Here is a list of 10 books I have read and think are great. Each book has something unique to offer to give us a different perspective on life, health, wellness, how to make different choices, how to change our mindsets, how to change our environment and how to live a better life. Let’s get started.

#1 Explain Pain (e-book version, affordable) by David Butler and Lorimer Moseley

These two authors are the leading researchers in pain neuroscience and are changing the way therapists and patients view and treat pain. They delve into what pain is, how it works and how you can begin to change your relationship to pain. They use a variety of pictures and metaphors to help you understand pain. I think the greatest gift is knowledge, because once you know something, you can then begin to make different choices and decisions.

#2 Understand Pain: How to Live Well Again by Neil Pearson

Neil is our Canadian physiotherapist who is taking the current pain science and incorporating it into yoga practices to help you heal from pain. He also details what pain is, how it works and gives you little exercises to help you think about pain differently. I found it an easier read than Explain pain that has a bit more technical language but both are equally good.

#3 Intelligence In the Flesh: Why your mind needs your body much more than it thinks by Guy Claxton

Fascinating book that goes through anatomy and physiology (how things work) to explain the mind/body connection and how the 2 rely on each other. It is a technical read, but for you individuals that like to know how things work, this may be for you. He talks about how our thoughts/emotions impacts the biology of our body, how the body and brain communicate with each other, what is consciousness, how the body affects mental performance and at the end of the book how you can get your body back.

#4 The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

This is a book I read many years ago and also had the privilege to meet the author. I found the author to be a very intelligence, wise and gentle man. Very inspiring and motivating. This is a book on how you can live a happier life through the 4 agreements.

  • Be Impeccable with your word
  • Don’t Take Anything Personally
  • Don’t Make Assumptions
  • Always Do Your Best

This book helped me change the way I look at life and react to it. Very simple advice and he does a great job to illustrate how to use these agreements in day to day life.

#5 The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

This is a book that highlights the various ways we block our own creative energy that prevents us from doing the things we love and how we can overcome it. I found this book helpful to bring awareness to my thoughts and actions that were preventing me from being creative. It was after reading this book that I started recording videos for the ECO Physiotherapy YouTube Channel. If you are someone who enjoys painting, writing, sculpting, sewing, creative computer designs, etc this book is for you.

 

#6 Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont

I originally bought this book to help me with writing, which it did but it also taught me lessons about life. When you are passionate about something and you try the first time but don’t get it right, its okay. Its about having the courage to continue trying. She talks about writers block, wanting to give up and getting clear about why you are doing what you are doing. The lessons applied to writing can be applied to life.

#7 The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

This is a book about how to tidy and so much more. In order to de-clutter and stay tidy relies upon changing your mindset about how you relate to things in your home. The writer describes how to organize your house and by doing so, organize your life. She teaches you how to let go of items through a mindset of gratitude and focusing on things that spark joy. A tidy home allows energy to flow that gives you space and freedom to focus on the important things in life.

#8 Minimalism: live a meaningful life by The Minimalists

This book is about how to minimize things in your life that distract you from happiness, health and having a meaningful life. This book is different than the one above in the sense that it doesn’t focus on tidying or organizing. It focuses on showing you, by having less you gain more from life. They focus on health, relationships, passion and growth. They show you how a change in lifestyle or mindset sets you free.

The next set of books have a business focus but again have lessons that are applicable to everyday life.

#9 Essentialism by Greg McKeown

This book is about how to focus yourself in business so that you are only working on projects that are essential and letting go of the rest. As a business owner myself it is very easy to get caught up in too many things and therefore not accomplishing anything or burning out. This book helped me understand the concept on focusing on one or two really important projects and saying No to everything else. The writer walks you through how you do this. He teaches you about how to shield yourself from distractions and even really good distractions. The tips for business apply to life. How often do you find yourself saying yes to everything and all of a sudden you don’t even have a minute for yourself. I bet this happens often. If this is you, this book is a good read.

#10 Bold by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler

This is a book on how to become an exponential entrepreneur. Have big ideas? They show you how to make them come to life.  One thing I learned is that every 18 months there is a new technological breakthrough that will affect the future of business. For example 3D printing. One of the sayings in the book is, “disrupt yourself or someone else will.” This is so true in business because if you get too comfortable and stop searching for new ways to provide a service or product, someone else will. If you feel stuck in business this is the book for you. If you feel stuck creatively, perhaps book #5 is the place to start. As we enter the technological age, I think this a good book to read.

My 10 Book recommendations for the Summer