this grade, flippers in this grade, this is what's happening to us right now, this is our life, and what we thought of the books, so just something like that.

And I'm imagining that maybe one day when they can read, like, so we bought the whole series and like have them together that they can look back to that and remember like, oh yeah, that's absolutely amazing. I love that idea. Yeah, that's a beautiful idea. I'm going to start to do that as well.

And I'm thinking, also, why don't we write more in our books? Like, I feel like, oh, can't really like, even in the nonfiction books, I sort of have to get into the idea of really putting more notes and comments and thoughts, because even when you go back and read it, you find quicker where you were, what you were thinking at that time, and you can add thoughts to it. Wonderful. Okay, so what about a book for when you need a health reset that only I write something there or the view?

Yeah, I have a few, but you go ahead. I think you wrote it. So I have recommended it before, but then they detox by Dr. Mark, Dr.

Amen. Yes, exactly, so really recommend that. It's like a good book to come back to anytime that you need a health reset, essentially. Yeah, and I don't know if it's because Swedes are very healthy or because we are from Sweden, probably to the later, but they're like those Swedish authors that I really like here that like the food pharmacy, like Maria Borrelius writing like the health revolution, and I find those books for it inspiring.

Yeah, too. Luke is applauding here. So what about the next category, which is sort of when you want to learn a little bit more about history, but still want to stay in fiction? Do you like historical fiction?

Yes, I just read the Elizabeth life of Adilar Roux. It's a little bit historical. I guess it doesn't really you don't learn so much. I do like historical fiction, but I don't think of it so much of it lately.

No, I like it too. I haven't well, yeah, I do I have read I mean, I've read quite a few books on that, but one series of triology that I wanted to recommend to everyone that I found was really, really great is the Ken Follett, the century, triology. Oh, yeah, I think I might have recommended it before. Yeah, I think I've gone like half.

It's a lot. Oh, they are bricks, right? They are massive. Yeah, let me tell you sort of that the plot here actually follows a family in the US, a family in Russia, a family in England, and a family in Germany, for three generations.

So the first book is all around the First World War, the second one, the Second World War, and the third one, The Cold War, basically. So you follow these families and their destiny, sorry, in German, you know, to me it was an amazing book, both the plot, because I love it when you follow generations all around that. And then also because I learned a lot, I'm like, oh, wow, was that how it happened? And you get into so much more depth than from when you use it, and it would actually encourage me to go and read more of fun to really understand the background, but he's really still grading, gathering the facts and in making it super interesting.

Oh, that sounds, it sounds really good. So yes, it's a break. So it depends a little bit on your patience with breaks. But that's, that's wonderful.

And then what about books that, yeah, life skills books that have inspired you? So of course, I've inhabited is there. And, you know, you written a book about everyone besides a great manager. So that's also life skills.

And what else do you have on that list? So that's hopefully for all managers, of course. So two books that are inspiring me right now that I would really recommend everyone to read is one by Adam Grunt, which is called Think Again. And I'm in love with this book.

And I used think it's so great. And I think everyone should read it. And it's really talking about the most important skills to be able to learn is really to have the ability to unlearn because so many things, because the change is so fast that what was true yesterday is not necessarily a fact today, right? So how experience sometimes also can be quite dangerous even.

And it's really talking about not putting things into the boxes of sort of black and white, yes or no, I'm for this or I'm against this, but really our mind and ability to see beyond that and to not be afraid of failure or be wrong, right? But all of that. So I'd recommend everyone to read that one. Okay, what about you to put it on my list?

And for life skills, one that has been really helpful, quite practical, probably false within the self-help category, but it's Tony Robbins, awakening the giant within. It's very inspirational. I think it gives a lot of practical ideas and insights and exercises to just bring a positive mindset, it feels so, you know, it's so it's so out. It's not trendy right now to just have a positive mindset.

But if that is a feeling that you want to strive for, which I still resonate with, it really is a good book and how to create a life where you are feeling the way you want to feel. I should give that book a chance. It's just something about me that stops me from wanting to read it. But yes, I have to really should because you are, you know, an facilitator and you know, you're a very like, you are a lot of energy, you're a lot of, you know, you're in Sweden, you're like, so you're almost an American facilitator, right?

And here you have to be extra more American. So Tony Robbins can teach you that add some extra. So maybe that's why I don't know. I don't know.

Maybe that's stopping me. But that is I know a lot of people loving that book. Yes. And then another life skill, which again, you recommended to me is stillness is key.

Oh my goodness, that was going to be my second book. So, so this is key with Ryan Holyday, which I also think that everyone should read. I really wanted my husband to read it immediately, but you know, he's had some resistance to that. But it's, yeah, do you want to say anything about it?

You know what I think about that book every Sunday when I'm on the tennis court, but it's like, it's the fact of being in the movement, right? And being in the presence and cleaning things out. I think it just really helped me and I've really tried to work with that. So just listening to the title, it's understanding that sometimes we just need to clear our mind.

Yes. And just be. And what I remember, because you always kind of forget a little bit, but I remember what I remember was incredible with this book is that he had done so much research to historical and current people. Yes.

Events. Yeah, exactly. So I think he talks about the Cuban Missile Crisis. He speaks a lot about Tiger Woods and also about the Stoics and talking about, you know, how different, how they applied or did not apply some of these things that he recommended and what the consequences were.

And that really made it extra good. Yeah, it really elevated that book a few more levels. Yeah. No, oh, what a lovely sort of ending to this.

I think you're absolutely right. A book for everyone to read. I would say. So on that note, I mean writing or reading, it's about embracing stories.

And I read a lot of fiction, as you know, and I do also read nonfiction, but I do like fiction even more. But one amazing book that I found, I think sort of in some story in New York when I was there visiting you, I think, I don't know, but it's called, I wasn't aware, but there's this storytelling club called The Muff. Are you aware of it? Yeah.

All right. So they actually have these books where they compile some of the best stories that are being told. And the one of the books is called All These Wonders. So true stories about facing the unknown.

And it's amazing. And you just hear these stories that people have cast, right? It might be a podcast, too, right? But it's this book I read it in the form of a book.

And the book is awesome. And you can, and for those of you who have a lot of things to do and are super busy and have not really gotten into reading that much or right now, maybe having published or whatever, this is good because each chapter is one story. Great. Okay, I'm going to read that one.

So you can read it and put it away and read it again. And these stories were amazing, like really crying, laughing, learning new things. And I'm just thinking the power of storytelling is amazing. Oh, yes.

So that's wonderful. Let's, we had promised that we were going to go into the book club idea. Maybe we just touched upon that briefly because we've been along episode already. But what's you have had the clubs for quite one.

And I've kind of had that on my list, but also felt that, you know, it's somehow had some resistance to it. Yeah, I organized one now with a mum with parents, but the only months in Brighton. And honestly, I felt like it's such a good way. It's been such a lovely way to connect with other women in Rafael's class.

And it's been such a nice way to actually get to more reading. Yeah. And on that, because you were also mentioning that, you know, it's good to read fiction sometimes, I'm just reading a book that I also really recommend, but it's only in Swedish. We talked about it a few times ago about being screen smart.

But there he talks about the brain and the intensity being, and he talks about how reading fiction really helps our visual, our abilities to visualize. And visualize is an incredibly strong part of our brain in order to memorize things and learn new things. So when reading a good book slowly and creating those images, we are really training our brain in a way that we can't get with nonfiction. Yeah, that's that's wonderful.

So yes, to be on that point, if you're not in a book club, find a book club and or create a book club invite, I think we've spoken about my different adventures with clubs in the in previous podcasts. But let's say it's been relatively easy to create them, right? I mean, it's really, that's normally an interest. So I've never really been invited to a book club.

Hence, I've created one. Yeah, exactly. So for everyone that wants to read a little bit more or wants to just as we started out this episode, get a little bit more different viewpoints, because you've been I've been surprised many times when I've gotten like, and I've had a clear view and there's been some really amazing questions or thoughts or reflections that made me see the book in a new light too, right? And it makes you read books that you would not have chosen.

Yeah, also. Yeah, which is really good. I read some of the absolutely would have not chosen this year, but they have given me new insights and inspiration. So we're going to ask you to post on our Instagram, some of your favorite books that you want to recommend to other fellow ros and shine listeners.

And it is so amazing. We're so grateful to have listeners from 70 different countries across the globe. So maybe perhaps please share a book from your country. That would be amazing, which is like a great author.

I mean, this list, we could talk probably for hours, which books there's so many books that have shaped us. And I'm sure I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night and go, Oh, how can I forget this book? But you so please help us out, share more books. I have a very modest little Instagram called Bix Reading List, where I'm also sharing the books that I'm reading.

And I sort of started it just to remember all the books that I read from the past year. Yeah, that's a great idea. You could just look at that one. Maybe you did.

I did. But then I found a way I need to go back first, like that's just in the past. So I did that. And another thing that I like and I'm a member of the Good Read Club, or it's like not a club.

But there you also have, I like reading the what people are recommending and seeing their different books. And so that's also a great go to place if you want to have some inspiration on that. Wonderful. Well, thank you everyone for listening to this episode.

And I hope you've enjoyed hope you get to pick up a really nice book after this. And yes, please recommend your best books and we'll share. Awesome. Thank you so much everyone for listening.

Take care of yourself. Thank you. Enjoy your next reading experience. Bye.

Bye.