2024 reading highlights

Plus, a free workshop to dreamweave together for 2025

2024 marks another year when reading, and writing, continue to transform me: subtly (sometimes drastically) shifting who I am and how I see the world.

Many of you who I’ve spoken with this year have had similar transformative experiences. Few of us are the same people we were when 2024 began.

This newsletter offers a few favorite books from the year: And an invitation at the end to collectively dreamweave together in 2025.

A big theme for me this year has been thinking intentionally about what I consume: Like most of us, I’m probably on social media more than I should be, in part because I have four (!) business Instagram, etc. accounts to manage. But I’m on there less, and focused more on posting and connecting rather than scrolling.

I’ve long been intentional about consuming physical products (see my gift guide as an example) and keeping waste as minimal as one feasibly can, but this year I’ve been getting rid of more ‘stuff’ and letting myself live with fewer unnecessary trappings (if you want to buy an RV, let me know. Seriously).

But the biggest shift has been in the information I consume, and how I curate my inner world:

I’ve deepened my daily meditation practice, and I’ve stopped clicking on as many headlines, both of which have done wonders for my sanity. Unless I’m watching with others, I tend to be pretty minimal in my watching/streaming habits, though I have gone through a good number of audiobooks.

Rather than feeling like I need to read every single thing in my various professional fields to stay current, I’ve been cherrypicking a bit more, and saving room for pleasure reading, too.

I’ve also started writing food history-based short stories. Will these ever see the light of day beyond my studio? Who knows. But they bring me a lot of joy (which I’ll talk about in a later newsletter).

Here are some favorite things I’ve read and cooked this year:

An incomplete list of books in food and beyond that I’ve been enjoying this year. See the whole booklist on Bookshop.

What have you been reading this year?

Food Books:

A Season for That: I wrote about this book before on my list of books on enchantment, and it really is a good example of writing, and memoir, as an enchanting read that remains relatable. I’ve long been a fan of Hoffman and his work, and this has only deepened my appreciation.

Bethlehem: Fadi Kattan’s celebration of Palestinian cooking is a masterpiece on its own, and it feels like a glimpse into a private kitchen: Like you’re sitting down with Kattan and learning at the kitchen table, rather than reading a stale recipe.

Chaat: Chauhan’s book is one I turn to again and again, as someone who has a very snack- and grazing-heavy diet. The book’s focus on Indian regional snacks is a nice entry point to learning about regional differences across the country, something I’m admittedly still learning about (and probably always will be: Indian cuisine is a vast subject).

Mayumu: Balinget, as a person, exudes a playful energy that’s evident in this book. I love the ways it sparks my excitement to (re)imagine dessert.

When Southern Women Cook: A book that represents food history, and food storytelling, done right. I appreciate the way Toni Tipton Martin and Morgan Bolling carefully handled the complexities of storytelling that honor, and don’t erase, the many layers of nuance that come with studying women’s stories in this region.
(Be sure to check out page 35 for my essay on salt rising bread).

The Joy of Cooking: Granted, this is a go-to for me most years, but this year in particular as I’ve been writing the Essential Preserving Handbook, I’ve appreciated its straightforward and scientifically-rooted approach to preparing food well.

Holy Food: Ward’s deep exploration of religion’s impact on American diet and history is engaging to read, well-researched, and shows some of the surprising ways religion and food intersect in this country.

Bake Joy: I admittedly do little baking these days, but when I do, I’m leaning more into the playful and experimental side of things, so this book has been a treat.

The Ethnomusicologist’s Cookbook: This is an older book, but one I still love to turn to for fun and inspiration. I’m hoping I can do a paid subscriber potluck based on it next year so, stay tuned!

Mastering the Art of Plant Based Cooking: I love the careful, intentional way Yonan handles vegetables. There’s such a love and tenderness in the way he works, and it’s evident in this book, too. It’s also evident in the contributors he chose to work with, including perennial favorites of mine like Alicia Kennedy. I also contributed several fermentation recipes to this book (it’s currently the only place you can get my recipes for tempeh and miso).

The Fermentation Oracle: Obviously I am very proud of my own book that came out! Buy it at the link, or contact Charis books if you want a signed copy (or a signed copy of Our Fermented Lives).

Other favorite books:

The Human Cosmos: I often choose books in bookstores based on their seeming likelihood to spark a sense of wonder, and nonfiction books that get me curious about the world are always front and center. I picked this one up at Worm Books in Schull not long after it came out, and I’ve been savoring it as a bedtime read.

The Red Tent: Laura, one of my high school teachers, gave me a copy of this book when I graduated (which, like the next book, I loaned out and sadly no longer have). I dove into it eagerly, but hadn’t read it since I was 18. So in the past week, I’ve started listening to the audiobook again in fits and spurts. I appreciate Diamante’s rich storytelling and development of a sense of place.

Women who Run with the Wolves: In keeping with revisiting old gifted books, another high school teacher (Dante) gave me this one when I graduated. I revisit it every few years and always find new gems not only about storytelling and finding stories hidden in plain sight, but also insights for my own journey.

The Alchemist: Coelho’s book is a longtime favorite for many folks, but somehow I hadn’t read it before now. I’m glad I did.

A True Account: I’ve enjoyed Howe’s earlier New England-based historical fiction, and this one with a more nautical theme does a really wonderful job of pulling the reader deeply into the characters’ world. Usually, a book about pirates wouldn’t spark my fancy but with Howe at the helm of a book about a woman who kind of stumbles into piracy? It’s an absolute treasure.

The Lost Bookshop: Last but not least, The Lost Bookshop was the first book I read this year and definitely one of my favorites. It has a lot of things I love (bookstores! history! magic! Dublin!): And while writing about a magical bookstore runs the risk of being fantastical and maybe a bit twee, this book doesn’t go there. It rides the line between sparking the wonder and imagination you’d hope for while still being grounded in the real world.

2025 dreamweaving: A workshop giveaway

2025 is a year when we’re all being called to step fully, and as fearlessly as we can, into ourselves and the work we’re called to do in this world.

It’s not a year for being timid, or hiding our voices (except when we have to for our safety: That’s another conversation).

As part of my own role in that work, I’m giving away two free workshops for paid subscribers: To enter, comment (or email me) with one big dream you have for 2025.

It can be anything you want: Something you want to create, a new habit, a new skill, whatever.

Here’s what I’m giving away:

• One free spot in Bloom, my 8-week program to help writers (any format/genre) build a sustainable writing practice.

• One free spot in the Fermentative Creation Lab, a self-study incubator for fermentation professionals and enthusiasts (whether you make products, write, teach, or whatever else), so you can tap into, and articulate, your biggest goals and dreams, and set goals you can actually reach.

Both include versions of my one year goal setting roadmap, which breaks down your biggest goals into discrete and doable chunks.
I’ve been developing it since about 2019 and it’s what I use to set all my professional goals.

Let’s dreamweave together in 2025!

The giveaway is only for paid subscribers.

If you’re a paid subscriber (thank you!) read to the end for your updated course discount codes for 2025.

As a reminder, the cost of paid subscriptions will go up next year, as we’re adding more good stuff (both content-wise and events).

Paid subscribers get exclusive recipes, essays, and more, plus the ability to comment on every post.

They also get:

Discounts on classes and writing support:

• 40% off every class at the Culinary Curiosity School. This includes self-study classes plus classes with live sessions.

• 40% off every single writing coaching program and self-study class I offer through Roots and Branches. This includes group programs like Bloom.

Additional gifts:

• A friends and family rate for my 1:1 services, including research services or consulting. It even applies to my speaker fees.
  I’ll automatically apply my discounted rate whenever we work together.

• Paid subscribers get occasional bonus content, like digital recipe books or the chance to do live author Q&A sessions. Keep an eye out for this in your email throughout the year.

• Starting in 2025, paid subscribers also get exclusive access to live virtual talks, workshops, and potlucks with myself and special guests.
  
  These aren’t events people can buy separate tickets for: They’re just for you as a thank you for supporting my work. Keep an eye on your email for details on these throughout the year.

• Paid subscribers also get occasional other gifts, like free course giveaways, book/product giveaways, and big extra discounts on classes.