5 Books That May Change Your Life
Bibliotherapy
Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic approach employing books and other forms of literature, typically alongside more traditional therapy modalities, to support a patient’s mental health. Though the books recommended by therapists can encompass any genre or theme—from philosophy to memoir to self-help—bibliotherapists typically make use of fiction.
-Psychology Today
In my experience, books are some of the best gifts as the impression their words leave can range from entertaining, to educational, to deeply transformative. With that said, I’d like to share 5 books that influenced me personally, and it would feel like a gift back if this blog post guides you to read one of these books, and you too are impacted for the better.
The Four Agreements
A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
Written by Don Miguel Ruiz
Inspired from Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements gets to the root of overcoming self-limiting beliefs and needless suffering, by living in accordance with the four agreements. They are simple and yet require an honest commitment. We can live with more happiness, freedom, and love by taking these agreements to heart.
Radical Acceptance
Written by Tara Brach, Ph.D.
Tara Brach is a clinical psychologist, Buddhist, and world-renowned meditation teacher. Dr. Brach shares her journey towards radical acceptance in her own life. Radical acceptance is not complacency; it is learning how to be present to one’s thoughts, emotions, pain, etc. without judgment and without resorting to unhealthy coping. Radical acceptance is key to profound change.
If you read this book and enjoy Dr. Brach’s insights, she offers guided meditations freely on Spotify, YouTube, and on her website: https://www.tarabrach.com/guided-meditations/.
The Body Keeps the Score
Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Written by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
This book is a classic in academia and a New York Times Bestseller. Van der Kolk compiles three decades’ worth of research and clinical experience regarding trauma. If you seek to understand how traumatic stress changes the brain and body, and what treatments address trauma beyond talk therapy, this book is an excellent starting point.
The Art of Frugal Hedonism
A Guide to Spending Less While Enjoying Everything More
Written by Annie Raser-Rowland & Adam Grubb
I love this book. It’s one I read repeatedly because it’s essentially a guide to living more mindfully and by one’s values, thus, enjoying life more fully. We live in a materialistic world that often feels like a competition to keep up with the latest gadgets and lifestyles. The Art of Frugal Hedonism is a breath of fresh air. Within it is a toolkit to learn how to spend your money on what really matters to you and how to dive deep into the simple pleasures of life. As a result, you’ll save more money, live a life aligned with your values, and enjoy everything more.
This book is not in the least bit self-righteous, preachy, or shaming. It simply offers a unique method of living your life that I think many of us are secretly craving after.
The Daily Stoic
366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living
By Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman
Everything came from something right? Well before modern psychology, there was Stoic philosophy. Many concepts from therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy derive from Stoicism. Philosophy gets a bad rap for being too abstract or wordy, but Stoicism is always practical and to the point. The author compiles some of the most applicable musings of ancient philosophers such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. While many things change throughout the centuries, human dilemmas clearly remain the same.
I recommend this book as it is thought-provoking as well as grounding. It invites you to challenge yourself to live a life of excellence.
