My Recommended Reading List

And the One Thing All of These Books Have in Common

My favorite books!

Once upon a time, I thought I was damaged goods. Not only did I tell myself that nasty thought. Other people told me so.

Because of that, I believed I was broken for many years. Life happened. I suffered like the rest of us. I crashed, bounced back, and improved with much help from the Divine, family, friends, and professionals.

Welcome to humanity! I know I’m not alone. At this stage of my life, it’s time to give back.

The older I get, the less selfish I become, and the more I learn to share my thoughts, deeds, words, photographs, paintings, and sketches.

Life is art, if you believe so.

The Work

I’m different now because I keep doing the inner work. No work, no gain in consciousness. You have to train your mind just like you do the body, or not.

If you read nothing else in my article, all of these and most other books on my shelves share the same theme; improve your mind, open your heart.

In other words, consciousness. Human consciousness is unique because we’re the only animals who can become “self-aware.” That’s why your dog, cat, or turtle asks you, “How do you know there’s a God?” They don’t think about that stuff.

They just are.

Readers Become Better Leaders of Self and Others

We can’t be great leaders of others if we can be better and willing leaders ourselves.

As within, so without. As above, so below.

These are universal hermetic laws that mean you will get what you give.

Wherever you go, you will be, in some leadership role, if nothing else, of yourself.

It’s you, Inc. You are the CEO, Head Honcho, Big Dog.

It’s about learning to program your mind for the better. It’s almost irresponsible to ignore the gifts we’ve been given. I know I did.

Shifting Consciousness, Waking Up

These books teach us to shift our consciousness from the lowest forms of self-loathing, thinking, and missing the mark in life by chasing vices more than virtues.

In other words, they are waking up.

Being less of a selfish jerk, as in my case.

Finding meaning in life so you know precisely what to say when someone asks, “What’s the meaning of life?”

1. “Love it all, especially if you don’t like or hate it.”

2. “Be kind.”

3. “Love.”

4. “Be happy.”

5. “Experience significance.”

6. “Unity” if you’re a mystic.

7. “Live in serenity.”

8. “Bliss.”

9. “Self-realization.”

10. “Self-improvement.”

11. “Self-help.”

12. “Self-actualization.”

13. “Samadhi” if you’re Hindu.

14. “Salvation” if you’re Christian.

15. “Nirvana” if you’re Buddhist.

16. “Wu wei” or effortless living, if you’re Taoist.

17. “Mukti” if you’re Sikh.

18. “Da'at" if you are Jewish. Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) refers to the union of wisdom and understanding, a form of spiritual enlightenment.

19. Enlightenment.

20. Awake.

Waking up has nothing to do with your faith or religion.

Being more awake is a universal quest humanity shares to find meaning and significance by knowing who we are, where we came from, and where we are going, and completely at peace with not knowing how it all works because the mystery itself is what calls us.

It’s to find the light, be the light, and share the light. The light is within.

1. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14, ESV)

2. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5, NIV)

3. "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." (John 12:36, ESV)

4. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8, NIV)

5. "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)

My Reading List

The order of the books you see in my image is arranged by the book size, not the book's relevance, authority, or importance. Each book is profound, timeless wisdom written by people from different walks of life who lived centuries ago and those who live today.

They all teach the same thing in different ways; Ageless Wisdom. Ageless wisdom is timeless, like an eternity.

Again, the common theme for all these books is improving our minds, shifting our conscious way of being on Earth closer to Heaven than hell.

Here’s a quick summary of each book. The order of the list below is from bottom to top:

1. Train Your Mind Change Your Brain by Sharon Begley delves into the exciting realm of neuroplasticity, illustrating how the brain can physically change based on thoughts and experiences. Through a blend of scientific research and Buddhist philosophy, Begley provides insightful narratives on the transformative power of the mind over the brain, underscoring the potential of meditation and mindfulness in promoting mental health and well-being.

2. Reprogram Your Subconscious - How to Use Hypnosis to Get What You Really Want by Gale Glassner Twersky, A.C.H. I got to know Gale personally and have interviewed her more than once. She’s terrific, lives in California, and her book is one of the best-selling on the subject on Amazon.

3. Psycho-Cybernetics 2000 by Maxwell Maltz and Bobbe Sommer is an update to the original book published in 1961. I’ve owned this book for over thirty years and read it more than once, just like all the other books you see on this list. It’s a phenomenal self-help book that explores the concept of a "success mechanism" ingrained in human beings. We are wired to rewire our brains!

4. Homecoming by John Bradshaw is a self-help guide that explores the lasting impact of childhood experiences and promotes healing through reconnecting with one's inner child.' It provides a therapeutic roadmap, offering guided meditations and exercises to understand and heal childhood wounds, ultimately helping readers foster healthier relationships and lead more fulfilling lives.

5. Philokalia, the Eastern Spiritual Texts. The "Philokalia" is a collection of texts written between the 4th and 15th centuries by spiritual masters of the Eastern Orthodox Hesychast tradition. The term "Philokalia" is of Greek origin and means "love of the beautiful, the good," it refers to the state of a soul that loves God or the love of spiritual beauty.

6. Bible, ESV. I have a small and growing collection of Bibles. The best way I’ve found to understand the nuances, metaphors, and stories of the Old and New Testament is by reading other books about the Bible, history, and archaeology, and one of the best ways to do that is by watching university lectures on YouTube.

7. The Art of Happiness, a Handbook for Living by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, M.D., notably Zen Buddhism, is a distinctive form of spiritual ophthalmology and metaphysics.

8. Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D., is one of my favorite books for learning how to process emotions. It’s a transformative self-help book that presents a practical method for releasing negative emotions and fears to achieve inner peace and joy. Drawing upon his expertise in psychiatry and consciousness research, Hawkins offers a roadmap to greater health, happiness, and spiritual growth, illuminating the potential of surrender as a powerful tool for personal development. (I own, have read, and love all of his books. I’ve even been in the same room with him at one of his last events.)

9. Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Dr. Caroline Leaf reveals a simple, effective method for journaling and optimizing our brains. Her book explores 'neuroplasticity' and the power of thought in shaping our brain's structure and function. Dr. Leaf combines scientific research with biblical teachings to provide a 21-day practical plan to help us detox our thoughts and achieve higher mental performance and overall well-being.

10. The World’s Religions, 50th Anniversary Edition by Huston Smith, is fantastic! I just finished it for the first time. The book explores the world's major faith traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the primal religions.

11. The Essential Zohar - The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom by Rav P. S. Berg is one of my all-time favorites. Kabbalists are the mystics of the Jewish faith. The Zohar is the foundational work of Kabbalah, presenting its key concepts and teachings in an accessible manner. Berg translates this complex and symbolic text into practical wisdom, helping readers understand Kabbalistic perspectives on life, relationships, and the nature of the universe.

12. The Secret of The Golden Flower, A Chinese Book of Life translated by Richard Wilhelm and commentary by Carl Jung, is DEEP. I’ve read it several times. The most fascinating part of the book for me is Jung’s interpretation. Jung was a genius. It’s a classic Taoist text on 'inner alchemy' and meditation practices. It offers practical instructions for achieving enlightenment and cultivating 'life energy' or 'Chi,' guiding practitioners toward spiritual transcendence.

13. The Secret Teachings of Jesus by Marvin W. Meyer presents four brief ancient texts discovered in Egypt in 1945, known collectively as the 'Gnostic Gospels.' Meyer's translation and insightful commentary explore alternative Christian teachings, illuminating early Christian thought and the diverse interpretations of Jesus's teachings. (This is not the same work found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which I’ve also read, and is not on this list.)

14. Owning Your Own Shadow by Robert A. Johnson is a profound exploration of the 'shadow' aspect of the human psyche, a term coined by psychologist Carl Jung to refer to the repressed, ignored, or denied parts of oneself.

15. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy is one of my oldest books, and I’ve read it so many times it’s tired and worn with dog ears galore. Published in 1963, only two years after Maltz published Psycho-Cybernetics, Murphy’s body of work is consistent with what modern-day texts books teach psychologists, coaches, and hypnotherapists, among many others.

16. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a tragic and inspiring memoir by a Holocaust survivor. Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) was an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, widely known as the founder of logotherapy, a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the human search for meaning in life. Frankl chronicles his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and illustrates his psychotherapeutic method of finding purpose in life despite suffering. Frankl's existentialist approach argues that meaning can be found in life in every moment of living, even in the face of profound tragedy.

Improving Your Mind, Opening Your Heart

In conclusion, the books I've encountered in my journey are my silent mentors, helping me shift from a place of self-doubt and negativity to one of calmness, resilience, and compassion.

From understanding the power of neuroplasticity to immersing myself in the wisdom of ancient spiritual texts, I've embraced a path of consciousness, striving to be more 'self-aware' amidst the world's clamor.

These resources remind us of the crucial shift we need to make - from a culture obsessed with 'doing' to a more balanced state of 'being” They steer us away from the trap of self-loathing and towards a life of meaning, fulfillment, and enlightenment.

Irrespective of faith, religion, or culture, the goal remains the same - to be more 'awake,' to seek light, be the light, and share the light.

It is a shared quest of humanity to find meaning and significance, to understand who we are, where we came from, and where we are heading, and to be at peace with the uncertainty of it all.

I encourage you to delve into these books as I have done, exploring our shared histories, philosophies, religions, and sciences to unearth the ageless wisdom they contain.

Let their teachings guide you towards a consciousness closer to heaven than hell, towards self-realization, bliss, serenity, unity, and above all, towards love.

Live, love, and lead well.