The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Autobiography of a Yogi

Joan Budilovsky Why did I love this book?

I read this book once a year. Ever since I first read it many years ago. The reasons are simple and clear. It reminds me that the world is beautiful and there are multiple dimensions to it.

It renews my hope, and it furthers my interest in leading an authentic yet inquisitive life.

By Paramahansa Yogananda,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Autobiography of a Yogi as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Autobiography of a Yogi is at once a beautifully written account of an exceptional life and a profound introduction to the ancient science of Yoga and its time-honored tradition of meditation. Profoundly inspiring, it is at the same time vastly entertaining, warmly humorous and filled with extraordinary personages.

Self-Realization Fellowship's editions, and none others, include extensive material added by the author after the first edition was published, including a final chapter on the closing years of his life.

Selected as "One of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Twentieth Century", Autobiography of a Yogi has been translated into more…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Poisonwood Bible

Joan Budilovsky Why did I love this book?

At first, I was intimidated by the mere size of this book, but once I started reading it was almost impossible to put down.

A family’s religious mission to Africa goes wrong. For example, when was the last time giant ants woke you up at 2 am, attacking you from head to toe and everyone in your family and in your entire neighborhood at the same time? I hope never.

It's a remarkable read. Not to mention the amazing life transformations along the way. After finishing this book, I wanted more. So I went out and got every single one of Kingsolver’s other books. I am now a Kingsolver fan!

By Barbara Kingsolver,

Why should I read it?

19 authors picked The Poisonwood Bible as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

**NOW INCLUDING THE FIRST CHAPTER OF DEMON COPPERHEAD: THE NEW BARBARA KINGSOLVER NOVEL**

**DEMON COPPERHEAD IS AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ORDER**

An international bestseller and a modern classic, this suspenseful epic of one family's tragic undoing and their remarkable reconstruction has been read, adored and shared by millions around the world.

'Breathtaking.' Sunday Times
'Exquisite.' The Times
'Beautiful.' Independent
'Powerful.' New York Times

This story is told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959.

They carry with them everything they believe they will…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of I Dream of Peace: Images of War by Children of Former Yugoslavia

Joan Budilovsky Why did I love this book?

I think children hold the answers for peace. I try hard to listen.

My heart broke and opened as I read the sensitive poetry of these war-torn children. My eyes teared over the incredible crayoned images they drew of their gut-wrenching experiences. When will we ever learn?

Perhaps every adult involved in the decisions of our current war conflicts should simply be given a copy of this precious book by UNICEF. The children are so wise.

By UNICEF,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Dream of Peace as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meditation

By Joan Budilovsky, Eve Adamson,

Book cover of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meditation

What is my book about?

You’re no idiot, of course. Sometimes, you just want to relax, clear your head, rest your aching muscles, and rejuvenate your weary soul. You’ve heard meditation is a great stress reliever, but sometimes it seems so complicated it makes you downright uptight.

Relax! Meditation is easy to learn, especially if you rely on my book, as you follow the path to inner peace. In this book, you get Zen techniques, including guided imagery and mindfulness, to help you meditate effectively; tips for learning how to use meditation in daily life, including stressful situations, exercise, and fatigue; an easy-to-understand explanation of the connections between meditation, sleep, and dreams; expert advice on how and when to meditate and detailed drawings and diagrams for breathing, positions, and more; and techniques for meditating to music or modern chants.
Book cover of Autobiography of a Yogi
Book cover of The Poisonwood Bible
Book cover of I Dream of Peace: Images of War by Children of Former Yugoslavia

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