with Claire Baker
Our dear friend Claire from This is Lifeblood is shares our love for inspirational book, life changing reads - have you checked out our Yoga Library yet? Read on to grab an insight into this Radiant chicas bookshelf....
Books, books, books! I love books. I have always been a massive book worm. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have a list of ‘To Read” books that you’re constantly adding to, never quite getting to the bottom of, before another one jumps up on your radar! And we wouldn’t have it any other way, would we?
I’m definitely a non-fiction, autobiography kinda girl (although I do love Harry Potter), as I go wild for a life lesson, an incredible story, a snippet of truth that Makes Life Better. So today, I thought I’d share 10 books that have changed my life, in some way or another. Just for fun, I’ve listed them in the order I initially read them. Although for most of them, I’ve gone back again and again… Enjoy!
1. The Liver Cleansing Diet by Sandra Cabot
Struck down with severe liver inflammation at 17, this book was my bible as I learnt all about food as medicine and the healing power of whole foods. I still refer back to it, 10 years later (really – 10 years?!) regularly for simple and easy to understand wisdom, recipes and inspiration.
2. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I read this book while I was travelling a few years ago; I read it in India BEFORE traveling to Italy, so I did things a little backwards to Liz, but holy heck I love this book. The story-telling, her vulnerability and hilarity, the characters and the TRUTH and the way you see yourself in everything she writes… Gilbert is the bomb.
3. You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
How many people’s ‘journey into self’ begins with this book? I’m betting on a bunch. I remember the promising feeling I had buying this book, that things were about to change… I was definitely not disappointed. Louise Hay is a goddess and this book is a must read.
4. The Art of Happiness by His Holiness the Dalai Llama and Howard C. Cutler, MD.
I took this book with me on a yoga retreat to Bali in 2012; a week that turned out to be a real game changer for me. I’d bought it second hand, so there were a few pages missing (!!) but it didn’t take away from the powerful concepts in this book. Lessons I needed to learn (the inevitably and importance of suffering, for example) at just the right time.
5. I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson
Without a doubt, of all the books I’ve read on What To Eat and How To Eat, this one stands out for me. It’s not just the food (and it’s definitely not just about the sugar), but more-so the gentle and playful, PRACTICAL attitude that Sarah brings to deciding what to put on your plate. She’s my hero.
6. The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle La Porte
Danielle La Porte is my hero too. I’ve read this book a few times now and each time I’m guided to something new; for anyone with creative dreams, a fire in their belly, a story to be told… This book will get you moving – with soul – quick-smart.
7. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
I struggled with this book at first. I think you need to be in a certain place to read it… But when I did melt into Tolle’s words, I was mesmerised. This book is truly like coming home; it’s like remembering. It’s expansive and life-changing and you won’t ever see the world the same after finishing it. A read over-and-over again book.
8. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
Want a book (or an Author for that matter) to ignite your desire to put pen to paper? Read this book. Strayed’s brutal and beautiful writing style is addictive, astonishing and awe-inspiring. This book is real and strange and lovely and fucked up. I dig it.
9. Money: A Love Story by Kate Northrup
This. Has. Changed. My. Life. I’ve had such an irky relationship with money (particularly over the last few years) and Northrup has helped to iron out some stuffy old beliefs I had around money BIG time. She’s delivered a wicked set of practical, soulful tools, insight and advice that have actually (truly) got me excited about budgeting, tracking, saving and spending my money. So grateful for this book!
10. Women Food & God by Geneen Roth
I read this last week while I was in Bali (an interesting choice considering I was basically eating my way around the island), and damn I wish I had this book when I was 22 and battling big time with my body. While I’ve already make some big shifts re: intuitive eating, losing the scales and reduced the food obsession to a fraction of what it used to be, there was definitely a lot of aha! moments surrounding emotional eating, FEELING our feelings (rather than eating them), meditation and presence in regard to food that I found extremely useful and enlightening.
So there you have it – 10 reads that I highly recommend. Have you read any of these books too? What books would you add to the list?
FEELING INSPIRED?! join our book club and
browse our in house Library here
REGISTER NOW for GET RADIANT v.3 HERE
Claire Baker is a certified coach and mentor, passionate writer and speaker and author of ‘She Is Radiant: Your 6-Week Wellness Adventure To Get Glowy & Feel Rad’. Claire guides vibrant young women as they get from where they are, to where they want to be – in their health and life, blog and business.
With a background in visual arts and business management, her gorgeous clients (from all over the world), experience greater confidence, improved relationships, more joy and clear complexions. They throw out the scales, book the flight, launch the blog – and fall back in love with their life.
Through her honest and empowering blog and unique coaching packages, you can consider Claire your personal advocate for living an energised, playful and heart-centred life.
Come say hi at This is Lifeblood, her online space to share her passion for all things nourishing, soulful and creative. You can also find her on hanging out on Facebook,Instagram and Twitter @_clairebaker_.