Five Books that will Change How you Think (and Feel)
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“How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.”
Reading is more than just a way to pass the time; it’s a vital tool for personal development, offering new perspectives, insights, and invaluable life lessons.
Each book we read can act as a mentor, guiding us through life's challenges and opportunities.
However, to truly benefit from reading, it’s crucial to approach books with the intent to extract actionable ideas. This means reading actively, questioning continuously, and reflecting on how the concepts presented can be applied to your daily life and long-term goals.
Below, I’ve shared five books that I’ve not only truly enjoyed, but have really had lasting impact in my life.
The Razor’s Edge - W.S. Maugham
“The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard.”
This was the book that started it all for me.
It was recommended to me by my first therapist, when I first tried to leave law and was teaching yoga, travelling, making art.
The main character, Larry Darrell, a disillusioned World War I veteran, embarks on a quest for spiritual enlightenment, rejecting conventional society's expectations.
Sound familiar?
The story itself (eventually made into a film more than once) revolves around the central theme of the challenging and often perilous journey toward spiritual enlightenment and self-discovery, and, the disappointments we have to endure (and present to other’s) along the way.
The Middle Passage - James Hollis
“We are all tethered to the question of lethargy and fear. It is the paradox of growth that every step forward requires us to face the monster of our own fear.”
I know I said that “The Razor’s Edge” started it, but this book really got me going.
It not only opened up my interest in Jung, but more importantly, let me know that even at 28 (the age I was when I first read it), it was not uncommon to be questioning purpose, meaning and connection to work, relationship and otherwise at the liminal phases of life.
Ultimately, Hollis’ deep and valuable insights cover the internal struggles many face during midlife, emphasizing that overcoming fear is essential for personal growth and transformation.
This is one you’ll read again and again, and I recommend it regularly.
Let Your Life Speak - Parker Palmer
“Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.”
This was originally recommended to me by my friend Jason, and I was always put off (but also intrigued) by the title.
But, only recently, I finally read it.
There is no other book that I have read that has so accurately (at least for me) described the challenges, and in particular the experience of depression, that can come with finally listening to one’s calling and realizing that it is time to make big, BIG changes - changes which are often scary but which one can not deny the truth of.
A classic, Palmer invites readers to discover their true vocation by listening to their inner self, aligning personal identity with genuine life choices that reflect their deepest values and passions.
Palmer’s work eloquently underscores the importance of introspection and self-awareness in finding one's true vocation and living an authentic life.
The Power of Myth - Joseph Campbell
““People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive.””
This was another friend recommendation, given to me by my friend Devon, when I was first really exploring the idea of leaving law.
Campbell (who also wrote “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”) was a larger-than-life figure in the world of comparative mythology and comparative religion, and his work has had a profound influence on the understanding of myth in both cultural
and personal contexts.
Ultimately, this book taught me the value and necessity of undertaking the difficult journeys, rituals and initiations necessary to making lasting and meaningful change in life.
In short - it is by embracing personal myths and engaging deeply with life and feeling fully alive (rather than merely searching for abstract meaning) that one can discover and fulfill one's life purpose.
Consolations - David Whyte
““Work, among all its abstracts, is actually intimacy, the place where the self meets the world.””
I have never been a big poetry guy.
David Whyte changed that for me.
This book goes deep on the meanings of certain every day words - words which we often use without truly investigating how they impact our relationships, work and life.
A book I draw on regularly with clients, Whyte’s interpretations offer, through poetic language, insights into life’s complexities and personal growth.
Understanding the full depths of common emotions and experiences, by redefining and deeply contemplating everyday words, opens up new avenues for understanding ourselves and navigating life's challenges more effectively. In doing so, Whyte encourages his readers to reflect, accept, and find beauty in the simplicity (and the complexity) of human language and experience.
I could go on - I read a lot (that is not a brag). But, when we are intentional with our reading, we can really learn (and change) a lot.
What have you read that has left you thinking and feeling differently?
