Hi Sweet Friends,
The first leaves of fall are starting to pop up at my farmette and the slight chill in the air has me reaching for my cozy sweaters. I don’t know about you, but when the weather starts to cool down, I start thinking about my grade school days. And even though it’s been a decade or two-ish (ahem) since I started my mornings in homeroom, I’m still perpetually in school (and I still buy new notebooks). Life itself has grown into one big ole workshop fueled by inspiring books and I don’t even want to skip class these days!
If you’re familiar with my journey, you know that I became a full-time health sleuth after my diagnosis. Books were my teachers, the Internet was my classroom and blood tests were my grades. Over the years, reading has become as much a part of my health practice as meditating (my nightstand is actually hazardous). I dog-ear pages. I highlight. I re-read and then read again. I scribble in the margins. I have a personal relationship with my books.
Nowadays, what really gets my gray matter fired up is reading about mental, spiritual and emotional health. After years of crunching numbers to figure out all my necessary nutrients and becoming snuggly familiar with anatomy (and my excrements!), I can’t wait to sit down with books that ignite my creative lighter fluid. Whether it’s about writing well, staying sane or exploring why our magnificent brains work in certain ways, I’m immersed in the wellness of the mind.
So, I curated some of my favorite tiles, covering my go-to resources, most loved page-turners, plus a few super-exciting titles that will be hitting the shelves this fall. Sharpen your pencils, friends. Class is in session!
My top 10 must-read inspiring books list
Broken Open, Elizabeth Lesser
Life gets messy. That’s always gonna be true. But it’s what we do in those messy times—and, particularly, what we get out of them—that make them worthwhile and interesting. Elizabeth uses her own deeply personal and gloriously raw experiences to guide readers through being open in the hard times. She’s one of my favorite writers and this book in particular contains countless soul aha’s. It’s sorta like my spiritual woobie.
How to Meditate, by Pema Chodron
Straightforward and kind. Those are two amazing qualities in any person, but they’re especially important in a meditation maestro. Yes, there are many books that tell you why you should meditate, but Pema makes it available to even the most fidgety of folks.
The Law of Divine Compensation, by Marianne Williamson
Putting your principles into action is what this book is all about. Marianne, as many of you probably already know, is one of the country’s best-loved spirituality writers. In this book, she makes the ideas laid out in A Course in Miracles accessible, and applies them to our financial well-being.
Mom & Me & Mom, by Maya Angelou
My mom gave me this book so we could connect further expand our relationship—and we did just that. This book is a spiritual memoir page turner! And the roller coaster ride these two women went on is cinema-worthy—as is the profound love, respect and forgiveness that shaped their relationship. There’s no one quite like Maya to explore what it means to be a daughter, then her own woman, and then discover a relationship with her mother again. Oh, and there is definitely no one like Maya Angelou’s mother! As my own grandma would say “She’s a pistol packing mama”—literally!
Money: A Love Story, by Kate Northrup
What I love about this book is Kate’s approach. Sure, there are a zillion books out there that teach you how to set up savings accounts. But Kate nails the root of our money insecurities. She knows that when we truly value ourselves, we can heal our relationship with money, and then spend in a way that lines up with who we are at our core. Kate recently visited the farmette and I just loved chatting with her in this quick video! Check it out.
Red Hot & Holy, by Sera Beak
Do you have a unique relationship with the Divine (that’s big D, not divine as in chocolate)? My sweet friend Sera does, but it took her years of trial, tribulation and a few ooh la la saucy encounters to settle down. This woman is wild and free and on fire. Red Hot & Holy (another spiritual page turner) will take your on a ride! It’s sexual, ripped open, devout and filled with the sort of realness that very few authors dare to reveal. I. Was. Blown. Away.
Thank you…my journey begins!
Transformational Architecture: Reshaping Our Lives as Narrative by Ron Martoia
Daily Love: Growing into Grace by Mastin Kipp
Immortal Diamond: Richard Rohr
Thanks for this list! I now have two of the books in my order queue.
Thanks for this list! I now have two of the books in my order queue.
Love this list Kris!
There are so many books that describe these spiritual things, but you mentioned the best ones. ‘m excited to read all of them. Thanks for sharing this amazing list with us.
‘m excited to read all of them. Thanks for sharing this amazing list with us.
This is a great tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
Brief but very accurate info… Thank you for sharing this one.
A must read post!