books
Erika Brockmann, Fall 2017; Faith Fitzgerald, Fall 2017; Caitlin Kiesz, Fall 2020; and Sonya Springstead, Fall 2020
All is Well: The Art {and Science} of Personal Well-Being. Author Marilynn Preston. Available through Amazon.
This book has short chapters that each have an action step at the end to encourage readers to work on their personal well-being.
Deliciously Ella Every Day: Quick and Easy Recipes for Gluten-Free Snacks, Packed Lunches, and Simple Meals. Author Ella Woodward (2016).
This is a recipe book that gives some great recipes for people wanting to have a plant-based, gluten free lifestyle. There are also lifestyle tips included.
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You are By Brene Brown https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7015403-the-gifts-of-imperfection
It can be difficult to realize that it is okay to not be good at everything when we see others doing well in their life. This book can help people realize that it is okay to not be perfect at everything and embrace that fact.
The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile https://www.theroadbacktoyou.com/
This book does have a spiritual aspect to it but it also provides a different way to look at personality traits. For myself, this book has helped me understand why I do the things I do in a way I hadn’t thought of before. The link above provides information about the book as well as Podcast about the book.
The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time. Author Arianna Huffington (2016).
This book discusses how our culture has considered sleep as a waste of time and how it interferes with our lives both personal and professional.
The New York Times Best Sellers List
If you are like me, I like to have a good book to read right before bedtime to help relax and calm down my brain. Here is a list of bestselling books recommended by the New York Times.
New York Times. (2020). The New York times best sellers. https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/
The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters, by Emily Esfahani Smith
Smith, E. E. (2017). The Power of Meaning: Crafting a life that matters. Crown Publishing Group.
The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters is a book in which Emily Esfahani Smith proposes that the pursuit of meaning, rather than the pursuit of happiness, is the key to a rewarding life. The author frames finding meaning in life around four pillars: Belonging, Purpose, Storytelling, and Transcendence. She bases her work on positive psychology research, wisdom shared by philosophers of the past, and interviews with people currently seeking meaning in their lives. Moreover, she examines ways in which we can start to build a culture of meaning in our current society. (Goodreads. (2020). Retrieved November 27, 2020, from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30008950-the-power-of-meaning)
Nasreddin Hodja: 100 Comic Tales in Verse, by Raj Arumugam
Arumugam, R. (2011). Nasreddin Hodja: 100 comic tales in verse. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Nasreddin Hodja was a 13th century Turkish philosopher and satirist celebrated for the numerous stories and anecdotes that he wrote. I have actually been reading his tales in the French course that I am currently transcribing; and I was struck not only by how humorous they are, but also by the profound life wisdom encapsulated within them. Delving into these tales would be a brilliant form of self-care as I believe that embracing the wisdom that these stories teach will certainly improve quality of life and inspire the reader to approach situations with a healthy sense of humor.
The Essential Neruda: Selected Poems, by Pablo Neruda
Neruda, P. (2004). The Essential Neruda: Selected poems. City Lights Publishers.
Having had the delightful opportunity to be introduced to the poetry of Pablo Neruda in my Spanish classes, I have found his poems to be some of my favorites! His sensual and vivid imagery draws me in and keeps me captivated in the moment. Thus, I think reading his poetry could be an excellent form of self-care as it inspires the reader’s mind to be in the moment.
The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play
Fiore, N. (2007). The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play. Penguin.
This is a self-help book designed to provide strategies in how to deal with procrastination and what role technology plays in it.
Your local library
The local library is often a great source of reading materials, audio books, and movies. The best part is that it is paid for by local taxes for a library card is usually free. This is the link to Eugene, Oregon’s library. https://www.eugene-or.gov/4422/Eugene-Public-Library
