What book(s) have inspired you?

Paradox
Paradox Posts: 187 ✭✭✭
edited October 2020 in Pull Up a Rocking Chair: General Chat

I've recently had to 'endure' a 30 minute stillness twice/day, so I started rereading a book that previously had inspired me.. and it still does! I'm reading "Radical Homemakers" by Dr. Shannon Hayes. I love her descriptions of how society could (oughta?) be! how we can break away from the consumption mindset, and be producers. As a result, I'm asking my family to choose from a range of homemade gift options (like woven cotton napkins or herb salts or homemade cat toys)--things that are useful and practical, but still can be made with love and in the spirit of self-reliance. I plan to do very little actual "shopping" online, except for some things that I may get for my three kids and one DIL.

But with an hour a day in forced stillness (using a castor oil pack, if you're wondering why), I'll finish this book fairly quickly. So I have to ask my peeps--what books have inspired you??

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Comments

  • VermontCathy
    VermontCathy Posts: 1,911 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Check the Tightwad Gazette books. They have many good specific ideas, but even more than that, the general mindset of doing more with less is inspiring.

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  • Torey
    Torey Posts: 5,502 admin

    One of the very first herbal books I bought for myself nearly 50 years ago was "Earth Medicine, Earth Food" by Michael Weiner. It was my first introduction to a book about indigenous medicine and I am very grateful that I found it when I did. It is still in print and just as valuable today as when it was first printed.

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  • Marjory Wildcraft
    Marjory Wildcraft Posts: 1,583 admin

    gosh @Paradox being still for 30 minutes per day (twice) is so awesome. I currently meditate about 2 hours per day typically. 1 hour in the moring, and 1 in the evening. I am in a crazy vortex of change where all the cards up up in the air with nothing settled yet. I feel kind of like a teenager heading out with a backpack and $100 and seeing what the heck adventures will happen. Except that I have a house and businesses kids and all that. But I'm still very much in the unknown... meditiation is so good. Being still is so good.

    This may not be helpful to you. But I am curre3ntly really enjoying "I AM: The Source Experiments" by www.realityhacker.co They have some distinctions on how reality is created that are different than anything else I've ever seen or read.

    BTW, I love castor oil packs. SUper good medicine.

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  • LaurieLovesLearning
    LaurieLovesLearning Posts: 7,356 admin

    @Paradox My books right now are not on the subject of anything here. They are very specialized in what I believe and why, helping me get down to the basics & facts without all the trappings of any institutions around me...so not for everyone. In fact, some could be downright personally offensive to (or maybe intriguing to, depending on the person, beliefs held and curiosity) many here. The subject matter gets very personal.

    Some deal with how to respectfully interact with people and how positive & productive exchanges start with me & my attitude, my openness and a knowledge that I could be wrong in some way (and so to keep learning, questioning & sharing). That is me anyway, but a good reminder...

    Some also remind me to ask what people's definitions are instead of assuming we mean the same thing, which fascinates me, because I do want to know. lol Then, as a follow up, asking respectfully on what basis they hold that definition (which is even more intriguing for me and fits with my curiosity!). The author says this is what "Columbo" did (not that I read/watch mystery/detective stories...not my thing). Asking these questions gives a good basis for productive communication in any relationship. It isn't psychology, just simply a reminder in how to respect others in word & action...and a reminder to check myself in my interactions with others. This is something largely missing in society right now.

    My interest in these books is due to my lifelong pursuit & support of real Truth (whom I believe is God...you may ask my definition of the term/name in a pm if you wish, lol), which isn't actually all subjective as society tells us.

    I am thoroughly enjoying these things/tools/books immensely and enjoying implementing what I've learned when appropriate. I am discovering some new things (which leads to more questions to pursue at times...exciting!) and finding encouragement in other ones.

    Now, I shared all this to suggest to you, to find something that is your passion and really get into the nitty gritty of it (it can be so challenging & rewarding to dig deeply into any subject).

    Or...dive into one of the many online webinars or free courses that are being offered right now and build your knowledge base that way. There are a lot!

    Haha...now I probably filled up one of your 30 minute sessions with just this post alone. 😬 You're welcome. 😉😂

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  • Wendy
    Wendy Posts: 138 ✭✭✭

    I love reading and rereading anything by Rosemary Gladstar.

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  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,353 admin

    What books?.... what books! Gosh, this will take a month of revisions... I read a lot, on average a book every week or two... so hundreds of books on my shelves.. Maybe I'll just do a video tour of my library some day. Here are two that probably won't get a mention elsewhere though, George L Herter and Channing Cope.

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  • kbmbillups1
    kbmbillups1 Posts: 1,314 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm not reading anything about gardening or homeopathy right now. I love reading Christian Fiction. I have several favorite authors. But right now I'm reading non fiction. It's not very inspiring but it is informative. 😀

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  • Elizabeth Voss
    Elizabeth Voss Posts: 57 ✭✭✭

    i always refer to Isabell Shipard's How Can I use Herbs in my Daily Life -which is pretty thorough for anyone who doesn't want a PhD in herbs/spices/edible plants. Also, I am in love iwth Alanna Moore, who has many books - one I have now is Stone Age Farming, as sugested by my geomancy class.

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  • JennyT Upstate South Carolina
    JennyT Upstate South Carolina Posts: 1,273 ✭✭✭✭✭
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/845313/what-book-s-have-inspired-you

    @Paradox I have several books I'm reading currently but ones that stand out is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, Body into Balance by Maria Noel Groves, The Herbal Kitchen by Kami McBride and Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee DeLaForet. I have them all stacked together and look at them often.

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  • Gail H
    Gail H Posts: 359 ✭✭✭✭

    I just love Paradise Lot by Eric Toensmeier. It is so inspirational to see what can be done to raise one's food in a small space.

    I also just picked up Through the Eye of a Needle (which was apparently also released as Sew Your Own). It's pretty good so far. It's by John-Paul Flintoff. Someone left a review that said it was "trashy". I haven't seen that, but I haven't finished the book. The author talks about outsourcing his life and then coming full circle to making his own clothes.

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  • LaurieLovesLearning
    LaurieLovesLearning Posts: 7,356 admin

    These all sound so good. I have a few herbal books on my wishlist, some of which are mentioned here.

    I want to get Rosalee's books. I have 2 of Rosemary's.

    Does anyone have any suggestions for their favorite books by K.P. Khalsa?

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  • COWLOVINGIRL
    COWLOVINGIRL Posts: 954 ✭✭✭✭
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/877908#Comment_877908

    @LaurieLovesLearning I totally agree with you! Thank you!

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  • dipat2005
    dipat2005 Posts: 1,225 ✭✭✭✭

    I have always loved reading books by Jane Kirkpatrick and all of the life experiences. She writes about the Oregon Trail and a lot of other books about what the cloth mills were like in the day.

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  • Annie Kate
    Annie Kate Posts: 680 ✭✭✭✭

    I used to review books, but some of the ones that really impacted me (besides the Bible): Tightwad Gazette; Harrowsmith Northern Gardener; Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Stewart (old, worth the hunt); Embodied Hope by Kelly Kapic, Improvement of the Mind by Isaac Watts, Anatomy of an Epidemic by Whitaker; Spiritual Danger of Doing Good by Greer; The Good News about Marriage by Feldhahn; Hold On to Your Kids by Neufeld; Getting Things Done by Allen, Laura Vanderkam's time management books; field guides to plants and birds, Dover coloring books of weeds and flowers, the Healing Power of Essential Oils, Nourishing Traditions, Whole Foods for the Whole Family; The Artisanal GlutenFree Cookbook....

    Each of these has radically impacted my life. And of course, there are probably more.

    OK, I'll stop now and go pick cabbages. :)

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  • Acequiamadre
    Acequiamadre Posts: 269 ✭✭✭

    When I first started homesteading (and then took many, many detours), The Encyclopedia of Country Living was an inspiration and a go-to. In that one book you can learn so many things.

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  • LaurieLovesLearning
    LaurieLovesLearning Posts: 7,356 admin

    A new category has been made available to discuss our favorite books, authors, websites & podcasts here:

    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/categories/educational-books-other-resources


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