I have always been an avid reader. I would devour books in a matter of days, sometimes sitting for 5 or 6 hours at a time if I was absorbed in the story. Before going on a vacation, our treat was always a visit to Chapters to pick out a couple of novels for the trip. I loved getting swept into the worlds spun by the authors, and honestly preferred reading to watching movies most of the time. There were periods of time in my 20’s when reading fell by the wayside…I would read three, maybe four books a year. Life just got too busy. But now reading is not just a “when and if I have some free time” thing – it’s an almost daily ritual for me, and as soon as I finish one book I’m on the hunt for the next. I was never a big fan of non-fiction, opting for fiction novels 95% of the time. Over the past couple of years something has shifted, and non-fiction is now my go-to choice! That’s why I have compiled a list for you of my Top 10 Must Read Non-Fiction Books. Check them out, and enjoy!
Anatomy Of The Spirit by Caroline Myss
This book was introduced to me by my friend Natalie right after a break up. And oh boy – did it ever come at the right time! I attribute this book to the awakening of my spiritual practice. It opened my mind to the concept of energy medicine, which is something deep down I think I have always understood, but was never full aware of until reading the words on these pages, seeing and feeling immediate shifts within myself. Dr. Caroline Myss is an internationally acclaimed medical intuitive who’s work shows how every illness corresponds to a pattern of emotional and psychological stresses, beliefs and attitudes that have influenced corresponding areas of the body. The book combines the ancient wisdom of the Hindu chakra’s, the Christian sacraments, and the Kabbalah’s Tree of Life, so you are seeing how the same basic principles are entrenched across so many systems of belief. The book and I went through a magical journey – sometimes I would binge read for hours. Other times I wouldn’t touch it for two weeks, and then feel called to read a chapter or two which ended up being uncannily relevant to something I was experiencing at that exact time. If you have any sort of curiosity about why you are the way you are, why you are stuck in the same patterns, ailments, illnesses, etc, and have a desire to live your life differently…this book is for you!!
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
I devoured this book in two days – I just couldn’t put it down. While the title makes it seem like an unbelievably heavy read, it’s actually the opposite. Lale Sokolov is a Slovakian Jew who was transported to Auschwitz in 1942. He immediately stood out to those in the camp, befriending many prisoners and having most look up to him dearly. He eventually becomes the Tätowierer (the tattooist, in German), tasked with marking his fellow prisoners forever. This is where he meets the love of his life, Gita, and his world is transformed. While it would be easy to focus on the atrocities that happened at Auschwitz, author Heather Morris includes only those most relevant to the story. They are inputted so that you don’t forget where Lale is and what he’s going through…but they are not the forefront of the story. This is a love story about a man and a woman caught in an impossible situation. It’s a story of hope, and struggle, injustice and kindness. For every act of hatred, there is a beautiful show of camaraderie. I will tell you now, this book is nothing what you would expect. And that is what makes is such an engaging read.
God’s Hotel by Victoria Sweet
It’s been a few years since I’ve read this book and it has really stuck with me. Both of my parents are doctors, so I’ve been involved in the scientific medical world my whole life. Only after moving to Toronto and spending time with my artist friends who were interested in more holistic approaches to health and medicine did I begin to question the way our healthcare system is run. In God’s Hotel, Dr. Victoria Sweet is a physician working at the last almshouse in the US. What is an almshouse, you ask? It’s a sort of hospital that evolved as a way of taking care of those who couldn’t take care of themselves. Apparently, each county in the US used to have an almshouse that would work in conjunction with the county hospital. The hospital would take care of those who were acutely ill, and the almshouse would take care of those who were chronically disabled. The Laguna Hospital where Dr. Sweet worked was located in an old monastery type building, which had six wings all with large windows, open air turrets, gardens, greenhouses, cabins, barns for livestock, a theatre, you name it. It was the exact opposite of any hospital you had ever seen. Over her years at Laguna Honda, Dr. Sweet came to understand an older idea of medicine, one in which the body is a garden to be tended to rather than a machine to be fixed. You will laugh, you will cry, you will witness miraculous transformations and most of all, you will be amazed at the heart in this book. I think it’s time for me to go on the journey again and pick it up for a re-read!
Idiots Guide to Ayurveda by Sahara Rose Ketabi
Ayurveda is very new to me, and though I’ve heard the word before, I didn’t really understand what it was until I listened to a podcast Sahara Rose Ketabi was a guest on. Broken down to it’s simplest idea, Ayurveda is more than a mere system of treating illness, it is a science of life ( Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge). It offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vibrant and healthy while realizing their full human potential. I WAS HOOKED. I asked for this book for Christmas, and spent the next two months devouring it’s contents. Ayurveda deals with three doshas. These doshas are the life energies behind all of our bodily functions. The goal is to be equally balanced among these three doshas, but that is rarely the case with us humans. I’ve learned after doing the quiz in the book that I am primarily Vata. That means I have excess Vata in my system, and need to work to pacify this excess energy if I want to be living at my best. The book takes you through specific diets for each dosha, most effective meditation practices, types of exercise, sleep patterns, daily rituals, etc. It’s a wealth of knowledge and I am still digesting it all – I learned so much that surprised me. “Oh, so THAT’S why I stay away from apples?” My body has been telling me all along that the cool and acidic nature of apples increases my Vata, and therefore puts me even more out of balance. How cool is that? While it takes a lot of work to incorporate all of the changes to live a more balanced life, the goal isn’t to get you to stop everything you’re doing instantly and move to an ashram. It’s a practical guide to ways you can make small changes in your life that will dramatically affect your health and happiness. And best of all? You get to do it at your own pace! If all you do after reading this book is adopt one morning and one evening ritual, while eliminating one harming food from your diet, you’ve already won.
Educated by Tara Westover
This book was so wild that I couldn’t believe it was actually a true story. Tara Westover was born to a family of survivalists in rural Idaho. She was given no formal education, had never been to a doctor, didn’t even have a birth certificate, and lived with a father who was stockpiling food, gas and supplies for “the end of days”. She would spend her summer mixing herbs for her midwife mother, and the winter salvaging in her father’s scrapyard. At first, the book reads as just an incredible story. It makes you shake your head and think “people actually live like this?!”. And then, as Tara ages, we are taken out of her childhood whims and adventures and start to see her environment for what it is. A father with mental health issues. An extremely violent and abusive brother. Family members who either refuse or are unable to see what is actually happening around them. Severe concussions, third degree burns and broken limbs are treated with herbal remedies, as medical doctors are viewed as the enemy. And don’t even get them started on the education system! But Tara wanted to learn, and so she did. She taught herself enough mathematics and gramma to be admitted to BYU. At 17, she stepped into a classroom for the first time. All of a sudden her world opened up. She learned about historical events the way they actually happened, as opposed to how her father had spun them. Her quest for knowledge eventually took her to Harvard and Cambridge, and changed her forever. This book is very difficult to read. The dysfunctional family dynamics and Tara’s ongoing struggle to break free rip at your heart. But it is also an inspiring example that nothing is impossible, and no matter where you come from you can change the course of your own life.
The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer
This book was gifted to me by my Aunt for Christmas a couple of years ago, and it could not have come at a more perfect time. This is another story that I was blown away with. In his early 20’s, Michael A. Singer abandoned his “destined to be successful” life after a deep spiritual awakening. He let go of himself, lived alone in the woods and embraced a life of solitude. This great experiment was based solely on letting life call the shots. He was open to receiving whatever the universe brought to him, and boy, did it ever bring him some juicy stuff! Michael ended up being called to found the Temple of The Universe, a renowned yoga and meditation centre for people of any religion or belief to experience inner peace. Eventually, and through the most magical series of events, Michael began developing a software program called Medical Manager, which was the first program to help medical practitioners digitize their medical records. This later led to him becoming the CEO of WedMD. Um…what? How does getting rid of all of your possessions to live a life in solitude focused on spiritual awakening lead to being the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company? You will just have to read this novel to find out. The twists and turns seem too unbelievable to be true, but it is incredible what can happen to your life when you just surrender to the universe and allow it to lead you. I hope after reading that you will become aware of those small magical moments in your life when the universe is calling to you…will you respond?
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
I can confidently say that this was the first novel that changed how I viewed non-fiction. Prior to this I would read the occasional memoir, perhaps once a year, and then get right back to my utterly absorbing fiction. As soon as I met Louis Zamperini on the pages of Unbroken though, I was hooked. Unbroken was later turned into a film directed by Angelina Jolie, but I still can’t bring myself to watch it because the book was so transforming for me, that I know the film would let me down. Louis was a youthful delinquent who later channeled his focus into running, leading him to compete at the Berlin Olympics. His story was already a great one. And then The Second World War happened. He joined the airforce where one fateful mission led to a crash in the Pacific Ocean. From there he survived for 46 days on the open water, only to be “rescued” by the Japanese and subsequently tortured for an extended period of time. There’s so much more to the story, but I will leave that for you to discover. This book is a testament to the strength of the human mind and spirit. At each turn you’re almost wishing he would give up, just to end the pain. But he never does. This tale is riveting, filled with adrenaline pumping action, and beyond inspiring. Still one of my favourite non-fiction books to date.
The Last Rhinos by Lawrence Anthony
This book was intriguing, wild, heartbreaking and an insight into a world I know nothing about. Lawrence Anthony was a conservationist based in South Africa. At the time of the book, he was the head of conservation at the Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand, which is home to many endangered species whom he had fought tooth and nail to protect. The story of The Last Rhinos focuses on the impending extinction of the Northern White Rhino, and his almost doomed-from-the-beginning rescue mission of a handful of these rhinos living in the war-ravaged Congo. Lawrence and his team experience setback after setback, and go to extreme measures for one last hope of saving this great species. Lawrence even ended up befriending Joseph Kony and Vincent Otti of the LRA during the process, which ended up being crucial to their efforts. We all hear about the fight to protect elephants and rhinos against poachers killing them for their tusks and horns. What we don’t hear about is what is actually happening on the battle front, and the reality of how dire these situations have gotten. If you love animals, if you love our planet, and if you love a good, stubborn fight for what is right, this book is for you.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
We’ve all heard of Elizabeth Gilbert. Eat Pray Love has transformed so many peoples lives. I will admit I didn’t read the book but absolutely loved the movie – it’s been a few years since I’ve seen it, so it might be time for me to cozy up with the novel! But I’m here to talk about Big Magic. As a creative who has dealt with paralyzing fear leading to inaction, this book was a game changer for me. Big Magic explores the worlds of creativity and inspiration. It’s a whole new look on where inspiration comes from, how creativity is explored and experienced, and really just a fantastic reminder to get out of your own way! Whether you have a fantastic idea for a book but you’ve never gotten past the first page, have always fantasized about a life changing dream getaway but haven’t done any more than look at gorgeous photos of the destination, or you’re looking for interesting and different ways to approach tasks in your corporate job, this book will drastically change your perspective. Elizabeth Gilbert is an engaging writer who by sharing her own personal experience and journey allows you to see how YOU can change yours as well. This book is beyond inspirational, and I highly recommend it to anyone who feels a little stuck in any area of their life!
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
If you spend anytime watching Ted Talks, you’ve probably heard of Brene Brown. Her talk “The Power of Vulnerability” went viral, and now is one of the top 5 viewed talks ever with over 30 million views. This woman is a powerhouse. Which is ironic, since she speaks about shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy – not things you would normally associate with a strong, bad ass woman, right? But she is trying to change that conversation. How can you have a real connection without true vulnerability? How can you succeed without putting yourself out there, “stepping into the arena”, as she would say? How can we truly find purpose and meaning in our lives when we are holding back due to fear? As a research professor, Brene Brown has spent years studying these concepts, and this book aims to dispel the myth that vulnerability is weakness, and is actually our most accurate measure of courage. I can tell you that this book will be a game changer for you. Brene’s vulnerability in telling her stories and struggles inspire you to do the same in your life. And imagine what kind of a ripple effect that can have when your vulnerability inspires someone else to be more vulnerable? This is how Brene Brown believes we can change the world.
I hope something in this list has sparked an interest in you. Many of these were recommended to me, so if you read one that lights you up, spread the word! The best kind of friend is one with good book recommendations 😉
