Book Nook
This page serves as a place where I have come across meaningful books that have made a profound impact on my life. I will add to this list over time, so check back for more.
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo
- Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
- A Walk in the Wood—Meditation on Mindfulness by Dr. Joseph Parent & Nancy Parent
with a Bear Named Pooh - Love Letter To The Earth by Thich Nhat Hanh
- The Daily Word
- As A Man Thinketh by James Allen
- In Love With The World by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
- The Way of Gratitude by Galen Guengerich
- Buddhist Boot Camp by Timber Hawkeye
- Lessons in Truth by Emilie Cady
- Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
- The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy
- Be Here Now by Ram Dass
- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
- Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through The Power of Words by Kevin L. Hall
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
A journey of self-discovery and self-realization evolves, as a young shepherd is awakened by a mesmerizing dream he is moved to fulfill. Thus, Santiago bravely steps out of his father’s expectations for the son’s role in life to honor his calling.
This story of a young man’s quest for his personal life mission is one that may be applicable to each of us, who pursue our own meaning, purpose for life. A myriad of serendipitous connections, challenging surprises, and wondrous mysteries unfold to illustrate a congruity of all the connections, successes, failures, portents, synchronicities, ethereal moment--all essential to unfolding the path that is designed to reveal a personal treasure awaiting all of us who choose to realize one’s “Personal Legend.”
Read our full review of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo
Step into a journey of unexpected self-discovery, to reveal a deeper degree of consideration for the meaning of life.
A middle-aged character, who is a devoted husband, caring father, dedicated professional, and avid appreciator of the simple American joys of life, is unexpectedly introduced to a holy man, Volvo Rinpoche.
His sister, an aspiring, distinctive soul, is responsible for this surprising connection. Otto Ringling, much to his dismay, realizes his road trip from New Jersey to North Dakota to settle the estate of his recently departed parents—will be without his sister and instead with a holy man. Rinpoche is a self-assured, quiet, easeful, and lighthearted wise man from the far reaches of Northern Asia.
Read our full review of Breakfast with Buddha here.
Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
Richard Rohr has been a Franciscan priest for +50 years. He is a distinctive, aspiring human being, who has chosen to develop a conscious realization of his spirituality beyond the doctrine of religious belief systems, including his own.
Richard’s deep introspection for the gift of life has evolved an understanding, that this wondrous life journey is comprised of two distinct halves. The first half of life is about developing one’s self-image, identity, professional practice, financial means, as well as building reputation, forging relationships--all for purpose of grounding an “acceptable” presence in the world. We are aspiring, accomplishing, acquiring, and performing—all worthy pursuits to assure our “security.”
Read our full review of Falling Upward here.
A Walk In The Wood
Pooh’s daily interaction with life connects him with the Moment, the ever-present gift of space and time to appreciate being Here in the perennial moment of Now. Although it takes lots of practice, amid the distractions, demands, and responsibilities of which we are aware and are integral to our life experience, it is always worth it to attune for a short or extended moment. In so doing, we are privileged to discover the sweet pace of ease, multi-hued vistas of vision, natural order, wondrous mystery, and bountiful flow life reveals for us—if we choose to pay attention.
Read A Walk In The Wood Full Review
Love Letter to the Earth
Consider this simple, profound, and embracing book an eloquent reminder of the blessing we all have to be born from this earth and to have the privilege of life to appreciate “the Earth above you, below you, all around you, and even inside you.”
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk, who has a very special gift for telling a story with impeccable simplicity, grace, and heart-warming clarity. In this treatise about our beloved planet and our inextricable connection since the dawn of the universe, he gently reminds us, that each of us contains the earth and its infinitude of properties, because all that we are comes from the Earth. She is truly our Mother. The time is now, as it has perennially been, for us to restore our relationship with Earth, which is in profound danger. If the earth is threatened, so are you and I, because this is our home. Greed, pride, and delusion, has spewed violence, pollution, and abuse of our earth and its treasures. All of us on this precious planet are affected concurrently, and the ruinous ramifications are compounding.
Read Love Letter to the Earth Full Review
The Daily Word
This publication has been delivering daily inspiration and wisdom since 1924. For every day of the year, a short and targeted prayer/affirmation is presented for your momentary enlightenment. To quiet, to breathe, to read, and reflect on the inspiration of the moment is an opportunity to start your day aligned, balanced and intentioned. If your day is wobbling off course, give yourself a break, open to renewed possibility, and re-affirm any one of the ‘daily words’ which speaks to your need or inspiration.
As A Man Thinketh by James Allen
“Men do not attract that which they want, they attract that which they are.” “Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.” The collection of essays contained in this handbook is a profound example of the timelessness and the simplicity of Truth. It was first published in 1902, and its crisp, user-friendly focus delivers a fount of grounded, powerful and uplifting wisdom as applicable today, as it was yesterday. If we could all integrate the wholeness of Allen’s attunement from a positive standpoint, the state of our world and quality of our relationships would markedly transform for the better.
In Love With The World by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
This is a most intimate, revealing story of a Tibetan Monk, who, is abbot of three monasteries in India, Tibet, and Nepal. At 36 years of age, Mingyur Rinpoche realized it was time for him to commence a new journey of spiritual practice, and leave his revered position to embark on a journey of spiritual practice independent of his roles and responsibilities, privileged environs, financial support, all belongings, and most significantly any connection with his devoted community. He chose to honor the ancient tradition of the Hindu sadhus and step into the world free of traditional concerns and open to the wonders and authenticity of life’s flow. In spite of his confidence, highly developed self-awareness, and the bounty of ancient teachings with which he had been raised since age 11, he discovered a new-found Reality of Life. It unfolded a journey of self-discovery and realization, that wholly unseated his confidence and dismantled his frame of reference. Thus, he became truly free to realize the many layers and veils of delusion, resistance, judgement, and attachment we all unconsciously allow to blind us, and hinder our outlook and inner balance. This man’s courageous journey is a profound glimpse into the complexity of our makeup as human beings, which disguises the simplicity of our essence gifted to each one of us with this privilege of life experience.
In Love With The World Full Review
The Way of Gratitude by Galen Guengerich
The practice of Gratitude is a wondrous way shower for the miracle, beauty, and bounty of this life privilege. The author of this book was a former Mennonite in the bucolic farming range of Pennsylvania. He left this rigorous religious way of life in his mid-twenties, because he “didn’t want to live with my eyes closed and my mind made up.” He sensed a greater realization of life’s wonders, mysteries, and choices awaited his openness and willingness to live the Dream of a more enriching and joyful life.
Galen profoundly illustrates how our openness to whatever life delivers for us is integral to discovering how all our choices, mistakes, successes, surprises, strengths, and weaknesses are the perfect building blocks for our evolution as an integral contribution for the community and the planet. When we choose to see all that unfolds as an opportunity for gratitude, life’s lessons are worthy of humble thanks, which wondrously open the door to a depth of ever-evolving fulfillment and connection with others.
The Way of Gratitude Full Review
Buddhist Boot Camp by Timber Hawkeye
Buddhist Boot Camp is crisply on point as an ancient, yet timeless reminder of the quintessential values of simplicity, clarity, and conscious action.
Timber Hawkeye previously was ensconced in the corporate arena, when an epiphany unfolded, whereby he realized that life is not about accumulating, accomplishing, striving, and expecting. Instead, he was opened to the wonder, breadth, clarity, and gift of existence, which revealed a deeper level of discernment for what is truly worthy of attention through this brief interlude of our life privilege.
Buddhist Boot Camp Full Review
Lessons in Truth by Emilie Cady
Regardless of the first printing of this Wisdom Collection in 1903, the Truth it unabashedly delivers is wholly relevant and on target today, as it was yesterday.
What you will find in the treatise of authentic spirituality is a forthright reminder of our inherent connection to the Divine and unequivocal Values of a Conscious Life, which are open to all for our integration. Emilie Cady provides a user-friendly understanding of our divinity, power, and connection to all that is.
Click here to read my full review for Lessons in Truth by Emilie Cady
Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
Thank you, Victor Frankl, for the exceptional courage and depth of Heart you chose to embrace through an exceedingly painful chapter of your life. For a man, who lost his family, home, assets, and lifework, and struggled through three years of Nazi death camps, Victor held on to his dignity, compassion, faith in the Divine, and a resolute picture of life’s uplifted Possibilities.
Click here to read my full review for Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Life is so exquisitely wondrous with the simple truths it unveils. Listen to the messages “between the lines” of life. Honor the precious connection with oneself and others, as a privileged step forward in our journey to discover life’s treasury of enlightenment.
To read this book inherently magnetizes an immersion of self and soul. Drink the sumptuous nectar of clarity this gentle and quieting story pours for our delight and endearment.
Tune into a quiet and comfy niche to momentarily release--and rediscover who you actually may be. As the Boy wisely states, “Isn’t it odd we can only see outsides, but nearly everything happens on the inside.”
Click here to read my full review for The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy.
Be Here Now by Ram Dass
In a modern globally conscious society this is a unique introduction to spirituality and religion. Ram Dass strikes a balance of being inclusive of many spiritual traditions, and he has a gift for presenting it in a way that honors all beings. Due to its graphics and "comic book" style, it is child friendly as well.
The book is actually quite practical for contemporary life. In addition, I have found that I can open up to any page for an inspiration or meditation in the moment. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking spiritual expansion or a way to simply open their eyes to different perspectives.
Click here to read my full review for Be Here Now by Ram Dass.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom is a self-help book by bestselling author Don Miguel Ruiz with Janet Mills. The book offers a code of conduct based on ancient Toltec wisdom that advocates freedom from self-limiting beliefs that may cause suffering and limitation in a person's life.
The Four Agreements are simple in nature, yet profound if practiced with sincerity:
- Be Impeccable With Your Words
- Don't Take Anything Personally
- Don't Make Assumptions
- Always Do Your Best
Click here to read my full review for The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through The Power of Words by Kevin L. Hall
This is a summary of my experiences from reading this book. Click here to read the full review for Aspire by Kevin L. Hall. Other key expressions developed are: Pathfinder (leader), Namaste, Passion, Sapere Vedere, Humility, Inspire, Empathy, Coach, Ollin, and Integrity, among others.
This book reverberates with enthusiasm for living a consciously-intentioned life.
Understanding the origin of the words, which grace our language, inherently enhances connection with ourselves and others.