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books that fundamentally changed me and how i see the world 🤯

13 items

khareef

i'm not a big fan of fiction, i can thank my high school english teachers for that. i never caught on to themes, like when they tried to tell me old man and the sea was about jesus or something? anyway, i prefer non-fiction books that educate me, cha...

"when we understand love as the will to nurture our own and another's spiritual growth, it becomes clear that we cannot claim to love if we are hurtful and abusive. love and abuse cannot coexist"--this passage really resonated with me and at first ma...

All About Love - Bell Hooks

in this book, Hooks talks about how women and loved were changed by the feminist movement. this book is such a heart-to-heart moment that i really think every woman should read.

Communion - Bell Hooks

i didn't know what to expect from this book. it was the first we read in my book club a few years ago, right after i moved to LA and was questioning my life's purpose after not feeling fulfilled by finally achieving my goal of obtaining what i though...

A Psalm for the Wild-Built: A Monk and Robot - Becky Chambers

a collection of essays and conversations about reclaiming pleasure as something essential, not something you have to earn. it explores joy, rest, sex, food, connection, and desire as part of living a full, liberated life rather than constantly operat...

Pleasure Activism - Adrienne Maree Brown

borderline personality disorder is such a commonly stigmatized and misunderstood disorder. this book helps to understand it better and can benefit patients and caregivers in helping someone with BPD, but i also found it helpful in terms of understand...

I Hate You, Don't Leave Me - Jerold J Kreisman

this book is pretty dense but very thoroughly explores the history of how the american government has imposed racial segregation within metropolitan areas in the US. a great start to understanding the history of systemic racism in our country and tha...

The Color of Law - Richard Rothstein

my residency program director had us read this book and it is so eye opening to how the war on drugs in the US targeted black men and attempted to destroy communities of color. it explores how the criminal justice system is a means of racial control.

The New Jim Crow - Michelle Alexander

at first i thought this book fed into the need to be resilient and productive for the capitalist machine. we read as a part of my residency leadership certificate. i think to takeaway the best parts of the book, it pairs well with her podcast. so man...

Grit - Angela Duckworth

another book we had to read for my residency leadership program but i love this one. my tendency is a questioner leaning rebel, which made so much sense to me (especially with my ADHD and later questionable autism diagnosis). i don't like people tell...

The Four Tendencies - Gretchen Rubin

this is such a beautiful book, both the illustrations and the story. the four friends share discover a lot about vulnerability, kindness, hope, friendship, and love.

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Charlie Mackesy

another book we had to read for my residency leadership certificate and it really shifted my perspective on dealing with drama, especially in the workplace (my PGY-1 was toxic as hell). the book follows a story of a man who feels like a victim in his...

The Power of TED - David Emerald

a book about understanding and overcoming self-sabotage by recognizing the patterns, fears, and unmet needs behind it. it’s about building emotional awareness, letting go of the habits that keep you stuck, and becoming the person capable of creating ...

The Mountain Is You - Brianna West

very mainstream “self-help” book and i don't like it if you frame it in a way of being more productive. if you already know a lot about the dopamine reward pathway, some parts can seem a little like “duh”. but i really like how the author actually gi...

Atomic Habits - James Clear