Book Collection: a point of reference
One of my adored artist-friend, Hannah Johansen, once suggested I pay more attention to what I spend a lot of my free time exploring; I was admiring her endless creativity and inquiring how her passion with art came to be. She had told me she thought it was normal for people to do research and spend time developing their interests. She didn't say this verbatim but it was implied that in developing true creativity or passion, there underlies a strong spirit of curiosity and an honest desire to expand one's knowledge of and skills in developing what brings them joy. That is what I had gathered anyway, from her and other relentlessly creative people I know. The unique thing about my artist-friend that sets her apart from some others I know though, is that she doesn't let her inner critic get the best of her; she is confident in herself (and very aware of her strengths and weaknesses) and truly loves the art she makes. She is also constantly learning and developing her craft. She is one of my loving reminders of the process of art-making/living.
In her spirit, I've been paying more attention to where my attention wanders to. In the past few years of trying to heal myself and learn the tools in which I can better help others as well (as an aspiring teacher), I have -unintentionally yet not surprisingly- accumulated a collection of books...
Most are listed below (from the kindle and a few from the shelf).
Mostly personal development, self-help, how-tos, and memoirs. Some, I've come back to again and again. Others, I've just skimmed once (my goal is read all before I buy more books, or at least come to terms with just skimming again because the book serves me no purpose).
Alphabetized to the best of current ability.
They will just be a point of reference for the rest of this tumblr. From the suggestion of another artist-friend, Sheila Chen, I'll use this tumblr to share some words from these books that have resonated with me, at some point in time.
My purpose in sharing all this is to develop and explore my own creative powers. I've hesitated to call myself an artist before, thinking I was not creative nor dedicated enough ; however, I've realized recently that although I may not be dedicated to a typical creative outlet (visuals, music, dance...), I have been pretty dedicated in investing my time in developing my skills in the art of living. These books have been some of my "research" in how to be better develop and create spaces for experiencing a more wonderful existence. I've fumbled many times before and still do struggle - but now at this stage in my life, I'm happy to say I've become more skillful than a few years ago. I'm continuously learning more about my potentials and limits. Sometimes I regress, but I've become more agile at getting up again and moving forward.
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An Astronaut’s Guide to Life On Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determinations, and Being Prepared for Anything – Chris Hadfield
The Art of Awareness- Deb Curtis & Margie Carter
The Art Of Communicating – Thich Nhat Hanh
Autism: A Practical Guide for Parents – Alan Yau
Being Genuine – Thomas d’Ansembourg
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use it for Life – Twyla Tharp
Eleven Rings: the Soul of Success – Phil Jackson
Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? - Mindy Kaling
Every Teacher Matters – Kathryn Lovewell
The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Teacher, Healer, and Visionary – Angeles Arrien
The Gentle Art of Blessing: A Simple Practice That Will Transform You and Your World – Pierre Pradervand
Getting Past Your Past – Francine Shapiro
How to Raise the Perfect Dog - Cesar Millan
Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life – Martin Seligman
Learning by Heart - Corita Kent & Jan Steward
Mindful Discipline – Shauna Shapiro & Chris White
Nonviolent Communication – Marshall Rosenberg
The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression - Andrew Solomon
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - Stephen King
The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload – Daniel Levitin
Playing Big - Tara Mohr
The Power of Myth - Joseph Campbell
Rewire Your Brain For Love: Creating Vibrant Relationships Using the Science of Mindfulness - Marsha Lucas
Reverence, Renewing a Forgotten Virtue – Paul Woodruff
The tools: 5 Tools to Help you Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower – Phil Stutz & Barry Michel
True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart – Tara Brach
The Truth About Trust: How It Determines Success in Life, Love, Learning, and More – David DeSteno
Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion – Sam Harris
The Way of Transition: Embracing Life’s Most Difficult Moments – Bridge, William
Winds, Sand, and Stars - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
Words: I know What I want to Say, I Just Don’t Know How – Mark Hanna
Working with Challenging Youth - Brent Richardson
The Undefeated Mind: On the Science of Constructing and Indestructible Self – Alex Lickerman
The Universe Within: The Deep History of The Human Body – Neil Shun
