Books can be a source of deep inspiration. Barbara’s Book Club is a place where you’ll find information about books and authors who have changed our lives, providing insight and meaning in profound and unexpected ways.

Here are some of our favorites …

“A Slice of Life is my choice of an important book pertaining to a healing journey. This is a true story of healing through the experience of cancer, written by Lee Sturgeon-Day. In my life, I was dealing with a similar story. The phone call sent chills through my body. It was from the surgeon who performed a lumpectomy on my breast. At some level I knew his report would reveal the presence of cancer. There is a history of the women in our family of breast cancer. Four of my cousins and three of their daughters have died from breast cancer. My oldest sister had breast cancel and has survived.”“Fear grabbed and snuffed out my hope and strength. The next day, one of our massage therapists dropped a book in my lap that changed by life. Lee Sturgeon-Day discovered she had breast cancer. Her story unfolded in her book A Slice Of Life.’’

 “Marilee, dear friend, neighbor, caregiver sat by me, offering to read the book out loud. We took turns reading the book out loud – not stopping except for meals and sleep. The words seem to have been written for me. Her story brought solace, strength and hope. Lee chose to follow a path of healing called Anthroposophical Medicine, a healing modality founded by Rudolph Steiner during the 1900’s. This modality is well known in Germany and Switzerland. One of the treatments was injections of mistletoe. The action of mistletoe is to boost the immune system and kill cancer cells.”

 “Every word was like a soothing balm that supported my decision to investigate the Anthroposophical approach to healing cancer. The book described Lee’s journey to a clinic in Switzerland that specializes in healing cancer patients. The experience was beyond by greatest hopes, all designed to heal at a soul level as well as physical level. Every word struck a resonant chord within my soul and I knew, without a doubt, this would be my path.”

“With the help of a local physician, I met a husband and wife team, Quinten and Molly McMullen in Ann Arbor, Michigan, who trained in Anthroposophical medicine in Switzerland. Following a meeting with Quinten, I planned to attend a two week summer healing camp in Michigan that was entirely focused on the Anthroposophical approach. My experience paralleled Lee Sturgeon-Day’s. I felt the healing strength returning to my body. A return of physical strength as well as soul level strength. That was three years ago.’’

“At this time, all tests are clear. Due to the information from the book, I changed by diet, I exercise more and I work on soul level healing.”

“I recommend this book to all. Her writing style is pleasant and easy to follow. Lee wrote this book in 1990. She is alive and doing well.’’

--Barbara Brewer

“This book is a gift, as Mother Teresa was, to the world. At first, Mother Teresa was unsure of the prospect of yet another book. She said she doubted if any more words would bring anyone closer to understanding the meaning of her mission. It was all so simple, she said. ‘Why should anyone need a guide to her simple path? All we needed to do was to pray and start loving one another more.’ As I continued through the book, I was so often reminded of how humble this person was and so gifted at giving love, communication and acceptance. This book inspired me as I know Mother Teresa has inspired millions.”

--Beth Wilson, General Manager of Harmony Farm

“Not a life-changing book for me but certainly an easy summer/beach read. The story is about friends, friendships, family and the many changes in ones life, as well as the struggle of accepting others unconditionally. I enjoyed the book and think you might also.”

“I have had to really think about books that have really made a big impression on me and stayed with me. The first book I remember reading and re-reading was in a Latin class in high school. The name of the book was The Vestil Virgins. It is not so much that I remember the contents but that it helped me to know what I could learn from books and books could be my entrance into another world. That began my entrance into the world of books.”

“The next book was called The Rainbow Book which was a book on research of color and its relationship to music, light, dance and movement. This book was actually scientific. I had just painted dreams that I had and discovered color and its meaning to me and I thought I was so original in my discovery. Then I just happened onto the Rainbow Book and discovered that what I had just learned for myself was already out there and research had been done on this very thing. This book helped me to honor my own discoveries.”

“There is a book called The Prophet which to me is a masterpiece written by Kahlil Gibran and it is his most celebrated statement about the truths of the human experience. It was first published in l923. The Prophet has been translated into more than twenty languages, and has become one of the beloved classics of our time. It has fewer than twenty thousand words. The first time I read this book I was in my twenties and could not stay with it. Somehow I picked it up again ten years or so later and thought it was well written. More years went by and I read the book again and I felt a WOW and as if I had always understood what the book was about.”

“There is another book that I appreciate very much and it also reminds me of the book The Prophet. This book is called The Greatest Salesman In The World by Og Mandino. This tiny book was first published in l968. This truly is a classic and remains a wonderful guide to a philosophy of salesmanship. This book weaves mythology with spirituality and is set in the time just prior to Christianity. It is a simple book but profound spiritual philosophy about how to succeed in the world’s marketplace. It is easily understood and easy to take to the heart. In the l980’s there was a business man that wanted me to work for him doing paintings and interior design and for some reason I did not feel comfortable and had decided not to take the job. He came to me with this book and ask me to read it. After reading this book I decided to work for this man and I am still working for him and have the greatest respect for him. I decided that if he had the philosophy represented in this book that I wanted to be associated with him for a long time. “

The Tale of Despereaux being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. I could not have walked away from those words on the spine of the book if I had tried. I didn't try at all. I gave in right away and finished this children's novel in one night. It is a tale of characters exploring the light and the dark, the sweet and hard edges of the heart. We as readers are encouraged to explore words like perfidy and chiaroscuro inm order to deepen our understanding of the characters. This is a beautiful story and wonderfully engageing for all ages.

--Nakia Coffman, LMT