Soul Searching Books That Aren't "Self-Help"

Anguished German writer tells the story of the Buddha so hippies and high school students can feel enlightened for generations to come. Short, accessible, and beautiful, this book is on everyone’s shelf for a reason. Read it by a river in one sitting. Get up feeling one step closer to Nirvana.

Hip, smart, and hilarious, Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir of her year’s journey through Italy, India, and Indonesia is as entertaining as it is moving. Whether she’s eating, praying, or, you guessed it, loving, Gilbert knows exactly how to transcribe contemporary existential anxiety into contemporary existential acceptance. Warning: an exercise program should be included after the “Eat section” because it’s hard to read about all that Italian food without gorging.

Lots of soul searching going on, but more body crushing than even the recent Die Hard movie. Watch Adam and Eve fall from grace, the Jews wander a desert for 40 years, massive flooding, men turned to salt, cities destroyed, Job vexed, Jesus born, and the entire universe collapse on itself. A must read.

Thanks to Michelangelo and Oprah, The Secret is out! Unlike most other soul searching books, this one fuses how finding yourself AND making millions is totally doable. The power of positive thinking works wonders, and it can for you to for $13.17. Ms. Byrne probably thought positively before publishing this book.

Isn’t he adorable? I mean, really. He’s as cute as a button. I just can’t over how cute that little guy is. Everything about him. Cute cute cute! Oh! Enlightened, too. His Holiness is truly beyond words, so it’s a shame he’s reduced to them in order to write a book. That said, his mind is a must read. And he’s so cute.

There was a time when you could pick this book up at a Starbucks along with you decaf double tall sugar free vanilla skim mocha. And although that time and Morrie have passed, Mitch Albom’s tale of a middle aged man’s rekindled relationship with an old professor is moving, warm, and inspirational. Just like a mocha.