The Library Of Misfit Books

Just for fun, the books are in reverse-alphabetical order by author sir name. Genres are mixed together.

Hopefully you’ll find a few gems!

Does It Matter?: Essays on Man’s Relation to Materiality

A series of essays representing philosopher Alan Watts’s thinking on the astonishing problems of man’s relations to his material environment. The basic theme is that civilized man confuses symbol with reality, and thus puts himself into the absurd situation of preferring money to wealth and eating the menu instead of the dinner.

Worldwide Laws Of Life: 200 Eternal Spiritual Principles

This book is full of wisdom drawn from the major sacred Scriptures of the world and various schools of philosophical thought, as well as from scientists, artists, historians, and others. Its aim is to assist people of all ages to learn more about the universal truths of life that transcend modern times or particular cultures.

The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life’s Perfection

Michael Singer tells the extraordinary story of what happened when, after a deep spiritual awakening, he decided to let go of his personal preferences and simply let life call the shots. The events that transpire will both challenge your deepest assumptions about life and inspire you to look at your own life in a radically different way.

Science Set Free: 10 Paths to New Discovery

Rupert Sheldrake shows the ways in which science is being constricted by assumptions that have hardened into dogmas. Such dogmas are limiting and dangerous for the future of humanity. Sheldrake shows how turning the ten fundamental dogmas of materialism into exciting questions can open up startling new possibilities for discovery.

Terry Fox: His Story

He lost his leg to cancer at 19, but said “nobody is ever going to call me a quitter.” Terry Fox set out from St. John’s, Newfoundland to begin the run across Canada on one good leg and one prosthetic leg. His goal was to raise a million dollars for cancer research. When cancer finally claimed his life, Canada mourned the loss of a hero.

Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do the Right Thing

Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe explore the insights essential to leading satisfying lives. Encouraging individuals to focus on their own personal intelligence and integrity rather than simply navigating the rules and incentives established by others.

Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers

Combining cutting-edge research with a healthy dose of good humor and practical advice, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers explains how prolonged stress causes or intensifies a range of physical and mental afflictions, including depression, ulcers, colitis, heart disease, and more. It also provides essential guidance to controlling our stress responses.

A Gift to My Children: A Father’s Lessons for Life and Investing

World traveler and legendary investor, Jim Rogers, shares a heartfelt, indispensable guide for his daughters (and all young investors) to find success and happiness. Rogers reveals how to learn from triumphs and mistakes in order to achieve a prosperous, well-lived life.

Civil Resistance and Power Politics: The Experience of Non-violent Action from Gandhi to the Present

This book addresses the complex interrelationship between civil resistance and other dimensions of power. It explores the question of whether civil resistance should be seen as potentially replacing violence completely, or as a phenomenon that operates in conjunction with, and modification of, power politics.

The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves

In a bold and provocative interpretation of economic history, Matt Ridley makes the case for an economics of hope, arguing that the benefits of commerce, technology, innovation, and change will inevitably increase human prosperity.

30 Lessons for Loving: Advice from the Wisest Americans on Love, Relationships, and Marriage

Drawing on interviews with seven hundred long-married elders, 30 Lessons for Loving delivers timeless wisdom from a wide range of voices on everything from choosing “the one” to dealing with in-laws, money, children, and sex. Whether readers are searching for the right partner or working to keep the spark alive, this book illuminates the path to lifelong, fulfilling relationships.

30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans

After a chance encounter with a remarkable ninety-year-old woman, Karl Pillemer decided to find out what older people know about life that the rest of us don’t. He spoke with a thousand Americans over the age of sixty-five to learn how to live without regret, persevere through hard times, find fulfillment, and age fearlessly.

The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help

When Amanda Palmer left her record label she asked her fans to support her in making an album, leading to the world’s most successful music Kickstarter. Part manifesto, part revelation, this is the story of an artist struggling with the new rules of exchange in the twenty-first century. This book will inspire readers to rethink their own ideas about asking, giving, art, and love.

Overblown: How Politicians and the Terrorism Industry Inflate National Security Threats, and Why We Believe Them

Terrorism has been used for many decades, yet even including 9/11, the odds of an American being killed by international terrorism are microscopic. In general, international terrorism doesn’t do much damage when considered in almost any reasonable context. It’s time to stop playing into the terrorists’ hands.

Warren Buffett’s Ground Rules: Words of Wisdom from the Partnership Letters of the World’s Greatest Investor

Using the letters Buffett wrote to his partners between 1956 and 1970, a veteran financial adviser presents the guru’s “ground rules” for investing — guidelines that remain startlingly relevant today. The letters offer accessible lessons in control and discipline — effective in bull and bear markets alike, and in all types of investing climates.

The Diamond In The Onion Suit

The characters are not human, but they represent human nature. Through the little onion’s adventures, we revisit issues we have had in the past. Often they are still with us. We devote so much effort to “looking good” and “fitting in” that sometimes we lose sight of who we really are. There’s a way to cut through all that and live the life we really want.

The Way of Chuang Tzu

Thomas Merton composed a series of his own versions of the classic sayings of Chuang Tzu. Chuang Tzu is the chief authentic historical spokesperson for Taoism and its founder Lao Tzu. It was because of Chuang Tzu and the other Taoist sages that Indian Buddhism was transformed, in China, into the unique vehicle we now call by its Japanese name―Zen.

The Seven Storey Mountain

This book tells of the growing restlessness of a brilliant and passionate young man whose search for peace and faith leads him, at the age of twenty-six, to take vows in one of the most demanding Catholic orders — the Trappist monks.

Grace Walk: What You’ve Always Wanted in the Christian Life

Leave behind the “manic-depressive” Christian walk. No more running around trying to perform to be acceptable to God. Living the grace walk gets Christians off this religious roller coaster. This book will help you come to know “Amazing Grace” as not just a song but as a true way of life.

The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe

Journalist Lynne McTaggart reveals a radical new paradigm — that the human mind and body are not separate from their environment and that consciousness may be central in shaping our world. A highly readable scientific detective story presenting a stunning picture of an interconnected universe and a new scientific theory.

The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It

What if changing how you think about stress could make you happier, healthier, and better able to reach your goals? Combining exciting new research on resilience and mindset, Kelly McGonigal, proves that stress is not bad for you; it is undergoing stress while believing that stress is bad for you that makes it harmful. (Thanks to Rohan W. of www.rohanmwilliams.com for recommending this book)

Bo’s Café: A Novel

High-powered executive Steven Kerner is living the dream. But when his bottled pain ignites in anger one night, his wife kicks him out. Then an eccentric mystery man befriends Steven and begins unravelling his tightly wound world. Those who desire a fuller, more authentic way of living will find this journey of healing a restorative exploration of God’s unbridled grace.

Fear of Life: The Wisdom of Failure

An in-depth study of the human condition within modern culture. Psychotherapist Alexander Lowen shows that stress,tension, anxiety and neurotic behavior stem from a fear of life. Lowen explains that being a person requires that one stop their frantic doing and take time out to breathe and to feel.

Bruce Lee — Wisdom for the Way

From the greatest modern martial artist of all time, this book is a compilation of proverbs coined by Bruce Lee himself. Touching on martial arts, the universe and life in general, this collection defines the concepts behind both a warrior and a martial artist. Ideal for fans and philosophers alike, this compendium is an attractive, elegant and compact guide to the insight of a legend.

Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe

Biocentrism, written by one of the leading life-scientists of our age, awakens in readers a new sense of possibility, and is full of so many shocking new perspectives that the reader will never see reality the same way again.

Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

An entertaining coffee table book containing the wise words of one of the all-time great investors. The book contains a lot of illustrations, as well as commentary about numerous historical figures.

Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason

One basic need all children have, Alfie Kohn argues, is to know that they will be accepted even if they screw up or fall short. Kohn cites a body of powerful, and largely unknown, research detailing the damage caused by leading children to believe they must earn our approval.

The Misunderstood God

This book analyzes what religion says about God’s heart and personality and measures it up to what God calls Himself: Love. It simplifies a generation’s tangled perceptions of God by taking a journey through the sixteen aspects of love described in one of the most well-known Bible passages in the world: 1 Corinthians 13, also known as “the love chapter.”

Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

The iconoclastic CEO of Zappos shows how a different kind of corporate culture can make a huge difference in achieving remarkable results — by actually creating a culture that values happiness — and then delivers on it. Zappos debuted as the highest-ranking newcomer in Fortune magazine’s “Best Companies to Work For” list and was acquired by Amazon for over $1.2 billion.

Leadership

General Rick Hillier’s views on leadership evolved over three decades as a soldier. Early in his career he watched as many of his superiors made bad decisions. For Hillier, leadership is all about people — embracing those you are in charge of and winning over those you need to work with.

Rules for a Knight

A knight, fearing he may not return from battle, writes a letter to his children. In a series of ruminations on solitude, humility, forgiveness, honesty, courage, grace, pride, and patience, he draws on the ancient teachings of Eastern and Western philosophy, and on the great spiritual and political writings. His intent: to give his children a short guide to what gives life meaning and beauty.

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us

For millions of years, humans have been seeking out tribes. Now the Internet has eliminated the barriers of geography, cost, and time. All those blogs and social networking sites are helping existing tribes get bigger. But more important, they’re enabling countless new tribes to be born. And so the key question: Who is going to lead us?

The Island of Knowledge: The Limits of Science and the Search for Meaning

The Island of Knowledge offers a highly original exploration of the ideas of some of the greatest thinkers in history, from Plato to Einstein, and how they affect us today. An authoritative, broad-ranging intellectual history of our search for knowledge and meaning, The Island of Knowledge is a unique view of what it means to be human in a universe filled with mystery.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned

Michael J. Fox abandoned high school to pursue an acting career, but went on to receive honorary degrees from several universities and garner the highest accolades for his acting, as well as for his writing. In this book, he inspires and motivates graduates to recognize opportunities, maximize their abilities, and roll with the punches.

Raising Hell: Christianity’s Most Controversial Doctrine Put Under Fire

Have you ever considered the apparent injustices, inconsistencies, and even contradictions of the doctrine of hell? Raising Hell will open your eyes to a radical view of God’s loving purpose for all humanity and what the “Good News” is really about.

The Thin Book of Trust; An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work

With this book, you will learn how to build and maintain strong trusting relationships with others, and repair trust when it is broken, by being intentional and consistent in your language and actions. Understanding and consistently demonstrating trustworthy language and behavior will help you earn and keep the trust of the people you work with.

Awkwardly Strong: From Insecure to Inspirational

This book shows you your own secret weapon. It’s that thing you keep hiding from everyone. The author uses her Tourette Syndrome to illustrate how potentially embarrassing situations have become cherished memories and golden opportunities. The freedom that comes from embracing and using your differences is both liberating and validating.

Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain

If the conscious mind — the part you consider to be you — is just the tip of the iceberg, what is the rest doing? In this provocative book, neuroscientist David Eagleman navigates the depths of the subconscious brain to illuminate its surprising mysteries. Incognito is a subsurface exploration of the mind and all its contradictions.

Infinite in All Directions

In Freeman Dyson’s view, science and religion are two windows through which we can look out at the world around us. This book is a revised version of a series of the Gifford Lectures under the title “In Praise of Diversity.” They allowed Dyson the license to express everything in the universe, which he divided into two parts: focusing on the diversity of the natural world, and the diversity of human reactions.

Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending

Two professors combine cutting-edge research to explain how money can buy happiness, if you follow five core principles of smart spending. They also explore research that reveals luxury cars often provide no more pleasure than economy cars, that residents of many cities often miss out on inexpensive pleasures in their hometowns, and more.

Body, Mind, and Sport: The Mind-Body Guide to Lifelong Health, Fitness, and Your Personal Best

Until recently, the effortless “Zone” of peak performance was only within the reach of serious athletes. With Body, Mind, and Sport, anyone can reach the Zone. The author also outlines a program which best suits your mind-body type and what foods you should eat for optimum results.

Tiny Buddha’s 365 Tiny Love Challenges

A daily inspirational guide of simple and creative challenges to help you actively spread love to those around you. Each week begins with an inspirational message written by members of TinyBuddha.com, followed by seven days of short challenges that focus on self-love, giving and receiving love in relationships and friendships, and spreading love in the world.

Why Does E=mc2? (And Why Should We Care?)

A collaboration between one of the youngest professors in the U.K and a distinguished physicist, Why Does E=mc2? is one of the most accessible explanations of the theory of relativity. Explaining and simplifying notions of energy, mass, and light — while exploding commonly held misconceptions — they demonstrate how the structure of nature itself is contained within this equation.

How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age

An adaptation of Dale Carnegie’s timeless prescriptions for the digital age. Rebooted to tame the complexities of modern times and teach you how to communicate with diplomacy and tact, capitalize on a solid network, make people like you, project your message widely and clearly, be a more effective leader, increase your ability to get things done, and optimize the power of digital tools.

Confessions of a Bible Thumper: My Homebrewed Quest for a Reasoned Faith

Michael Camp’s deepening doubts propelled him to uncover nine “heretical” revelations that turn evangelical theology on its head. This brutally honest personal pilgrimage will both challenge and encourage readers to rethink all things sacred and embrace a faith full of grace and reason.

The Discoverers: A History Of Man’s Search To Know His World and Himself

A history of scientific and social progress. The story of how mankind has come to know the world. Historian Daniel Boorstin shows how creative thinkers and adventurous souls were helped and held back by political, religious and cultural forces and how their ideas changed the world.

Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There

Get away from doing and into being with this lively, down-to-earth guide to your own meditation retreat by mindfulness meditation teacher Sylvia Boorstein. She offers a three-day retreat plan accompanied by timeless lessons — always grounded in real life — on how anyone can achieve calm, clarity and joy through meditation practices.

Clutterfree with Kids: Change your thinking. Discover new habits. Free your home

Children add joy, purpose, and meaning to our lives. They provide optimism, hope, and love. They bring smiles, laughter, and energy into our homes. They also add clutter. As parents, balancing life and managing clutter may appear impossible. But what if there was a better way to live? Clutterfree with Kids offers a new perspective and fresh approach to overcoming clutter.

Leave No Doubt: A Credo for Chasing Your Dreams

Mike Babcock is arguably the best Hockey coach in the game today. In this book, Babcock provides a roadmap for achieving goals and fulfilling dreams. It’s not just a book about hockey, but a book about life, illuminated by stories about overcoming doubt, “owning pressure,” and making a difference.

Essential Zen Habits: Mastering the Art of Change, Briefly

Essential Zen Habits shares a method and a six-week program for changing a habit, and outlines steps needed to quit bad habits, deal with life struggles, and find mindfulness. All in a very brief format of “just do this” instructions, no fluff whatsoever.

The One-Week Job Project: One Man, One Year, 52 Jobs

After college, Sean Aiken found himself struggling to answer the question “What should I do with my life?” His father said, “It doesn’t matter what you do, just make sure it’s something you’re passionate about.” Taking his father’s advice to heart, Sean launched himself on an epic journey to find his passion. His goal: to work fifty-two jobs in fifty-two weeks.