Recommended Reading List/On-line Bookstore

Resources for Conscious Living

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”
                       — Groucho Marx

Books have always been an inspiration to me, and they continue to be one. They have also been very important to me on my spiritual path and explorations. These are some of the books which I have found most important, most helpful and most inspiring.

We are able to offer these books to you on-line through our association with Amazon.com, the world’s largest on-line bookstore. I’ve been dealing with them almost since their inception, and have experienced them to be a wonderful organization -- efficient, helpful, thoughtful and responsive. What’s more, they offer some of the best prices on books anywhere. Their on-line ordering system (especially their groundbreaking “one-click” system) is a revelation. This is what on-line shopping should be, and we’re happy and proud to be associated with such a great company.

Books are listed under the categories by which the format of the Lifetools workshop is organized. Some books cross categories, and these are listed in a category of their own.

If, after reading one of the brief book reviews, you would like to order a book, simply click on the name of the book and Amazon will help you complete the ordering process!

Or, if you want to search Amazon.com for any book, use our handy search form:

• Meditation/Mindfulness
• Basic Metaphysics / Manifesting / Emotional Healing
• Decision-Making/Intuition
• Purpose/Dharma
• Vitality/Longevity/Health
• Environmental Awareness
• Personal Effectiveness
• Relationship Skills
• Money/Prosperity
• Breathing
• Other Wonderful Books That Cross The Above Categories

Meditation/Mindfulness (index)

The Power of Now — Eckhardt Tolle

One of the most important books of the last few decades,  this is a “desert island” book for me.  Tolle illuminates how the power of mindfulness can actually start to dissolve the ego and create a whole new way of seeing and being.

Wherever You Go, There You Are — Jon Kabat-Zinn

This guides us through staying present and mindful during every moment of our lives -- whether we’re busy at work, in the midst of family dynamics, or on a silent mountaintop retreat. Another one to keep by the bedside.

How to Meditate — Lawrence LeShan

This little book is as valuable today as it was when it was first published more than twenty years ago. A beginner’s guide to meditation, it clearly and simply takes the reader through different forms of meditation. A great instruction manual.

Care of the Soul — Thomas Moore

This book can be tremendously helpful for those of us who have become caught up in "soul-deficient" lives. If you need to re-connect with your soul, and invite soulfulness back into your life, I strongly recommend this book.

A Path With Heart — Jack Kornfield

Author Nathalie Goldberg says "This is a beautiful book", and she’s right. Written from a Buddhist perspective it covers the gamut of spiritual progress, including the pitfalls and problems that seekers often experience. One of the most important books I’ve ever read.

The Miracle of Mindfulness — Thich Nhat Hanh

Master Thich Nhat Hanh is possibly the most famous Buddhist monk on the planet — and with good reason. His works are gems sparkling with quiet, unassuming, practical wisdom.

Basic Metaphysics/Manifesting/Emotional Healing (index)

Ask and It Is Given – the teachings of Abraham – Esther and Jerry Hicks

This is the best overall “manual” I’ve yet come across for creating the life you want. My copy is well-thumbed. Clear, succint and inspiring, with easy to use exercises to create the well-being essential for tapping into the Law of Attraction.

Loving What Is – Byron Katie    

Byron Katie has developed a powerful method for breaking through resistance, and enabling us to love the lives we actually have. Most of us put so many “shoulds” on the universe – including other people – that it’s impossible for us to be happy with the way things actually are. 

Conversations With God – Neale Donald Walsch (3 vols.)

If you read only one set of books on this entire list, make it this one. If you had any questions left about how the universe really works, you’ll find the answers here. A wonderful manual and guidebook for becoming “Who You Really Are”.

I’m encouraged that this is already a best seller – it means this information is in the hands of a lot of people, and that bodes well for the world.

Excuse me – Your life is waiting – Lynn Grabhorn

This is a powerful, inspiring and fun book, and a perfect illustration of the workings of what I call “the second law of metaphysics” – “what you focus on, expands…”.  This is also know to Abraham devotees as “The Law of Attraction.”  A must read for creating what you want in your life.   

* All you need is HART – Helene Rothschild

This is a very simple, yet profound book, which looks at the underlying reasons why we don’t always have what we want in our lives. Helene, a dear friend of mine, has had many years of experience as a therapist, and has developed her own method she calls “Holistic And Rapid Transformation – HART ”.  This deals with changing the (often unconscious) decisions about our selves which we make based on traumatic experiences, mostly during childhood. These decisions “broadcast” out through the universe, just as do our conscious thoughts, creating results which are not always the results we want. 

Helene shows you how to change these basic negative decisions to positive ones.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success – Deepak Chopra

This book, like its companion below, Creating Affluence, is a succint summary of everything we need to do in order to be and have what we want. I recommend both of them highly, and suggest reading them every day. 

Creating Affluence – Deepak Chopra

See above.

Creating Money – Duane Packer and Sanaya Roman

The title of this wonderful book is somewhat misleading -- it’s actually about much more than money. It’s a wide-ranging guide on how to manifest whatever you want in your life, and is one of the best works on the subject I have ever read.

Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman

This is an important book – one which I believe could benefit everyone on the planet. A straightforward understanding of how emotions actually work, and what we can do to avoid being “hijacked” by our emotions – without suppressing or repressing them.   

Legacy of the Heart: The Spiritual Advantages of a Painful Childhood -- Wayne Muller

A wonderful book. A real gift. Moving and inspiring.  Intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically powerful. Shows us how to become “strong in the wounded places”.  

Decision-Making/Intuition (index)

Intuition Workout: A Practical Guide to Discovering and Developing Your Inner Knowing. -- Nancy Rosanoff

The title says it all. This book is for everyone (like me) who would like to be less in their head, and more connected with their intuitive selves.

Awakening Intuition: Using Your Mind-Body Network For Insight And Healing – Mona Lisa Schulz

A wonderful, inspiring book by one of the country’s leading medical intuitives. And, for those of you who are skeptical about this subject, you may find it reassuring that this woman is not only an M.D., but also has a Ph.D in neuroanatomy and behavioral neuroscience! 

A quote from her introduction says it all: “If you have a brain and a body, if you have memories, if you sleep at night (or any other time), then, by definition, you have to be – you are – intuitive.” 

Purpose/Dharma (index)

I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was — Barbara Sher

I wish she had written this book 20 years ago — it would have saved me a lot of time! It requires that you actually do the exercises earnestly if you are to get full benefit, but the advantages in discovering your true path are immeasurably valuable.

It’s Only Too Late If You Don’t Start Now: How To Create Your Second Life After 40  – Barbara Sher

A wonderful companion to the above book by Barbara Sher.  It’s no accident that the only two books in this section are by the same author. I know of no-one else who offers such a wonderful blend of the inspiring, the psychological and the practical. It’s a combination which really supports you in creating the life and livelihood you want.  For those of you under 40 – don’t be put off by the subtitle – this book works wonderfully for anyone wondering where they’re going, or thinking about changing careers. 

Vitality/Longevity/Health (index)

Ageless Body, Timeless Mind -- Deepak Chopra

Some of Dr. Chopra’s books are a little more complicated and convoluted than they need to be -- and this is one of them. I’m including it here, and recommending it however, because it is still a wonderful book, crammed with inspiring and useful information. Helps us to resist the assumptions in our culture which tell us that aging is a miserable experience. 

By the way -- I met Dr. Chopra once, and he certainly is a testament to his own teachings. He’s in his fifties, and he looks like a man in his late twenties or early thirties. 

Diet for a New America -- John Robbins

Diet for a New World -- John Robbins

These are important books, opening the lid on the food industry, and showing us what doesn’t work about it.  Especially interesting is the information about how food choices and agricultural practices affect our ability to feed (or not feed) the humans on this planet. The author is a strong advocate for vegetarianism, and, while I agree that lowered meat consumption often has a lot of positive effects, I myself choose to eat animal flesh as part of a widely varied diet, and it feels appropriate for me to do so. Still, this is highly recommended reading as part of the process of making informed and conscious choices about food.

Eat Right For Your Type: The Individual Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight – Peter J. D’Adamo  with Catherine Whitney

This is a fascinating book which recommends different diets based on your blood type. At first I was skeptical, and the book doesn’t contain much scientific evidence. But…I tried the diet for my type, and I felt great! It also contains detailed lists of foods which are beneficial (or not) for each type, making it a valuable resource.   

Natural Healing -- Andrew Weil, M.D.

A classic which belongs on every bookshelf. I recommend all his other books, as well. Browse by author, and they’ll all be available to you.

Mantak Chia –The Microcosmic Orbit

One of the first books from one of the first teachers to introduce Taoist meditation and teachings to the U.S., and still one of the most important. Learn the basic Taoist form of energy circulation -- the microsmic orbit -- you’ll sleep better, have more energy, and generally feel a greater sense of well-being.

Opening the Energy Gates Of Your Body – Bruce Kumar Frantzis

Bruce Kumar Frantzis has spent 25 years of his life as a student of Oriental and Western healing practices, martial arts and meditation. Now a certified Taoist Master himself, as well as holding a Ph.D. in health sciences, he has dedicated the rest of  his life to teaching Westerners the Taoist techniques that heal, create vitality and enhance spiritual growth. This is his first book, and I hope he writes many more.

The Body Electric – Robert Becker

Cross Currents – Robert Becker

Robert Becker is a physician who is one of the chief pioneers in looking at the electro-magnetic aspects of our bodies. This is tremendously important -- what the Chinese call “chi”, the Japanese “ki”, or the  Hindus “prana” is essentially electro-magnetic energy -- it is the energy of all life. These two books by Dr. Becker explore almost every aspect of this energy -- how it works in our bodies, how it can be used for healing, and how the “electro-magnetic soup” of 20th century life affects us.  

Currents of Death – Paul Brodeur

The Great Power Line Cover-Up – Paul Brodeur

Paul Brodeur is a New York Times reporter who discovered (a) that there was a lot of credible research out there which showed how harmful certain types of electro-magnetic radiation could be, and (b) that much of this research was being suppressed by power companies, the government, and the scientists who support them.  Fascinating and scary reading -- and essential for anyone concerned with protecting themselves from environmental pollution of the electrical type.

Environmental Awareness (index)

The Ecology of Commerce -- Paul Hawken

One of the most important books on the environment I have ever read. Our biggest polluters all do what they do in the name of commerce, and jobs. Paul Hawken (one of the founders of The Natural Step) takes a careful look at how business needs to change fundamentally if we are to avoid almost complete environmental degradation.

Our Stolen Future -- Theo Colborn, Diane Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers

The other most important book on the environment.  A modern-day “Silent Spring”, this profoundly scary, passionate, yet scientifically rigorous book is one of the few that I regard as a “must read”.  It deals largely with the hormonal disruption caused by common chemicals, and what this means for us now, and for the future of the human race.  Theo Colborn, one of the authors, and a pioneer in this field, was so depressed by what she discovered that she went into a period of official mourning after organizing the first big convention of scientists to examine this phenomenon. Everyone should read this, so that we know what we’re doing to ourselves.  Only out of this knowledge can come the will to do something about it.     

Personal Effectiveness (index)

Working With Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman 

This book was inspiring to me to read while I was developing our new corporate seminar. A sequel to his "Emotional Intelligence", which I also strongly recommend, he shows that to be competitive in our quickly-changing business world, individuals need the skills he calls emotional intelligence -- and so do organizations as a whole. What's refreshing is that he keeps showing (by citing many credible studies) that these skills really do affect the bottom line for companies -- it's not just a "touchy-feely" matter of keeping employees happier. I highly recommend that anyone who works for a living read this book. You'll probably get even more out of it if you read "Emotional Intelligence" first, but it's not necessary.   

7 Habits Of Highly Effective People -- Stephen Covey

First Things First -- Steven Covey

When I first read “7 Habits”, I wanted to buy a copy for everyone I knew. I still feel the same way. One of those bestsellers that makes me glad it’s a bestseller -- because that means that lots of people have this information.  A must read for anyone who wants to be ethically effective in the world. Isn’t that all of us?

First Things First is a more “nuts and bolts” value-based time management manual -- part of the whole Covey system. Also highly recommended.  

Timeshifting -- Stephan Rechtshaffen, M.D.

This book gets to the bottom of the time issue -- which is basically psychological/spiritual. Stephan Rechtshaffen founded the well-known Omega institute, and has been wrestling with the dilemma of how to be a successful, effective, busy person, and have time to live. The best book on the subject I’ve ever read. More about mindfulness and being in the present moment than about how to plan and schedule.  

Relationship Skills (index)

Conscious Loving: The Journey to Co-commitment. -- Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D.

One of those books where I found myself saying “yes!” to every sentence, every point, every insight. A great book. I found myself wanting to live in the Hendricks’ house to better absorb their wisdom. Another “must read”.

Getting The Love You Want -- Harville Hendrix

Another essential book if you’re serious about building a healthy relationship. Dr. Hendrix’s story is inspiring -- he found out the hard way how to create the love he wanted in his life, and he shows us how.

The Good Marriage -- Judith Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee

This book contains real case histories of successful marriages.  Judith Wallerstein, who has been a relationship and family therapist for 30 years, analyzes what makes the marriages in the book successful.  Fascinating, inspiring, and hope-creating. After reading this, you’ll realize that you don’t need to be perfect to create a healthy marriage.

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus -- John Gray

It took me a long time to get to this book -- I think I can be a bit of a snob when it comes to multi-million best-sellers.

And, when I finally read it, I could see why it has sold so many millions of copies. It really rang true to me, and I really liked the fact that the book is so simple. Clear, easy to understand, and powerful in its recommendations, I really believe this book has the potential to create healing for millions of couples.

I read one other book of his recently -- Mars and Venus On A Date.  I thought the information it contained was very helpful indeed for those who want to create a healthy relationship via a healthy courtship.  I thought it was poorly written, and could have been about a third shorter, but, curiously enough, in the end I don’t think that really matters.  It’s the information that counts.   

Journey of the Heart -- John Welwood, Ph.D.

Embracing the Beloved -- Stephen and Ondrea Levine

What I like especially about these two books is that they talk about relationship as a path for self-discovery.  I agree with these authors in that I believe relationship is one of our greatest spiritual teachers.  Both books show you how to use the conflicts and difficulties in every relationship, and, like an alchemist, transmute them into spiritual gold.

Cultivating Female Sexual Energy -- Mantak Chia

Cultivating Male Sexual Energy -- Mantak Chia

These are more practical, “how-to” books, showing both men and women how to nurture their sexual energy and direct it in a positive way. A great introduction to the ancient art of Taoist sexual practices. Highly recommended.

Sexual Peace: Michael Sky

Michael Sky is a friend of mine, and a truly wise and gentle person. This book of his is subtitled “Healing The Dominator Virus”.  He believes that the patriarchal domination so prevalent in our culture is so deeply ingrained into our minds and bodies that it acts like a virus -- using our very cells as hosts. Essential reading for anyone interested in healing the war between the sexes.

Tantra: The Art of Conscious Loving -- Charles and Caroline Muir

The Art Of Sexual Ecstasy -- Margo Anand

Along with Taoism, Tantra is the other major spiritual tradition to deal with sexuality in detail. Both Taoist and Tantric adepts believe that, handled appropriately, our sexuality can actually enhance our spiritual development. Obviously, in both these traditions, the body is not seen as something separate from, and in opposition to, our spiritual nature. They are intertwined, just as Tantric lovers are.

These are the two best basic and introductory books on the subject I have read.    

The Soul of Sex: Cultivating Life As An Act of Love – Thomas Moore

This book looks at how rich and filled with myth and mystery our sexual natures are, and how they can enhance our lives and help make them more soulful. This author, whose “Care of the Soul” is one of my favorite books, looks at the way that sexuality and spirituality intersect, and shows us ways to live life from a place of positive eroticism. Highly recommended.

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion – Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D.

If you read only one book on communication, please make it this one. Having studied many different communication technologies over the years, I can say that this is the most effective, the most powerful, the most heart-centered technology I’ve ever encountered. Marshall shows us how to defuse and heal any conflict, and how to deal compassionately with others in order to get our needs met – and to support them in getting their own needs met at the same time – even when two or more people’s needs appear to be in conflict.  As I believe that communication is the one of the major keys to a successful relationship, this book can support you in transforming all your relationships in a positive way. 

I also recommend you make it a priority to get to one of Marshall’s workshops, or one of those conducted by his team of certified trainers. This stuff could literally create peace on earth – and in your home.

Money/Prosperity (index)

Creating Money -- Duane Packer and Sanaya Roman

This book is about much more than money -- it’s really about how to manifest anything, and I highly recommend it as one of the best books on the subject.  

Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter

Here’s a whole new way of looking at how we received our “messages” and education about money – and how to change that. For example, according to the author, the children of middle-class, conventional parents are told to “…get a good education, so you can get a good job with a good company”, while the children of wealthy parents might be told to “…learn what you need to know in order to buy a good company that will produce income for you.”  A fascinating, even exciting book that can help you jumpstart or accelerate your progress on the road to financial independence. It’s not very well written, but in this case, it doesn’t seem to matter that much. This book got me excited about creating financial freedom. The authors also offer the game “Cash Flow” which I strongly recommend, although it is a bit pricey. 

Your Money Or Your Life -- Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin

For anyone serious about getting their money trip together, this is must reading. Like so many other books of  its nature, however, it will be of benefit to the reader only inasmuch as they are willing to consistently apply its principles. This book really helped me cut through my denial about money and see what was really going on.   

MoneyLove -- Robert Gillies

Robert Gillies helped me tremendously in looking at all the negative messages about money that I had received from my family and the society.  This book is very helpful in helping to reprogram messages that money is bad, or is not spiritual.  

The Dynamic Laws Of Prosperity -- Catherine Ponder

A classic. Written more than 50 years ago, this is one of the basic “new thought” books on the subject, and should be a part of your library if you are serious about creating prosperity in your life.  Look for other titles by this wonderful, pioneering author. 

Earn What You Deserve -- Jerrold Mundis

Along with “Your Money Or Your Life”, this book was extremely helpful in creating financial health for me. Like the other book, this one will reward you to the extent you actually practice what it recommends.

The 9 Steps To Financial Freedom – Suze Orman

To quote the author: “Money is a potent form of energy, the perfect focal point for working out life’s important lessons…One of the things about our relationship with money – whether we hate money or love money – is that money forms a part of everything in our lives.”

Breathing (index)

Breathing -- Michael Sky

Again, my friend Michael has written a beautiful book. It starts with breath (doesn’t everything?!) but covers much wider ground. Must reading.

Conscious Breathing -- Gay Hendricks, Ph.D.

Other Wonderful Books That Cross The Above Categories (index)

The Pleasure Prescription -- Paul Pearsall, Ph.D

This wise and wonderful book is inspiring and uplifting. If you’ve every seen Paul Pearsall on the Oprah Winfrey show, you’ll know why -- he’s a wise and wonderful man. Prescibed for all those who are working too hard, moving too fast, and not sure why. 

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion – Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D.

If you read only one book on communication, please make it this one. Having studied many different communication technologies over the years, I can say that this is the most effective, the most powerful, the most heart-centered technology I’ve ever encountered. Marshall shows us how to defuse and heal any conflict, and how to deal compassionately with others in order to get our needs met – and to support them in getting their own needs met at the same time – even when two or more people’s needs appear to be in conflict.

I also recommend you make it a priority to get to one of Marshall’s workshops, or one of those conducted by his team of certified trainers. This stuff could literally create peace on earth.   

Anatomy of the Spirit – Caroline Myss, Ph.D.

I finally got around to reading this wonderful book after many people had recommended it, and wondered why it wasn’t on this list.  I must confess I can be a bit of a snob in terms of resisting reading what's really popular, and this was certainly true of Ms. Myss. As so often happens with me, though, all that silly ego stuff dissolves in the face of such wisdom. If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend you do. If you have any questions as to how the body/mind/spirit system operates, this should answer them.  Also invaluable in guiding in how to more naturally access our intuition. 

A Return To Love -- Marianne Williamson

Based on the teachings of “A Course In Miracles”, this book is a wonderful reminder of what is true and real in a spiritual sense. I recommend reading this once a year.

The Healing of America -- Marianne Williamson

A courageous and timely book. MW tackles the thorny issue of how a spiritually-oriented person could deal with the political world in a healthy and constructive way. Another of those books I wanted to give to all my friends.

Conversations With God -- Neale Donald Walsch (3 vols.)

If you read only one set of books on this entire list, make it this one. If you had any questions left about how the universe really works, you’ll find the answers here. A wonderful manual and guidebook for becoming “Who You Really Are”.

I’m encouraged that this is already a best seller -- it means this information is in the hands of a lot of people, and that bodes well for the world. 

Hymns To An Unknown God -- Sam Keen

What is a spirit-centered life?  Sam Keen’s book is one of the best answers to this question.  Full of beautiful and inspiring quotes, anecdotes and stories, this book is like a wholesome and satisfying meal that also tastes great -- it’s fun to read as well as uplifting -- the best of both worlds.

Living In Balance: A Dynamic Approach For Creating Harmony & Wholeness In A Chaotic World

-- Joel Levey & Michelle Levey

Another wonderful book which covers a lot of ground. I plan, at some point, to write a book based on the “Lifetools” material I have gathered, and since discovering and reading this book, I’m wondering whether there would still be a need for a Lifetools book.

One of the things I like very much about this book is the fact that it has inspiring quotes from a wide variety of sources on almost every page. It also seems completely filled with wisdom -- these people really seem to be “walking their talk”, and that is something I admire (and try to do myself).  

Resources for Conscious Living

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