Over the years, I have read many, many books, and some have left deep impressions and transformed my way of being. I wanted to share their names with you.
Important Update: I have just expanded this booklist and created a page on Amazon that both describes each book and allows you to easily order any of them.
You can view this new listing by clicking here to see what books changed my consciousness, and even get copies for yourself.
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Enlightening Books
There have been a few books that have actually put me into an enlightenment space for days or weeks. While they may or may not affect you in the same way, they are certainly worth reading.
2150 by Thea Alexander
While the style of writing is so-so, the concepts of this utopian novel triggered my longest enlightenment experience.
The Book of Strangers by Ian Dallas
One man's journey into the Ocean of Sufi mysticism. Powerful.
Conference of the Birds translated by C.S. Nott
This Sufi classic, by the Master Attar, is a transformative allegory about the spiritual journey.
Three Candles for Little Veronica by Maurice Kyber
A children's fable with profound teachings.
Testimony of Light by Helen Greaves
A truly beautiful book. If you want to understand the afterlife, and compassion, there is none better.
Wise Books
These books have been instrumental in my development and spiritual understanding.
Tales of the Dervishes, The Way of the Sufi, and all of the other Sufi books by Idries Shah
Idries Shah has singlehandedly brought Sufi wisdom to the West. All of his books are profound and will change the shape of your consciousness. These are the primary teaching books that I have immersed myself in for over two decades
Tales of the Hasidim, and Legend of the Baal Shem Tov by Martin Buber
The mystical path of Hasidism, its wisdom and heart.
Tale of the Reed Pipe by Mussad Farzan
An out-of-print book that elegantly awakens you to the Sufi approach gently and simply.
Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks
The poems of Rumi, the greatest mystical poet, come alive in these modern translations.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps
I have retold the wisdom tales from this book more times than I can count. Priceless.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
The Buddha's journey to enlightenment, masterfully told with utmost simplicity.
The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scoville Schinn
This 1927 classic is the spiritual bible of manifesting success in one's life.
The Master Game by Robert S. De Ropp
An old classic from the beginning of New Age thought.
The Psychology of Consciousness by Robert Ornstein
The book that got me started. The first book on the two sides of the brain, complete with Sufi stories and many insights.
The Island by Aldous Huxley
Huxley's greatest work. His therapy sessions with Milton Erickson, and his mescaline voyages both helped him write one of the best Utopian novels of all time.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
The Christ story told as a science fiction tale. I've read this one over a dozen times.
Two to Conquer, and The Heritage of Hastur (and many of the Darkover series) by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Best known for her Mists of Avalon (which I found depressing), her Darkover novels create a world where people have psychic gifts, gender issues, and gradually learn from their mistakes and mature. Thanks, Marion.
Ender's Game, and specifically Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card (the latter is a sequel, so it's worth reading Ender's Game first)
Both award-winning science fiction novels with three dimensional characters that grow.
The Eyes of Horus, and Lord of the Horizon by Joan Grant
These books, based upon the past life recall of Joan Grant, are excellent teaching tales about justice, wisdom, and life in ancient Egypt.
The Way of the Pilgrim by Gordon R. Dickson
This deceptively simple sci-fi tale of an invasion by benign aliens ends up going much further.
Dune, and Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
Classics of science fiction with plots within plots, and more. Many people find the latter book depressing, and it is a hard read, but gave me some important insights.
After the Honeymoon by Daniel Wile
Dr. Wile is a genius and his book is the best book I've read on making relationships work. It is out of print, but still available for a limited time through Cody's books – online too.
Uncommon Therapy by Jay Haley
This set of tales of Milton Erickson's work are profound teaching stories about a master at work.
Provocative Therapy by Frank Farley
"No one is fragile", says Dr. Farley. A book about a therapist who knew how to treat the mentally ill with forthright honesty to great effect.
The Politics of Experience by R.D. Laing
Dr. Laing's seminal work stretches your mind.
Games People Play by Eric Byrne
#1 for two years on the N.Y. Times best seller list for good reasons. This book awakened the world to the mechanisms of, and methods of short-circuiting, psychological games.
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