Women & Golf’s top reads for World Book Day

If you’re wondering why your social feeds are full of children dressed up as random characters today, it’s because it’s World Book Day – an annual celebration of the joy of reading.  

I love reading, and I strongly believe that getting lost in a book is one of the best things you can do for yourself – whether you’re escaping or learning. So this is a day I am totally on board with. (And, yes, I have packed my one-year-old off to nursery this morning dressed up as a farmer, in case you’re interested).

Anyway, World Book Day is all about recognising the joy of reading; a day to celebrate the wonder of storytelling, the knowledge found within the pages of a good book, and the power of literature in transforming lives.

So what better way to mark the occasion than with some book recommendations? From golf instruction and psychology to health, fitness and wellbeing, here’s what the Women & Golf team have loved reading recently.

What we’re reading ...

• Dream on: One Hacker’s Challenge to Break Par in a Year by John Richardson: John differed from the average 24-handicapper in one crucial way: He was determined to break par within a year.
• Harvey Penick's Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf by Harvey Penick: an all-time bestselling golf instruction book that’s now deemed as required reading for every golfer, from beginners to seasoned pros.
• For Love or Money by Peter McEvoy: A great account of why Peter McEvoy, one of the greatest amateur golfers, decided not to turn professional.
• Putting Out of Your Mind by Dr Bob Rotella: Dr Bon Rotella reveals the unique mental approach that great putting requires and helps golfers of all levels master the skill.
• When Girls Win by MaryJo McCloskey: College golf coach MJ shares her journey to the top and her mental strength training lessons she's learned along the way.
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear: A comprehensive guide on how to change your habits and get 1% better every day.
• Still Life by Sarah Winman: a big-hearted story of people brought together by love, war, art and the ghost of E.M. Forster.
• Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? By Julie Smith: Filled with secrets from a therapist's toolkit, this is a must-have handbook for optimising your mental health.

What we’re listening to ...

If you prefer to listen on the go, then here are a few podcasts we recommend getting your ears into:

• The High Performance podcast: The chart-topping podcast, hosted by Jake Humphrey and Prof. Damian Hughes, that shares an intimate glimpse into the lives of the highest achieving sports people, entrepreneurs and celebrities.
• Working Hard, Hardly Working: Hosted by Grace Beverly, get a unique insight into the extraordinary journeys of people who have achieved remarkable success in unique fields.
• Diary of a CEO: Steven Bartlett sits with some of the world's most influential people, experts and thinkers and embarks on a curiosity-driven journey to discover untold truths.
• The Food Medic: Along with a host of experts, Dr Hazel Wallace explores probiotics and prebiotics, women and heart disease, sports nutrition and more.
• Happy Place: Fearne Cotton talks to incredible people about life, love, loss, and everything in between as she reveals what happiness means to them.
• The Thing About Golf: Discover the answer to this burning question through interviews with golfers both famous and not, on a monthly quest to solve the riddle of this maddening game.