I love to read and whenever I get a chance to read it’s a euphoric feeling for me. I get lost in the pages in search for adventure and inspiration, and it never fails to put me in a good mood when I pick up a new book! In honor of World Book Day, I wanted to share my top 5 favorite books.
The Alchemist
Hands down without a doubt, my favorite book of all time. This is that book I recommend to everyone. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a quick and easy read about a boy named Santiago off to seek his personal legend. There are a lot of parallels into one’s life in this book, which is why I find it so fascinating. This one is my favorite because it talks about his journey, which I relate a lot to. I revisit this at least once a year and always find a new takeaway!
The War of Art
This was a book that has been highly recommended to me and I didn’t get a chance to pick up until recently. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a great read for those seeking to break through those inner creative battles. I listened to the audio book version of this and Pressfield gives a simple and straightforward answer to what holds us back. It’s an easy to read guide that helps anyone in the creative field navigate to fight the resistance we each face.
The Universe of Us
I’m a huge fan of poetry and one of my favorite poets is a wizard of words. I have all of her books, but The Universe of Us by Lang Leav is hands down my favorite to pick up and read. I felt like each word was written directly to reach my soul. Inspired by the cosmos and the wonders of the universe, she carefully crafts her words to evoke emotions of love, loss, and everything in between. I smiled, laughed, and even cried reading this. And this body of work by her in particular is just hands down my favorite!
Big Magic
I feel like if you’re in the creative field and you haven’t read Big Magic, are you even a creative? Haha, only kidding! All jokes aside, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert is another favorite book of mine. I’ve found this to be very popular among those in the creative field because Gilbert, who also wrote Eat, Pray, Love, shares how these ideas that come to us aren’t a coincidence and it’s up to us to cultivate and create that magic. I loved how she challenges our doubts by telling us to tackle our ideas head on and really embrace the curiosity of our creativity to have a fulfilling life.
The Four Agreements
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a personal growth book that reveals 4 simple notions that can help transform our lives to experience freedom, happiness, and love. Without giving too much away, it is an inspiring read that gives many lessons, much like The Alchemist. Derived from ancient Toltec wisdom, he shares these concepts on how to live a simple and rewarding life by embracing the four agreements. Personally, this book has given me a lot of awareness, mindfulness, and a new way of thinking!
As I’ve mentioned, all of these books have in one way, shape, or form contributed to the person I’ve become. Whether it was implementing those changes, being more aware, or simply taking those lessons I’ve learned, these books have helped me grow. I tend to revisit these books when I’m in need of inspiration, and I always learn something new when I do so!
I love adding new books to my arsenal, so what are some books you would recommend I read next? I’m currently reading Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull and Bloom by Estee Lalonde.
