Sep 30, 2024
The most influential books of my life in order
by
Natalia
Winnie-The-Pooh by A.A.Milne
The first book I remember. It helped me to grow up accepting I can be an uncarved block. And it supported the curiosity of Christopher to experience the world. Later I read “The Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff, which helped me understand the concepts behind the beautiful, funny story.
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Somehow it was one of the only books I felt like reading just before and when I turned teenager. This story stayed for me as a representation that things just happen, and we cannot do anything about it other than make the best out of the situation we are in. I got very touched by how much the siblings stayed togather in the face of those unfortunate events.
The China Study by T. Colin Campbell
The first more scientific book I read on my own. The perspectives Campbell presents are fascinating in their simplicity. He also writes about the industry and how it responded to this incredible 20 years and ongoing study. I got the notion that what’s good for people won’t always be promoted, mainstream or even advised by professionals. It gave me permission to search my own ways and trust the people I believe I should trust.
An Astronaut’s guide to life on earth by Chris Hadfield
Devotion, this book to me is about extreme devotion. From the age of 8 Chris Hadfield knew he wanted to become an astronaut. The road to get there is very long and full of extreme challenges. It’s beautiful to read how he tackled each one. It gave me courage for extreme preparation even in face of uncertainties. No matter it this opportunity fails or succeds I want to be sure I gave it my all.
12 Rules For life by Jordan Peterson
Straight to the point. I found this book by Peterson, and the next one that follows to be a very good collection of some basic principles to have a good life. Book is also explained based on his own life experiences and good stories that stayed with me for long, and some might stay for life. The process of creation of the book that involved first answering peoples questions on Quora is very organic and in this way became the expression of answers to questions that many people ask themselves.
The Artist Way by Julia Cameron
Practical solutions. Julia Cameron in her book breaks down the actual steps we can take every day to express our creativity. She does it in a way that seems so easy, it felt almost embarrassing to me not to try it. I did. I still haven’t finished the book and it already had a profound impact on my daily life. I learned from it how to take a vision from my imagination and actually realize it. My favourite quote from the book, which is actually not by the author is:
“When the soul wishes to experience something she throws an image of the experience out before her and enters into her own image.” MEISTER ECKHART
Outlive by Dr. Peter Attia
Death, it’s a certainty. In this book Peter Attia writes about all different ways and causes humans die from. I found this knowledge very calming. It’s not that many ways. And after all an antidote to most is movement and exercise.
Consolations by David Whyte
Maturity. The book is a selection of poems of David Whyte. It teached me about the complexity of states and emotions. Also to be nonjudgmental about them. States that we have labeled in society as good or bad, both have their own advantages and disadvantages. All have purpose and reason and are here as part of our lives. I started with Anger, when I most needed it, and reading about it over and over, slowly helped me to understand it better, be more at ease with it, experience and feel it more fully.
Life Changing foods by Anthony William
Food. It’s such a big subject, and we know so little about it. Anthony William gives a completely new perspective on the subject. He explores food from a spiritual point of view, therefore out of the scientific world. This was missing for me, the knowledge I had about food so far was very science based and since the state of science is very basic it was always frustrating to me. Reading this book inspired me to connect with my food in a more spiritual way and that brought me to a new level of pleasure and relaxation about the subject in general.
The Map of Consciousness Explained by DR David R. Hawkins
Life changing. In a good way. Dr Hawkins approach to life, spirituality, consciousness, human body, pain, suffering, anxiety and endless other subject resonate with me precisely. Recently I’ve started to dive deeper into his works and I am discovering one personal breakthrough after another and it bring me so much joy and happiness to work with his guidance and understand the world through his lens. The quote that sums it up the best for me is: "If something is overly complicated, it probably isn't true. The truth is simple, and what works is simple.” I’ve learned this empirically trying his advice on dealing with hunger from this lecture: https://amzn.to/4eBGkMH
You Were Born Rich by Bob Proctor
Power of energy and imagination. Bob Proctor’s book reinforced the ideas I read in “The Map of Consciousness Explained”, just he focuses about money. The techniques he describes are based on creating and holding the images of the level of wealth one would like to create and then transform them in actionable goal and finally tasks. If follows the same principle as Dr Hawkins advice, “what works is simple”. The book gives simple solutions to what looked to me before as an infinitely complex problem.
The Vertical Diet by Stan Efferding
Micro and macro nutrients. What’s the difference. After reading many books on this subject until I read the Vertical diet I didn’t fully understood even this most basic concepts. Stan Efferding explains those and many other nutrition related principles in a very straight forward way. One could say to straight forward, as for me following literally the advice didn’t work. But as an addition to all the rest of my knowledge and experience it works perfectly. On top it explains best practices for exercise, recovery, injury prevention and much more. It reinforced the need to introduce more protein into my diet and finally helped me understand how to take care I’m getting the optimal levels of micronutrients.
