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Post by Susie_Homemaker on Jun 17, 2024 19:42:14 GMT
I think it would be fun to share non-fiction books that you've read that have were in some way life changing for you.
I'll start with a few that I've read in the last few years: Fat Funeral: The Scientific Approach to Weight Loss - this one was very informative on why the American diet is how it is now and how we 'should' be eating for optimal health.
Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, Sexy, and Smart―Until You’re 80 and Beyond - also very informative on the how we should be eating to age well, and the why of it. Plus information on what happens as we age if we do or don't exercise and eat right. Not preachy, just information.
Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond - How lifting weights benefits us as we age and why it's vital to do it.
You can tell by my choices where I am in life. I'm 55 and recently found out that I'm post-menopausal. I'm determined to age well and be as healthy, fit, and active as I can with what's in my control.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jun 17, 2024 19:52:43 GMT
I posted this earlier on Judy26 self care thread.
I copied and pasted it here.
The books that I have helped me the most:
Louise Hay "You can heal your life"
Louise Hay "You can heal your life companion workbook"
Stephanie Moulton Sarkis "Healing from toxic relationships"
Lindsay Teague Moreno "Wake up"
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Post by Zee on Jun 17, 2024 20:03:11 GMT
I don't read self-help books but I love books about survival and living off the land, indigenous practices and cultures, how to survive in the woods type things.
Probably that started with the Little House books; I was always fascinated by how they lived, what they ate, how Pa and Ma made stuff, all the parts of the pig they used, etc etc. and it's been a lifelong thing for me.
Obviously I don't live that way myself but I think I might be ok at it if I had to. The only truly hard thing is that DH and I are blind as bats and we'd have to have our glasses or contacts and a way to get new ones. When I say we can't see, it's no exaggeration. The eye doctor comments on us both every time.
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Post by ~summer~ on Jun 17, 2024 20:06:34 GMT
I read The South Beach Diet book when I was like 35 and it transformed how I eat - to this day (I’m 50).
The Baby Book also really impacted how I parented babies.
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on Jun 17, 2024 20:07:42 GMT
Quiet: something something how to be an Introvert in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I'm an introvert but that doesn't mean there is something wrong with me.
Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern. While it's outdated (at least my copy is and was when I bought it in 2016, it has a chapter on Blackberries) I love the zone system and the command center concepts in the book and use them both.
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RedSquirrelUK
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Jun 17, 2024 20:17:02 GMT
The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Worwood
Touch for Health by Dr John Thie
I love all of Bill Bryson's books too.
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Post by gar on Jun 17, 2024 20:25:43 GMT
Not life changing but one that stayed with me was Helen Keller The Story of my Life. I don’t know why it affected me so much but I can remember parts of it now and I haven’t read it for maybe 40 years.
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Post by Linda on Jun 17, 2024 20:36:52 GMT
The Tightwad Gazette - I read it in the early 90s when I was a young single mum living on welfare and continue to use some of the tips today. It's outdated now and I'm at a very different life stage but the core principles still apply. Being super frugal is how we managed to make it through the lean years after my 2nd child and enabled me to stay home with both of the girls. It's what saved us back in 2008/9 when we had just bought a house, hadn't sold the old one, and dh's hours went from mandatory overtime to mandatory no more than 32hrs (he was hourly then).
Dana K White and Peter Walsh's books - again principles I continue to use year after year. (and no my house isn't perfectly decluttered and organised but it's a WHOLE lot better than it would have been otherwise)
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Judy26
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Post by Judy26 on Jun 17, 2024 20:45:22 GMT
Oh my, too many to count. When you read a book at just the right time in your life it can feel like karma.
Two for now:
Gifts from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh - I take it to the beach every vacation and it never fails to touch me in a profound way.
Codependent No More by Melody Beattie - I just read this recently and I felt like she was writing about my life. So many lightbulb moments. Reading it has set me on a mission to find balance and joy in my life.
Edited to add one more:
The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton - This book set me up to become financially independent. It took years but following his philosophy of how to make money work for you has been a godsend.
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Post by lisapea on Jun 17, 2024 20:47:23 GMT
Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver. It has something for everyone and I re-read it every few years.
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gottapeanow
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Post by gottapeanow on Jun 17, 2024 21:28:18 GMT
A book about boundaries called
Keep Your Love On by Danny Silk
(Disclaimer: I don't agree with some of his other books or teachings.)
At the time, I thought I had to do everything to "save my marriage" while my ex was spiritually, emotionally, and financially abusive. I learned that he had to fix his issues and that I could not fix them, no matter how much I prayed, cried, nagged, submitted, changed myself, etc.
When I realized he was not interested in changing, I had a decision to make: live with his choices or leave.
So I left.
My only regret is not leaving sooner.
Lisa
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MerryMom
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Post by MerryMom on Jun 18, 2024 1:15:12 GMT
The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker
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Post by sideways on Jun 18, 2024 1:29:00 GMT
You can tell by my choices where I am in life. I'm 55 and recently found out that I'm post-menopausal. I'm determined to age well and be as healthy, fit, and active as I can with what's in my control.
That describes me perfectly. I like to say that I’m in training for my old lady body. I lift five days a week, do some other active activity the other two, and walk as much as I can. Thanks for the book recs! |
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Post by peano on Jun 18, 2024 1:42:58 GMT
Feeding the Hungry Heart by Geneen Roth
The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
Lisa Lyon's Body Magic by Douglas Kent Hall and Lisa Lyon
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
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Post by workingclassdog on Jun 18, 2024 2:52:10 GMT
So many:
My love for Little House on the Prairie books and Nancy Drew books. I couldn't get enough of them.
VC Andrews - Flowers in the Attic - enough said.
Then my mom had a copy of a Danielle Steele booked called Palomino. It was a beat up paperback. I was getting ready to move to Los Angeles, first time on my own. She gave me that book. Her book really helped me when I was living alone (with my roommate) and flat broke. I started getting her books that were in paperback and reading her books was my entertainment. Life long fan. I know, it is total fluff reading but I don't care.
Night by Elie Wiesel.. which got me hooked on stories from WWII
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Anita
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Post by Anita on Jun 18, 2024 4:41:53 GMT
The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker This. I made both my kids read it. |
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pantsonfire
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Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
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Post by pantsonfire on Jun 18, 2024 5:02:31 GMT
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson
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Post by lesserknownpea on Jun 18, 2024 12:25:14 GMT
Loving What Is by Byron Katie.
I read it at the exact perfect time time in my life, when I needed to learn that I could choose to find joy in any situation. It was powerful and freeing.
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Post by lisae on Jun 18, 2024 12:30:24 GMT
In the 90's I read two books - Your Money Or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin
and The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley about personal finance.
These books reinforced what I had been taught about money growing up and greatly affected how I made purchases and saved money.
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Post by Susie_Homemaker on Jun 18, 2024 12:59:33 GMT
sideways I love that and I'm totally stealing it!
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on Jun 18, 2024 13:27:47 GMT
The Tightwad Gazette - I read it in the early 90s when I was a young single mum living on welfare and continue to use some of the tips today. It's outdated now and I'm at a very different life stage but the core principles still apply. Being super frugal is how we managed to make it through the lean years after my 2nd child and enabled me to stay home with both of the girls. It's what saved us back in 2008/9 when we had just bought a house, hadn't sold the old one, and dh's hours went from mandatory overtime to mandatory no more than 32hrs (he was hourly then). Dana K White and Peter Walsh's books - again principles I continue to use year after year. (and no my house isn't perfectly decluttered and organised but it's a WHOLE lot better than it would have been otherwise) I loved the Tightwad Gazette books, I got a lot of ideas from those when the kids and our budget were very small. |
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kate
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Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Jun 18, 2024 13:59:10 GMT
Quiet: something something how to be an Introvert in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I'm an introvert but that doesn't mean there is something wrong with me. Oh my gosh, yes, this book was a life-changer for sure! I'm an extrovert who truly did.not.get how an introvert could be happy/satisfied. My introverted kid (not to mention all my introverted students!) have no idea the thanks they owe to Susan Cain! MerryMom, The Gift of Fear was huge for me, too. |
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Post by bunnyhug on Jun 18, 2024 15:00:49 GMT
I think that every single book you read changes your life in some way. At the very least, you come out of reading them with some bit of information or a glimpse of some point of view that you didn't have before reading. At their best, you have some kind of emotional connection that impacts everything you do going forward. Book are magic.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jun 18, 2024 23:43:50 GMT
Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver. It has something for everyone and I re-read it every few years. I recently read this book. There was some really profound and helpful information, in the book. |
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Post by mom on Jun 19, 2024 0:48:30 GMT
Practicing Mindfulness - 75 essential meditations to reduce stress, improve mental health and find peace in the everyday by Mathew Sockolove - Free on Kindle Unlimited right now.
The Gift of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Codependant No More by Melody Beattie
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Post by jackietex on Jun 19, 2024 1:39:50 GMT
Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 19, 2024 3:43:28 GMT
There hasn't been many non-fiction books that have been life changing for me because I know I can not realistically do the things they were able to do or the advice that is given. I'm pessimist by nature, so there's that too.  It's also not my favorite genre. I have read some really good autobiographies/biographies, but I don't think I can say life-changing.
I have liked the following: -Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain -The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
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Post by lisapea on Jun 19, 2024 10:09:33 GMT
Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver. It has something for everyone and I re-read it every few years. I recently read this book. There was some really profound and helpful information, in the book. There really is some great, down to earth advice all throughout. My favorite quote: "If you live or work outside of your heart, there will always be a break up, a break down, or both." Her website is good, too - Be More With Less. I get the "Weekend Favorites" delivered to my gmail every Saturday morning - it's such a great start to the weekend. She has a new book coming out soon, with "Gentle" as the theme. |
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jun 19, 2024 21:22:04 GMT
I recently read this book. There was some really profound and helpful information, in the book. There really is some great, down to earth advice all throughout. My favorite quote: "If you live or work outside of your heart, there will always be a break up, a break down, or both." Her website is good, too - Be More With Less. I get the "Weekend Favorites" delivered to my gmail every Saturday morning - it's such a great start to the weekend. She has a new book coming out soon, with "Gentle" as the theme. Thank you for letting me know about that. Off to sign up. |
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MorningPerson
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Post by MorningPerson on Jun 19, 2024 21:41:38 GMT
I will never not mention on these threads This Naked Mind by Annie Grace.
I hope I don’t ever come across as judgy or preachy on the subject of alcohol. Most of my family and friends drink (responsibly) and I have no problem with it. But if you’re like I was and sometimes wonder if you’re overdoing it in quantity or frequency, please check this book out. It has truly changed my life for the better in so many ways I never even considered.
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It's also not my favorite genre. I have read some really good autobiographies/biographies, but I don't think I can say life-changing.