“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
― Charles William Eliot
Like yoga and meditation, reading is a practice that has nourished me spiritually and emotionally. Others’ words have moved me, have brought to light my own words, and have added dynamic layers of meaning to my life. I’ve read hundreds of books, but these 12 present-day books are front and center in my library.
1.Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Based on his own experience in concentration camps during the Holocaust and the experiences of others he treated later in his psychiatry practice, Frankl teaches that we cannot avoid suffering, but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.
2. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Tolle leads us on a spiritual journey to find our true and deepest self and reach the ultimate in personal growth and spirituality: the discovery of truth and light.
3. The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa
Trungpa teaches that the sacred warrior conquers the world not through violence or aggression, but through gentleness, courage, and self-knowledge. The warrior’s power is in his or her belief in the basic goodness of human life and radiates that goodness out into the world to cultivate peace for others.
4. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s reveals that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow, where people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life.
5. Walden by Henry David Thoreau
This classic reflects upon the rewards and challenges of simple living in natural surroundings. Through self-sufficiency and solitude, Thoreau demonstrates the power of introspection and self-knowing.
6. Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss
Based on 15 years of research in energy medicine, Dr. Myss’s work shows how every illness corresponds to a pattern of emotional and psychological stresses, beliefs, and attitudes that have influenced corresponding areas of the human body. She also shows how we can develop the power of intuition as we simultaneously cultivate our personal power and spiritual growth.
7. Total Freedom: The Essential Krishnamurti by Jiddu Krishnamurti
This book contains Krishnamurti’s best and most illuminating writings and talks, capturing his core teachings: the nature of personal freedom; the mysteries of life and death; and the ‘pathless land’, the personal search for truth and peace.
8. Emptiness Dancing by Adyashanti
This book is an invitation to wake up to the essence of what you are and experience the secret to happiness and liberation.
9. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz
Don Miguel Ruiz teaches these four principles to create less suffering and more love and happiness in our life: (1) be impeccable with your word, (2) don’t take anything personally, (3) don’t make assumptions, and (4) always do your best.
10. Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom by B.K.S. Iyengar
Iyengar uses stories from his own life, humor, and examples from modern culture to illustrate the profound gifts that yoga offers.
11. Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman’s Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine by Sue Monk Kidd
A very personal story of fear, anger, healing, and freedom, Kidd reveals a new level of feminine spiritual consciousness by embracing the sacredness of ordinary experiences and how doing so has the power to transform relationships in a woman’s life.
12. When Things fall apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times – Pema Chodron
This beautiful book is a collection of talks given by Chodron between 1987 and 1994 that explores how to overcome by pain and difficulties.
If you are a soul searcher like me, I encourage you to add these books to your reading list. Dive in and you will be surprised how many times you lose yourself and find yourself over and over again.
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Do you have a go-to book to share with us? Please share!
