BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Self Development Books That Made A Difference

I loved Atlast Shrugged and The Fountainhead! Just read them a few years ago. Didn't affect my views or make any difference, but very, very thought provoking...

I have some Dick novels on my shelf but haven't read any. They were presents for hubby. I've been meaning to start one...but I've got tons of books and only X amount of hours in a day! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Janet....I've got Katie's book on the night stand 3/4ths read! LOL (I always have about 4 going at a time...Is there a BookWorm Arkie? I'm also reading "Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting" by Lynn Grabhorn and "Essential Spirituality" by Roger Walsh)

"Something More" was FABULOUS! (and I'm not being paid to say that ;-)..) Seriously, every single page I read, I was saying things like "Oh my God! Me, too!" or "You mean I'm not the only one???" and "Wow! I've never looked at myself that way!" I couldn't recommend it highly enough!

Janey

Hi Janey!

I'll most certainly buy the book Something More on my next shopping trip through Amazon.com <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I've read Grabhorn's book, but I have mixed feelings about the whole "law of attraction" mindset--especially the idea that if you just keep yourself enthused and focused, you'll draw to yourself whatever you want. Now, I've seen this phenomenon in my life, but I'm not so sure that their conclusions as to why is so accurate.

What I think happens is that when you are positive and hopeful, you are more aware of beneficial opportunities and more centered to take advantage of them. Grabhorn and others make it sound like motive and intent doesn't matter one whit, and I just can't get into "prosperity" stuff just for the sake of accumulation and getting what you want. It seems to me that it takes a whole lot of energy to keep yourself "up" just so you can get what you want...and that focusing on doing so might cause a person to miss a whole lot of lessons in life, as well as a peaceful, centered existence.

What do you think about the idea of "law of attraction", Janey? I'd love to hear your thoughts. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hey, Sistah! (hehe...yep, I'm pretty sure we are! I'll post more over there later....)

I'm with you.....so I just take what makes sense and leave the rest. It intersects with other belief systems I have like, "As a person thinks, so they are." and "Out of the abundance in the heart, the mouth speaks". The Law of Attraction (for me anyway) has been helpful in so far as to help me see where I might be sabotaging myself with negative words and and beliefs. I TOTALLY believe in the power of our thoughts, becoming words, and the co-creativeness of those words! So this principle has helped me to see where perhaps I need to realign my thoughts, so that my feelings - then my actions - line up with the highest good that I want to produce in my life.

However, I do NOT believe that all we experience in our lives is because we've attracted it! Especially when you think of some of the horrible things that people experience. I am one who acknowledges that there is a dark side to the unseen realm of existance as well as a light side. I believe that these two 'kingdoms' do in fact collide regularly. No one can tell me different because of my own personal experiences (hear my Rebel? LOLOL or was that my Queen??? ;-)..) I won't elaborate on that now, but lets just say when you've had contact face to face, it's hard to ignore the 'evidence', you know? LOL

I'm applying the Law of Abundance in a more generalize sense, I guess....I'm applying it in ALL ways....my internal environment, my relationships, my finances, my health. I'm using it as one more tool in the toolbox, just slightly modified so that it fits ME....

Ya know?
<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Janey

Hey There:
I'm new to this board and I like the topic. I taught English (ESL and High School English) for many years and have always been a poetry/fiction type of reader. Two years ago I spent two months on bedrest during a pregnancy and read no less than 25 novels. I wish I'd written them all down, but I did remember several and posted them on my website:
www.comadrecoaching.com/bedrestbooks.html

My favorite authors are Native American and Latina writers. I love anything by Louise Erdrich, Denise Chavez, and most of Leslie Marmon-Silko's work.

This past year I started a personal coaching business working with women in various aspects of creativity (small business owners, artists, writers, entrepreneurs, etc.) I found myself reading these "How To" types of books that I'd cleverly avoided for many years. Most of them rehash the same old thing quite cleverly, but here are the ones that stand out for me:

1) Work Less, Make More by Jennifer White.

2) The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and For Life by Lauriebeth Jones (big thumbs up for this one)

3) The Creative Whack Pack by Roger Van Oech

4) Latina Power! Using 7 Strengths you Already Have to Create the Success You Deserve.

I have many more suggestions but I don't want to overdo it on my first post!

Welcome to the Board, Nancy!

Feel free to keep posting your favorite books. There's no such thing as over-doing posts in my opinion, especially when books are the topic!. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I've not heard of any of the books or authors that you mentioned, but I'm intrigued. What is the "Creative Whack Pack" about? It sounds like a mafia handbook. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Have you read one of the most famous "coaching manuals" How To Tame Your Gremlin? Interesting read and recommended to me by a coach. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (I almost got into coaching myself, but life took a turn on me. I'm glad I'm writing now instead. It all worked out for the best as these things do. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

I suppose to some degree every book I've ever read has instilled some change, some glimmer of understanding, or expanded my horizons to some degree. Some, of course, much more than others, but even the books I didn't like so much... made me think, why. Or why not.

I could say the very first book I ever took up into my child's hands, and perhaps even before that, the first one my mother read to me, changed me forever. It opened doors to new worlds... and so many other books...

I can't imagine my life without books. I won't repeat titles already listed here, although I could say several of those already named changed me too, but I will add:

TRUE NOTEBOOKS by Mark Salzman
(a non fiction account of the state of our juvenile delinquency legal system today)

THE POISONWOOD BIBLE and PRODIGAL SUMMER and pretty much anything at all from the pen of Barbara Kingsolver

ILLUMINATA-A RETURN TO PRAYER by Marianne Williamson, whose works in general touch my mind and heart both

NEXT OF KIN-MY CONVERSATIONS WITH CHIMPANZEES by Roger Fouts
(our turning a blind eye to animal abuse is horrifying, especially when we consider the intelligence and emotional depth of the animal kingdom)

THREE BY ANNIE DILLARD by Annie Dillard, of course
(an incredible writer of memoirs and nature)

SHADOW MOUNTAIN-A MEMOIR OF WOLVES, A WOMAN, AND THE WILD by Renee Askins
(beautifully written account of a woman who brought wolves back to Yellowstone)

WALDEN by Henry David Thoreau
(the idea of living in simplicity has never been more needed than in our complex society today)

and so, so many more...

Zee

Hi Zee,

I really enjoy Marianne Williamson, as well. I haven't read Illuminata yet.

And Thoreau...well, he just rocks. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've recently finished a very insightful, comforting, and paradigm shifting book:



Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives

I'm currently reading his follow up book, Destiny of Souls. I plan on posting review of the former very soon on the New Age site. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hi Janet

I finally got 'round to posting on the boards - been up to my eyes in work - good complaint <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ..

Re your quote above, I'm familiar with this guy's work and I think his most famous work is "A Whack on the Side of the Head". I read it years ago back in the 90's and still have it actually - I always recommend it on my own site (s).

The "Creative Whack Pack" mentioned above, is a similar style project and it deals with the subject of how to increase your creativity in all areas.

On the subject of inspirational books, I would have to say that the most influential book I have ever read is called "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill - the word "Rich" here refers to all areas of life and not in the monetary sense, altho' that's part of it too IF you desire it.

I would say on a personal note, that this is the most important book that I have ever read or will possibly ever read <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> - wow!

'best

David

This is a great topic! A TOPIC THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE! he he.. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm a big fan of Dr. Deepak Chopra, and I've read and thoroughly enjoyed most of his many books. Wayne Dyer's "Manifest Your Destiny" made a difference, and many of G.I.Gurdjieff's books have helped me be @ peace too.

By the way, I peeked in Googol on "Sacred Contracts" by Caroline Myss and that seems amazing! I'm glad I found this thread.. your site always "makes a difference" and thanks googols!

Love and light being, Teo <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />