The Embody Movement Booklist

The Little Prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"What I love about The Little Prince is that it’s an invitation to appreciate the little things in life, and to stay open to childlike wonder and exploration." -Alyssa

Alyssa's favorite quote:

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”

The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath

"A slow burn, yet deeply validating. It feels like my subconscious narrating the experience of being a woman. It’s raw, honest, and profoundly relatable — like reading a mirror of your own thoughts. RIP queen." - Kylee

The Truth About Forever

Sarah Dessen

"If you are looking for a story about finding a place and people that make the sad parts of life not so sad, and shows that chaos can be part of the good." -Mia

Braiding Sweetgrass

Robin Wall Kimmerer

"A book full of relatable life experiences while also demonstrating how indigenous worldviews and practices can support modern science. Another feel good read for the academic bushwoman ;)" -Candy

"Braiding Sweetgrass reminds us of our true belonging. This book is a soft landing in the comfort of narrative, indigenous wisdom, and the teachings of plants. Scientific knowledge is conveyed through personal stories and reads like poetry." -Laura

The Gene Keys

Richard Rudd

"The Gene Keys is a wealth of wisdom for any Spiritual Seeker. It is a book that encourages the Art of Contemplation of various Human thought structures that exist. It's a book that finds you when you are at a pivotal moment in your Soul's path, if you need guidance..it introduces a system to help organize consciousness. I enjoy how the author encourages the reader to just read it front to back, back to front, open randomly...letting the reader decide where to go. One of the raddest channeled books ever written...to me:)" -Blue

Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love

Tori Dunlap

"Thinking about money usually gives me the ick, but this book makes it digestible and is funny AF. Dunlap breaks down the steps you need to take to be financially stable and start to build wealth (yes, YOU can build wealth). After reading this I am no longer shying away from words like 'investing' or 'retirement,' and I feel a new sense of power. Women have not been allowed at the table in money conversations, or in some cases even legally allowed to make or take control of their money (expresses sounds of rage)! The knowledge in this book empowers women, and everyone should read it." -Louise

In the Dream House

Carmen Maria Machado

"This autobiography shows how the signs that someone is bad for you are sometimes hidden, but it’s always a good time to pick yourself." -Mia

Heartbreak 

Florence Williams

"Heartbreak is both personal narrative and scientific journalism that looks at the effects of heartbreak. Essential reading for anyone navigating the pain and very real physical effects of break-ups." -Laura 

Waves of Knowing: A Seascape Epistemology

Karin Amimoto Ingersoll

"A great way to understand why there are often clashes between mainstream thought and Hawaiʻi kine tingz; for Hawaiians to better understand who we are, where we come from, and why we like 'dat,' and for others to also better understand 'dat.'" -Candy

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck

Mark Manson

"It's like being snapped out of a bad decision by a friend who knows you’re about to text your ex. It’s a wake-up call you didn’t know you needed. This book made me confront my own thought patterns and mortality in a way that genuinely inspired me to live more fully, build a reliable connection with my body, and just enjoy life instead of overthinking it. Such a simple concept but even more simple when someone is yelling at you on paper." -Kylee

You are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience

Edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown

"A collection of essays from a vast spectrum of identities and experiences from Black writers. It tackles themes of shame, healing and resilience." -Laura

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho

"I first read The Alchemist in my early 20s before I pursued my lifelong dream of traveling the world. This book planted a seed, igniting a deep sense of adventure & curiosity about the world that I’ve long held close to my heart. I questioned what my own Personal Legend was, much like Santiago did on his quest throughout the Sahara Desert to reach the pyramids of Egypt. Years later, I would find myself with toes in the golden sands of the Sahara, captivated by the brilliant sunset as an overwhelming sense of peace washed over me, feeling truly aligned with the Soul of the World, a theme covered in the book. The Soul of the World is a universal interconnected life force between all things that help an individual fulfill their Personal Legend, their unique destiny. I couldn’t recommend this book more to others who share a similar sense of wonder!" -Alyssa

Alyssa's favorite quote: 

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”

Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life

Emily Nagoski

"This book is freeing in so many ways! From learning (from an actual sex educator) about how the most private parts of your body work, to debunking myths we've been told our whole life, to strategies to improve how you feel during sexy time, this knowledge is powerful. It left me with a new sense of love and acceptance for my body, and a better understanding of the interconnectedness of the brain, body, and external influences that shape our sexual experience. I want to go read it again." -Louise

The Princess Bride 

William Goldman

"If you want a funny read full of adventure, silliness and romance with just the right amount of sarcasm." -Mia

Throne of Glass

Sarah J. Maas

"This entire series is a masterpiece, with a world so beautifully built and characters that WILL stay in your head rent free. So many strong female leads, royalty, witches, hot faeries, wyverns, assassins, shapeshifters, like literally just about everything?? I laughed, and more than that I cried, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s changed my brain chemistry and took a piece of my soul. The first thing I wanted to do after finishing it was read it again." -Kylee

Behave 

Robert Sapolsky

"Behave looks at the biological workings of humans that contribute to their best and worst behaviors." -Laura

The Farthest-Away Mountain

Lynne Reid Banks

"My escape into a colorful fairy forest adventure. Light hearted and easy to read; leaves me feeling warm and happy inside." -Candy

Mistborn 

Brandon Sanderson

"If you are looking for a book that is high fantasy that isn’t overwhelming. This is a great place to start with action, adventure and a strong female lead." -Mia

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Sarah J. Maas

"This series helped me feel like a child again: falling into a story and away from the world. That childlike wonder turned into big adult eyes when I reached all the spicy scenes. GIRLLLL. Where has this genre been all my life?  There is also action and violence in the name of goodness, but it is mostly a story of love that is written so beautifully. I am obsessed." -Louise

Pride and Prejudice 

Jane Austen

"The OG enemies to lovers of the modern novel. If you want a classic that isn’t boring this is the place to start." -Mia