38 books that have changed my life.

“What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.” Carl Sagan

Books have always been a major blessing in my life. Some literally just show up on a corner when i need them most, some have sat on my bookshelf for so long waiting for me to be ready. Some i have grown up with, some i have just met. However these books have come into my life, i am a better person because of their collection of words – and the authors that wrote them.
 
i’ve read a lot of books in my life, but these . . . these are the one’s that have helped shape who i am. If that’s not magic, i don’t know what is.
 

♥ Enjoy ♥

 
: Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor E. Frankl

: Miss Piggy’s Guide to Life – Miss Piggy via Henry Beard

: Green Eggs and Ham – Dr. Seuss

: Any choose your own adventures story

: The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are To Where You Want to Be – Jack Canfield

: The Virgin and the Gipsy – D. H. Lawrence

: How to Heal the Hurt By Hating – Anita Liberty

: The Little Engine That Could – Watty Piper

: What To Do, When – and Why at parties, at home, at school, in your growing world – Marjabelle Young and Ann Buchwald

: Ask and It is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires – Esther Hicks

: Dangerous Angels: Five Weetzie Bat Books – Francesca Lia Block

: Steal This Book – Abbie Hoffman

: Light is the New Black – Rebecca Campbell

: This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color – Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa

: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft – Steven King

: Wild Mind: Living the Writer’s Life – Natalie Goldberg

: Puff the Magic Dragon – Peter Yarrow

: I Who Have Never Known Men – Jacqueline Harpman

: Damn Good Advice (For People With Talent!): How to Unleash Your Creative Potential by America’s Master Communicator, George Lois – George Lois

: Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small – Ted Andrews

: Guide For the Advanced Soul: A Book of Insight – Susan Hayward

: The Art of Loving – Erich Fromm

: A Woman’s Worth – Marianne Williamson

: Tao of Pooh – Benjamin Hoff

: Loving Ganesh – Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

: Disidentification: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics – José Esteban Muñoz

: Charlie the Caterpillar – Dom Deluise

: Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll

: Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky

: 11/22/63 – Steven King

: House of Leaves – Mark Z. Danielewski

: E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality – Pam Grout

: D. V. – Diana Vreeland

: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark – Alvin Schwartz

: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing – Marie Kondo
 
And then there are those books that no amount of Googling will help me find. i’m including them here in hopes that one of you beautiful unicorns might remember these?!?!
 
: A teenage guide to sex and STD’s that came out in the mid to late 90’s that was called something like “The Teenagers Ultimate Guide to Sex.” The title on the cover looked like 90’s neon signs.
 
: Remember the Scholastic catalogs full of books, calendars, and other fun paper-y stuff they used to hand out in elementary? This book was came from one of those book fairs. The name had “kissing” in it and was something like “how to be the world’s best kisser.” It was one of those 80’s young adult books (like Sweet Valley High but not a series) that taught the reader how to be a good kisser through fiction. i still remember my favorite tip from the book: when kissing or laying with someone with whom you’d like to fall under your spell match your breathing pattern to theirs. It’s a sure fire way to plant the subconscious seed in your future lovers mind that ya’ll are in synch – in more ways than one!
 
: Also in the late 90’s, United Colors of Benetton came out with a white spiral bound picture book that if i remember correctly, had people in different colored sweaters jumping in the air. The book talked about color, patterns, and culture and quickly became my bible on style, color, and dressing to the beat of your own drum.
 
Well, there you have it. i’m pretty sure i’ve missed some (actually probably A LOT) and i know for damn sure that many more will be added to the list as i continue my annual 100 to books to read in 365 days ritual.
 
These are a good a start as any.
 
And if you find yourself dying to read any and all of them NOW all you have to do is follow the link to my Amazon store, buy your fav, and wait 7 business days (or 1-2 if you’re a Prime member) for transformation to be delivered right to your doorstep!!
 
Here’s to an ever expanding library – and our imaginations
 
Mad love and light your way!
 
Eclectically yours,
 
xo-b
 
P.P.S. Love books as much as i do?!?! i’m starting a brand new . . . something (still working out all the deets) called Bandita Books. Come on over and become a book nerd with me!