"Books are uniquely portable magic."
-Stephen King
Reading helps us learn, about ourselves and about the world. These are not separate concepts. By learning about the world we learn about ourselves, by learning about ourselves we learn about the world. Is there more portable magic than this?
Growing up I was lucky enough to be encouraged to read. Because of this I have developed a ritual of always reading two books at once. One a fiction book, usually science fiction, and one non fiction, which I usually call my "therapy book," or #deepshit. I find that this practice serves me best, as it gives me choice regards what to read based on my needs in that moment. Sometimes I need heady, thought provoking words from insightful healers, and sometimes I need to delve into an alternate universe that exists on the back of a turtle. Weirdly, or maybe not so weirdly, often the science fiction hits deeper than the fiction.
I receive so many amazing book recommendations, both from fellow therapists and my own clients, and they are too good to keep to myself. This post will focus on my favorite fiction reads from 2020-2021. When possible I provide links to buy the books directly from the author, as we know Amazon does not need any more of our money!
“Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.”
― Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.”
― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
"Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race based Stress and Trauma" -Dr. Gail Parker
Presenting ways in which restorative yoga can contribute to healing emotional wounds, this book invites yoga teachers, therapists, and practitioners to consider the psychological impact of ethnic and race-based stress and trauma.
“There is nothing more important to true growth than realizing that you are not the voice of the mind - you are the one who hears it.”
― Michael A. Singer, The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
LINK - https://untetheredsoul.com/
I hope that these books provide you the magic you deserve.
