Our Favorite Inspirational Books Round-Up

​That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet." -Jhumpa Lahiri
 
Here at Hudson Healing Arts, each of our practitioners share a love for learning. Throughout our unique journeys, we’ve all encountered books that have influenced us in a major way.
 
Because we believe in the power of books to change lives, we thought it was high time to share a list of our ‘must-reads’ with this community. Some book recommendations are centered around healing and wellness, and some are just plain fun. Every single one contains precious wisdom about being human. We hope this round-up gives you some inspiration for your own reading list! 
 
“Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before” by Julie Smith 
Recommended by Andrea Inaeun
 
“In this book, Dr. Julie Smith shares secrets from her toolkit on how to maintain and strengthen your mental health. It’s practical, insightful, and increases both the sense of agency and humanness. This book organizes complex dynamics and thought processes in a way that is digestible and actionable for self-awareness and growth.”
 
“Rising Strong” by Brené Brown 
Recommended by Andrea Inaeun 
 
“This is an insightful book that taps into our vulnerabilities as humans. The book invites us to challenge the stories we are telling ourselves that breed reactivity and defense. I also love the guidance towards growth and both the connectivity and self-concept that can happen when we have a compassionate lens for self and others.”
 
“The Brain's Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity” by Norman Doidge, M.D. 
Recommended by Noreen Haren 
 
“I find everything about the brain interesting. It’s written for laypeople and provides fascinating and encouraging information about how we can all change our brains for the better. Doidge also discussed the Feldenkrais Method at some length, so it was of particular interest to me. One example I recall that everyone could relate to (not related to Feldenkrais specifically) is how walking for exercise regularly improves cognitive function and mood. This information has been reported widely elsewhere too, but it’s full of little gems like this!”
 
“Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman 
Recommended by Andrew Bose 
 
“This is a fascinating read about how the mind works. It has helped me appreciate the challenges of the human condition and made me a more accepting and compassionate person. It’s a long read, but if you take the time to digest it, it’s amazing how the concepts in this book play out every day in your own life. It’s all about how we think and make decisions, and is especially helpful in understanding why we say and do things that don’t make sense.” 
 
“Healing Back Pain” by Dr. John Sarno
Recommended by Andrew Bose 
 
“This was the first book I ever read about the mind-body connection from a Western medicine doctor. It aligned perfectly with my own experiences relating to chronic pain, so it really reassured me that the experiences I was having made sense. It also gave me tangible tools to help cure my chronic pain with my mind and attitude, which changed my life.”   
 
“3x Your Memory In One Hour” by Dave Farrow 
Recommended by Andrew Bose 
 
“This book is all about improving your memory. What’s exciting to me is that there are real-world superpowers that can be developed on purpose, through practice. It’s such a testament to what we can do with our minds that seems impossible, and implicitly speaks to the power of visualization. By no means do I have a profound memory, but the concepts in this book have been super helpful in my life!”
 
“Anatomy of the Spirit” by Caroline Myss
Recommended by Beth O’Boyle

“When I first read this book, I couldn’t believe how much I resonated with it . If you want a foundational course in energy 101 and the chakra system, this is definitely the book to read. It opened my eyes to the possibilities and extent to which we can control our own healing. 
Thanks to this book, I was able to recognize the connection between energy and emotions, and how the physical body resonates with it. Caroline Myss set the groundwork for my understanding of energy work.”
 
“Energy Medicine” by Donna Eden
Recommended by Beth O’Boyle
 
“More than 20 years ago, this book literally jumped out at me from the shelf. Donna Eden’s story is incredible. From a young age, she was able to see the energy field in a way and at a depth of perception that is quite unique. She faced multiple food and chemical sensitivities, as well as a diagnosis of MS at a young age.
 
Since her doctors had offered no hope of recovery, Donna decided to take the responsibility for healing into her own hands – literally! She could see a disconnection in her energy field and intuitively began to reconnect the energy flow with her hands. One discovery led to another until she no longer had such a heightened response to food and chemicals, nor did she have any trace of MS. This book showed me the potential to heal ourselves with our own hands. It’s filled with practical exercises to help you feel better and happier.”
 
“A Well-Lived Life: A 102-year-old Doctor’s 6 Secrets to Health and Happiness at Every Age” by Gladys McGarey
Recommended by Beth O’Boyle
 
“I’m currently wrapped up in this book! The author is now 103 years old. Her perspective is so interesting because she started practicing medicine in the 1940s. It’s all about how to take in what you need and let go of what you don’t. Overall, it’s a really great read about what you need to live a happy, healthy life.” 
 
“The Little Village of Book Lovers” by Nina George
Recommended by Beth O’Boyle
 
“This is such a charming fiction read that I recently fell in love with. It takes place in a little town in France and is about a woman who is able to see a light around people when they are feeling loved or are in love. She also has an incredible ability to know what book is going to heal someone and play a pivotal role in their life. The plot twist, of course, is the experiences she has knowing when love is coming her way!” 
 
Peanuts cartoons by Charles Schulz  
Recommended by Beth O’Boyle
 
“If I want to get back on track or am just feeling out of sorts, I take great comfort in turning to the Peanuts cartoons. I grew up reading them and they're precious to me in so many ways. There is so much wisdom in Charles Schulz's writing. His cartoons have a way of reminding me that it’s the simple things in life that matter. Linus is my favorite 5 -year old philosopher and Charlie Brown reminds me to never give up hope.” 

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