One of the pleasures of winter is the warmth of our homes when the cold winds are blowing. Dusk falls early, making a simple dinner of hot soup and crusty bread, a roaring fire, and a stack of books to while away the dark hours all cold weather pleasures. I’m a constant reader, and am always asking people what books they’re enjoying. I thought I’d share with you the pile of books beside my favorite reading chair, the stack of books on my cocktail table, and the tower of books at my bedside. I hope you find something you enjoy here.
Books That Replenish My Spirit:
After a long holiday season and a whirlwind of parties, presents and merry-making, the (relative) quiet of January is just what I need. Here are the books that are helping me push the “reset” button for my mind and spirit:
The Four Doors: A Guide to Joy, Freedom and a Meaningful Life, by Richard Paul Evans.
Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife, by Eben Alexander, M.D.
A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough, by Wayne Muller
Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives, by Wayne Muller
How Then Shall We Live? Four Simple Questions That Reveal the Beauty and Meaning of Our Lives, by Wayne Muller
Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence, by Rick Hanson
Books on Travel:
My husband, Frank, and I are planning our tenth anniversary trip to Italy. It’s where we honeymooned. The planning and anticipation is part of the pleasure!
Italian Ways: On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo, by Tim Parks
The Grand Tour: Travelling the World with an Architect’s Eye, by Harry Seidler
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Sicily
Italy Bed & Breakfasts, by Nicole Franchini and Clare Brown
Sicily: Three Thousand Years of Human History, by Sandra Benjamin
Italy of my Dreams, by Matthew White
Fabulous Fiction:
Reading fiction is pure pleasure. A good novel takes me away to another place and time, filled with people I feel I know by the time I shut the cover. Here are a few on my nightstand:
A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry
The Light Between Oceans, by M. L. Stedman
The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt
A Week in Winter, by Maeve Binchy
Design for a New World :
I’m a continual student of the latest thoughts and ideas in my industry, and about our impact on the earth. I’m intrigued by the concept of living “off the grid,” and creating the smallest possible footprint on the planet. Here are two books I’m reading now.
Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid: Your Path to Building an Energy-Independent Home, by Sheri Koones and Robert Redford
150 Best Eco House Ideas, by Marta Serrats
I’m never sure if I buy too many books, or not enough. What I am sure of is that books are the warmest path through winter. Let’s all let books light a fire within us!
“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”–John Green