What Books Are On Your Nightstand?
Random question time! Except not really. Like many of our daily routines, what you read takes a toll on how you feel, what you think about and— in the case of bedtime reading—how you sleep, maybe even what you dream. Because getting sound and sufficient sleep is one of our top recommendations for looking and feeling your best, it seems a subject well worth thinking about.
Ever since we wrote the book, my reading material has skewed largely non-fiction. Give me a book about health (Andrew Weil! Ayurveda!), about brain studies (The Power of Habit), about what motivates people (Drive), about exercise (The First Twenty Minutes), or how people run their companies (Steve Jobs) and I’m happy to read, oh, 10 pages or so, each night before easily dozing off. For me, these types of semi-educational, non-fiction books are engaging, but not so much that they keep me up at night.
That isn’t to say I never read fiction. In the last few years, books like A Visit from the Goon Squad and Freedom, have had a huge impact on how I think and see the world, they’re just not my nightly fodder.
But lately, even Steve Jobs and all the talented writers at the New York Times who have written books, are taking a backseat to a very different kind of reading: the spiritual kind.
There are currently three books on my bedside table: Hara, which came highly recommended by a meditation teacher I recently met, Autobiography of a Yogi, and Yoga Sutras of Patanjali—a book given to me by my dear friend and spiritual partner in crime… you guessed it: Siobhan.
Why the sudden switch? Since my recent ashram escape, I’ve been making extra efforts to stay connected to my higher self, and I find that—much like yoga and meditation—reading texts that vibrate at that higher frequency (whatever your belief structures are), really help me let go of the days events and not think too much about tomorrow. Added bonus? These calming books can be, well, a bit of a snooze too—lulling me right to sleep!
Do you have spiritual books by your bedside: maybe the Bible, the Koran, Eckhart Tolle, or the Bhagavad Gita? And if not, got any other good recommendations?!
I realize that spiritual can be loaded word, but it’s completely up for interpretation here. Whatever it means for you, whether that’s tied to a culture, religion, system of some kind, or not at all.
P.S. Magazine reading, a favorite past-time of mine is restricted to weekends and flights. That’s because once I open a mag I have a hard time closing it, which makes bedtime a bad idea.
I am reading Linda Goodman’s “Gooberz.” It has been referred to as a metanarrative, which is a bunch of little stories which create a bigger story that a culture can universally identify with. While it’s a novel, it’s written in verse, and is broken into very short pieces of writing. I am about 100 pages in to the monstrous book, but I think any female will relate to the famous astrologers stories. I highly recommend it, and have found myself drifting into a very peaceful dream-state after reading a few pages every night.
‘A New Earth’ by Eckhart Tolle changed my life so much for the better. (The Bhagavad Gita also happens to be on my nightstand, but I’m yet to crack it open…)
I love books. My mother was a career librarian and was very respected in her field. It’s kind of one of those “Why am I like this?” things. The pile of books by my bed is not really representative of what I read as a whole but in the stack right now…
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach
The Children’s Book by A.S. Byatt
The Essential Rumi translations by Coleman Banks
The Kuan Yin Oracle Stephen Karcher
Jane Austen a Life by Carol Shields
I have other books that follow me around the house such as Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal and The Oxford Book of English Verse But I also read lots of fantasy Terri Windling, Charles DeLint, Guy Gavriel, and Philip Pullman are favourites and I am a complete Jane Austen nut. I can go through year long stints of doing nothing but rereading her novels. On the whole I read whatever novel I have going before bed (I never have trouble sleeping) But if I am feeling troubled or out of sorts I always turn to The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. As a disclaimer beside my bed is just another place to stack books and there are well over six hundred books in my house which is tiny. Every shelf is full and there are stacks of books all over, I am not a book snob I will make friend with any book weather it be Charlaine Harris (think True Blood) or Ian McEwan’s Atonement.
Currently reading Extra Virginity. Tells the story of olive oil production. Not super interesting to most folks but I’m into it. Also, Gone Girl. I can not put it down!
I’m a self-help junkie. I have Spirit Junkie and Add More Ing to Your Life by Gabrielle Bernstein. If you haven’t checked her out she’s an awesome spiritual guru, and she’s into A Course In Miracles, which I have but haven’t really gotten into it yet. Also, I have Christine Arylo’s Choosing Me before Choosing We, which is great for anyone who get sucked into a relationship and doesn’t know what happened to their own identity. On the financial side, Suze Orman’s Young Fabuolous and Broke.
Also, I teach yoga and I’m really interested the chakra’s and how we hold onto emotional blocks in our bodies. So i have the books Chakras and their Archetypes (Abmika Wauters) and Eastern Body, Western Mind (Anoeda Judith). I keep Christine Northrup’s Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom for days when I have questions and I need the woman’s bible! On the fiction side, I recently saw the play, To Kill a Mockingbird, so I’m re-reading that book that I haven’t read since idk when. I love to read and I carry a great variety at my bedside all the time!
My nightstand is where I keep the books I’m too embarrassed to leave on the living room shelves.
……ahem…….
(And whatever random thing I’m reading at the moment. Currently fictional, but it’s pretty evenly split.)
i’m a bible kind of girl. currently on my bed stand i also have the secret garden by frances hodgson burnett and mere christianity by cs lewis. i have read the secret garden several times as its my favorite book but despite minoring in religion in under-grad and loving the chronicles of narnia i can’t seem to get through mere christianity. although i’m not reading any right now i also love books on african philosophy. i really liked long walk to freedom by nelson mandela and plan to pick up tutu:authorized soon. i truly believe everyone should read no future without forgiveness by desmond tutu.
Every Love Story is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace by D.T. Max; The Lexicographer’s Dilemma by Jack Lynch, Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman and Susan Sontag: Against Interpretation and Other Essays and Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change by Pema Chodron.
As a financial professional, I feel I must caution against reading Suze Orman. One size does not fit all and it is never wise to take financial advice from someone who has, herself, filed for bankruptcy. She got into a lot of trouble and turmoil when the markets melted down in 2008 and rightfully so. Enough said.
The Four Agreements~Don Miguel Ruiz
The Mastery of Love~Don Miguel Ruiz
Become What You Are~Alan Watts
Getting the Love You Want~Harville Hendrix
Government Bullies~Rand Paul
Be Here Now~Ram Dass
AMAZING self-help, spiritual, eye-opening….!
Oh! and…
Tibetan Book of the Dead
No More Dirty Looks ;)
the complete novels – jane austen
a wonderful way to spend a cozy fall evening
even cowgirls get the blues – tom robbins
one of my all time favorites. haven’t started reading it again but i’m flirting with the idea.
youtv, lions, & 811dreams – sk kenworthy
everyone needs poetry. give it a try you will be amazed by what it gives back.
the tree of yoga – bks iyengar
words of wisdom
start something that matters – blake mycroskie
get inspired.
the complete noveles – jane austen
a wonderful way to spend a cozy fall evening
even cowgirls get the blues – tom tobbins
one of my all time favorites. haven’t started reading it again but i’m flirting with the idea
youtv, lions, & 811dreams – sk kenworth
everyone needs poetry. give it a try and you will be amazed at what it gives back.
the tree of yoga – bks iyengar
wisdom
start something that matters – blake mycroskie
get inspired. get motivate.
As a woman with a literature degree, my bedroom is overflowing with books (spilling off the shelves and regrouping on the floor), but I tend to keep the following on hand whether or not I’m reading something new:
The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver (one of my all time favorite novels, told from several points of view and has amazing nature imagery)
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen (timeless and easy to open up and read a few pages)
What the Buddha Never Taught – Tim Ward (autobiographical: one man’s attempt to gain deeper understanding of Buddhism and his journey during that process)
I’m a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away – Bill Bryson (great for a chuckle and shows us that we need to laugh at ourselves more often)
A Man Without a Country – Kurt Vonnegut (an excellent grouping of Vonneguts thoughts and experiences that can be both profund and laugh worthy)
The Sabbath – Abraham Joshuah Heschel (especially good for reminding myself the importance of creating a sacred time for oneself)
Poetry for me. Also I like having \Elements of Style\, \Light on Yoga\ nearby.
I highly recommend an environmental science/health book I just read, \Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History\ by Florence Williams for anyone who loved \No More Dirty Looks.\ They’re companion books really, because \Breasts\ is all about *why* we read ingredients labels and care about what we put in/on/around our bodies. The science and history are both well-explained, without being too alarmist.
(@kl – I love Tom Robbins! Still Life with Woodpecker is amazing!)
Yoga Anatomy- Leslie Kamonoff and Amy Matthews (really great for better alignment!)
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (always)
The Blind Assassin- Margaret Atwood (very slow… not into it so far, but great to read before bed!)
Christianity for Modern Pagans- Peter Kreeft (I wouldn’t have picked this out on my own; seems interesting, but too early to tell)
Most common of late is the e version (on my iPhone) of Balance Your Hormones Balance Your Life by Claudia Welch. In the reachable stack of actual books is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar, and How To Be Black by Baratunde Thurston. Also on the nightstand are Change Your Brain Change Your Body by Daniel Amen, The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel, The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan, Bike Snob by Eben Weiss, Stiff by Mary Roach, and No More Dirty Looks. Kind of a funny collection, now that I look at it! There’s some spiritual stuff in there, certainly. I do love to read myself to sleep, that’s the most peaceful sleep for me.
Alyssa, a lady that I interviewed for a class assignment recommended that I read the four agreements, unfortunately I didn’t write down the title and could only faguely remember it. Thanks for jogging my memory!
Star Spider Speaks: The teachings of the native american tarot- Magda and J.A. Gonzalez
Make Miracles in 40 days- Melody Beattie
and The Course in Miracles.
I love the idea of going to bed inspired and waking up with that same feeling!
Great question!
I am an avid and eclectic reader!
Right now, i have just finished a bio on mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
Next on my list i have Faulkner.
…and I am also a self help books addict! (Danielle LaPorte, Mama Gena, Gabrielle Bernstein and many others)
Pablo Neruda, Hafiz, and Rumi. I used to bring cookbooks to bed, but that keeps me up too late so I read them in the bath :)
There is a stack on the floor right by my bed that never really moves, the ones I constantly use for reference so always have to have them close.
Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life by Claudia Welch
Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Optimum Nutrition by Patrick Holford
Ayurveda: The Science of Self Healing by Vasant Lad
Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Christiane Northrup
The Nutritional Health Handbook For Women by Marylin Glenville
Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford
The Places that Scare You by Pema Chödrön
Relationships + Life Cycles by Stephen Arroyo
Then the more current..
Seneca: Letter from a Stoic
Eating Fire an anthology of Margaret Atwood’s poems.
Oscar Wilde short fiction.
I feel a book club in the midst. Hmmm.
Wow! Fabulous books listed in the previous comments (a lot of them are already on my favorites list)! I am always reading classic literature, and an enjoyable food/science read, in terms of spiritual works, I am reading my way through all of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s books. Amazing stuff…it came forward in the 20’s and 30’s and remains amazingly relevant.
I just finished two AMAZING books:
This Is How You Lose Her, by Junot Diaz (a zillion stars, I’m obsessed)
Shadows On the Path, by Abdi Assadi (spiritual teacher and healer, insanely profound and real-world practical)
I’m about the start The Cloud Atlas, I’ve been reading an advance copy of Dr. Robert Lustig’s Fat Chance (about how sugar is killing us) and I always revisit the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in various translations. The Satchidananda one is my favorite but I like to cross reference them also, for a deeper understanding of the meaning of the sutras.
I am still living in newlywed bliss so I have been digging through marriage books lately. The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller is my current bed stand dweller. I also loved Secrets of a Good Marriage by Sherry Suib Cohen and have given it to my friends as part of their wedding gift!
ALL of Father Robert Barron’s books!
Oh this is such an awesome topic! I am definitely a fiction fiend, but there are a few books I keep by my bed just because they are so beloved/inspiring/loving. Thanks for reminding me to spend a bit more time with them!
The Complete Anthology of E.E. Cummings Poetry
The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan (in French – I’m reading it to practice!)
An Open Heart by the Dalai Lama
I love this! I am definitely going to look some of these books up, particularly those on the spiritual side, as that genre is lacking in my collection.
Currently on my nightstand:
The City of Falling Angels – John Berendt
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter–And How to Make the Most of Them Now – Meg Jay, PhD
A collection of Henry James stories (haven’t started this)
and a couple of Agatha Christie books (my guilty pleasure)
I tend to rotate between non-fiction, modern fiction, and the classics, and I always have my copy of Jane Austen’s Complete Works nearby. I also love revisiting my childhood favorites, as they bring back fond memories and remind me that it is never too late to be a kid again!
@Ally – Pablo Neruda is brilliant! I firmly believe that if more people read work like his, poetry would not have such a bad rap.