2017 was a huge learning curve for me. Besides my Master's studies I read tons of books. And, as many of you requested, here is my list of the best 15 books I read in 2017 (in no specific order):
1. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction- by Gabor Mate.
This is the best book I’ve read describing addiction, and the meaning, implications and approaches to healing. Yet, don’t be fooled by the name, this book showed me how, in a way, we’re all addicts. We’re all trying to fill this emptiness inside us and everyone has his/her personal way of doing that.
2. Cultivating Wholeness: A Guide to Care and Counselling in Faith Communities by Margaret Kornfeld.
Although written for Christian faith communities, it is still extremely valuable for all communities. This book is a valuable asset for spiritual leaders and community builders.
3. Collective Narrative Practice: Responding to individuals, groups, and communities who have experienced trauma - by David Denborough.
This book shows how our stories can heal us. It is about finding meaning in our challenges, a meaning that can not only help us but also extend beyond that to help the world at large. If you are a care provider, community leader or therapist who work in group coaching and counselling, this book is a great tool to add to your practice.
4. Love & Happiness: A collection of personal reflections and quotes by Yasmin Mogahed.
Easy read, poetic, very deep and wise thoughts, as expected! I absolutely love it! It is an everyday companion in an ever challenging world.
5. Change Your Brain, Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Lack of Focus, Anger, and Memory Problems by Daniel G. Amen.
The book offers new holistic approach to Mental Illness. Although the author advocates brain scanning so much (which I am not really sure about), yet the book still holds valuable information about how brain works, what goes wrong and how to fix it in a holistic approach. One of the best I have seen especially that it comes from a well-known psychiatrist.
6. Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Finding Your Message, Building a Tribe, and Changing the World by Russell Brunson.
Great information for those of you who want to build an online community and market your online courses in a non-salesy way.
7. How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist by Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman.
The authors show how the brain actually changes when we experience the Divine or the transcendent reality. The authors give scientifically proven tools to broaden this awareness and live in a more connected way.
8. Revive Your Heart: Putting Life in Perspective by Nouman Ali Khan.
Amazing lessons from the Qur’an written in Nouman Ali Khan's captivating interesting way.
9. Strong Imagination: Madness, Creativity, and Human Nature by Daniel Nettle.
This is a fairly old book, yet it offers radical view to mental illness, truly fascinating.
10. First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety by Sarah Wilson.
The best book I have ever read about anxiety, depression, and OCD, a captivating memoire that highlights the struggle and the way to thrive with a ‘beast’ that the author finally decided to stop fighting and make it beautiful instead
11. The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt.
Haidt compares the human mind to a rider (conscious, analytical mind) on the back of an elephant (subconscious beliefs, drives, and perceptions). Regardless of how much will power the rider has, he cannot move the elephant against its will. We need to learn how to “tame the elephant” which what the book is all about.
12. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath.
Beautifully written book, good read for anyone who wants to make change whether on the personal, professional, or community levels.
13. Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients into Foods and Remedies That Heal by Rosalee de la Foret.
I love Rosalee’s teaching, her approach to herbs is so natural showing how to integrate them in everyday life and how to choose the ones that suits your body need and your temperament.
14. Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur by Derek Sivers.
Best business book ever! Feels like Sivers wrote it especially for an introvert like myself who find it very hard to embrace all the ‘have-to’ stated by modern-day business gurus. Derek’s rule is simple: Do anything you want!
15. And, of course, I can’t end the list without my own book in its newly designed cover: Body Whispers: Unraveling the Emotional & Spiritual Root of Illness and Restoring Energy & Vitality.
If you did not get it yet, check out what it is all about here. The information in there are truly life changing...
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