Slow moments with a book. My story.
Pour hot water into your favorite mug and enjoy some time in the garden, in a cozy corner of the room, or on the balcony with a book.
You might think you’re too busy for this, but I believe it comes down to values and priorities. If you want to find these few minutes a day, you will.
I can’t say I’ve always been a bookworm. We had a huge library in our apartment in Kyiv—my granny was an editor, and books were her passion.
My parents loved to read all the time, so you can only imagine how big our home library was. But what I loved most was listening to the stories my grandmother or mother read to me and my sister. Even when I was in primary school and was supposed to read by myself, I didn’t want to. I waited every evening for my granny to finish watching the news on TV and come read a story. Doctor Dolittle, Mary Poppins, The Hobbit, Astrid Lindgren’s stories, the Moomins by Tove Jansson—she was the one who opened the secret door to the world of books and stories. She always said that adults can learn so much from children’s books. Only now do I understand her.
This year, I decided to find books I remember from my childhood and read them again. My daughters bring books home from the school library every week, and I recently found one that unexpectedly reignited my desire to read fiction.
For the last few years, I’ve been reading books about art, motivation, goals, money, and transformation. I’ve learned so much from them. But you know what? Sometimes, we just need to pick up a short story or a children’s book, shut out the noise of the outer world, and dive into a different one—the world the author wanted to share with us.
I never considered myself a good reader. I didn’t really enjoy literature in school. There were only a few books I loved; the rest felt like torture. I read because I had to, and I don’t remember much of it. This is why I tend to believe I don’t read enough. I was always told what to read, so as an adult, it hasn’t been easy to shift my mindset. But I’m learning.
That’s why I’m truly happy that my girls visit the school library once a week and choose books they actually want to read. They’re learning to read and discovering their own style.
Here’s a list of books I’d recommend for inspiration—books I’ve read and that are part of my home library:
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Books for photographers and artists
I collected here books about photography, cinematography, writing skills and books for those who like Miyazaki movies, like me:)
- Steal Like an Artist – Austin Kleon – all books written by Austin Kleon are worth reading. I started to read them again and this time I discovered new insights and things to remember while creating my own work.
- Show Your Work – Austin Kleon
- Keep Going – Austin Kleon
- The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron – I bought this book a few years ago and went through it for about six weeks, but I didn’t finish the journal and tasks. This year, I decided to start over—reading all 12 chapters and completing all the tasks over 12 weeks. I’m already in my fifth week of self-discovery, and I’m so happy I did it. A life-changing book!
- Within the Frame – David duChemin
- The Heart of the Photograph – David duChemin
- Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs of People – Henry Carroll
- Understanding the Photograph – John Berger
- The Visual Story: Creating Visual Structure for Film, TV, and Digital Media – Bruce Block
- Save the Cat – Blake Snyder
- Ghibliotheque: The Unofficial Guide to the Movies of Studio Ghibli – by Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham
- On Photography – Susan Sontag
- Photographers on Photography – Henry Carroll
Books about people and there work and life
I think every photographer, whether a beginner or a professional, should read interviews with great photographers—to understand how they saw and felt the world. I’ve always been a big fan of biographies of famous people. We are all different, and it’s important to recognize that rather than compare ourselves to others. When you learn more about a photographer whose work you admire, you begin to see that their path and style were shaped by their environment and circumstances.
- Interviews and Conversations 1951-1998 – Henri Cartier-Bresson
- Magnum Contact Sheets – by Kristen Lubben
- Arnold Newman at Work – by Roy Flukinger
- Miyazakiworld – Susan Napier
- Street Photography – Vivian Maier
- The Ultimate Peter Rabbit: A Visual Guide to the World of Beatrix Potter
portraits taken by Anna Grosheva
Books for anyone looking to build new habits and find motivation and inspiration in life:
- Homecoming – John Bradshaw
- Japonisme – Erin Niimi Longhurst
- Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life – Hector Garcia & Francesc Miralles
- The Storytelling Animal – Jonathan Gottschall
- The Miracle Morning for Parents and Families: How to Bring Out the Best in Your KIDS and Your SELF – Hal Elrod
- The Art of Making Memories – Meik Wiking
- The Little Book of Hygge – Meik Wiking
- Travel with Children – Lonely Planet
These are the books I personally enjoyed reading and highly recommend.
Please let me know if you have any other suggestions and recommendations.
Happy little things 