Looking for Something to Read?

In my effort to continue growing and learning, I will often look for book recommendations.  (There are WAY too many options available if I were to just check out the shelves at the bookstore or library.)  Using the WWF (Wonderful World of Facebook), I posed the questions below to part of the FB community. More specifically, I posted this (and received responses) on my personal page as well as three local community pages.  I knew that I would be reaching out to groups whose members’ opinions I respect.  

This is what I posted:  

I want to try to create and share a list of non-fiction books which have had a positive impact on people’s lives. Do you have a book which you recommend? What book is it? Who is the author (if you remember)? Why do you recommend it? This book can fall into ANY category–self help, personal development, leadership, health/wellness, family, organization, community, general knowledge, how-to, etc. (Please mention how you would categorize it.) If you found it helpful, it is fair game! 

Below are the responses I received.  (I am not familiar with most of the books.  Some fiction may have slipped in, but, if so, those books were apparently meaningful and impactful nevertheless.)  The only order here is that I listed them in the order in which I received them from each of the four separate posts.  There may be some duplicates. I italicized and capitalized the titles to make them easier to read. I did not include photos or links to Amazon/Goodreads/etc which some people included.   (The one exception is a link to a course.) I also cut out the long description of one of the books; the description was taken from another site. Other than that, the information below was entered via good old-fashioned  “cut and paste” (with an occasional minor tweak) of what others typed in response to my request. I have not read most of these books myself (yet).

Looking for something to read?  Here are some ideas!

Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods is his story of hiking the Appalachian trail with a friend. It’s hilarious. Made me laugh out loud more than once. Laughter is definitely beneficial for health and wellness!

Freakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen Dubner. This book will force you to look at things differently.

Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. The simplest way to regain control of your finances and retire securely

The Bible. Multiple Authors. Do I really need to explain why?

Leslie Odom Jr’s book Failing Up is a great read for young people who are thinking of going into the entertainment/acting industry or anyone that is working toward success in that field.

Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson-Highlights the need for a more just legal system. One that serves everyone-African American and white, rich and poor-more fairly.

Resilience–Hard-Won Wisdom for Living a Better Life by Eric Greitens, self help?

Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams, personal development

It’s Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff, leadership

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, personal development

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Well written & important in our world today. It deals with white supremacy. I have recommended it to many people. A good read!

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Self help, I suppose , but just a great read.

The Gift of Fear. Learning to trust your instinct. Self help

Where the Crawdads Sing. Beautiful, descriptive writing. Strong messages about overcoming struggles and prejudice. A must read!  Also, Educated. A true story

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama – because I need it right now. Becoming by Michelle Obama – because it brought back amazing memories and taught me more about someone I respect and admire very much. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo – because it helps. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson – because it’s fascinating. Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan – for the same reason as the Bill Bryson book.

Feelings Buried Alive Never Die By Karol Truman At the time of the trauma(big or small) there are 1700 biochemical changes happening in our nervous system… and our body holds it in the cellular level of our physical being. That’s what’s called “body mind connection”. That’s the book I recommend to understand the relation between emotions and biology.🌟🌟

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth very inspiring

Great idea! Here are books I read last year that made a positive impact in all aspects of my life. The Bible NIV,
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
The Lost Art of Listening by Michael P. Nichols
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – classic and read a few times.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Linchpin by Seth Godin
Maximum Influence by Kurt Mortensen
Deep Work by Car Newport

Born A Crime by Trevor Noah- movie coming soon

The Beautiful No – Sheri Salata

The Glass Castle

The Art of Conflict Management  I enjoyed it because the topics and principles discussed not only apply to a workplace but also to personal relationships like w/ a spouse/kids. I found it to be wonderful productive form of thinking.

Hannah’s Dream by Diane Hammond. A charming, poignant, and captivating novel certain to enthrall readers of Water for Elephants, Diane Hammond’s Hannah’s Dream is a beautifully told tale rich in heart, humor, and intelligence.

Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki

The Millionaire Next Door – Thomas Stanley

The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers

Dana Gooley The Virtuoso Liszt

Mel Stanfill Exploiting Fandom

Suzanne Scott Fake Geek Girls

Taking a Stand: My Life in the Law by Alan Dershowitz.

Life’s Greatest Lessons by Hal Urban – I would classify as self help

God Delusion – Richard Dawkins 

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. Made me rethink my plans for post-death. Burial is such a waste of an amazing resource for research. I couldn’t do it anymore.

Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (fav finance book)

Grit by Angela Duckworth (about the benefits of the character trait of grit and how to get it and develop it in others)

You Learn By Living Eleanor Roosevelt (overall life wisdom!)

Breathing Under Water : Spirituality and the 12 Steps by Richard Rohr (about the 12 steps in AA made applicable to all)

Power of Now by Elkhart Tolle (about living in the moment)

Help, Thanks, WOW by Anne Lamott (great book on prayer)

The Road Back to You by Ian Cron (a primmer on the enneagram personality system)

The Invention of Wings. There is some “creative” license in telling the story of Sarah Grimke. She and her sister lived in the south during slavery and they became abolitionists. The story absolutely moved me.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Like Sound Through Water: A Mother’s Journey Through Auditory Processing Disorder by Karen J. Foli

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, very sad but exquisitely written.

I recommend How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith for any professional woman.

Also Circadian Code by Dr Satchin Panda for anyone who wants to improve their health.

An oldie but goody, The Language of Letting Go by Melodie Beattie-self help and self care.

The Book of Joy by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama

The Rogue Warrior and Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior by Richard Marcinko. Military History and Leadership. It really speaks about true leadership.

Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal, helped me to better cope with aging parents and terminally ill. Well written, the author is a physician who shares medical facts and his own experience with patients, friends and dear family.

This is for Everyone by Douglass Goldhamer and Melinda Stengel. It is about healing prayer

Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. True story of an all out attempt at living as sustainably as possible for a year. There are eye-opening ideas and reminders anyone can incorporate into their lives.

The Power of Now – by Eckhart Tolle – Spiritual/Self Help

The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money

My favorite parenting book of all time is The Three Martini Playdate by Mellor. Using humor, this book points out the extreme ridiculousness parenting can become.

UnTangled by Lisa Damour

The Gift of Failure – why it’s important to let your kids fail.

Deep Work by Cal Newport

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Where You Go Is Not Who You Will Be by Frank Bruni…..an antidote to the college admissions mania.

Educated, by Tara Westover. An amazing account of a woman who was determined to better her life.

When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi. Another great memoir, this of a neurosurgeon who battles terminal cancer – what a thoughtful account of what it means to live in the face of death. Only teared up during the epilogue. It was actually a very thought-provoking memoir. The author was an incredible writer – graduated with degrees in English and philosophy before going to medical school. It makes one think – in a good way, and the author showed what it looked like to live with HOPE.

Destination Success by Dwight Bain

The Psychology of Winning by Denis Waitley

I Am Beautiful–A Celebration of Women in Their Own Words

How to Become a Rainmaker by Jeffrey J. Fox

Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

The New Dynamics of Winning by Denis Waitley

It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be by Paul Arden

If you have read any of these and want to share your two cents, please do!  Feel free to add other recommendations in the comments as well. I acknowledge that this may not be an easy- to-navigate list per se, but, if a title catches your attention, check it out!