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Sustainability

9 reasons to seriously consider replacing your grass with a clover lawn

It's better for the environment, but there are other benefits, too.

lawn, grass, yard, clover lawn, replacing grass with clover
Photo credit: Canva

The American lawn is seeing some changes.

The pristine green lawn has symbolized the American dream for decades, with images of dads out mowing on the weekend, kids splashing on Slip 'N Slides, and families playing cornhole against a backdrop of trimmed green grass. But the luster of lawns has worn off in the era of environmentalism as people lament the amount of water they require and how difficult it is to keep weeds out without using toxic herbicides.

While some have chosen to remove their lawns altogether in favor of xeriscaped landscaping or native wildflower gardens, some people still want a lawn that kids can play on. Lawns provides a cooling effect and there's something so pleasing about a carpet of green you can step out on and enjoy.

Thankfully, environmentally-unfriendly grass is not the only option. Clover lawns have become all the rage, with people sharing how they've transformed their yards by trading traditional grass for the lucky little leaf alternative.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

It's easy to assume that a clover lawn wouldn't feel like a "lawn" in the way a grass lawn does, but it can definitely get close. While it may not be able to take as much of a beating as grass, clover is heartier than it looks and even if it gets smooshed down, it bounces back quickly.

Here are some benefits to having a clover lawn:

It uses less water

Clover requires a lot less water than grass once it's established. In fact, you might be able to get by only watering it once per season depending on your conditions. Clover is drought tolerant and can handle much more benign neglect than standard grass can.

It requires less frequent mowing

While grass needs to be mowed every week or so to stay short, clover only needs mowing every once in a while. It likes to grow close to the ground, so you don't really ever have to mow if you don't want to, but if you like the uniform look, mowing every so often can help.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

It's self-feeding

Clover is technically a legume, which means it a natural fertilizer that pulls nitrogen from the air to feed itself. It also provides nutrients to other plants by fertilizing the soil.

It chokes out weeds

While clover can provide nutrients to the soil, it's also such a dense grower that it helps prevent weeds that may try to invade your lawn.

It attracts pollinators

This one is a pro and a con, depending on your perspective. Clover flowers are great for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. That's great for struggling honeybee populations, just maybe not so great for human feet trying to walk on the lawn without getting stung.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

It's pretty

People often describe their clover lawns as looking like a "fairy land." Clover often looks greener than grass, especially when grass is struggling in dry conditions, and the round leaves look lovely as a carpet.

It's soft

Grass looks nice but it's not always soft. In fact, some grass can be downright pokey. Clover is soft to the touch and nice to walk on barefoot.

clover, clover lawn, alternatives to grass, landscapingClover lawns are soft, green, and dog pee proof.Photo credit: Canva

It's dog pee proof

Apparently, if a dog pees on your clover lawn it doesn't turn yellow like regular grass does. Neat!

It's cost-effective

Clover seeds are generally cheaper than grass seeds, and with the reduced cost of water and fertilizer with a clover lawn compared to a grass lawn, you save money there too.

So are there reasons you might not want to plant a clover lawn? Some native plant advocates point to the fact that much of the clover people are using for lawns is actually invasive and not native, though others contend that we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Some people don't have great success with growing clover lawns due to the conditions where they live, so it might be worth doing a little research on what grows well in your area.

lawn, grass, clover, alternative lawn, mowing the lawnClover makes a great replacement for environmentally-unfriendly grass.Photo credit: Canva

But overwhelmingly, people seem to be quite happy with their clover lawns, citing how pretty and soft and low-maintenance they are once they're past the daily watering seed stage. Definitely worth checking out if you get tired of watering and mowing your lawn every summer and want an Earth-friendlier alternative.

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Joy

5 small things that made us smile this week

We're giving you the small things that make us smile, every single week

True


Hey, have you heard? Life is kind of stressful. Between a news cycle that just won’t quit and the never-ending temptation to doom-scroll, finding small moments of joy throughout the day has become more important than ever.

Case in point: A dog wearing sunglasses.

A news headline that makes you want to high-five a million angels.

A sweet snack that boosts your dopamine, courtesy of our friends at All In.

Or a tweet so perfectly timed it restores your faith in the algorithm (even if only for a second).



These momentary mood boosters are everywhere you look—you just have to be able to find them underneath all the noise. And that’s where we come in.

Consider this weekly web series your cheat sheet to the best of the Internet—not just random memes to make you laugh, but examples of people truly finding something extraordinary in the mundane. We'll be delivering five pieces of media that allow you to stop for a second, take a breath, and feel just a little bit brighter among the daily stress. (Think of us as your chronically online bestie who knows exactly how to make you smile, exactly when you need it the most.)

Ready to laugh? Have your heart melted? Cry happy tears? Let's get into it.

1. Petunia the pig

@knightk64 #petuniathepig#fyp#babypig#alltheprettygirls#animallove ♬ original sound - petuniathepig1

With over nine million views on a single video alone, you know there’s got to be something special about Petunia the Pig. And there is. Behold: the tiniest, most adorable pig we’ve ever laid eyes on. Abandoned by her pig mother, Petunia is a spotted teacup pig who was taken in by TikTok user @knightk64, and we’re all the better for it. She snorts (squeaks) constantly. She tippy-taps across the floor. She takes long naps nestled in her favorite blanket. And she now even has an adopted teacup pig sister named Rosie. Not to be dramatic, but we’d die for this pig.

2. Pop Muzik dances 

@ptpowers Everyone’s #foryoupage the @project21 dance or just us? #dad #baby #dance #fyp #trending ♬ Pop Muzik - M & Robin Scott

Remember when TikTok used to be a dancing app? The dance trends are making a comeback now in the best way—and this new trend is the most fun we’ve seen people having on this app in a while.

The trend started when a mega-talented group of girls from the Project 21 dance studio performed at the NYCDA 2025 dance competition in Las Vegas back in early April. Not only did the girls nab some of the highest awards at the competition, their recorded performance quickly went viral. The song choice? The 1979 classic “Pop Muzik.” The dance? Impossible to look away from. (Here’s a short clip of the girls in all their glory.)

While the original dance is just so fun to watch, what might be even more fun is seeing all the copycat performances and tutorials that have been launched across TikTok ever since. If this doesn’t make you want to get up and dance, nothing will.

3. Seeking out the extra in the ordinary 

There are so many beautiful moments each day that are worth noticing, and the folks at All In are out to help us recognize them. Each week, the All In crew takes to the streets to find the "extra" in the ordinary—small moments of joy that make a typical day just a little bit brighter. Today's moment of joy? Finding community and feeling like you're part of something really special. Can't get much better than that.

4. This tweet series about COVID lockdowns 

Back in 2023, a study in the British Medical Journal made headlines when it claimed that the COVID lockdowns of 2020 only “minimally” affected people’s mental health. As you can probably guess, when news of the study hit Twitter, people were not having it.

Cue one of the funniest and most eye-opening discussions of mental health we’ve possibly ever had as a society. Thousands of people took to the Internet to quote-tweet the article, sharing the most unhinged things they did while stuck in the confines of their house or bedroom, such as: Learning how to play a recorder with one nostril. Watching Glee 26 times in a row. Throwing a birthday party for the dishwasher. The list goes on.

As the fifth year anniversary of COVID lockdowns just passed, these tweets are circulating again. They’re funny, they’re raw, and they shine a spotlight on the effects of isolation on mental health in a way that’s never been done before. Here’s part one of a series, and here are some more. Enjoy!

5. Thirst edits featuring regular people

@coreymbrandon thank you 🥹 @Chili’s Grill & Bar #chilis #CapCut ♬ som original - helo

Here’s where the writer of this article shows her age and admits that, before this trend, she had no idea what a thirst edit was. Allow us to break it down for you: According to ChatGPT, a thirst edit is a video (or series of short videos), usually with specific music or text overlays, created to be seductive and attention grabbing. (Kinda like this, only set to music.)

This new trend takes a normal thirst edit and flips it on its head. Instead of trying to seduce the audience, people are now using thirst traps to romanticize daily life—stuff like eating mozzarella sticks at Chili’s, or hanging out by the pool—or to cheekily boost their own confidence. Set to the song “My Bubble Gum” by Rasheeda, this trend is just normal, everyday people absolutely feeling themselves and celebrating ordinary life. We love to see it.


For even more “extra”-ordinary moments, come find us on social media (@upworthy) or on upworthy.com!

For scrumptious snacks that add an extra boost of joy to your day, be sure to check out All In.

Wellness

We asked people what they enjoy that others don't understand. One answer ruled them all.

Surprisingly, research shows that these people are less likely to be neurotic.

Photo credit: Canva

Some people genuinely enjoy spending lots of time alone.

Some people have quirky hobbies and interests that other might find odd, so when we asked our Upworthy audience on Facebook, "What's something that you really enjoy that other people can't seem to understand?" and over 1,700 people weighed in, it wasn't too surprising. Some people shared things like housework, cleaning and laundry, which a lot of people see as chores. Others shared different puzzles or forms of art they like doing, and still others shared things like long car rides or grocery shopping.

But what was surprising was the one answer that dominated the list of responses. It came in various wordings, but by far the most common answer to the question was "silent solitude."

alone time, solitude, being alone, home aloneSweet solitude is heavenly for some people.Photo credit: Canva

Here are a few examples:

"Feeling perfectly content, when I’m all alone."

"Being home. Alone. In silence."

"That I enjoy being alone and my soul is at peace in the silence. I don't need to be around others to feel content, and it takes me days to recharge from being overstimulated after having an eventful day surrounded by others."

"Enjoying your own company. Being alone isn’t isolating oneself. It’s intentional peace and healthy… especially for deep feelers/thinkers."

Spending time by ourselves is something some of us relish, while some of us hate being alone. Naturally, this points to the common theory of introversion vs. extraversion, but in some ways, that's overly simplistic. Even the most peopley people among us can enjoy some quality alone time, and not all introverts see time alone as truly enjoyable. (It might be necessary for an introvert's well-being, but not necessarily something they truly revel in.)

sitting alone, solitude, contemplation, being by yourselfBeing alone doesn't automatically mean being lonely.Photo credit: Canva

Interestingly, studies have found that people who enjoy being alone are not any more or less extraverted than those who don't, though they do tend to be less "sociable." They are also less likely to be neurotic (tense, moody, worrying types) than the generally population and more likely to be open-minded. Those characteristics are the opposite of what social norms often tell us about people who want to be alone.

"If our stereotypes about people who like being alone were true, then we should find that they are neurotic and closed-minded. In fact, just the opposite is true," writes Bella DePaulo, PhD.

being alone, reading, drinking tea, solitudeIt's healthy to be comfortable being alone with yourself.Photo credit: Canva

There may be lots of reasons some people like to spend time by themselves while others don't. We are naturally social creatures and need social interaction, but some of us find ourselves overstimulated by being around other people all the time. On the flip side, some people find being alone not just unenjoyable, but extremely uncomfortable, which can be a problem.

"Ideally, we should be comfortable with ourselves, alone or with others," writes psychologist Tara Well Ph.D.. "If you are uncomfortable being alone, it means you are uncomfortable being with yourself without distraction, engagement, or affirmation from others. This can be a liability in life. If you cannot be alone, you may stay in situations or make life choices that aren’t good for you in the long run, like staying in a job or a relationship, mainly because you can’t tolerate being alone while transitioning to a better situation."

woman dancing alone, enjoying alone timeEnjoying your own company is a gift.Photo credit: Canva

Dr. Well also points out that people can make the most of their alone time, even if it's not something they naturally enjoy. One way is to make it purposeful, setting aside a little time daily to write in a journal, meditate, go for a walk or otherwise engage your mind and body in some form of reflection. Another is to pay attention to self-judgments that might make alone time uncomfortable and challenge them with some compassionate confrontation and counteraction with positive thoughts about yourself.

Alone time can be refreshing and rewarding, especially if it's something you naturally crave. Some people even like to take themselves out on dates or enjoy traveling by themselves. That kind of self-care can be just as important as connecting with others for our overall health and well-being. Being alone doesn't mean being a loner and it doesn't mean being lonely. Some of us genuinely like having quality time with ourselves, whether it makes sense to other people or not.

This article originally appeared last year.

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Pop Culture

Millennial shocked when she asks Gen Alpha sister what's new on the Disney Channel

Young people are literally losing the plot.

Photo credit: Canva

Many Gen Alpha's would prefer to watch short form videos on Youtube than television.

Twenty-seven-year-old Amelia Ritthaler was hoping to “connect” with her 13-year-old sister. Naturally, she attempted to break the ice with a seemingly universal subject: television.

“I was like, ‘so girl, like, what's cool on Disney Channel these days,” Ritthaler recalled in a now-viral TikTok clip.

What Ritthaler didn’t take into account, however, is that Gen Alphas like her sister are growing up in a completely different world, one that has always been entirely digital (even more so than that of their Gen Z predecessors). If she had, maybe this answer wouldn’t have been so jarring:

“I don’t watch plot-based media.”

@ameliapleease Generation Alpha was built different. #genz #genalpha #genalphaparent #kony2012 ♬ original sound - Amelia Ritthaler
-8">


That’s right. No TV, no movies, no books, not even games. Well, unless you count watching folks online playing said games. In an interview with Newsweek, Ritthaler shared that her little sis is “obsessed” with watching Youtubers play Minecraft.

Ritthaler’s sister is certainly not an outlier. According to a blog from Basis Technologies, YouTube is indeed the preferred platform of choice, with Alphas averaging 84 minutes per day on it, typically watching easy to consume, instantly gratifying short form videos, ala “storytimes,” “reviews,” “day in the life” clips, etc.

And while it might not be a surprise that Gen Alpha’s prefer this type of content…to not partake in plot-based media, i.e. good old fashion storytelling, at all? That’s what’s getting under people’s skin.

For one thing, it feels so foreign, as so many of us had such an intense connection to the stories we grew up with. As one person shared in another TikTok, “that’s where my whole personality came from!”

@jemametchi if u only watch youtube, tiktok, and/or twitch ur actually cooked #genalpha #genz ♬ original sound - jem !

Aside from helping us carve out our personal preferences, stories of various forms teach us about empathy, broadening our perspective, and thinking creatively and critically. Not that all "plot-based media" is good, of course, but there's power in a plot done well. The thought of those values not being fostered is sad and troubling.

As one viewer lamented, “kids are genuinely not engaging with storytelling anymore, which is about as horrifying as it sounds. One of the oldest human pursuits and kids are just not doing it.”

Another added, “plot-based media has served a central role in developing a common culture. If everything you watch is curated for you and you leave the second you’re bored, you’ll have less in common with those around you.”

As people have noted, what’s even more concerning is what all this means for this generation’s focus, objectivity, and literacy. This has been reflected in many woes shared by education providers who’ve seen these struggles firsthand, including behavioral issues, a lack of interest in learning, and not being able to read or write proficiently. Granted, many blame these problems on the increased use of screens overall, but perhaps another factor is the increased consumption of plotless media.


Sure, technology has and continues to change the way we all consume media, not just Gen Alpha. But never have we seen it cause children to drastically disengage from activities that invoke their imagination. It’s understandable that older folks are genuinely scared, and what could be a better reminder for parents to teach kids the value of good stories? You certainly don’t have to seek them out on the Disney Channel, but they are still out there, and vital as ever.

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Popular

Why do we eat chicken eggs, duck eggs, and quail eggs, but not turkey eggs?

They're perfectly edible and apparently quite tasty, but you never see them on a menu.

Photo credit: Canva

Have you ever eaten a turkey egg?

When we talk about eating eggs in the U.S., we're almost always talking about chicken eggs. Occasionally, we might see duck eggs or quail eggs on the menu in a gourmet restaurant, and even more rarely something exotic like an emu egg. But do we ever see turkey eggs being served? Nope, never. (At least I never have, nor has anyone I've asked about this.)

Considering how many turkeys are raised domestically in the U.S. (around 220 million) and how many wild turkeys roam among us (around 7 million), you'd think we'd make better use of their eggs. They are egg-laying birds, after all, and since turkey meat is so similar to chicken meat, it seems logical that turkey eggs would be similar to chicken eggs, right?

turkey eggs, eating eggs, chicken eggs, egg productionTurkey eggs are larger than chicken eggs with a thicker shell.Photo credit: Canva

Right. Basically, that's true. Turkey eggs are larger than chicken eggs and they have a stronger shell, but from what people say, they're similar to eating chicken eggs only a little richer. Larger and richer, and yet we don't eat them on the regular? Why the heck not?

The Self-Sufficient Backyard YouTube channel explains the whole thing in a video that's been viewed by nearly 4 million people. Clearly, this is a burning question for people once it's brought to their attention.

- YouTubeyoutube.com

Basically, what it boils down to is that their size makes them hard to handle, package, and store. Turkeys also aren't nearly as prolific as chickens. (Chickens lay eggs around once per day, while turkeys lay at most twice per week.) It's also more expensive to raise turkeys than chickens, so the price of a turkey egg is prohibitive, at around $3 per egg. Considering how everyone lost their minds over chicken eggs at $6 a dozen, it's unlikely people would pay $36 for a dozen turkey eggs.

However, some people who have eaten turkey eggs shared their thoughts on how they taste, and now people (me, I am people) really want to try them:

"I have eaten turkey eggs for years. They are larger shells are thicker but they taste wonderful."

"I've baked with Turkey eggs and they made the best pancakes I have EVER tasted."

"They taste like chicken eggs, I have turkeys. They only lay seasonally, generally starting in March, and they’ll continue to lay through June-August. They can lay 60ish eggs a year. They’re about 2x the volume of a chicken egg. They make excellent omelettes. Harder to crack, with a thicker membrane and shell."

turkey eggs, wine, eating turkey eggsTurkey eggs on the menu.Photo credit: Canva

"Growing up, my family had a turkey! She laid eggs and we were always enamored by how huge they were. They taste wonderful!"

"We had turkeys with our chickens. They laid eggs daily with the chickens from March to September then would stop while the chickens would just slow down. I was surprised because I thought they would just lay a clutch once or twice because that’s what the wild turkeys do but nope. The only down fall we found was that cracking them was difficult. But if you use a butter knife to give it a whack at the top it works pretty well. It was like getting two egg whites and one yolk in chicken egg ratio lol."

"Taste exactly like chicken eggs. Way bigger. The only difference is the shell is way tougher to crack. So good."

Apparently experience with turkeys and turkey eggs is not uncommon? City folks, take note:

"I was raised on turkey's eggs... I come in from a part of Canada where we are raising turkeys. In Valcartier, turkey eggs used to be much cheaper than any other kind of eggs."

"Growing up on a farm being born in the 50s in western North Carolina we ate lots of turkey eggs. We usually had a dozen or so hen turkeys so we had quite a few to spare."

turkeys, wild turkeys, turkey eggsTurkeys live all over the U.S.Giphy/Minnesota State University Moorhead

"My inlaws usually give us turkey eggs for the holidays. They have a big farm in Virginia with all sorts of animals. They usually just sell their eggs at the local market and give us the rest lol."

"The wild turkeys that live in my area used to get in my bird feeders when I had a house. One day I found an egg in the yard, possibly as payment lol."

"I've got a turkey for a pet. Her name is "Sweetpea" and I keep her around for no other reason except that she's awesome and provides good conversation. Every now and then during the warm months of the year she leaves me breakfast somewhere around the yard."

And then, just for funsies, there's this little anecdote about those "technically edible" emu eggs:

"Back in elementary school we had a teacher that raised Emus. She would always make delicious cakes but would tell no one how she made them. Eventually she told my mother the reasons she told no one was because she was afraid that people would stop eating them if they found out that she was using one emu egg for every three chicken eggs. We didn’t care."

There you go. Answering a question you may never have asked but desperately needed and answer to once you thought about it.


food
Family

Woman has harsh words for dads who selfishly sabotage the 'magic' moms make for their kids

It's not about the $45 pumpkin.

via Canva/Photos

A woman has had it with her man.

Many fathers miss the point when their wives try to create magical, core moments for their kids. In the video below, the father complains about a trip to the pumpkin patch, noting that the pumpkin will cost $45 when he could have paid $6 at the store. He hems, haws, and sarcastically mocks the idea of “family time.”

In an attempt to appear tough and superior, he misses the point that the pumpkin patch is about enjoying the magic of the holidays. In 20 years, the kids won’t remember the cost of the pumpkin, but the time they spent running through a corn maze, feeding goats, and flying down the massive slide. However, during the trip, Dad pouts and acts frustrated, ruining what was supposed to be a magical day because he needed to make the trip about him.

Paige Connell saw the video posted by @DaveandJanie, in which Dave complains about going to the pumpkin patch, and saw it as a perfect example of a dad sabotaging his wife’s attempts to create magic for their kids. Paige Connell is a working mom of four and a popular social media personality who discusses moms' mental load and advocates for equality in relationships.

@sheisapaigeturner

Replying to @Joe V it’s really sad to me that so many dad’s can’t find joy and watching their kids experience joy. Your kids will remember that every time you took family pictures or went to a pumpkin patch you complained. Magic making has value. #pumpkinpatch #fallactivities #applepicking #familyfun #millennialmom #magicmoment #dadhumor #parentingadvice

“Family time videos like these always make me feel so sad. Not just sad for the mom who has to deal with the complaining husband on the way to the pumpkin patch, but I feel bad for the kids, right?” Connell starts her commentary. “Moms are tasked with making the holidays magical and birthdays magical and marking the seasons by taking kids to a pumpkin patch or apple picking. Whatever it might be.”


pumpkins, pumpkin patch, young boy, mom field, smiling mom A mom giving her son a pumpkin.via Canva/Photos

She says it may be silly to spend the extra money on the pumpkin, but the kids will always remember how their mom went out of their way to make things magical. “You know what else they're gonna remember? They're gonna remember their dad complaining the entire time, they're gonna remember that their dad was frustrated and annoyed at this memory-making experience,” she continued.

Many commentators chimed in, saying they felt sorry for the kids in the family. “The worst part is him saying those things in front of the kids. They are gonna grow thinking they are a problem and stop asking to do the fun stuff,” one wrote. “My dad was like this. It sticks with you! And now we just go do things with mom,” another added. “Honestly, this behavior is why I think moms and kids are way better off without these types of 'fathers' around!” a woman wrote.

sad wife, frustrated mom, annoyed dad, couple fight, disagreement,A wife is upset with her husband.via Canva/Photos

Ultimately, kids get one childhood, and it's highly unfair for one parent to suck the magic out of it. Connell ends the video with a reminder to the dads who kill the magic their wives are trying to create by refusing to participate and complaining the whole time: “So please, if you are a dad, just know your kids are watching, and your kids will remember this.”

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Community

14 books that rewired people’s brains and completely changed the way they see the world

“Sometimes the best books aren’t bestsellers—they’re just the right words hitting us at the right time.”

Photo credit: Canva

Self-help books, philosophical novels, and children's classics abound.

In his (often misquoted) 1889 essay "The Decay of Lying: An Observation," Oscar Wilde boldly declares that “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.” While this question has sparked countless philosophical debates, there remains an undeniable kernel of truth: in a beautiful moment of kismet, for some indescribable reason, a piece of art resonates with you. For Reddit user @_rahmatullah, that happened when they read a specific book. On the Subreddit “r/productivity”, they wrote,

“A few months ago, I stumbled upon a book (I won’t name it here to avoid biasing responses), and it triggered something I can’t fully explain. It didn’t just change how I think—it changed what I notice, how I react, and how I show up in life. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to collect these transformation stories—not summaries, not reviews—but real-life shifts triggered by reading a book. It’s incredible how the right book, read at the right moment, acts like a psychological lever.”

Then, they posed the following question: “I’m asking this out of pure curiosity (and maybe low-key research): Have you ever read a book that changed your internal wiring in any way—your mindset, habits, or how you see the world? … Sometimes, the best books aren’t bestsellers—they’re just the right words hitting us at the right time.”


reddit, screenshot, books, recommendations, life-changingQuestion posed on Reddit. Screenshot, Reddit

The comments were flooded with wonderful, life-changing book recommendations, from nonfiction epics about breaking through creative barriers to children’s books that remain on their mind. We’ve collected 14 of the most intriguing, below:


The War of Art by Steven Pressfield (2002)

One user describes the book: “It’s not super long, and it’s written in this really straightforward, almost no-nonsense way. But it hit hard. The whole idea is about Resistance, that sneaky little force that stops us from doing the stuff we actually care about. It made me realize how often I make excuses without even knowing it. And Pressfield’s take is simple but powerful, just show up, do the work and don’t wait for some magical moment.”

Others were quick to follow, with one person commenting, “The War of Art is the only book I have ever read more than once. Well worth the read” and another, “Do The Work is a solid follow up to it. It’s short and to the point. Can easily listen to the audiobook in one sitting when you need a boost to GSD (get sh*t done). It’s 90 min.”


The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (1989)

One of the great self-help books from the late 1980s was recommended by multiple people. One commented, “If I wanted to suggest the ONE book anyone to read in their lifetime, it is it. The idea is simple—be proactive, live by your values, and focus on what’s in your control. It will change the way you think and approach life.”

Another agreed, writing, “7 Habits also changed my life years ago by making my interpersonal relationships better, even though it doesn’t talk much about it. The book just motivated me to be my authentic self, increase my self-worth, and hence improved my relationship with others as a side effect. I had also read how to win friends and influence people at that similar period, but that book didn’t add any value as much as 7 Habits did.”


book, book cover, recommendations, reddit, reading7 Habits of Highly Effective People book cover.Credit: Appnee.com



If the World Were a Village by David J. Smith (2002)

The first children’s book to grace the chat is a best-selling thought experiment that imagines the world’s 6.8 billion population as a village of just 100 people. One person describes it as a “short picture book, but [one that] completely changed how I see the life, world.”


They continue, “I was shocked how fortunate I was compared to all other people who do not even have basic food and water, and at the time, I was so ashamed that I took it for granted. Since then, I’ve traveled around the world, trying to interact with local people, and I try to learn about the history and the reality of these locations. (And I learned English to communicate.) I would not be who I am today without that book.”


The Anatomy of Anxiety by Ellen Vora (2022)

Acclaimed psychiatrist Dr. Ellen Vora’s nonfiction book helps readers understand how anxiety manifests itself in the body and mind as a fear mechanism—and walks them through steps they can take to overcome it. “Before reading this book, I’d been focusing lopsidedly on the spiritual side and suffering from years of anxiety problems and panic attacks,” writes one Reddit user. “This book is a turning point for me, enabling me to view the mechanism of anxiety in the body more objectively.”


anxiety, drawing, illustration, books, recommendationsEllen Vora presents a new way to view anxiety. Credit: www.polyinpictures.com


Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (1966)

First published as a short story in the April 1959 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (which won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story the following year), Flowers for Algernon is a powerful novel about the treatment of people who are mentally challenged. It explores the complicated relationship between intellect, emotion, and happiness. One person commented that the novel “really made me think about how we all judge and treat other people, especially how we as humans look down on other people in different, subtle ways. It actually made me sick in a way I’ll never forget” and “completely changed my view on how we treat ‘stupid’ people. It’s so profound, because it’s such a short text, but it just hits you like a bullet train. I never cried so much after reading a book before.”

book, book cover, sci-fi, reading, recommendationsFlowers for Algernon book cover.Credit: Blogspot


Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig (1947)

Pirsig narrates a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son, which slowly morphs into a man’s search for meaning. “I can’t fully describe the feeling. Part of my love was his concept of ‘quality’ and it almost becomes religion-like,” commented one person. “It’s been probably 25 years since I read it. I should read it again.”


books, book cover, reading, zen, recommendations. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance book cover. Credit: live.staticflickr.com


Ishmael by David Quinn (1992)

“The metaphor about society being a faulty plane that is falling off a cliff but thinks it’s flying simply because it hasn’t hit the ground yet has always stuck with me,” wrote one Reddit user of the philosophical novel. Framed as a Socratic conversation between two characters, author David Quinn explores the ways modern human supremacy causes irreparable damage to the environment.

Another user echoed their praise, writing: “I read a ton of self-help, and all the ones mentioned in this thread I have rolled my eyes at because they reiterate common thought trends with an occasional light bulb moment. Not to say they aren’t helpful, just not necessarily 'change my life' kind of books. Ishmael made me THINK and put life in perspective. It was the book that changed my conservative thinking to a very much empathy based way of living with intention.”


ishmael, reading, book, books, recommendationsIshmael makes the distinctions between Leavers and Takers.Credit: Geoff Whaley


Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (161-180)

The Roman Emperor’s series of personal writings resounded with readers, with one who commented, “Some of the best thoughts on how to live and grow, and how to deal with adversity, mortality, and impermanence. Dude was pretty in touch with the universal human condition for an Emperor.”

Someone else replied, “I think I really need to give a copy of this to my brother… It really helped me out, and I think I see him struggling with things that could be easier for him with some tools he could gain from this.”


meditations, rome, marcus aurelius, author, bookMeditations book cover. Credit: 1.bp.blogspot.com


Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach (2004)

Reddit users are not the only ones who loved this book about embracing life through the heart of a Buddha; beloved Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh wrote, “Radical Acceptance offers us an invitation to embrace ourselves with all our pain, fear, and anxieties, and to step lightly yet firmly on the path of understanding and compassion.”

Similarly, people on the thread sung its praises, writing “Her RAIN method has literally saved my life and changed my perspective on how I interact with the world and how I treat myself. Thanks to her, I’m heading into a new chapter where trauma doesn’t rule my life,” and “This book helped me tremendously while navigating hard personal situations, including terminal disease in my family.”


The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy (1963)

One person found this book, which posits our subconscious dictates life events, to be tremendously powerful. “I’m a pragmatic person and would question this book would it be introduced to me now instead of when my mind was more open,” they begin. “Maybe it works because it makes you believe that all it takes is a wish and some work… I read it when I was about 15 and have had many things I wished for happen.”

subconscious, mind, book, book cover, recommendationsThe Power of Your Subconscious Mind book cover. Credit: c2.staticflickr.com


Siddhartha Herman Hesse (1922)

Hesse’s ninth novel follows the spiritual journey of a man during the time of the Gautama Buddha. Originally published in 1992, it was later published in the United States in 1951. One user writes, “We sometimes find ourselves most lost when we stop believing other people are going to be able to give us the mentorship we need. Often, literature can teach what straightforward non-fiction texts can’t.”


Siddhartha, books, recommendations, reading, RedditSiddhartha book cover. Credit: c1.staticflickr.com


Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It by Kamal Ravikant (2020)

For a user on the thread, Ravikant’s inspirational self-healing book “brought home how essential self-love is, and that it isn’t indulgent or narcissistic. It’s the foundation that makes everything else possible.”


The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)

One of the best-selling books of all time, The Little Prince comments on life, adults, and human nature. In particular, one part of the novel stood out for this Redditor: “The part in The Little Prince where the adult looks at his drawing and thinks it’s a top hat and the kid says ‘no, it’s a picture of a snake that just ate an elephant’ really helped little kid me understand how people can see the same things so differently. It seems small now, but as a little kid it’s hard to understand why adults ‘don’t get it’ when it seems obvious to kids. That helped me have patience for my parents/adults, and I think I carried it with me as a beginner builder of compassion for people in general.”


the little prince, book, book cover, readingThe Little Prince book cover. Credit: www.prindleinstitute.org


Get It Done by Aylet Fishbach (2022)

The final book recommendation came from a user’s friend. For them, psychologist and behavioral scientist Aylet Fishbach’s book “changed the way I think about how I manage my time and myself. I rarely think of ‘recovery’ and ‘productivity’ in the same sentence, and generally think in terms of opportunity costs or how to best use my time.”


reading, woman, tea, books, recommendationsSo many book recommendations, so little time. Photo credit: Canva

A fun and certainly thought-provoking round-up of book recommendations—the only difficult thing is knowing where to start!

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