Readers are always looking for their next best books to add to their home libraries because some readers are hoarders. It feels good to accumulate books that you might read some day, or at least have one on standby for when your current read is done and dusted. Books that allow us to reflect on our lives, decisions, and choices have a way of making us better people. If you plan on living a more intentional life, you may want to add one or all the options we have reviewed below.
The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin
Loise Mallard has heart complications, so she is in the care of two loved ones, Josephine and Richards, while her husband regularly travels on business. A book summary of this easy read shows her husband, Brently Mallard, leaving for a business trip and getting in an accident.
In a detailed the story of an hour summary, Mrs. Mallard is momentarily devasted by her husband’s demise, but she later gets over it and is euphoric after realizing the news actually liberated her. The book plot and subsequent summarize of book show Mr. Mallard later walking through the front door, alive and well. Turns out the news was wrong.
Mrs. Mallard is shocked at this new turn of events, and the book ends with medics performing an autopsy on her and reporting she died from euphoria. She was in such a high after learning of the death of her spouse that she succumbed to her heart complications because of the release that followed. The author sends a reader into a reflective mood over the issues of feminism and marriage in the 1900s, making this one a must-read for those interested in challenging narratives.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondō
Quick advice for book finding: get one that could change the way you live, like this one on decluttering that makes you notice how little you know about your personal space. The author’s research led them to develop reading material that is ideal for any library. The author’s method, famously known as the KonMari Method, guarantees you the kind of organization that will never fail, even for chronic hoarders. How does this make you reflective? It shows how we could be failing in other areas of life by holding on to bits that have run their course. It teaches the art of letting go and moving on.
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, Eckhart Tolle
The author wrote “The Power of Now” and followed up with this copy. It pursues the topic of ego and how it leads to anger, jealousy, and unhappiness. Your ego will not lead to historic moments or make you the hero in someone’s story, but it could destroy relationships before they even start. This philosophical piece will make you want to examine your interactions with people, words, and even reflect deeply on your actions before taking them. It is so good it should be taught in school for students to start their reflection journeys sooner.
The Art of Happiness, The Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler
This is ideal for academic settings as well as a lesson on life and the things we deem valuable. Two people that should know a thing or two about happiness, the best-known monk of Tibetan Buddhism – The Dalai Lama – and psychologist Howard Cutler, put together wise words that could easily pass for the guide to a happy, simple life. It speaks of Buddhism customs and beliefs that will guide you to control your happiness. It’s now religious, just a guide to simplifying your life so you can be your happiest self. The Lord knows we could all use a small dose of joy, right?
Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote a memoir that some people may find hard to read due to its references to the Nazi camps and how people survived. This bookstore favorite is based on stories the author generates from his patients, as he talks about how suffering can be part of growth. He argues that we focus so much on changing things, but we could simplify life if we found ways to create meaning out of painful experiences and suffering. Being such a reflective read, this memoir is ideal for college and university students and anyone who struggles with life’s meaning.
Conclusion
Whether you are reading as part of your coursework or for the education that comes with books, you may want to add a few options that lead to deep reflection if you want to live intentionally. Our choices are based on topics that a small group of reviewers chose, and we think they fit perfectly in the days we are living.