What books have changed your life – from novels to cookbooks to self-help to art to…? And how? Even if you’ve never thought about it or only want to write a sentence, tell us!
Here a few more of mine:
New and Selected Poems, Volume 1 by Mary Oliver – I discovered poetry because of Ms. Oliver’s spiritually true and accessible wonder odes
The Electric KoolAid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe -I read this at 12 and it helped me feel okay about being different
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg – I was able to write The Woman’s Comfort Book after reading this because of her short chapters
One Taste by Ken Wilber – this was where I first read "pointing out instructions" the ultimate question, "Who am I?"
Faith by Sharon Salzberg – Trust in my deepest experiences? Wow!
The Living by Annie Dillard – why? Can’t say but this is a book that haunts me
Meditations Secrets for Women by Camille Maurine and Lorin Roche – i read this book long before I meet the amazingly embodied and loving Camille in person, and felt such permission! I can meditate my way!
I can’t easily get to my fiction as it is behind the spirituality and creativity books… and I recently gave a ton of it away… I do find it interesting that novels are not all over the list… is it just my faulty memory or has fiction not shaped me nearly as much?
27 responses so far ↓
1 leah Mar 28, 2007
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron – I had a wonderful experience doing this book in a group. It helped me tremendously on my path.
Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins – I read this book when I was about 17 and it thrilled me. It said so much of what I thought about as I explored religion in my art and let me laugh about it.
There are so many! But these are two that first came to mind.
2 Deonna Mar 29, 2007
Shakti Gawain “Creative Visualization” changed my life in 1990. I had been reading about opening myself to channeling, then found her little paperback with the above title and read it twice. My life, began to instantly change. I journaled that I would either die or change my life. I’m still here and my life change completely.
I’ve recomended it to my Reiki clients, to friends, to my children. Simple techniques, described so perfectly, how our thoughts have creative energy!
I’m a bookaholic and read constantly. I just finished Jens newly released book and I’m re/reading it now the second time around!
Please let me know if you’ve read Shakti and how it changed your life!!!
Namaste,
Deonna
3 Susannah Mar 29, 2007
“The Book That Changed My Life” interviewed 71 remarkable writers for their response to this question. Edited by Roxanne Coady and Joy Johannessen. Very highly recommended
4 LaVonn Schlegel Mar 29, 2007
Romeo and Juliet by Wm Shakespeare — This was the first piece of literature I discovered as a child. It defined both my love for literature and my longing for something more.
Christy by Catherine Marshall — My mantra “Be Brave. Be Bold.” comes from this wonderful tale of determination, bravery and selflessness. It is also a touching love story!
5 Robin Quinn Mar 29, 2007
The first self-help book to change my life was Wayne Dyer’s “Your Erroneous Zones” — which I read when I was a young career gal in New York City in the late ’70s. It changed my thinking and my behavior — that book is so powerful.
I just bought Dyer’s “Real Magic: Creating Miracles in Everyday Life,” and I am looking forward to another perception-shifting read. One tip I have already picked up from it is to spend a few minutes in total awe of the things around us, even our very existence! It certainly helps to put everything in a wonderful perspective.
6 Cynthia Thomas Mar 29, 2007
Books that have changed my life: The Bible, “See You At the House” by Bob Benson; Pathway to Purpose for Women and so many others
7 cate Mar 29, 2007
Persuasion by Jane Austen – I re-read this book every autumn. It’s a thin volume, yet there’s so much packed into it. I think Anne Eliot is Jane Austen’s most human character, and the situation presented is one many people go through – being led into a decision by others rather than listening to yourself. Anne is smart enough to see that she is being presented with a second chance to fix her earlier mistake, but is she brave enough to do it? She is presented with several examples of what her life could be like depending on the decision she makes. And the letter from Captain Wentworth at the end of the book always makes me cry.
Possession by A.S. Byatt – This is a juicy book of academic mystery, packed with detail, and definitely NOT a quick read. All the characters have thorough back stories, and most remarkably, the poets are written so well that it’s hard to believe they’re only composites and not real people who actually lived. The poetry is beautiful, as are the letters between the two poets.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman – This book is all about what it means to be a brave little girl. In my opinion, Neil Gaiman is one of the most remarkable and charming writers out there today.
8 Sarah E Stauffer Mar 29, 2007
A Woman’s Worth by Marianne Williamson. Awomen to this book, transformation abounds.
9 Ellen Mar 29, 2007
‘A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfeld…..the most transformational book that came to me so unintentionally, yet at a very low & ungrounded period of my life whe it was so needed.
It helped place me on my spiritual path…..altering my consciousness & the way I wanted to live…..& still using it as a reminder today….15 years later…. to remember that path to awarensss when I find myself in the ‘dark’ from time to time.
10 Lisa Mar 29, 2007
The book that changed my life was Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (and it’s all small stuff) by the late Richard Carlson. This book is amazing as well as his other books. This book started me on a long road of self help and discovery!
11 Kathie Hightower Mar 29, 2007
So many books changed my life…or should I say, inspired me to take actions to change my life. Key ones were Wishcraft by Barbara Sher, Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach, and Women and the Blues by Jennifer James. I stumbled on them all as I was trying to figure out how to make my life work for me. I wanted to get up excited about life, not just struggling through each day just to start over the next. The search that those books triggered caused me to make changes, to continue into lifelong learning, and enabled me to share information with other women in workshops and writing. Like you, Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones encouraged me to simply write without worrying so much about the end result. The end result so far? Three books, Simple Joys, Joyful Living and Help! I’m a Military Spouse — I Get a Life Too! And the writing continues with many more books ahead! And I AM excited to get up and get going on interesting projects every day! And I continue to stumble on great books that help along the way…the latest one being The Art of the Possible! by the Zanders.Kathie Hightower
12 Lia Mar 29, 2007
Cate’s books are three of my favourites, but the ones that immediately came to mind were:
Creating a Life Worth Living. by Carol Lloyd: A book I have returned to again and again when I felt I needed a kickstart in my creative life.
Dune. by Frank Herbert: I read the first book of this series when I was 15 on a family road trip and have since read the entire series about six times. Herbert’s attention to detail and his ability to write about the spiritual/physical dimensions of time, space, and everything remind me to look at the big picture and how I might be a part of it. One of the best comments I ever got was from a music colleague who said I was the closest thing he had ever met to a Bene Gesserit. You’ll have to read the book to find out why I thought that was a compliment
13 Sharon Ann Mar 29, 2007
A book that changed my life is: The Edgar Cayce Handbook for Creating Your Future. It changed the whole direction of my life! From this book’s inspiration, I became a teacher of Dream Interpretation, Finding Your Mission in Life, and Meditation. It opened up a whole new world for me. I have met and taught many wonderful people, who in themselves have been very inspiring! I am truly following my life’s mission now and am so grateful!
14 CA Edington Mar 29, 2007
“Living As If Your Life Depended On It” by Cia Ricco
“Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting” by Lynn Grabhorn
“Love Is Letting Go of Fear” by Gerald G. Jampolsky
These books, in particular, have helped me realize that life is not to be feared but embraced. Also, I came to realize that the power to effect change is within me.
CA [Carol Ann] in Sapporo, Japan
15 Julia Mar 29, 2007
Suzanne, thank you for this topic.
I’ve just re-visited the book that changed my life through reading another book.
‘Illusions’ by Richard Bach (he also wrote Jonathon Livingstone-Seagull and One) is the book that changed my life when I was 16. It opened my eyes to spirituality and possibility. That what IS is what’s important, not what was or could be.
This week I read Ekhart Tolle’s ‘The Power of Now’ and found so many of the same ideas.
Best wishes
Julia
(Brisbane, Australia)
16 Stacey Mar 29, 2007
Spiritual Anatomy by Caroline Myss, The Once and Future Goddess by Elinor W. Gadon, Ageing Well by George E. Vaillant, The Power of Intention by Dr Wayne W Dyer, A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson, The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot. I am who I am (and I love who I am) because I read, listen to tapes and attend seminars.
17 Lain Ehmann Mar 30, 2007
I have to say it… “Harriet the Spy” by Louise Fitzhugh. I read it at least a dozen times when I was a child, and love the movie, too. It made me fall in love with noticing and writing about the world around me. My son (9) just finished it in school, and we’re in the process of recreating Harriet’s notebook for his book report.
xooxo
Lain
18 Jo Mar 30, 2007
“A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson definitely changes one’s perspective on life and the situations we are in. Other books I like and think are a “must read” for various reasons are: White Palace by Glenn Savan; White Oleander by Janet Fitch; A Night Without Armor by Jewell; Dear John by Nicholas Sparks; Soul Stories by Gary Zukav.
19 Jo Mar 30, 2007
“A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson definitely changes one’s perspective on life and the situations we are in. Other books I like and think are a “must read” for various reasons are: White Palace by Glenn Savan; White Oleander by Janet Fitch; A Night Without Armor by Jewell; Dear John by Nicholas Sparks; Soul Stories by Gary Zukav.
20 Carol Mar 31, 2007
My dissertation, which I just finished writing yesterday. “The Role of Spirituality in Women’s Leadership at the Community College” allowed me to read hundreds of books on spirituality as well as climb into the amazing minds of the four women I interviewed!
21 Teri Apr 1, 2007
‘The Four Agreements’ by Don Miguel Ruiz… this book blasted through the shell I had built around myself and into a major adventure of self-discovery and self-love – which guided me to even more self-love and grand self-care when I found ‘The Comfort Queen’s Guide to Life’ (now known as ‘Comfort Secrets for Busy Women’) written by our blog hostess. ‘A Return to Love’ by Marianne Williamson lead me deeply into exploring my spirituality which I had squelched along with mainstream religion. Lynn Robinson’s ‘Divine Intuition’ is her best book and it’s beautiful photos enhance the lessons in listening to your inner wisdom.
22 Lynn Jacobs Apr 2, 2007
The ALchemist by Paolo Coelho, definitely. People told me it had changed their life, and that somehow postponed my reading of it. But they were right – it is truly a remarkable book. I more than recommend it!
23 Beverly Keaton Smith Apr 3, 2007
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy, A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson and The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron just to name a few….I read The Power of Your Subconscious Mind in my early twenties. Gave me an early start on practicing the law of attraction! My early reading of Go Ask Alice showed me at least two important things. Drugs can be dangerous and it’s cool to keep a journal. ~Beverly
24 Chris Tessnear Apr 4, 2007
The Bible by far has influenced my like more than any other.
It’s praticality for all ages and situations is undeniably the best “How To” book ever written. It can guide you in every situation from job, to raising kids, marriage, comfort, advice, guidance. If you have never read it start today. If you have read it read it again.
25 Debbie Ann Apr 10, 2007
“Women Who Run with the Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estes is my all time favorite. Through short stories it urges us to heal our wounds, live a “handmade” life, reconnect with our creative selves and be truly alive.
“The Four Agreements” & “The Mastery of Love” by Don Miguel Ruiz are life-changing books. Each time your read them you cannot help but be somewhat transformed.
Teri – I had forgotten about “The Alchemist” which was recommended to me by someone else a few years ago. I will definitely read it now.
26 Ray Apr 12, 2007
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck taught me that Life is difficult, and that it is ok, and that love is an action verb. There is much more that I took away from this book. I recommend it to everyone.
27 Jennifer Louden Apr 27, 2007
I am 65 and still learning my way around on the net! Can you post this on your book blog?
My beloved book is The Creative Journal: the art of finding yourself by Lucia Capacchione.
It got me going and motivated to do “creative journaling” and helped me dive into a new direction as “Art Therapy Specialist”. I am currently getting a collection of short stories ready based on my work in art and spirituality. If anyone has ideas for me please reply to my email.
Thanks, Jennifer!
Warmly, Karen Elvin
Artist, counselor and “journal loving lady”