Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse, The; Charlie Macksey

This book is beautiful.  Absolutely beautiful.  Front to back. Beginning to end. Beautiful.  A Lot of people gift high school and college graduates a copy of Dr. Seuss “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” and should be considering this gem!  A lovely story for any age or season, matched with stunning artwork including line-work, watercolor washes, and calligraphy.  By two copies…one for you, and the other to give to someone else.

Consolations; David Whyte

A deep, contemplative dive into the power and beauty of everyday words. Every chapter is a self-contained explorative study of seemingly ordinary words.  A great book for reflection, recharging, resetting.  You will find something new every time you reread a passage.  Buying the book is an investment…in yourself…awww…

Creative Act, The; Rick Rubin

Uh…this book…will melt your brain and change the way you look at art and life.   Like David Whyte’s “Consolations,” every chapter is deep-dive into a singular focus.  It is a great one that you can take at your own pace, and since the chapters are unrelated, you can pick it up as you have time.  There is so much to unpack that I have read, re-read, and re-re-read several chapters and needed time to digest.  It is a book every artist and educator should have. 

Daring Greatly; Brene Brown

Brene Brown is taking the world by storm, and rightfully so.  Her books are brilliant, witty, and most importantly- accessible!  Brene’s podcast material and Netflix specials are even better! Whatever format you choose to digest the material, Brene’s passion, expertise, and effervescent personality shines through.  “Daring Greatly” advocates for embracing vulnerability and further suggests that vulnerability is the key to transforming how we parent, lead, love, and live.  Brene’s Netflix special gives great insight into Brene’s research into this subject, and makes a great companion to the book. 

Girl Wash Your Face; Rachel Hollis

The format of this book is fantastic and each chapter is dedicated to a separate lie that women use to self-sabotage themselves.  Rachel dismantles each lie with humor, grace, and well-earned wisdom.  The book encourages readers to live with intention, confidence, and personal accountability.  While this book is marketed specifically to women, it is enlightening to learn from the female perspective and understand how our socially constructed these lies, and what Rachel is truly helping others to do is to live counter-culturally. A great read!

Letters to a Young Poet; Marie Rainer Rilke

A short, but powerful read that brings you into a conversation between two artists who are striving to find purpose and fulfillment.  Every artist has asked themselves,  “Am I good enough? Am I on the right path?” This book makes you feel seen and comforted knowing that you are walking a path that others have wandered before us. A must read.

Overworked and Underlaid; Nigel Marsh

Grasping for more work/life balance, Nigel takes a year off of work to investigate balance practices and make personal changes.  A humorous and honest assessment on our society’s values and priorities.  This book was published way before Covid-19 and feels like a novelty way before “wellness” was a mainstream topic.  I have not read it since, but am super curious how it has aged.  You can check out Nigel’s TED Talk.

Sh*t My Dad Said; Justin Halpern

A light read that everyone can identify with…and a lot of nuggets of wisdom along the way.  

Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k ; Mark Manson

Mark masterfully flips the “self-help” movement on its head.  For those confused or turned off by the title, the book doesn’t truly encourage you not to care. It actually contends that you have a limited amount of time and energy in the day and you need to prioritize and protect yourself, the ones you love and the projects in which you are passionate and invested.  A serious book that doesn’t take itself seriously.

This Day AND The World Ending Fire; Wendell Berry

Everyone working and living in rural America needs to know Wendy Berry.  He is a small-town champion and my spirit animal!  Berry had a successful teaching and writing career in NYC.  When he considered moving back to his family’s farm in rural Kentucky, he was warned that his career would never recover.  He then went home and produced his most celebrated work and was awarded the highest honor the federal government can distinguish for intellectual achievement in the humanities.  Check out any of his poetry or nonfiction.

Trouble with Poetry and Other Poems, The; Billy Collins

Billy Collin’s work is gateway poetry for other poetry!  It is simple and direct as well as humorous and powerful.  Collins specializes in finding the special in everyday observations and interactions, teaching us that nothing is really trivial.  

What Teachers Make; Taylor Mali

Okay, if you have not watched Taylor’s performance of “What Teachers Make” on youtube, do that now.  I will wait!  This wonderful book includes poetry and stories about the craft of teaching, and its practitioners.  There are not many books dedicated to the art of education, and even fewer that are this powerful and live-affirming.  Now while I am no way endorsed by Taylor, I will say that if you buy a copy on his website, you can get it signed and inscribed to your favorite teacher! You should do that..and if you need someone to send you a copy, let me know!

10% Happier; Dan Harris

Fun, engaging, and honest…Dan Harris takes us through his personal journey through self-help initiatives and beginning mediation.  If you are  taking steps to better yourself, this book is a great companion.  Dan Harris also shares his teachers and resources along the way.  You can also check out Dan’s interviews and podcast on youtube.