What are your favorite books?
Here’s a short list of mine…
Novels
While I’ve read literally hundreds of novels, these are my top five…
Wreckage by Emily Bleeker
I found this tale of a couple stranded on a deserted island for several years to be riveting from the first page. It shows the aftermath of what can happen in relationships when someone you’ve thought was dead for a long time, suddenly returns to life. A real page turner.
Mark by Lonnie Coleman
This is the only novel I’ve read more than once. It takes place during the 1920’s and 30’s and is the coming of age story of a boy who is raised by his not-so-loving aunt and uncle after the death of his parents. It was a stirring novel to me and one that had a profound effect on me especially when I was younger.
Your Perfect Year by Charlotte Lucas
A man consumed by a meaningless life is going to do something he’s never considered doing before. He’s going to enjoy the day… This is a fun page-turning novel translated from German. Every character is lovable in their own way. It’s about a man who finds a diary that has been completely filled out for each day of the upcoming year. He decides ultimately to keep the diary and to live out what is offered in the diary each day and it changes his stolid life immensely.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (and the two that follow, World Without End and A Column of Fire) are the novels that set me on a path of learning and studying about Medieval history. The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect—a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state and brother against brother. An historically accurate tale that will grip you from the first page.
True Fiction by Lee Goldberg is one of the most fun reads I’ve ever had. From the moment an airplane explodes and crashes on Waikiki Beach, this tale is off to a full run. I was sad when it finally came to its screaming end. Buckle up for a wild ride with this one.
Non-Fiction
I’ve always called non-fiction my “good for you” books. I’ve also read hundreds of non-fiction titles, so it’s hard to name just a few favorites as I have so many. But here are a few of those I deem worthy of re-referencing again and again…
Atomic Habits by James Clear
If you’re interested in knowing why habits control us and how to upgrade your bad habits to good ones, this is the definitive book on the subject.
It Starts with Food by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig
I’m a firm believer that the food we eat holds the key to our health — for good or bad. I resisted Whole30 for a long time but came around to realize that this is a great way to eat for health. Many folks who have adopted this way of eating have reported huge improvements and sometimes complete healing from a variety of illnesses and conditions — even chronic conditions such as diabetes.
UnF*ck Yourself by Gary John Bishop
It isn’t other people that are standing in your way, it isn’t even your circumstances that are blocking your ability to thrive, it’s yourself and the negative self-talk you keep telling yourself. This book is a refreshing, BS-free, tell-it-like-it-is self-empowerment guide that offers an honest, no-nonsense, tough-love approach to help you move past self-imposed limitations. I think every young person should have to read this book as they are starting out in life.
The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life by Todd Herman
If you’re in business for yourself this is a must-read. Too often our own selves get in the way of our success. But what if there was an alter-ego inside you who was fearless and could make things happen where you yourself might not be able to? In this book you’ll discover how to put “yourself” to the side and let your alter ego rule the day.
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Most of us believe that we will finally feel satisfied and content with our lives when we get the good news we have been waiting for, find a healthy relationship, or achieve one of our personal goals. However, this rarely happens. Good fortune is often followed by negative emotions that overtake us and result in destructive behaviors. “I don’t deserve this,” “this is too good to be true,” or any number of harmful thought patterns prevent us from experiencing the joy and satisfaction we have earned. Sound familiar? This is what Gay Hendricks calls the Upper Limit Problem, a negative emotional reaction that occurs when anything positive enters our lives. The Upper Limit Problem not only prevents happiness, but it actually stops us from achieving our goals. It is the ultimate life roadblock. In The Big Leap, Hendricks reveals a simple yet comprehensive program for overcoming this barrier to happiness and fulfillment, presented in a way that engages both the mind and heart.
The Law of Attraction by Michael Losier
There are dozens, probably hundreds, of books about the law of attraction, but none make learning how to use it to maximum effect and with more ease than Michael Losier. Michael is a personal friend and mentor of mine and I’ve trained under him in how to teach LOA effectively. With so many LOA books, you have to read between the lines and plow through a lot of woo-woo gobble-de-gook to learn anything. Michael writes in plain, easy to understand English and lays out a plan that anyone can easily follow.
There are hundreds more books that I could recommend, but these are my top picks (at least for now). Read and enjoy.
Publisher of Great Living Today, your one-stop source for greater living featuring tips, techniques, and programs in the areas of health & wellness, wealth, time management, business, love, relationships, and happiness. Marty is a life, business, and wellness coach helping his clients to live their best lives.