Top 5 Books of 2007

I read 52 books in 2007.  Katerina asked which of those 52 books were the best written and most important to me personally.  I looked at my list and came up with a 'Top 5 of 2007'.

1) The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay: This book comes in first place because it's well-written, engaging, memorable and philosophical enough to appeal to my heart as well as my mind.  It's about a young boy growing up in South Africa and the important relationships he developed that helped him grow into a man of integrity.  It has a surprise ending too!  I love that the author doesn't need to tell you what happens after that because you just KNOW. ;-)

2) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls: A true story about a family living rough (in intentional poverty) in America.  This one was so good that I recommended it to my mother and, like me, she was slack-jawed with amazement at strength and resilience of those children.  They somehow managed to cope with their fabulously strange family and grow into successful adult despite it all.  I couldn't put this one down and I still think about it from time to time (and when I see someone reading it on the subway, I get a tiny pang of jealousy because it was SUCH a good read).

3) Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert: I read this book on my annual camping trip and breezed through it during those three days.  It was the perfect book for a quiet interval in the woods - engaging enough to keep me entertained, significant enough to provide food for thought for weeks afterward.  Elizabeth Gilbert knows how to tell a good story and there's something very compelling about her everyday-woman-come-seeker vibe.  Not everyone loves this book in the yoga community, but I think you have to take it for what it offers: a woman who runs away from her life and follows her muse (food, meditation, love).  If you enjoy living vicariously through the pages of a book, this is a good ride.

4) Healthy at 100 by John Robbins: I've been a fan of John Robbins since I read his book 'Diet for a New America' in the early 90s.  At the time, I was an aspiring vegan and his stories of factory farming gave me the chills (and the motivation to forgo eggs).  His latest book is well-written and very, very interesting.  He explores longevity in different cultures around the world and analyzes the factors that lead to fantastic longevity.  His approach is pragmatic - he examines the existing research, its findings and flaws, then suggests some steps we can all take to live longer (I'll give you a hint: the typical North American diet is found wanting).  This is non-fiction that reads easy.

5) Living Your Yoga by Judith Lasater: This is my favourite 'yoga book' of the year.  It's a nice book to keep bedside for a chapter-a-night before going to sleep.  Lasater discusses different ways to take yoga 'off the mat' and stay true to the yoga practice in your day-to-day life.  Although this book doesn't even touch Donna Fari's 'Bringing Yoga to Life' for sheer profundity, it's nice light reading and true to its title.