Books worth reading
These books have all changed my life.
Two lists: one strictly for personal development, psychology and coaching. The other one including a lot more personal and spiritual stuff.
Personal Development list
The Willpower Instinct - I have read this twice already, and plan to read it again to take more notes.
Feeling Good - best depression book out there
The Four Agreements - crucial for relationships of all stripes
The Mind Illuminated - best systematized approach of a meditation practice from start to finish, from a westerner trained deeply in authentic lineages but with the perspective of modern science/neuro. Very technical and asks you to practice with strong intent and commitment, but for those who are looking to get the maximum amounts of benefits from meditation and willing to put in the work, this is a must have.
Mindfulness in Plain English - it's a bit too Buddhist for some, but if you are not offended by some light dogma/colour then it's one of the most approachable manuals for beginner meditation.
Nonviolent Communication -
Wishcraft - it's rather dated now, and as a modern feminist the author wrote some things that I hope she's cringing about now, but the exercises in it had a profound effect on me
Artist's way - a classic, for good reason. Hard to follow all the way through with dedication, but transformative.
Mental Health specifics
Mindfullness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression
Books that have been very influential to me:
Environmental sublist:
Emergy HT Odum - every thing is energy man, and systems. rocked my world and put everything into context.
Consilience - amazing synergy of a full system
Ecotopia - not because it's good, but because of what it could be. Lots of things wrong with this book, but it sparks thoughts of how we want to see our own Utopia. And in this bleak time, hope and inspiration are important.
Charles Darwin's autobiography - mostly letters, but gives insight into the humble man. Truly understanding the theory of evolution at a deep level profoundly changed me. I think that most of us don't understand science as much as we think we do. Evolution is pervasive.
Squarefoot gardening - important and practical.
Ethical slut - intro to those newly discovering polyamory. but although it's for polyamory, the tools for managing jealousy and owning your feelings are important.
Inspirational sublist
Way of the Peaceful Warrior - judging the book for it's contents, not the author.
Warrior kid gas pump thing. - also a warrior one maybe? useful for teens
Enter the game - Monica Hughes. Teen book relevant to intentional communities.
Godel, Escher, Bach - changes how you see patterns and cause/effect in the world
Infinity Brian Clegg - infinity has always been an important concept to me, tapping into the wonder.
D&D red box - got this as a kid after we got some lead wargaming miniatures direct from someone who made them. Set off a love for RPGs and so many hours of living in my imagination.
FATE core - the best modern pen and paper RPG system imho. I've written a world/supplement series for it that may one day see publication (I don't play enough to have it thoroughly play-tested and don't want to just release an unfinished homebrew)
Spiritual / Hippie sublist
Siddharta - entertaining and digestible story about the important historical figure. feel his hero's journey and see what your own is.
whatchama Carlos Castaneda - he is derided as a possible fraud, but if you can suspend disbelief, stepping into the wonder of the tales still allow you to explore important questions about the self and reality.
Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - profound stuff
Tibetan Yoga and the secret doctrines Wentz. - Practical and historical
MCotB - for the hardcore modern western student of the dharma that seeks mastery. things could get weird.
Two lists: one strictly for personal development, psychology and coaching. The other one including a lot more personal and spiritual stuff.
Personal Development list
The Willpower Instinct - I have read this twice already, and plan to read it again to take more notes.
Feeling Good - best depression book out there
The Four Agreements - crucial for relationships of all stripes
The Mind Illuminated - best systematized approach of a meditation practice from start to finish, from a westerner trained deeply in authentic lineages but with the perspective of modern science/neuro. Very technical and asks you to practice with strong intent and commitment, but for those who are looking to get the maximum amounts of benefits from meditation and willing to put in the work, this is a must have.
Mindfulness in Plain English - it's a bit too Buddhist for some, but if you are not offended by some light dogma/colour then it's one of the most approachable manuals for beginner meditation.
Nonviolent Communication -
Wishcraft - it's rather dated now, and as a modern feminist the author wrote some things that I hope she's cringing about now, but the exercises in it had a profound effect on me
Artist's way - a classic, for good reason. Hard to follow all the way through with dedication, but transformative.
Mental Health specifics
Mindfullness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression
Books that have been very influential to me:
Environmental sublist:
Emergy HT Odum - every thing is energy man, and systems. rocked my world and put everything into context.
Consilience - amazing synergy of a full system
Ecotopia - not because it's good, but because of what it could be. Lots of things wrong with this book, but it sparks thoughts of how we want to see our own Utopia. And in this bleak time, hope and inspiration are important.
Charles Darwin's autobiography - mostly letters, but gives insight into the humble man. Truly understanding the theory of evolution at a deep level profoundly changed me. I think that most of us don't understand science as much as we think we do. Evolution is pervasive.
Squarefoot gardening - important and practical.
Ethical slut - intro to those newly discovering polyamory. but although it's for polyamory, the tools for managing jealousy and owning your feelings are important.
Inspirational sublist
Way of the Peaceful Warrior - judging the book for it's contents, not the author.
Warrior kid gas pump thing. - also a warrior one maybe? useful for teens
Enter the game - Monica Hughes. Teen book relevant to intentional communities.
Godel, Escher, Bach - changes how you see patterns and cause/effect in the world
Infinity Brian Clegg - infinity has always been an important concept to me, tapping into the wonder.
D&D red box - got this as a kid after we got some lead wargaming miniatures direct from someone who made them. Set off a love for RPGs and so many hours of living in my imagination.
FATE core - the best modern pen and paper RPG system imho. I've written a world/supplement series for it that may one day see publication (I don't play enough to have it thoroughly play-tested and don't want to just release an unfinished homebrew)
Spiritual / Hippie sublist
Siddharta - entertaining and digestible story about the important historical figure. feel his hero's journey and see what your own is.
whatchama Carlos Castaneda - he is derided as a possible fraud, but if you can suspend disbelief, stepping into the wonder of the tales still allow you to explore important questions about the self and reality.
Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - profound stuff
Tibetan Yoga and the secret doctrines Wentz. - Practical and historical
MCotB - for the hardcore modern western student of the dharma that seeks mastery. things could get weird.