Books

I LOVE TO READ and these are just some of my favorite books. A wide variety of topics interest me, so you’re bound to find something that resonates with you. Even if you aren’t an ardent world traveler, the books themselves will transport you! Whether they delight, enlighten, bore or disappoint, let me know what you think.

Another Time, Another Place

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict [New York City, USA]
Balkan Ghosts: A Journey Through History by Robert D. Kaplan [Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia]
Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America’s Strangest Jail by Rusty Young and Thomas McFadden [Bolivia]
Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams [Peru]
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks [Bosnia]
Here is New York by E.B. White [New York City, USA]
They Came To Nashville by Marshall Chapman [Tennessee]
Three Cups of Tea by David Oliver Relin and Greg Mortenson [Afghanistan]
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese [Ethiopia]
Leopard at the Door by Jennifer McVeigh [Kenya]
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee [Korea, Japan]
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan by Alephonsion Deng [Sudan]
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle [France]
Find Me Unafraid Love, Loss and Hope in an African Slum by Jessica Posner and Kennedy Odede [Kenya, USA]
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright [Cambodia]
Our Man in Moscow by Robert Ford [Russia]
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn [WWI France, England]
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls [USA]
The Motorcycle Diaries, Notes on a Latin American Journey by Ernesto Che Guevara [Latin America]
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck [China]
Wide-Open World How Volunteering Around the World Changed One Family’s Lives Forever by John Marshall [Costa Rica, New Zealand, Thailand, India, Tibet, Portugal]
The Mountain Shadow (sequel to Shantaram) by Gregory David Roberts [India]
The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett [Great Britain, India]
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba [Malawi]
The Green Hills of Africa by Ernest Hemingway [Kenya, East Africa]
Zambizi by Tony Park [Southern and East Africa]
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts [India]
The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry [India]
Sideways on a Scooter, Life and Love in India by Miranda Kennedy [India]
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden [Japan]
Tales of a Female Nomad, Living at Large in the World by Rita Golden Gelman [Latin America, Asia and Beyond]
Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene [Cuba]
Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat [Haiti]
Long After Midnight at the Nino Bien, A Yanqui’s Missteps in Argentina by Brian Winter [Argentina]
Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight, An African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller [Africa]
Whatever You Do, Don’t Run! True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide by Peter Alison [Botswana]
Don’t Look Behind You by Peter Allison [Southern Africa]
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay [South Africa]
So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba [Senegal]
Things Fall Apart by Chinawe Achebe [Nigeria]
Emma’s War, Love, Betrayal and Death in the Sudan by Deborah Scroggins [Sudan]
West with the Night by Beryl Markham [East Africa]
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver [Africa]
Bill Bryson’s African Diary by Bill Bryson [Kenya]
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Cookbooks, Food & Hospitality

Fiber Fueled: The Plant-Based Gut Health Program for Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz
Feasting Wild: In Search of the Last Untamed Food by Gina Rae La Cerva
Chloe Flavor by Chloe Coscarelli
Food52 Vegan by Gena Hamshaw
Veganize It! by Robin Robertson
Vegan Casseroles by Julie Hasson
Thug Kitchen Cookbooks
Six Seasons, A New Way With Vegetables by Joshua McFadden
Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook
Garlic and Sapphires, The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl
Driving Hungry, A Memoir by Layne Mosler
At Home in The Whole Food Kitchen, Celebrating the Art of Eating Well by Amy Chaplin
The Oh She Glows Cookbook, Over 100 Vegan Recipes to Glow from the Inside Out by Angela Liddon
Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis
In Defense of Food, An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan
Fast Food Nation, The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
Local Flavors Cooking and Eating from America’s Farmers’ Markets by Deborah Madison
The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins
Female Nomad and Friends, Tales of Breaking Free and Breaking Bread Around the World by Rita Golden Gelman
Setting the Table, The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer
The Warm and Welcome Home, Sharing God’s Love Through Hospitality by Quin Sherrer
Tabletops by Barbara Milo Ohrbach

The Healing Arts

Into the Magic Shop A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart by James R. Doty, MD
The Nia Technique by Debbie and Carlos Rosas
You Can Heal Your Life by Lousie Hay
Joy’s Way A Map for the Transformational Journey by W. Bruch Joy, MD
Human Anatomy in Full Color by John Green
Vibrational Medicine The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies by Richard Gerber, MD
Wheels of Light Chakras, Auras, and the Healing Energy of the Body by Rosalyn L. Bruyere
Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field by Barbara Ann Brennan
Light Emerging: The Journey of Personal Healing by Barbara Ann Brennan
Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing by Caroline Myss
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche
The Power of the Mind to Heal Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit by Joan Borysenko, PhD
The Bodymind Workbook Exploring How the Mind & The Body Work Together by Debbie Shapiro
Sacred Medicine A Doctor’s Quest to Unravel the Mysteries of Healing by Lissa Rankin, MD
The Body Keeps The Score Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD
Healing Words The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine by Larry Dossey, MD
The Tongue A Creative Force by Charles Capps
Healing Mantras Using Sound Affirmations for Personal Power, Creativity, and Healing by Thomas Ashley-Farrand
Tuning the Human Biofield: Healing with Vibrational Sound Therapy by Eileen Day McKusick
Electric Body, Electric Health by Eileen Day McKusick
This Is Your Brain on Music The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin
Music Therapy for Non-Musicians by Ted Andrews
The Mozart Effect Tapping the Power of Music to Heal the Body, Strengthen the Mind, and Unlock the Creative Spirit by Don Campbell
Healing at the Speed of Sound How What We Hear Transforms Our Brains and Our Lives: From Music to Silence and Everything in Between by Don Campbell and Alex Doman
Voluntary Controls Exercises for Creative Meditation and for Activating the Potential of the Chakras by Jack Schwarz
Bach Flower Therapy Theory and Practice by Mechthild Scheffer
Ayurveda The Science of Self-Healing by Dr. Vasant Lad
Accupressure: Simple Steps to Health by Jacqueline Young
Love Your Organs, Love Yourself A guide to better health through the 5 elements of Oriental medicine by Warren King, L.Ac.
Essential Oils Natural Remedies The Complete A-Z Reference of Essential Oils for Health and Healing, Aletha Press
The Book of Stones Who They Are and What They Teach by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian
Stone Medicine A Chinese Medical Guide to Healing with Gems and Minerals by Leslie J. Franks
Bliss Brain The Neuroscience of Remodeling Your Brain for Resilience, Creativity, and Joy by Dawson Church

Religion & Spirituality

An Open Heart Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life by The Dalai Lama
Wherever You Go There You Are Mindfulness meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn
The Four Agreements A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz
Be Free Where You Are by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Inescapable Love of God by Thomas Talbott
Raising Hell: The Short and Sweet Version by Julie Ferwerda
Francis and Clare of Assisi, Selected Writings
Chasing Francis, A Pilgrim’s Tale by Ian Morgan Cron
Mindfulness on the Go Simple Meditation Practices You Can Do Anywhere by Jan Chozen Bays
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster
More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell
The Theology of the Hammer by Millard Fuller
The Wounded Healer by Henri J. M. Nouwen
I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris
Mudhouse Sabbath, An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline by Lauren F. Winner
Real Sex, The Naked Truth about Chastity by Lauren F. Winner
Girl Meets God, On the Path to a Spiritual Life by Lauren F. Winner
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

A Path Appears by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
The Book of Forgiving by Desmond and Mpho Tutu
Planet of Slums by Mike Davis
International Bank of Bob, Connecting Our Worlds One $25 KIVA Loan at a Time by Bob Harris
Half the Sky, Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela [South Africa]
Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen
Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
Through African Eyes by Leon E. Clark
Democratizing Development, The Role of Voluntary Organizations by John Clark
Achieving Broad-Based Sustainable Development by Weaver, Rock, Kusterer
Race Matters by Cornel West
Never Say Nigger Again! An Antiracism Guide for White Liberals by M. Garlinda Burton

Health & Psychology

Your Next Five Moves Master the Art of Business Strategy by Patrick Bet-David
All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low Trust World by Seth Godin
The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe by Lynne McTaggart
Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients by Dr. Russell L. Blaylock
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker
Alongside: Loving Teenagers with the Gospel by Drew Hill
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
When Breathe Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions to Adulthood by Lisa Damour
The Heart of Anger: Practical Help for the Prevention and Cure of Anger in Children by Lou Priolo
Radical Remission, Surviving Cancer Against All Odds by Dr. Kelly Turner
Voice Lessons for Parents, What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Listen by Wendy Mogel, PhD
The China Study, The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-term Health by T. Colin Campbell
Being Mortal, Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
The Checklist Manifesto, How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande
The Blue Zones: Lesson For Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner
Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way by Dan Buettner
Emotional Intelligence, Why it can matter more than IQ by Daniel Goleman, Ph.D.
Alternative Medicine, The Definitive Guide Edited by Larry Trivieri, Jr. and John W. Anderson
Knockout, Interviews with doctors who are curing cancer and how to prevent getting it in the first place by Suzanne Somers
Beyond IQ by Garth Sundem
The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger
The Measure of My Days by Florida Scott-Maxwell

Fashion & Décor

I’ll Drink to That, A Life in Style with a Twist by Betty Halbreicht
Alligators, Old Mink & New Money by Alison Houtte & Melissa Houtte
Learning to See: Bringing the World Around You Into Your Home by Vicente Wolf
Lifting the Curtain on Design by Vicente Wolf
Crossing Boundaries: A Global Vision of Design by Vicente Wolf
Furnishing Forward by Sheila Bridges
The Art of Makeup by Kevyn Aucoin

Just for Fun & Everything Else

Calypso by David Sedaris (*funniest book ever)
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
How to be the World’s Smartest Traveler by Christopher Elliott
Congratulations, by the way by George Saunders
Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes [New York City]
Summer at Tiffany by Margorie Hart [New York City]
The Sky’s the Limit, Passion and Property in Manhattan by Steven Gaines [New York City]
The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Endangered Pleasures by Barbara Holland
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker
Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman
What the Dog Knows: Scent, Science and the Amazing Ways Dogs Perceive the World by Cat Warren