You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.”― James Baldwin
Mahara Book Club Picks
At Mahara, we're on a journey to not just read, but to immerse ourselves in narratives that resonate with the very core of human experience. Our passion for learning is fueled by the pages of captivating books that echo the essence of the 10 key elements outlined in The Human Being Journal.
See below to view our past reads and checkout our Instagram highlights at @maharamindfulness and @thehumanbeingjournal for valuable support resources, ensuring the wisdom and insights from our chosen books stay with you long after you turn the last page. Join us in the pursuit of knowledge, growth, and a deeper understanding of the human experience.
The Four Agreements
“Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art.”
The Book: The Four Agreements is a book about ancient Toltec wisdom and how you can implement it in today's busy, fast, and ever-changing world. The Four Agreements include: Be Impeccable with Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, and Always Do Your Best. The book dives deeper into each agreement.
The Author: Don Miguel Ruiz is a renowned spiritual teacher and internationally bestselling author. He has spent the past three decades guiding people to personal freedom through his profound insights regarding the nature of human reality.
The Untethered Soul
“There is nothing more important to true growth than realizing that you are not the voice of the mind - you are the one who hears it.”
The Book: Whether this is your first exploration of inner space, or you’ve devoted your life to the inward journey, this book will transform your relationship with yourself and the world around you. You’ll discover what you can do to put an end to the habitual thoughts and emotions that limit your consciousness. By tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, the book shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization.
The Author: Michael A. Singer is author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Untethered Soul and the New York Times bestsellers The Surrender Experiment and Living Untethered, all of which are published worldwide. He had a deep inner awakening in 1971 while working on his doctorate in economics and went into seclusion to focus on yoga, meditation and ultimately become a great teacher on life.
The Forty Rules of Love
“You can study God through everything and everyone in the universe, because God is not confined in a mosque, synagogue or church. But if you are still in need of knowing where exactly His abode is, there is only one place to look for Him: in the heart of a true lover.”
The Book: Forty Rules of Love is a story about a middle-aged woman – Ella – who reads a manuscript about the thirteenth-century Sufi poet Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, and his forty rules of life and love. Ella has no idea how this manuscript and her interaction with the author is going to bring enormous shifts in her life. It is a story about love, spirit and ultimately coming home to yourself.
The Author: Elif Shafak is a Turkish-British novelist, essayist, public speaker, political scientist and activist. Shafak writes in Turkish and English and has published 19 books.
Mating in Captivity
“Today, we turn to one person to provide what an entire village once did: a sense of grounding, meaning, and continuity. At the same time, we expect our committed relationships to be romantic as well as emotionally and sexually fulfilling. Is it any wonder that so many relationships crumble under the weight of it all?”
The Book: In “Mating in Captivity”, Esther Perel draws on observations made during her decades of experience as a practicing psychotherapist. The book explores the ways sexual passion and long-term security are often at odds and highlights important issues couples face as they navigate committed relationships.
The Author: Esther Perel is a Belgian-American psychotherapist, known for her work on human relationships. Perel promoted the concept of "erotic intelligence" in her book Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence, which has been translated into 24 languages. After publishing the book, she became an international advisor on sex and relationships.
The Midnight Library
“You don’t have to understand life. You just have to live it.”
The Book: In this fictional novel, the author addresses weighty topics through its main character Nora who attempts suicide, and must explore what it means to live while in the grey area between life and death. The book addresses themes including small acts of kindness that can have large impacts and the power of perception. Throughout the novel, Nora must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.
The Author: Matt Haig is an English author and journalist. He has written both fiction and non-fiction books, often in the speculative fiction genre. “The Midnight Library” was shortlisted for the 2021 British Book Awards "Fiction Book of the Year.”
Becoming Supernatural
“The only way we can change our lives is to change our energy — to change the electromagnetic field we are constantly broadcasting. In other words, to change our state of being, we have to change how we think and how we feel.”
The Book: Becoming Supernatural draws on epigenetics, quantum physics & neuroscience research conducted at Dr. Joe Dispenza’s advanced workshops to explore how common people are doing the uncommon to transform their consciousness, mindset, and beliefs to heal and live supernatural lives.
The Author:Dr Joe Dispenza is a New York Times best-selling author, researcher, lecturer, and corporate consultant, and his work has led him to develop a practical formula to help people transform their lives from the inside out.
I Will Teach You to be Rich
"Spend extravagantly on the things you love and cut costs mercilessly on things you don't.”
The Book: In this novel, you learn that financial well-being primarily rests on the four pillars of personal finance, namely, banking, saving, budgeting, and investing. The book offers a number of innovative ideas on wealth-building through personal entrepreneurship. The book helps you understand about how to earn more, save more, and ultimately enjoy a rich life that’s on your terms.
The Author: Ramit Sethi is an American writer and self-proclaimed personal finance adviser. He is the author of the 2009 New York Times Best Seller, I Will Teach You to Be Rich and founder of GrowthLab.com, an online advertising advice website.