April 2003 Newsletter
Online Issue # 3

Good Books

The following books were suggested to me by students, clients and friends - all lovers of a good read and a truly helpful book.

What Should I Do with My Life?
by Po Bronson
Random House, 2002
hardcover, $24.95

Several students in this winter’s “Intentional Living - Meaningful Work” class were reading Bronson’s new book and recommended it. If you’re studying, or just fascinated by, how people navigate changing their life and work in the direction of meaning, fulfillment or significance, you’ll probably discover things that will be useful to you. Bronson offers short summaries of the stories that emerged from his interviews and interactions with 55 people, but he doesn’t stop there. To this he adds reflections on his own searching and the “truths” he uncovered while writing this book. He also shares his candid reactions to the people he meets, the stories they tell and the changes they explore. Some readers / reviewers find Bronson’s comments, and the inclusion of his own process, intrusive; others find it adds immeasurably to the book. Just know it’s there and is a significant part of the book.

If you’d like to sample Bronson’s style, check out an article he wrote for Fast Company available online at www.fastcompany.com/online/66/mylife.html.

“I didn’t spend time in the library to write this book. Those sources of wisdom felt too abstract compared to the hard-earned record of those who actually took action, changed their life, and enjoyed or suffered the consequences.”

-Po Bronson

Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential
by Caroline Myss
Three Rivers Press, 2003
paperback, $15

This is the new paperback version of Sacred Contracts. I’m including it now because I didn’t mention the earlier hardcover edition when it came out in 2001, and also because it’s an excellent companion book to read with Po Bronson’s new book, mentioned above.

If you pick up Sacred Contracts, expect to study and interact with it - - not just read it. This is not an entertaining, feel-good, self-help book you’ll breeze through. Myss is an intuitive, a teacher and a scholar; AND she wants you to grasp what she comprehended in one gigantic, educated, intuitive leap, following years of intensive study across several fields.

Sacred Contracts offers an in-depth investigation of the archetypal energy patterns that guide us to develop our divine potential and reveal our life purpose, our “sacred contract.” The chapters devoted to identifying and interpreting personal archetypes, as well as the ones focused on creating an archetypal wheel and using it for everyday guidance are exceptional. This ingenious, inspired approach will assist you in deciphering your “guaranteed opportunities” and choosing your highest good. Ultimately, this is a book about spiritual transformation viewed within a world of symbols and unfolding patterns.

“Do you really want to look back on your life and see how wonderful it could have been had you not been afraid to live it?”

-Caroline Myss

The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times
by Pema Chodron
Shambhala Publications, 2002
paperback, $12.95

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
by Pema Chodron
Shambhala Publications, 2000
paperback, $12.95

Pema Chodron is an American Buddhist nun whose timeless message might be important to you right now. These two books speak to the hearts and minds of readers with true and urgent needs. If you aren’t coping with fear or feeling that things are falling apart, these might not hold your interest or attention. But if you are, either or both are recommended.

“This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are.”

-Pema Chodron

The Lost Soul Companion
by Susan Brackney
Dell Books, 2001
paperback, $11.95

The Not-So-Lost Soul Companion
by Susan Brackney
Dell Books, 2002
paperback, $11.95

Both of these quirky little books are intended for artist-at-heart, free-spirit types who grapple with the “darker side of creativity” and “whose dreams can’t be contained by an office cubicle.” Brackney, a struggling young artist-writer with a wacky sense of humor, speaks her truth while offering snippets of encouragement and advice on a range of topics: working a day job, struggling with depression and rejection, not fitting in, suicidal thoughts, ambitious dreams, being enough, living playfully, creating, procrastination...

You can also check out the Lost Soul Companion website.

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