These Are A Few of My Favourite – Books!

It’s been a number of years since I’ve shared a list of my favourite books. Since my last edition – which I think was five years ago – I’ve certainly read a LOT! Which means that there are some new books on this list – and some of the old ones have been knocked off the list! Reading is one of those things that brings me immense joy, even if it’s only a short story – or a book I’ve read before (because I do that – novelty isn’t always necessary for me, when it comes to books!).

There’s something for everybody here, I think. Take a look, and see what catches your fancy.

Title (Author)

Anne of Green Gables – the entire series!  (Lucy Maud Montgomery)

Why I love it -- It’s a Canadian classic!  I tend to make my way through this series every couple of years.

The Harry Potter series.  (J.K. Rowling)

Why I love it – too many reasons to list. This is one of those series that wraps up at the end in a way that had me wonder about the author’s writing process. How on earth did she bring it all together like that? I tend to read this repeatedly. My favourite book in the series? Probably the 4th – but I do love the 7th too…heck, I love the whole thing!

Oh, The Places You’ll Go!  (Dr. Seuss)

                Why I love it – because it’s a brilliant, fun bit of light-hearted inspiration.

My Many Colored Days (Dr. Seuss)

Why I love it – I think this is one of Dr. Seuss’s lesser known works. I discovered it way back in the days when I worked in a school-aged childcare setting, and found it a fabulous reminder of how feelings are neither good or bad, but just part of the human condition. Once I had kids, it was a great way to introduce them to emotions.

Queen (Alex Haley)

                Why I love it – I love historical fiction. This one is brilliant.

The Anatomy of Peace (The Arbinger Institute)

Why I love it – this book was a paradigm-shifter for me. It’s a fabulous fable that teaches how to navigate through tough conflicts in all areas of life. Excellent applications for work and home.

The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz)

Why I love it – it’s a fame changer in the realm of relationships. I refer to it in many of the workshops I run, because it has such practical implications. It’s short, sweet and pretty easy to read.

Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)

Why I love it – such brilliance and wisdom, all based on a true story. I love true stories, and every time I read this book (which is at least once a year) I wish I could have met Morrie Schwartz in person.

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto (Mitch Albom)

Why I love it – basically, I love Mitch Albom’s writing. I really do! This one reads like a true story – even though it isn’t. It grips me right from the beginning and it’s one of those “I don’t want to put it down” books. I will forego meals for this one.

The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)

Why I love it – this was the first novel by Dan Brown that I read. I found it to be a great suspense thriller. I’ve since enjoyed many other books by Brown – his most recent, Origin, is rather gripping and mind-boggling J (In a good way).

Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)

Why I love it – this was my introduction to Jeffrey Archer – and I’ve been hooked ever since. While I’m not as fond of his short stories, his novels are riveting.

The Clifton Chronicles (Jeffrey Archer)

See above – bottom-line, I love Jeffrey Archer

The Help (Kathryn Stockett)

Why I love it – this was a wonderful book, shedding light on the challenges of racism and how it played out (and continues to play out).

Daring Greatly (and other books by Brene Brown)

Why I love it – Brene Brown has become a hero of mine. Her thoughts on leadership, vulnerability, compassion and empathy are absolutely brilliant in my opinion and experience.

Start with Why (Simon Sinek)

Why I love it -- Another great book to support you on your leadership journey. Helps provide context for how we can find inspiration.

Drive (Dan Pink)

Why I love it – this was a great read to help in understanding motivation, and how it’s changed since the industrial revolution. If you want to know how to motivate your employees, this is a great resource.

I know I could go on, but I’ll leave it there for now. Hopefully, there’s a book or two on here that piques your interest. If so, and if you read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it, so feel free to email me, okay? gail@stellarcc.com and title it “book thoughts”.  Also, if you’ve got a favourite book that you’d like me to know about, share away! I’m always looking for titles to add to my list. Happy reading!