This week, I have a speaking engagement and am doing some traveling. I thought this would be a great opportunity to start a thread on one of my favorite topics: books!
I’d love to know: What book (or books) have helped you through tough times? It could be a favorite work of fiction, a self-help book, a biography, a religious book, or something else.
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!
Chris i just started following you recently and I read your intro to starting this, its really inspirational. Stumbling on The Midnight Library must have been an auspicious moment or should i use serendipitous...I like this recommendations and just skimming through midnight library, I wanted to say thanks for this post and several other ones you have shared. Hello Adversity :) welcome with open arms
I’ve read so many books related to grief but none have helped me more than “When 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!
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
Thank you! I'm a slow reader too. I could read faster but then I wouldn't retain anything. I don't know how anyone does audiobooks. I don't have the attention span for it.
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. A💚🙏
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 — particularly on leaning into hard moments.
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.
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. ❤️
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.
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!
Chris i just started following you recently and I read your intro to starting this, its really inspirational. Stumbling on The Midnight Library must have been an auspicious moment or should i use serendipitous...I like this recommendations and just skimming through midnight library, I wanted to say thanks for this post and several other ones you have shared. Hello Adversity :) welcome with open arms
Thanks Adebola, and welcome!
Pema Chodrin’s Wisdom of No Escape!
I will check it out!
I’ve read so many books related to grief but none have helped me more than “When 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!
Thanks Katie! I will check it out.
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
Thank you! I'm a slow reader too. I could read faster but then I wouldn't retain anything. I don't know how anyone does audiobooks. I don't have the attention span for it.
LOL. I can only do non-fiction audiobooks. They are just like really long, guest-less podcasts. xo
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. A💚🙏
Thank you for sharing, Annie! And you are always welcome to share a list of favorite books!
Hi Chris,
“Geography of Love” continues inspire and also weigh heavily on my heart.
Thank you! I've added it to my list.
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 — particularly on leaning into hard moments.
Thanks Anna! I'll check that book out.
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
Thanks for sharing Michael! I have several of these books on my Kindle but haven't gotten to them yet.
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
Thank you for sharing, Rick. The Stranger is a book I've been meaning to read for a while.
Fantastic book
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!
A lot of great ones here. Thanks Jackie!
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. ❤️
Ah thanks for these, Sue! I was looking forward to your response.
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.
Thanks David! I agree, pleasure reading can be a big help. I love historical fiction.
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!
I am too! Thank you for sharing your own meaningful read.
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 “the great sadness” myself.
I’m sure there are others but those come to mind now.
Thank you for the book recs!