Reading has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember.

I have parents that made reading important and who are still regular customers at their local library.  Whenever I’m embarking on something new, trying to figure something out, or searching for some comfort, my habit is to find a good book and to start learning.  Books provide us with knowledge and comfort.  Often through reading, we find out we are not alone in our neuroses, our questions, our sense of humor, or our quest.  Because a lot of people know this about me, I’m often asked for book recommendations, and I’ve had quite a few people tell me to write a blog and put out a list of some “must-reads”.  I thought a good place to start was with my lucky number 5, so here are five books that have helped me along my journey:

 

1.  The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz – This book has been regularly featured by Oprah and that is
   how I heard about Ruiz’s book.  The book is short and the advice seemingly pretty damn simple, but like many things that at first seem like a no-brainer, once you really shine a bright light on them, you realize the work is easier said then done.
   The Four Agreements is one of those books that you can read over and over again, and I find that if I’m having a particularly challenging time, I’ll pick the book up, read a few pages, and it really helps me get unstuck.
2. The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer – Now this is a book that I have read over and over – in the beginning it was because it took a few times to put these concepts into my brain!  Michael Singer is a cool cat, and his advice I have found to be practical in
   dealing with the disease of being human.  Perhaps the best tool I received from this book was the ability to be able to sit with bad feelings and to stop stuffing them down.
3. The Alchemist by Paul Coelho – I straight up LOVE this book.  I was pulled into the pages in mere minutes of being the book, and I think I read it in two days tops.  This book inspires.  I don’t want to say too much as to give away the story.  Grab this book immediately and read it.
4. The Shift by Dr. Wayne Dyer – Before I read the book, I actually watched the movie on YouTube.  I think I cried through a lot of this movie because man did it just strike a chord.  Sadly, we lost Dr. Dyer this year, but luckily he has written about a bazillion books for us to still share in his uncanny wisdom and ability to put that into simple tools for living.  Whether you read the book or check out the movie, it will time well-spent.
5. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga by Deepak Chopra  I’ve read this book and listened to the audio book, because who doesn’t like to hear Deepak Chopra speak?  If you have gotten to a place in your yoga practice where you are looking to learn more about the spiritual side of a yoga practice, this is a great book to begin your education.  For the seasoned practitioner, you might pick up a few new pieces of information as well.