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Your favourite inspirational books

Helena

Veteran

Hi all, I was hoping I could tap into this diverse and wise bunch to find some new inspirational books to read. What are your favourites? It could be spiritual/religious, inspirational, autobiography/biography/memoir, philosophy, fiction ... I'd love if you could share what's speaking to you and why.

For my part, my current favourite book is Devotion, by Dani Shapiro. It's a spiritual memoir of sorts, of a woman sorting through mid-life, what she believes, memories of her difficult relationship with her mother, etc. ... what I love about it is she is learning to live the questions rather than providing exact answers.

I also love everything by Thich Nhat Hahn, who speaks about mindfulness and Zen Buddhism; his simple philosophy is always so grounding to me.

Thanks to anyone who cares to share! xx Helena

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15 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Anonymous

Yes to Thich Nhat Hanh! Also "The Magic" by Rhonda Byrne, which is what got me and DH started with our daily gratitude practice.

Runcarla

Veteran

Here are two lovely books by Canadian authors. “Unearthed” might have particular resonance because the author is from Toronto and writes about discovering a hidden garden in the derelict backyard of her newly purchased home. (It was built on a parcel of an old estate that got severed at some time.). She is also dealing with the recent loss of her mother, and her relationship with her teenaged son, and her husband. Being the spouse of a wildlife biologist, I found her reverence for vermin a bit much - preserving a rotten tree for raccoons. Really? But I did love the story of discovery - the garden, her relationship with her husband, and the relationship with the folks she enlisted to help her restore the garden.

“The Ghost Orchard” is by a Kingston, Ontario author and is at least four stories in one. It is easy to pick it up and read a bit at a time. The history of apple species, the illustrators who compiled a US agricultural record of illustrations of the species (many women artists), the story of a woman ‘Johnny Appleseed’, the author’s remembrance of a beloved grandfather, and a friend she is loosing to cancer. Beautiful illustrations. I read my copy twice, then sent it to my brother. Lovely, lovely book.

You can probably get both at the library.

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Runcarla

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That reminds me, I want to read “They Left Us Everything” by Plum Johnson.

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Helena

Veteran

Thanks you guys ... will look for these at the library this week! xx

Anonymous

Speaking of Dani Shapiro, her latest book, Inheritance, was very powerful for me and a wonderful read.

Runcarla

Veteran

Here’s something else uplifting! I’m a bit of an MM fan girl, and requested a copy of the September British Vogue be set aside for me at our local independent bookstore. It just came in!

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Suz

(website)

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Carla, Helen is a very close friend of mine. Of course I LOVE her work! Her memoir about her brother's death, Nocturne, is another that might appeal to you, Helena. And as an artist, I really loved her last book, Machine Without Horses, which is all about the process of writing fiction when submerged in grief.

Unearthed sounds interesting, too -- I will have to pick it up!

Helena, you might also really find Dani Shapiro's Inheritance an interesting read. I read it recently and enjoyed it. (Oh! I see LisaP also recommended it! High five, Lisa!)

I sometimes crave a book on creativity and art-making, when I'm struggling with my work. Even though some of my friends like to joke about Elizabeth Gilbert, I enjoyed Big Magic. I also really like Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit.

SarahD8

Veteran

Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Joy

Veteran

I have enjoyed reading books by or about Corrie Ten Boom. She was a citizen of the Netherlands who was not Jewish but who helped a Jewish people hide from the Natzies during WWII. Her whole family was arrested and taken to concentration camps. Her story is inspirational and amazing. I also like the books by Catherine Marshall and by Elizabeth Elliot as inspirational.

nemosmom

Veteran

I really should add more inspirational book to my reading list. Currently, it's work-related (software) or home improvement related. I am boring. I'll be following here for ideas

Helena

Veteran

Thanks everyone Appreciate it!! xx

JAileen

Veteran

I pretty much read murder mysteries, so not very inspirational!

Marlene1

The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs. You won't be sorry.

The Cat

Veteran

The Bible.
Some of the reasons are that this unique book provides trustworthy answers to questions like these:
● What is the meaning of life?
● What will the future bring?
● Is there a God who really cares about me?
● How can I get a happy life?
● How can I become a better family member, friend, neighbour, workmate and member of society?
● How can I cope with various challenges in life?
● How can I become a more spiritual person, and what are the benefits?

As the Bible itself says:
● "All Scripture [the whole Bible] is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work."--2 Timothy 3:16, 17.
● "For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope."--Romans 15:4.

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. I don’t read many inspirational books. But I read Pope John Paul II’s Crossing the Threshold of Hope back in 1994, lol, and actually liked that one. I did always like his declaration, ‘Be Not Afraid!’ That was, I think, the first thing he ever said as pope. Came out on the balcony and said, ‘Be Not Afraid!’ That struck me as...to the point of the matter.