31 Comments
author

Books that have helped me:

Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl - This book has helped me on several occasions when life has felt overwhelming. It is easy to fall into the trap of asking "What's the point?" when life gets difficult for a sustained period of time. Every time I read this book I am rejuvenated.

Other helpful books:

Unbroken, by Lauren Hillenbrand - a harrowing and uplifting story of a WWII POW

The Obstacle is the Way, by Ryan Holiday - a helpful introductory book about obstacles. Has lots of interesting historical examples

Anxious for Nothing, by Max Lucado - combatting anxiety through the lens of the Christian faith

The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig - I accidentally downloaded this book on my Hoopla library app and ended up reading it. A story about a woman who gets to see the other lives she could have lived.

Option B, by Sheryl Sandberg - A book about what happens when life is turned upside down, told through the lens of Sandberg's personal journey grieving the loss of her husband.

The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch - Before passing, Randy Pausch gave one final lecture to students and faculty at Carnegie-Mellon University. The lecture, and the lessons he shared that day, were turned into this book.

There are definitely others that I'm forgetting. I'll add to this list as I think of them!

Expand full comment

Pema Chodrin’s Wisdom of No Escape!

Expand full comment

I’ve read so many books related to grief but none have helped me more than β€œWhen Things Fall Apart” by Pema Chodron. It is the kind of book I think I’ll return to again and again in life. I can’t recommend it enough!

Expand full comment

Oof, Chris. I have to put my thinking cap on. I suppose:

Eckhart Tolle A NEW EARTH

M. Scott Peck PEOPLE OF THE LIE

Liz Tilberis NO TIME TO DIE: LIVING WITH OVARIAN CANCER (my favorite aunt died of it on my first day of film school, and my friend got me an autographed copy)

I'm currently reading James Baldwin THE PRICE OF THE TICKET and savoring every brilliant word (I'll be reading this until the end of time, though, because I am a slow reader...in the sense that I don't often pick up books, and because it is thicker than a phone book and I SO love that!!!). xo

Expand full comment
Dec 7, 2023Liked by Chris Anselmo

Hi Chris. Let me think . .. All of them! Sometimes curling up with a cup of tea and a page-turning murder mystery novel can help me get through tough times. But I know that isn't the kind of thing you are asking for, sooooo, I give you. . . The Untethered Soul by Michael A Singer. AπŸ’šπŸ™

Expand full comment
Dec 6, 2023Liked by Chris Anselmo

Hi Chris,

β€œGeography of Love” continues inspire and also weigh heavily on my heart.

Expand full comment

Hi Chris! Just started reading your work. I know it's a classic, but I also love Man's Search for Meaning. Another good one is "The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down." It's written by a Buddhist meditation teacher and really gave me peace when I read it β€”Β particularly on leaning into hard moments.

Expand full comment

Crime and Punishment

Anna Karenina

Journey into the Night

1984

Chekhov's stories

Winter Journal (Paul Auster)

FDR (Jean Edward Smith)

The Once and Future Liberal (Mark Lilla)

Tropic of Cancer (Miller)

Psych (Paul Bloom)

Letters of James Joyce

Etc

Expand full comment

I was going through one of the toughest times of my life, there wasn't any sense of meaning, and I was thinking of ending my life. This was the time when I discovered 'The Stranger' by Albert Camus. This is a novel that has changed the way I think about myself and the world. The main character was really relatable to my life.

I even wrote a story inspired from The Stranger: https://rickbarooah.substack.com/p/the-bitter-phase-of-life

Expand full comment

Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl (just like you :)

The Pretty One - Keah Brown

You Are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread - Samantha Renke

I'll Pray for You - Hannah Setzer

The Light We Carry - Michelle Obama

Sitting Pretty - Rebekah Taussig

The Comfort Book - Matt Haig

Great topic!

Expand full comment

Love, love, love this question Chris! Consolations by David Whyte. Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen. Keep Going by Maggie Smith. I have multiple copes and hand them out liberally! I think David Whyte and Maggie Smith are more well known, but Rachel Naomi Remen’s book is MAGIC and a must read. ❀️

Expand full comment

Over the past few years, I’ve discovered pleasure reading seems to do more to clear my mind than anything. I love a good mystery that is set in another place and I can imagine myself living there - pure escapist reading. Some more serious books that stand out are The Spiral Staircase by Karen Armstrong, Are You Somebody by Nuala O’Faolain, and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

Expand full comment

The Beauty of What Remains, by Rabbi Steve Leder, was really helpful to me this year.

What a lovely idea for a thread...I’m finding so many wonderful recommendations here!

Expand full comment

Oh.... The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning helped me finally believe in the depths of grace. I keep copies of it in my office to give away.

I’m going to read it again but I think James Clear’s Atomic Habits was impactful and helpful.

William P. Young’s The Shack. I cried all the way through it after suffering β€œthe great sadness” myself.

I’m sure there are others but those come to mind now.

Expand full comment