THE BOOK THAT JUST DISPLACED 1 OF MY TOP 3 NON-FICTION

It's only early morning on a Tuesday, and I already feel like I've had an entire week. Yesterday was overwhelming. I already know today won't be any less. Even when you love what you do, these days don't elude you.

As an author and the owner of a publishing house, it is natural that my solace is reading. I pick up not just fiction books to escape to alternate worlds, but psychology books to feel empowered through the difficult moments, sometimes poetry to feel kindred connection to others with the same experiences, and spiritual books to find peace through it all. A reader's least favourite question is: what's your favourite book? In the vast landscape we read, there are so many. So I've created lists for myself - my favourite business books, my favourite non-fiction books. I think I may need to re-rank the latter after the book I've just completed, which deserves to displace something on the podium.

Here's my review of it.

OVERVIEW

Title: The Untethered Soul - The Journey Beyond Yourself 

Author: Michael A. Singer

Genre: philosophy / spirituality

Pages: 183

About: Handling stress and anxiety through mindfulness and meditation.

PROS

While I've read a lot of books on the same topic - trust me, being an early stage founder and CEO can leave you in dire need of inner peace - this one produced the greatest results. Ultimately, the book leans into the idea that we are something more than this body we identify with, than the senses we experience in any singular moment, than the thoughts in our head. We are a soul free from, and greater than, all these things. And since our true essence is a liberated soul, we do not need to get so caught up in all the human experiences we allow to overwhelm us. These experiences are actually seperate from us. The book uses an analogy that I hope I don't mis-relay. Think of a very vivid, interactive movie. Like a 4DX movie, if you will. It engages you visually, it draws your senses into participating in the movie, it has a storyline that grips you and elicits emotions from you as it unfolds. If you really get into it, it's almost like you are inside the movie. This is what life ultimately is. A very vivid, engaging movie. All we need to do is remember - we are not really the human character in the movie. We are the soul watching it. So in every moment, allow yourself to watch with interest and observation, but don't allow yourself to be consumed. I've heard it phrased differently in a YouTube video. Life is like a video game and we humans are the avatars. While we play the game, we need to remember - we are not really the character in the game, we are the one that is playing the game. The book will explain it more eloquently. But I do know I walked away with principles of mindfulness that have turned around my reaction to stress in minutes.

I also really liked the writing style. The author talks about the topic of mindfulness in a very simple way compared to other spiritual books I've read, which have always felt the need to write on the topic with mystery, complexity, and convolution. The entire industry thinks metaphysics is a topic that needs to be difficult, and the more difficult you make it sound, the better your book must be. This author has left out all jargon and heavy analysis, making it accessible to anyone who needs a quick touch point with mindfulness, or even a first introduction to the principles. 

I also really appreciate that this is a short book. At under 200 pages, it hits a perfect length for the readers who need it. Sometimes, people in stressful circumstances don't have the driving force to pick up a mountain of a book to find the peace they are seeking. Instead of sifting through filler information of case studies and science and narrative, this book is short and not threatening to an already overwhelmed person. 

SHORTCOMINGS 

The one thing about a short bare bones book is that there can't be a lot to criticize. I have just one. I read this book during a fraught, stressful time in my life. I couldn't get to an answer for peace fast enough. The book, even at a short 200 pages, doesn't get to that answer soon. The early chapters lay a groundwork that, I suppose, guides one to the understanding that stress is really a useless, unproductive state. I think we all know it on a logical level - nobody enjoys feeling anxious - but be prepared for this book to guide you from a foundational level to the eventual implementation of mindfulness in your life. 

THE REVISED LIST 

I've decided that it is time for Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki to gracefully step down from the podium of my top 3 non-fiction books. I first read the book a few years ago and it revolutionized the way I understood money. For the impact it's made on my financial life, it's stayed steadfast on the list. As I move into a different phase of living, I find myself more moved by books that explore the universality of my existence. Where a finance book occupied #2 on my list, a mindfulness book will take its place. 

So my updated list of top 3 non-fiction books is as follows:

3. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success - Deepak Chopra: the book that gave me the courage to quit my career as a doctor to follow my purpose of being a writer 

2. The Untethered Soul - Michael A. Singer: the book that changed my ability to handle stress

1. Reality Transurfing - Vadim Zealand: the book that continues to capture my imagination through its weird and wild delve into metaphysics. 

I'm now wondering if I should change the title of this list to my top 3 spirituality books? 

For more articles written by Keli H, the author, visit this blog's home page on keli-h.com

Keli H is the award winning author of the 400 series, which includes The Four Hundred Club and Splitting an Empire. The 400 series is high brow contemporary fiction revolving around the lives of wealthy circles. Keli's other works include Creating Literary Art. She is also the founder of The KREST House, a storytelling empire.