10 Amazing Books for Getting Inspired and Finding Your Inner Magic

You never know what might inspire you—a movie, a play, a painting, something a friend told you, an item on a shelf, a walk in the woods, even a stranger you see on the street.

I find it especially pleasing when inspiration is captured in a book.

Perhaps because when it is in book form you can take it with you and use it whenever you need that burst of energy—the promise of what could be, the encouragement to move forward.

Finding inspiration is usually serendipitous.

It happens when we least expect it.

But I love it, even more, when I can curl up with a book prepared to be inspired.

I have put together a list of my top ten inspirational books.

I hope that that they will touch you the way they touched me.

Books That Remind You How Awesome You Really Are

On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

I earn my living as a writer so I was intrigued when a friend gave me a copy King’s book.

It was not at all what I was expecting.

He offers no step-by-step process or helpful hints.

Instead he takes you on a journey walking you through his own creative process.

It was the most inspiring and dare I say, the only helpful book on writing I have ever read.

Stephen King makes you realize that we all have stories inside of us, we just have to set them free.

Picasso: A Biography for Children by Noah Aeon and Sama Dean

This delightful little book traces the life of Picasso from the first time he picked up a pencil through his many periods.

It illustrates how imagination begins the creative process and brings it to life.

While it is a children’s book don’t miss this sweet opportunity to be inspired by this amazing artist.

It is a wonderful lesson for any age.

The Intuition Principle by Angela Artemis

The Intuition Principle teaches you how to identify and tap into your intuition to live the life you dream of.

Angela Artemis believes that we allow our intuition to be overpowered by reason.

She teaches you how to take charge and follow your “gut.”

It is a wonderful guide filled with great examples and lessons for leading a fulfilling life.

Amazing Books for Getting Inspired and Finding Your Inner Magic

39 Ways to Make a Cancer Patient Smile by Sue Reif

When I learned my client had cancer, I did not know what to do or say.

We were not really friends.

My initial thoughts were that if anything, she wouldn’t want overwhelming contact; that she’d prefer space, alone time.

When I read Susan Reif’s book I learned that I was very wrong.

Her book is a delightful, inspiring and creative guide for those of us who do not know what to do or say.

Today Sue is one of my dearest friends and I had the amazing opportunity to work with her on the publishing end of this amazing chronicle.

You will also enjoy our article on books for athletes.

The 90-Day Game by John Felitto

If you think that when it comes to business need hard work is more important than inspiration, think again.

The 90-day Game is a very creative, off-road methodology for getting in touch with your true vocation and turning it into a career or a lifestyle.

Felitto uses a series of games that are fun to play and encouraging.

It’s not at all one of those success-overnight promises.

Instead it’s a creative method that allows you to accomplish your goals, whatever they may be.

The Seven Spiritual Secrets of Yoga by Deepak Chopra

When people think of yoga, they think primarily of the physical practice.

While the poses or asanas provide flexibility, balance and stamina, Chopra reminds us of the spiritual side of yoga and how the practice, on and off the mat encourages positive thinking and spurs creativity like no other practice.

As a yoga practitioner myself, I know how true this is.

Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative by Ken Robinson

I first encountered Ken Robinson on Ted.com.

“Do Schools Kill Creativity?”

was the title of his talk.

In a lighthearted manner he made a profound and inspiring case for how schools undermine rather than nurture creativity.

“Out of Our Minds” expands upon the theme.

True to his own words, “It is about why creativity matters so much, why people think they are not creative, how we arrived at this point, and what we can do about it.”

Amazing Books for Getting Inspired and Finding Your Inner Magic

The big book of Brainstorming Games by Mary Scannell & Mike Mulvihill

This is a wonderful resource.

As a college professor, I have brought many of the ideas in this book into my brainstorming sessions with my students.

It is filled with wonderful ideas that trigger creativity and show you how to think outside of the box.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

In my opinion, no author exceeds the Bard in terms of creativity.

Revisiting his genius from time to time is exhilarating.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is masterful at creating intrigue, incorporating twists and turns and filling our eyes and imagination with amazing images.

Other comedies will lift the spirits equally, such as Much Ado About Nothing, All’s Well that Ends Well, The Tempest and others.

If you feel you struggle with the language try a No Fear Shakespeare which puts the original text alongside modern English.

Just Believe, Stories of Inspiration by Rosemarie Monaco

I ending with my own book, because now you can see how he books on this list gave me the courage, or should I say the inspiration, to write my own stories.

Just Believe is a collection of poems and stories about the part of ourselves we keep hidden, yet this part is the essence of who we really are.

It is that which makes us able to do anything we set our minds to.

I explain in my intro how I wrote each story with the spirit of the child in mind.

Pablo Picasso said “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

That idea has always haunted me.

What happens to us?

Why do we banish the artist?

Why do we stop believing in magic?

My goal was to awaken the child in all of us; to return us to a place where anything is possible.

Where all you have to do is dream to make it so.