“I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every so often, I’m asked by family and friends to recommend books that are captivating, inspiring, and motivational. It is no secret that I like reading, given the sheer joy of discovering new horizons within a good book. Goodreads is a novel (pardon the pun) way to connect with like-minded people who share a passion for books. The website features games and activities that encourage people to share their love. The annual online book challenge is a way of matching your reading prowess against others.

The following list is my top twenty five recommended books, irrespective of whether you are starting or an avid bookworm. They are in no particular order or genre. It is said that a good book chooses you. A friend of mine who had very little interest in reading a year ago has recently discovered a passion for motivational books. I advised him to choose books he liked and read as much or as little as he felt compelled to. These days, he has at least two books on the go and has found much enjoyment in reading for pleasure. The Kindle app has made life easier in this respect, ensuring you are always close to your favorite book, especially if you have an iPhone. Its feature lets you synchronize with your Kindle to pick up where you left off on your phone. This is a handy tool when you’re on the go and cannot take your Kindle with you.

It took me some time to move from hard-copy to electronic format due to the reluctance to highlight and write notes in my books. However, once I discovered the benefits of electronic book readers, such as the ability to highlight, write notes, and access a built-in dictionary, I found it to be a game-changer. Reading is a journey of self-discovery. You will know what appeals to you once you’ve acquired a taste for consistent reading. Like your favorite film genre, gravitate toward books that call out to you. Don’t read because others have enjoyed particular books since you’ll find yourself stagnant and not compelled to finish them. Nowadays, I am intrigued to discover the interconnectedness between books. Once you’ve acquired a history of regular reading, patterns, stories, and themes evolve. It takes me longer to choose a good book since I know what I am drawn to. I’ve been fortunate enough to read several books over the past decade to get a feel for various author’s writing styles.

This is a partial list, and I have purposely left out many books due to brevity. So, without further ado:

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – A MUST read. One of the first books I ever read about discovering your personal legend.
2. The Power of Intentions by Dr Wayne Dyer – One of the finest motivational and self-improvement authors in recent times. He has been called the father of self-motivation.
3. The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer – featured on Oprah’s book club. A powerful book about self-discovery.
4. Succeed by Heide Grant Halvorson – I have used this book with clients and audiences on many occasions. There is some great advice on understanding and working with willpower. The author is a behavioural psychologist. The book details her years of experience working with individuals in the area of behavioural psychology.
5. The Gifts of Imperfections by Brene Brown – Learning to understand oneself through self compassion.
6. I AM THAT by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj – One of the greatest spiritual texts of all time. Written in a question and answer format.
7. Power vs Force by Dr David Hawkins – Considered to be the father of consciousness evolution. The late Dr Hawkins series of books were instrumental in my pursuit of seeking the truth.
8. The Deepest Acceptance by Jeff Forster – Understanding oneself at the deepest level in order to transcend the ego.
9. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – Why things/people are successful and the determinant which drives success. He coined the term, the 10,000 hour rule.
10. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle – A MUST read for what is considered one of modern day’s greatest spiritual texts.
11. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey – A masterpiece. The title explains it all.
12. The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto – A fabulous book about the power of thought which influences our cells and environment.
13. How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton M. Christensen – This book remains one of my favourites. There are some great gems contained within.
14. Ask and It Is Given by Esther Hicks – This is the teachings of Abraham channelled through Esther Hicks based on the law of attraction.
15. Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip & Dan Heath – The Heath brothers deliver a great book on how to make effective decisions via clever reasoning.
16. Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach – Yet another fine spiritual text. Tara takes us through the stages of self-acceptance and how to love and embrace the real self.
17. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra – Describes the seven spiritual laws that govern the universe and how to work with these laws.
18. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman – An all-time must read. How your emotions are a greater indicator of intelligence than intellect.
19. Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers – An all-time best seller on how to overcome your fears. Understanding the nature of fear and advancing forward despite the fear.
20. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy – First published in 1963 with subsequent reprints, this book remains a must read as a way to understand the power of your subconscious mind.
21. Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind by Kristin Neff – This book teaches readers how to cultivate self-kindness and reduce self-criticism.
    
22. Language of Emotions by Karla McLaren – Explores the emotional spectrum and provides tools to understand and express emotions effectively.
    
23. The Wisdom of Dr. David R. Hawkins: Classic Teachings on Spiritual Truth and Enlightenment by David R. Hawkins – Delves into spiritual concepts, consciousness levels, and the power of human intention.
    
24. Living Untethered: Beyond the Human Predicament by Michael A. Singer – This book offers a philosophical exploration of the human experience and suggests ways to transcend limitations and find inner peace.
    
25. No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model by Richard C. Schwartz – Introduces the Internal Family Systems model, a therapeutic approach to healing trauma and integrating fragmented parts of the self.
    

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