These are the books that I read and integrated into my life in 2019. I spent most of this year Being less in my head and more in my body and for this reason, I read a lot less than the previous year. No regrets! My conscious decision to read less meant that I spent my time hiking, exploring my new city of San Francisco, writing my next book and meeting up with friends and colleagues (tldr; I was less of an introvert this year). For a more thorough list, check out the 50 books I read in 2018.
*Note: All links below are referral links. Please consider purchasing through these links. Thank you!)
- Seeing Through the World: Jean Gebser and Integral Consciousness
I often talk about “time freedom” and it’s not just New Age hippie hype. I often get my inspiration from philosophers, poets and mystics. Gebser’s insights on the phenomenology of human consciousness has brought profound intellectual depth and spiritual transmission to the field of integral philosophy and consciousness studies, influencing the work of philosopher Ken Wilber.
2. The Golden Path by Richard Rudd (I interview Richard Rudd here).
Richard’s work, particularly the Gene Keys, has changed my life. This book is more of a contemplation than an academic knowing.
3. The Adventure of Consciousness by Sri Aurobindo (shout out to Bernhard Guenther who told me about this book). This book has been written from a Western point of view and for those who yearn for a truth of Life and not only a Truth with eyes closed.
4. The Illusion of Money by Kyle Cease
I winced at the awful writing. But I support his message.
5. Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness by Philip Goff (I interviewed Philip on my podcast, the Art of Humanity, here).
Goff makes the case for panpsychism, a theory which posits that consciousness is not confined to biological entities but is a fundamental feature of all physical matter—from subatomic particles to the human brain. Incredible book and looking forward to talking with him and publishing his episode.
6. High Weirdness by Erik Davis (I interviewed Erik on my podcast, the Art of Humanity, here).
Erik kicked off Season 5 on Consciousness. I read his books for the sheer joy of how he uses words #nerdalert. This book is a study of the spiritual provocations to be found in the work of Philip K. Dick, Terence McKenna, and Robert Anton Wilson, High Weirdness charts the emergence of a new psychedelic spirituality that arose from the American counterculture of the 1970s.
7. Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis
Refreshing take on an unconventional way to run business.
8. Grounded Spirituality by Jeff Brown (I interview Jeff here in 2020 and here back in Season 2).
9. The Miracle Club by Mitch Horowitz (I interview Mitch here)
10. The Power of Myth by Bill Moyers (blown away by the PBS documentary with Joseph Campbell and then randomly stumbled on this book in a bookstore).
11. Lucid Living: Experience Your Life Like a Lucid Dream by Tim Freke (I interview Tim here about the Evolutionary Jump in Humanity on my podcast, the Art of Humanity).
Edit: I also read The Way of Initiation by Rudolph Steiner (not pictured or not originally counted).
What did you read in 2019? Comment below!
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