The advantage of a book over a computer screen is that you can take it to bed with you.

 

 

Books inform, entertain, edify, divert, thrill, enlighten and inspire. Crammed between their covers we find great truths, great lies and enthralling fantasy. As Somerset Maugham said, ‘To acquire the habit of reading is to construct yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.’

This blog is about sharing the books that have set us alight. You can submit a few lines or several paragraphs - whatever it takes to tell us about a book that showed you the world differently, enabled you to explore a new path or simply gave you enormous pleasure. Your suggestion might leave others cold or point them in an exciting new direction.

So whatever it is that has inspired you - children’s books, business hardbacks, self-help manuals, science fiction or Proust – let us know. Meanwhile get enthused (or not) by what these readers have to say.

Photo by Mladen Penev

 

Gina Harper recommends:
The Optimistic Child by Dr Martin Seligman.

Dr Seligman believes that pessimistic thinking leads to depression and that by changing the way we think, we can learn to be optimistic and happy. His books for adults are really inspiring but this one is a handbook for parents. It shows them how to teach their children to think in a positive, optimistic way so they can enjoy challenges and not get defeated when things don’t go their way. It’s easy to read and full of examples and practical tips on how to change your child’s thinking and boost his/her social skills and self esteem.  I discovered this book when my kid was having a tough time with bullying at school and I had run out of ideas of how to support her to handle it. It was really helpful – in fact I was so inspired I went on to read the rest of his books too.

 

Jane Lyle recommends:
The Artists's Way by Julia Cameron.

Have you ever imagined yourself a guest on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs? Dreamed up your own top ten tracks you wouldn’t want to live without? It’s so hard to refine your choices – so choosing one inspiring book from a house overflowing with volumes…almost impossible. The volume I’ve finally chosen to share is one that has continually inspired me for the last ten years.

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron offers a kind of course to unblock your creativity. She encourages you to get in touch with ‘spiritual electricity’, the power of life itself, the mysterious, mystical energy of what she terms ‘The Great Creator’. Working with this wonderful energy, she writes, can unblock creativity and lead us towards living a more authentic, fulfilling life.

Many self-help books simply state the obvious. The Artist’s Way, however, makes you work for your inspiration through keeping a daily diary, doing exercises to explore your mind, tastes, and forgotten dreams - and taking time out each week to do something inspiring and playful. Called the ‘Artist’s Date’, it requires spending an hour or so a week playing as you did when you were a child. Even finding that small amount of time is a challenge – which makes it especially worth striving for.

As long as you are alone with your thoughts, you can do anything you fancy - walk through a beautiful park; visit an eccentric shop; stroll through an unfamiliar street market. These ‘dates’ can inspire as much as a visit to an art gallery or concert. As Cameron says, it’s the commitment to yourself that counts. The commitment to feeding your soul and stocking up the inner larder. We’re all creative in one way or another; this isn’t about being a great artist, musician or prize-winning novelist. It’s about unblocking oneself, being liberated from routine or the deadening effect of others’ expectations. Once free your sense of being fully alive can flow again. Your spiritual life can integrate more effectively with what you do every day.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.
Henry David Thoreau

 

Rose Kendall recommends:
The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies by Beatrix Potter.

I have always had a voracious appetite for books.  I was an early reader and had parents who indulged me royally. I think the book that had the biggest impact on me was The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies by Beatrix Potter. It was the first book I managed to read all the way through on my own. Words I didn't understand were explained to me and I felt very grown up. Because I was totally captivated I thought reading was a breeze. After that there was no stopping me. I devoured books and now I am  nearly 65 and have read so many wonderful books. I thank Beatrix Potter from the bottom of my heart.

Dominic Berry recommends:
Where The Wild Things Are by Max Sendak

A book which I have found endlessly inspiring is Where The Wild Things Are by Max Sendak. It took an international award when it was printed and it's been reprinting ever since. It's one of the first books I can remember when I was a child. Children's books communicate a huge amount between the lines, I think that these titles are important and make a lasting impression. Take George Bush; he says his favourite book - I'm not making this up - is 'The Hungry Caterpillar'. Nuff said I think. I blame the writer for everything.  

Where The Wild Things Are begins with boy-hero Max behaving badly around the house. ‘On the night when Max put on his wolf suit... And got up to one thing...And another...' All beautifully illustrated with the Max in wolf costume chasing the dog with a fork. 'His mother called him "Wild thing"...  And put him to bed...  Without any supper'. 

From Max's bedroom confinement he goes into a fantasy world and it’s that the Wild Things are. In his fantasy he gets ample opportunity to let off steam by getting up to all kinds of wildness. There is a lot of wisdom in all this. We can see that kids often misbehave and that they often nee d discipline. By showing this in story form the child can see the rationale for what's happening with them when they drive their parents mad.  But it goes beyond this and starts to tell the child what their parents often can't tell them, which is what to do when they're in the dog house.  This is important stuff for kids.  They have to know that no matter what happens or what anybody thinks of you, you never give up on living your life.  It's also important for parents to understand that just because you're mad with your ki d doesn't stop them having emotional needs and emotional energy.  

At the end of the story Max is lulled back reality by the supper which his mother delivers to his room at the end of the night.  At 39 years old, I have to say this part always brings me a tear in my eye.  It reminds us that our love of our kids isn't conditional on good behaviour, but is actually pretty unconditional.  I used to work at Emotional Behavioral Units for some of the toughest kids in London and I read this book over about once a week.  It always seemed to ring true and provide a kind of compass for the whole thing.

La Bella Vita inspired me tremendously, as its vivid imagery is exquisite and intricacy of scenes I can still recall. I would like to add that the book also took me to places emotionally that perhaps I was uncomfortable with, but was grateful for the journey, and made me laugh which is always a good thing.  

 

Sally Sullivan recommends:
The World Is Flat by Thomas L. Freidman

I thought this was an airport book for businessmen and only picked it up because I thought it would be a good teaching tool for my Business English students.  It was fascinating and completely changed the way I thought about big business and globalization. Friedman argues that in the last 15 years, computers, e-mail, fibre-optics, teleconferencing etc have made our world ‘flat’ and it is now possible for people and information to connect all over the planet as never before. He argues that a flat world prevents conflict - basically people in the same economic supply chain don’t jeopardize their own business by going to war with others in the same supply chain. The ‘flat’ world isn’t always a force for good, of course. He says that it also allowed Osama bin Laden to attack the World Trade Centre and we have to really focus on using it in a positive way - for ordinary people and the environment as well as business. A stimulating book, crammed with interesting ideas - and my students enjoyed it too.

 

Prue recommends:
Dr. Prinitha Pillay's online blog.

This is a blog, not a book - but I hope it becomes a book one day. Prinitha Pillay is a South African doctor working with MSF in the northwest Darfur, Sudan. She battles with outbreaks of meningitis, shootings and burnings, infant starvation and a daily influx of displaced persons. She writes about having to be torn away from a baby she can't accept has died, the merciless heat and her rage for the hundreds and thousands of lives lost.  This is an incredible blog from an extraordinary woman. region,

 

Pauline recommends:
Bessie Coleman.

Bessie Coleman was the first black woman to become a pilot. She was also the most popular stunt flier in her day. I always wanted to get my pilots license and read more about her....anyway, she's one woman that stood out to me - and one that stood out and became an inspiration to many black women. There are about six books about her life and many websites. 

 

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