Book Review: Creating by Robert Fritz (Affiliate link)
This is one of the most unique and thought provoking books I’ve read. The author explores the act of creating in depth. The perspective and depth he brings to the topic of creativity can help you change your understanding of creativity, what it means to create and also become more creative in the process. His perspective on long term thinking, alone is invaluable and necessary.
Book Review: Vastu by Robert Svoboda (affiliate link)
This is a fascinating book which explores the nature of space and how to create an intentional space using knowledge of pranayama and the 5 elements. The author shares case studies of applying vastu to spaces. It was a really unique take on how people embrace and live within a given space. I found the magical aspects to be helpful in designing my own space.
Book Review: The Courage to Be Happy by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga (affiliate link)
Another thought provoking book that will change your life and how you approach love and happiness. Reading this book has provided me valuable insights and I have no doubt I’ll come back to it again and again to learn and consider and apply these principles to my life. Some of what is read isn’t easy to read but it will make you think and grow if you make the choice to consider how to apply it to your life.
Book Review: Mistakes were Made (but not by me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson (affiliate link)
This is an eye-opening book that can help you recognize the dissonance in your own life and how you apply that dissonance to justify your choices and mistakes. Reading this book wasn’t easy for me. It caused me to reflect on my mistakes and see instances where I created my own sense of dissonance to justify my choices and behaviors, but reading it also helped me take better ownership and responsibility for those choices. I recommend reading this book because it will help you reflect on how you rationalize your own choices and how you reduce dissonance with those choices.
Book Review: The Tai Chi Space by Paul Cavel (affiliate link)
I recommend reading this book if you have experience with qi gong because then you can take on what is shared and apply it. However like any book on martial arts, the limitation of the book is that text and diagrams can only take you so far. I think it’s a useful supplementary guide that can help you appreciate the movements if you already have experience in those movements, but will not help much if you have no experience.
Book Review: The Art of Black Mirror Scrying by Rosemary Guiley (Affiliate link)
This book presents a fascinating history of scrying, which is a must read if you want to learn more about the background of scrying. The author also provides some explanations for how scrying works and includes exercises you can do to sharpen your skills. She also explains how to create a black mirror for scrying. The book is well written and provided some useful information on scrying.
Book Review: The Process of Creating Life by Christopher Alexander (Affiliate link)
This is another amazing book in this series that explores how architectural design can be used to create a living space. What I found most interesting was how the author wove in multiple disciplines and schools of thought into this work. I read this book over the course of a couple years because it really requires some digestion and perspective, especially if you’re not an architect, which I am now. I nonetheless find the insights are relevant to my own practices and am thankful for this book.
Book Review: The descent of Ishtar by Timothy Stephany (affiliate link)
A translation of the The descent of Ishtar and related sumerian myths. I didn’t get a sense of the Akkadian version, but found the overall content to be fascinating and insightful in regards to some research I’m doing. I do wish the author had included some analysis and translation notes.
Book Review: Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday (Affiliate link)
Another excellent book from the modern day stoic Ryan Holiday which explores the virtue of courage and how you can instill it in your life. He share some excellent historical stories, but more importantly he explores what it takes to be courageous and what can happen wen you aren’t. Reading this book has helped me see the moments where I hesitated and could have been braver, and also sown what I can do to be braver in my life.
Book Review: Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown (Affiliate link)
This book is a survey of the emotions and how we feel and experience them, but it also more than that. It is an opportunity to explore our relationship with the emotions, but also with connection/disconnection and the way we show up with ourselves and others. Reading this book and meditating on what was shared opened me up to some good realizations, showed me where I need to continue working on my ability to connect with others meaningfully and gave me some direction during a tough time in my life.