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I’m a book worm.

Diving into new worlds, expanding my horizon, hearing about different perspectives and completely new revelations has always been one of the best parts of my life. As a kid, I used to look forward to bedtime to escape reality for a few moments before going back to the daily grind of a student’s life. And this love for books has never vanished.

I read everything, from novels to non-fiction, from books about God to cheesy romances because I believe that there’s something to be learned in every single book (well, in almost every book…). My book shelves back in Germany are packed and my future dream office will be filled with tons of new and old wisdom in the form of books.

I thought that I’d share my love for books by going back and putting together a list of my top seven books. It wasn’t easy, but here they are. Enjoy!

1. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown

Brené Brown is a leading expert on shame, authenticity, and belonging.

She changed my life with her powerful and vulnerable talk at the World Domination Summit last year. I wrote a blog post about it called: https://www.annesophie.us/brenebrown

This is a very sensitive book about human longings and the quest to live and love fully. I love Brene Brown and I find her approach of creating a whole life with rest and play, authenticity and self-love, boundaries and gratitude not only immeasurably inspiring, but also eye-opening.

In this book, she shares ten guideposts on the power of Wholehearted living—a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.

In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, “No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough,” and to go to bed at night thinking, “Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.”

1. CultivatingAuthenticity: Letting Go of What People Think

2. Cultivating Self‐Compassion: Letting Go of Perfectionism

3. Cultivating a Resilient Spirit: LettingGo of Numbing and Powerlessness

4. CultivatingGratitude and Joy: Letting Go of Scarcity and Fear of the Dark

5. Cultivating Intuition and Trusting Faith: LettingGo of the Need for Certainty

6. Cultivating Creativity: Letting Go of Comparison

7. Cultivating Play and Rest: Letting Go of Exhaustion as a  Status Symbol and Productivity as Self‐Worth

8. Cultivating Calm and Stillness: Letting Go of Anxiety as a Lifestyle

9. Cultivating MeaningfulWork: LettingGo of Self‐Doubt and “Supposed To”

10.Cultivating Laughter, Song, andDance: LettingGo of Being Cool and “Always in Control”

You can watch her brilliant TedX talk here.

 2. Desert Flower by Waris Dirie

A story of a true heroine who escaped her nomad life right before an arranged marriage with an older guy and slowly worked her way up to the top of the modeling business. Waris Dirie now speaks up against the female genital mutilation in Somalia. I read this book when I was 11 years old and it opened my eyes for the very first time to the realities of other children’s lives and their destinies. I can honestly say that I’ve never looked at the world the same way again after being drawn into this powerful biography and witnessing the immeasurable strength with which women deal with their fates in other parts of the world.

3. Pack Up the Moon by Anna McPartlin

The best novel I’ve read in my entire life. This novel makes you sit up and think about the fleeting nature of life in a more impacting way than anything else I’ve ever read. This novel captures you from the first word until the last page. It makes you laugh, cry, cheer, grieve and reminisce about your own life. Simply brilliant and good for your soul.

4. Lost and Found by Geneen Roth 

This is an amazing book that looks deep into the soul of, dare I say, most people on this planet. Roth talks about losing all of her money in the Rupert Murdoch scheme and how this disaster completely changed her perception of herself. She makes a strong case for the relationship between having difficulties with money and having a very complicated relationship with food. She points out how this correlation reflects a lot of wrong and destructive beliefs we have about ourselves. If you’re ready for some very big revelations about your own issues with money and food, then this is the book to read. It’s definitely helped me to look at our finances in a more empowered way.

5. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I was going back and forth in putting this in here because of the movie and the hype around it. BUT I so enjoyed this book that I just had to put it on my list. So, if you haven’t read it just yet, now’s the time to do it. I strongly believe in the message behind the story – some of you may totally disagree, but it’s still worth diving in and enjoying the ride. If you’re into the bigger mysteries of this earth and have studied different religions, then you’ll love this book even more. It certainly makes you think.

6. Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi

The book that helped me realize I needed help and it helped me see the light in my darkest times.

Portia de Rossi shares her struggle with bulimia and anorexia in a very candid way. She shares how far down she went and how she recovered, fell in love with life and her body. This book is not only for those struggling with an ED, but for every woman in this world comparing herself to models, actresses, people on TV and in magazines; basically for everyone.

7. If you could see me know by Cecelia Ahern

I love Cecelia Ahern. I do. I’ve read PS I love you more times than I can count (I’m not a fan of the movie though) and I am always waiting for her latest novel. Now, her last few books haven’t been as strong as her first ones, but this is my all-time favorite. It’s a page-turner. It captivates your imagination and it makes your heart leap.

Listeners’ suggestions:

1. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

2. The particular sadness of lemon cake by Aimee Bender

3. Hollow: An unpolished tale by Jena Morrow

4. Hope for the Hollow: A Thirty-Day Inside-Out Makeover for Women Recovering from Eating Disorders by Jena Morrow

5. InkChanger by Ellie Di Julio

6. The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene

On to you: what’s your favorite book? Which books have you recently read? Which books have changed your life and your view of this world? Share your suggestions with us.

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