Looking over my list, I see that I’ve rated just about every book a 4 or 5 star rating. I feel this is because I have no tolerance for books that don’t interest me. I have no trouble abandoning a book half-read. There are too many amazing books in the world for me to waste my time with mediocre books.
I hope you enjoy my (eclectic) list.
The Way of the Superior Man: A spiritual guide to mastering the challenges of women, work, and sexual desire, David Deida
***** You might rightly wonder why I, as a woman, would listen to this book. It is a fascinating look into male/female relationships. It taught me things about my worldview that I didn’t realize before. It has also helped me look at all people I come across as divine, and hustling the best they can, just like me. I highly recommend this book for everyone.
Rules for a Knight, Ethan Hawke
***** Ethan Hawke found a book among his family’s inherited memorabilia that belonged to a great great grandfather in Europe, who was an elderly knight. The experienced Knight wrote a book of advice to the younger knights including his sons and grandsons. It is such a great book of advice that would help anyone become a better person. The book also tells what stone henge really was.
Half the Sky, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Practical Politics, Human Rights, Globalization & Politics
I can’t rate this book because to rate it would be to put it into the same category as other books. This book describes the plight of girls worldwide, girls who are forced into the sex trade or forced to marry men who rape them. If we think we have come a long way in women’s rights, this unforgettable book shows us just how far we still have to go and how much help is needed.
Conversations with God, Book 1, Neale Donald Walsch
***** Spirituality. This book is filled with wisdom and insight. It made me reflect on what I believe about God, the Universe, and our place in it. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Conversations with God, Book 2, Neale Donald Walsch
***** Spirituality. I gave it a few months between reading the first book in this series and buying the second. I go back and read passages in this book like it is scripture. These books left me on a spiritual high that lasted for months.
12 Rules for Life, Jordan Peterson
**** Self Help. Jordan Peterson tells it like it is, and a lot of young people could benefit from listening to him. I gave his book 4 stars instead of 5 because he is long winded, and I could only make it through half the book.
Money, Master the Game, Tony Robbins
***** Finance. This book is the deepest dive into financial literacy I’ve read. Robbins consulted experts that the lay man or woman doesn’t have access to. If you follow the advice in this book, you will be well on your way to financial freedom. It is an advanced read.
The Female Brain, Louann Brizendine
***** Popular Neuropsychology. This book was a fascinating look into ancient wiring that explains why women do what they do. I’m looking forward to reading her book, The Male Brain.
A mind of your own, Kelly Brogan
***** Health and Wellness. This book continues to change my life as I implement Dr. Brogan’s recommendations. The winter blues are far, far away this year, thanks to Dr. Brogan.
Stress Less, Accomplish More: Meditation for Extraordinary Performance, Emily Fletcher
*****This book took my meditation practice and my life to a new level. I was meditating regularly in the morning, but committed to meditating regularly in the evening too, and easily continue to do what I need in the evening with sustained energy. I’ve adopted Fletcher’s meditation methods, and really love them.
Party Girl, Rachel Hollis
**** Fiction. This is an enjoyable beach read. It is fiction based on Hollis’s early career as an event planner.
Sweet Girl, Rachel Hollis
**** Fiction. This is the second book in Hollis’s girl series. It’s cute, but the story is similar to Party Girl, and I haven’t made it to the third book yet.
Girl, wash your face, Rachel Hollis
***** Self Help. Rachel tells it like the boss she is, no holds barred. If you want a better life for yourself, stop making excuses. Highly recommend
The Miracle Morning, Hal Elrod
****Self Help. Hal gives steps to jump start your day in order to jumpstart your life. I only read half the book because I am already doing my own version of what he suggests. But I did hand the book off to a friend, and I think it has helped her a lot.
Blue, The Color of Noise, Steve Aoki
*** Memoir. This book chronicles Steve’s life as the son of restaunteer Hiroaki Aoki, who founded the Benihana restaurants. I read this book after watching Steve’s interview on Impact Theory, but I had never heard of him, and by the end of the book was questioning why I kept reading. But Steve had some treasures at the end. He mentions Anticancer, by David Servan-Schreiber MD PhD, which lead me to Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen.
Composed, the Memoirs of Rosanne Cash
*** Memoir. I’m not familiar with Cash’s music, but I her book is worth a read. It offers an honest look into the life of her father through her experience.
Lies my teacher told me, James W. Loewen
***** History – Nonfiction. This book is amazing. Everyone in America should read this book. Loewen is a history professor who is beyond frustrated at the version of American history taught in American text books, from Columbus being hailed as a hero despite the countless atrocities he committed, to the plague that decimated the native american population, to the nadir period of African-American history.
Anti cancer, David Servan-Schreiber MD PhD
*****Health and Wellness. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. Everyone should read this book. Servan-Schrieber is diagnosed with a brain tumor twice as a young doctor. This book chronicles what he learns about how to prevent and heal cancer to compliment traditional therapy. Of all my reading on health, this is the book that finally got me to switch to butter from grass-fed cows and raw milk.
Bulletproof Diet, Dave Asprey
*****Health, Diet. I checked this book out from the library then made myself stop reading it until I got my own copy because there is so much good information in this book and I wanted, no, needed to write notes in the margins. I’ve implemented some dietary changes before I even finished the book.
The Third Plate, Dan Barber
*****Food, Sustainable Farming. Dan Barber is a famous chef and his book is a fascinating look into the world of a white tablecloth restaurant. But this book offers so much more. It takes a hard look at the industrialization of the American food system, from chemical fertilizers and pesticides to the practice of huge farms that only plant one crop. The solutions are simple, but not easy.
Kitchen Table Wisdom, Stories That Heal. By Rachel Naomi Remen
*****Medical, psychology, short essay. I gifted this book to my siblings and friends for Christmas this year. It is a collection of short essays from a medical doctor turned therapist to cancer patients and co-founder of (kt) treatment center. The stories touch upon humanity in such a beautiful way.
tiny beautiful things, Advice on love and life from Dear Sugar, Cheryl Strayed
*****Strayed is raw, and the questions she answers are equally raw. She writes with such love and compassion, and sage wisdom to the letters she receives as Dear Sugar. She never judges, but encourages people to live boldly. She sees and embraces the naked mess that life is sometimes.
Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis
***** Business, Self Help. Hollis is my girl, she is an amazing business leader who tells it like it is. She has started multiple successful businesses and shares her tools, tips, and tactics in this kick-ass business book.
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