This year I’m being intentional with my reading. Every book holds new opportunities to learn. Whether fiction or nonfiction, all of the books I read have been selected for specific reasons. Some of my latest reads stick out more than others. Never underestimate the power of a good book.
Mind Full to Mindful by Om Swami
When life feels like it’s always on ten speed, it’s essential to take time to slow down and appreciate what we already have. This book in my latest reads stood out to me for many reasons.
This book is based on original Zen teachings and offers interesting perspectives on life as a whole. Om Swami highlights the importance of energy flow and controlling it in a healthy manner. Breathing techniques are critical to controlling any type of energy- good or bad.
Even if someone doesn’t meditate, they can still learn from Zen techniques to handle life with greater confidence and become equipped with techniques that can help deal with the regular stresses of life.
Swami stresses the importance of taking care of one’s body- something that is often overlooked in a fast-paced culture. He adds that meditating cannot be the only way someone takes care of oneself. The physical body must be taken care of as much as the mind is cared for.
One particular chapter that stood out to me the most is titled “Life is a Flower.” Om Swami suggests to the reader to keep a fresh flower on one’s car dashboard. This flower will serve as a reminder that life is a blessing, no matter how we feel.
This book is highly recommended as it can be directly translated to everyday life. Anyone can learn from Zen even if they don’t meditate or think of themselves as a peaceful person.
“If you don’t value what you have, one day you will lose access to that thing” (30).
The Good Nurse by Charles Graeber
This book of my latest reads covers the true crime story of a nurse turned serial killer. Charles Cullen committed countless murders (so many that he doesn’t know the exact number) over his sixteen-year nursing career in New Jersey and Pennsylvania medical centers.
Cullen was arrested in 2003 after many years of abusing and ending the lives of numerous patients. The book highlights the process of tracking down Cullen and finding enough evidence to charge him with numerous crimes.
Also, the book covers Cullen’s personal life as it attempts to show how an average nurse turned to the “Angel of Death” over a decade and a half.
The book was released in 2013 and later inspired the Netflix movie of the same title in 2022. Although the movie doesn’t capture every detail, it’s still an accurate representation of the story told by Charles Graeber. Any true crime fans will love this book and will flock to the movie afterward.
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Another one of my latest reads, this novel isn’t typically something that would choose on my own. However after a recommendation from my grandma, I decided to give it a chance.
If a book is so bad after a few chapters I’ll stop reading. However, this wasn’t the case with this book. Set in a small New Hampshire town, a single mother who is a beekeeper by trade finds herself in her worst nightmare.
The mother, Olivia, is faced with a dilemma that most wouldnt wish on their worst enemy. Her teenage son, Asher, was dating a girl named Lily, as they both went to the same high school. Both families’ worlds are flipped upside down when Lily unexpectedly dies. Asher is accused of murder and damn sure looks guilty throughout virtually the entire story.
Not the typical murder mystery, an unexpected twist comes that changes the whole trajectory of the novel. This read was refreshing and something different than what I would usually choose. I recommend this book to anyone interested in social issues and anyone looking for a unique story that makes them think beyond the surface level.
