7 Books That Blew My Mind Open

Curiosity. Imagination. Passion.

They are the characteristics of all those who impact society in some way.

I'm passionately curious about the world but my frustration was always that I didn't quite know what my place was in it. I couldn't find the box I fit into. I was always wondering if I should stand here or there, there or here?

No real path has really spoken to me so reading books about those who didn't quite fit in brought me comfort.

Only now do I recognise that having nowhere to stand is a unique position to be in - a gift.

The shackles of limited thinking finally fell when I realised I didn't need to have only one "calling", but rather embraced the many interests and creative pursuits that brought me joy. Emile Wapnick talks more about this in her TEDx talk where she describes this unique character as a "Multipotentialite".

Anyway, below I've shared a list of books that have helped me stretch my mind further and deeper into new ways of seeing and feeling. They reignited curiosity back into my heart (which I once had and lost somewhere along the way). Maybe they will for you too.

Where Good Ideas Come From - Steven Johnson

"A good idea is a network. A specific constellation of neurons - thousands of them - fire in sync with each other for the first time in your brain, and an idea pops into your consciousness."

Have you ever thought about where ideas actually come from?

I found this book interesting because Johnson breaks down practical ways to increase your chances of getting a great idea. He uses real life stories from history and the present day to explain how new ideas are born. The key lesson being: broaden your exposure to different unrelated fields of information.

When I Stop Talking You'll Know I'm Dead - Jerry Weintraub

"An idea is only crazy, after all, until someone pulls it off"

Imagine having a dream that you're going to manage Elvis. Then calling his office every single day for a year until you got a chance to do it? Then taking Frank Sinatra on tour, signing Led Zeppelin, introducing John Denver to the world and producing hits like Oceans 11 and The Karate Kid.

Jerry did just that. And more.

He was a big dreamer. His life is an example of "persistence beats resistance". He didn't confine himself to one field in life and having a lack of education wasn't a barrier. He was too creative and courageous to fall for that.

This book is a collection of funny and inspiring stories all the way through. If nothing else, these stories will spark confidence back into your bones to take action on whatever you've been holding back on.

Mastery - Robert Greene

"Don't go where the path may lead. Instead, go where there is no path and leave a trail" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

We all have a unique purpose that can be found if we follow our inner voice, our intuition. It manifests itself in a variety of ways. Those who diligently follow this voice will become masters in their own way. Those who don't, well they'll probably float around not quite knowing why they're not satisfied.

Greene shares stories about people like Leonardo Da Vinci, Martha Graham, and VS Ramachandra. It's an eclectic mix of adventures about individuals who paved their own way when no other way existed (or all the ways that did exist were boring).

The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron

"The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel" - Piet Mondrian

Our inner child has a yearning to explore, to discover, to imagine, to create.

But somewhere along the way we let their hand go and lose touch with this energy. We become accustomed to labels and routines. We're left feeling slightly dull everyday and eventually get used to it. And as a result, our best work remains buried.

The truth is our best work is yet to come, if we reconnect with this child.

Cameron takes you through the process of reconnecting over the course of 12 weeks. A little bit of reflection and reading is required each week but there are some good questions, quotes, anecdotes and exercises to get you thinking and feeling from a different space.

Leonardo Da Vinci (The Biography) - Walter Isaacson

"His method was rooted in experiment, curiosity, and the ability to marvel at phenomena that the rest of us rarely pause to ponder after we've outgrown our wonder years"

There's not much to say about this man. Everyone knows of him. If there's one person who proves that you can pursue multiple things in life successfully, its Leonardo.

The Surrender Experiment - Michael Singer

"If life can manifest the DNA molecule on its own, not to mention create the human brain, how is it that we feel that we have to control everything on our own? There must be another more sane way to approach life."

This story explores what happens to one man who decides to follow the flow of life and allow himself to be guided through the unknown.

This book completely shifted my perspective. Rather than living in resistance to how I think life should be, I now try to be open to the possibility that life is guiding me to where I need to be, regardless of my own desires and dislikes. One of the most fascinating stories I've read and will continue to reread.

Living On Your Own Terms - Osho

"The rebel has no belief system-theist or atheist, Hindu or Christian, he is an inquirer, a seeker"

While there is much controversy surrounding Osho, his teachings are profound to those who are open to reflecting on them. I try not to be bias towards learning from any one source but open myself to all sources and allow my intuition to guide me to the answer that is right for me.

This book will probably push a few of your buttons and make you feel uncomfortable. If it does then you know you're on the edge of growing and expanding.

While books have been a great aid along my journey, real clarity only came from figuring out what my voice was and what I have to say in the world. Reading can often drown our own authentic voice out as we adopt the perspectives of others thinking their way is the ultimate way. It's not. Ultimately, your own voice is the most important and the one you're here to find.

Stay curious and keep exploring :)