I've been planning this post in my head for months. Those of you who've been reading here long know that discussing books is a passion of mine. And isn't it always fun to chat about favorites with friends?
I think so!
These five books aren't directly about the parenting journey, but in my life they've been influential in making me the person (& mother) I am. I hope one or two connect with you as well.
1. The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery
If you grew up in the US or Canada, I probably don't have to tell you who L.M. Montgomery is. You know her as the author of the delightful Anne of Green Gables series.
But did you know that she kept detailed, regular journals from the time she was 14 years old until just days before her death? Two Canadian scholars have compiled these into five incredible books.
It's difficult to put into words the influential quality of these volumes (Carrie, help me out in the comments, okay?) Reading journals has always intrigued me--this is the real deal, real life in all its glory and all its messiness.
Part life story and part history lesson, Montgomery's entries are not always a feel-good read. Topics include her rise to fame, death of many close friends and children, significant depression, lawsuits, money struggles, and even a stalker thrown into the mix.
Though they tackle tough stuff, these journals are a compelling read and bring up life questions that are worth wrestling through. For any Ann with an "e" fans, these volumes are a must read. But be forewarned: You may never look at Anne exactly the same way.
2. The Power of Positive Thinking
I read this book for the first time three years ago, and can honestly say that my life has been changed (for the better) as a result.
Before reading this title, I had never really heard or understood that I had power to choose my thoughts. Instead I saw myself as more or less a victim of them--thinking I just had to "put up with" bad thoughts and feelings.
This book gave me an amazing sense of freedom and control to look at life through the lens of the positive.
It entered my life when my boys were toddlers and I was thick in the throes of new motherhood.
If you've never read about positive thinking before, buy this classic or check it out at the library immediately. It will influence the mother you are--in a powerful way.
3. How Children Learn
The first time I read anything by John Holt his words took my breath away. He articulated much of my educational experience growing up that I had never been able to put into words myself.
As a teacher in traditional schools for decades, Holt took his real-life experience and translated it into ground-breaking books calling for education reform.
In the introduction, Holt writes, "All I am saying in this book can be summed up in two words--Trust Children. Nothing could be more simple--or more difficult. Difficult, because to trust children we must trust ourselves--and most of us were taught as children that we could not be trusted."
This book is for any parent, not just homeschoolers. It's worth investing in. (And Tsh of Simple Mom will be covering this title in her book club later this year--hooray!)
4. Uncle Tom's Cabin
I wanted to make sure at least one fiction choice made it to my top five list. I'm convinced God used this book years ago to plant the seeds for the current work my family is doing in the antislavery movement with Love146.
(By the way, have you donated your dollar yet to help restore exploited children this month? If not, please head here.)
Stowe wrote this book before the civil war to fight against slavery. She wanted to make a counterargument to the many people who owned slaves but said, "I treat my slaves well and I'm kind to them. So what's wrong with that?"
And boy does this book drive that argument deep in the dust.
Steve and I had the privilege of visiting her home, which is here in Connecticut and is now a museum. Being there felt like a spiritual experience. This is a title not to miss.
5. Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning
If Holt's book showed me why education needs to be changed, Leadership Education showed me the how.
I immediately connected with the title--because I've always felt that I am raising world-changers and leaders, not just educating my children to be "good" people who get a "good" job one day.
This book chronicles the fact that children (& adults, too) learn different ways at different times in their lives. It shows how you can use those phases to educate your kids positively. I love these ideas, which take much of the mystery out of the educational process and make it a natural part of the joy of living.
This book has brought great peace to my mind as a home educator. I'll be talking about it more in depth on Simple Homeschool in the future.
If you're wondering why I there are no parenting books in today's list, it's because I've written about my favorites in that category already. You can find that post here.
And if any of these book descriptions catch your eye, I encourage you to make a plan to get your hands on them as soon as possible!
**Now I really want to hear from you: What books have had a significant, long-lasting impact on your life? Help me find some new favorites.**
