Have you read any books that helped you find yourself? Everyone seems to go through a period in their
life where they are looking for meaning, where they feel lost and unsure how to
move forward. Here are some titles that
we’ve heard about from others, who felt they helped them find meaning, motivation, or offered an insight that impacted their life.
The
Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
True story of a
computer science professor who was diagnosed with cancer and the last lecture
he gave his students, relating to how they could help others realize their
dreams and overcoming obstacles
Reader
response: The whole story was impactful. I still think about it a year later.
Hiding
in the Bathroom: an Introvert’s Roadmap to Getting Out There (When You’d Rather
Stay Home) by Morra Aarons-Mele
Wisdom and practical tips for introverts on building relationships and dealing with challenges at work.
Reader
response: This book really enabled me to find ways to get around challenges.
House
on the Cerulean Sea by
TJ Klune
Linus has a
solitary life as a case worker for a governmental department that oversees orphaned
children with magical abilities. Called
out to an island to look into a group of magical misfits there, Linus feels
like he has found family, but has a difficult choice to make.
Reader
response: “I loved these characters so much I would fight to the death for
them. This book just really restored my faith in humanity and helped my anxiety
to know that level of love, kindness, and acceptance.”
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
A labor and delivery nurse is
prohibited by a father for caring for a newborn because she is black, but when the
baby goes into cardiac arrest, she intervenes and is later sued.
Reader response: “This book made me realize
that I was not as aware about racial inequalities as much as I thought I was.
It really educated me and changed my perspective.”
The
Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff and E. H. Shepard
Reader
response: “It’s an introduction to Taoism through how Winnie the Pooh reacts to
things. Simple, but deep, and helped put into words how I wanted to live my
life mindfully and with less stress.”
Man’s
search for meaning
by Frankl
A psychiatrist
who survived the Nazi concentration camps reflects on his experiences and how
to live a better life.
Reader response: There’s a quote in the book, "He who has
a why can survive any how,” that made me think very critically about how I
wanted to live my life. The author talks about visualization and using his
imagination as coping tools to move you to a better space, and I think about
that a lot.
Cosmos by
Carl Sagan
Reader response: Learning how everything is
connected on an atomic level was astonishing and actually changed some of my
views on spirituality and life.
10 Shades Of Personality: Understanding and Thriving
amidst Personality Disorders by
Queeneth Agu
Reader
response: I had been talking to someone about my ex-wife and she gave me a copy
of this book. It helped me better understand my ex’s behavior and work toward
healing. It was amazing to read a list of behaviors that described her so
perfectly and understand that I was not the crazy one. It was mind-blowing, honestly. I feel like
they should teach this in schools, so people are aware of and can recognize
personality disorders in themselves and others.
The Hate U
Give by Angie Thomas
Reader response: I read
this in 2017 when it first came out and it really opened my eyes. I remember
hearing in the news when I was fairly young about black men being arrested/killed
unfairly and asking about it. I was told
that they had done something to deserve it—they had been dealing drugs or
looked suspicious when they ran away… I’m ashamed to admit how long I believed
that. This book offered a look into that world through the eyes of a very
intelligent, honest teen girl who was doing her best to understand what happened with
her friend. Her courage and willingness
to tackle giant systemic issues not only impressed me, it inspired me to continue
educating myself to become anti-racist and to educate my friends and family when they were perpetuating racist behavior. There are other non-fiction
books that opened my eyes even further, but this was the first to jolt me
awake, with a main character so likeable, it feels like a conversation with a close friend.
The Year
of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Reader response:
This book let me know that it’s OK to step outside of our comfort zones, enjoy
the little things in life, and do our best not to let our anxieties get the
better of us.
Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
Reader response: This made me realize how much I internalized that one's worth is tied to production. Our society is brainwashing us into being machines, working an an unrealistic pace and this book shows how rest can be radical resistance.
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