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.
Comments
interesting for me to read. Thank you!