Why am I passionate about this?

Admittedly, Iā€™m just a painfully average Joe, but therein lies the paradoxical aptness of my credentials. Like most people, I wasnā€™t raised specially educated or trained, fed by a spiritual spoon. Instead, my qualifications arise from transitioning out of the common, materialistically driven, atheistic perspective to see the contrasting light of the other side. What was originally a drive for self-development has evolved into a passion for spirituality, which inevitably arises if one introspects long enough. These past few years, Iā€™ve been motivated to try and make more sense out of this senseless topic with the intent of sharing its value with others. 


I wrote

Spirituality Why Give a ****

By Oagis Revilo,

Book cover of Spirituality Why Give a ****

What is my book about?

What it means to be spiritual but not religious is in need of a clarifying facelift. In this non-narrative andā€¦

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The "God" Part of the Brain: A Scientific Interpretation of Human Spirituality and God

Oagis Revilo Why did I love this book?

This book offers an interesting perspective on the potential biological basis for religious experiences and beliefs, supported by scientific research.

Even without a background in neuroscience or psychology, I still found it to be a fully understandable book, well-written but not overly complicated. In the modern era where we need to provide a logical basis and justification, it adds to the overall endeavor to bridge science and spirituality.

While I canā€™t say this book has many practical tips, it has deepened my perspective on the subject of spirituality, allowing me to better comprehend and visualize physical correlates of certain esoteric experiences.

By Matthew Alper,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The "God" Part of the Brain as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Is Man the product of a God...or is "God" the product of human evolution?

From the dawn of our species, every human cultureā€•no matter how isolatedā€•has believed in some form of a spiritual realm. According to author Matthew Alper, this is no mere coincidence but rather due to the fact that humans, as a species, are genetically predisposed to believe in the universal concepts of a god, a soul and an afterlife. This instinct to believe is the result of an evolutionary adaptationā€•a coping mechanismā€•that emerged in our species to help us survive our unique and otherwise debilitating awareness ofā€¦


Book cover of Thinking, Fast and Slow

Oagis Revilo Why did I love this book?

This book has helped me explore the way we think and make decisions.

By highlighting the cognitive biases that can impact our decision-making, it provides practical insights and strategies for making better choices. Written in an engaging and accessible style, the book is relevant not only for individuals but also for larger group entities.

It has helped me objectivize my thinking processes and to think more critically and to be less impulsive. It has also been useful in how I go about trying to form better habits while minimizing detrimental ones.

By Daniel Kahneman,

Why should I read it?

48 authors picked Thinking, Fast and Slow as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The phenomenal international bestseller - 2 million copies sold - that will change the way you make decisions

'A lifetime's worth of wisdom' Steven D. Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics
'There have been many good books on human rationality and irrationality, but only one masterpiece. That masterpiece is Thinking, Fast and Slow' Financial Times

Why is there more chance we'll believe something if it's in a bold type face? Why are judges more likely to deny parole before lunch? Why do we assume a good-looking person will be more competent? The answer lies in the two ways we make choices: fast,ā€¦


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Book cover of Hemingway's Goblet

Hemingway's Goblet by Dermot Ross,

Hemingway's Goblet is a rollicking read about a mismatched relationship between a middle-aged commitment-phobic university professor in London and one of his female students, a Korean 15 years younger than him. He is accused of sexually harassing her, but somehow their relationship survives as they join forces to seek toā€¦

Book cover of The Perennial Philosophy

Oagis Revilo Why did I love this book?

This is a thought-provoking book that explores the common themes and mystical experiences found in different religions and spiritual traditions.

Huxley's writing style is engaging and his ability to express complex ideas in an accessible manner makes the book an enjoyable and informative read for both the spiritual and secular. By examining the shared mystical theme spanning all religions, the book helps bridge their varying differences.

Its perspective on this common spiritual essence reinforces and helps me connect to what I would consider a universal truth. 

By Aldous Huxley (editor),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Perennial Philosophy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An inspired gathering of religious writings that reveals the "divine reality" common to all faiths, collected by Aldous Huxley

"The Perennial Philosophy," Aldous Huxley writes, "may be found among the traditional lore of peoples in every region of the world, and in its fully developed forms it has a place in every one of the higher religions."

With great wit and stunning intellectā€”drawing on a diverse array of faiths, including Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Christian mysticism, and Islamā€”Huxley examines the spiritual beliefs of various religious traditions and explains how they are united by a common human yearning to experience theā€¦


Book cover of Siddhartha

Oagis Revilo Why did I love this book?

This narrative approach took me on a profound exploration of the human experience that offers valuable insights into the nature of wisdom, self-discovery, and the balance between worldly pleasures and spiritual fulfillment.

It helps remind me that wisdom and enlightenment can only be found within ourselves, and that the personal journey of self-discovery/connection is crucial to living a fulfilling life. I thoroughly enjoyed the poetic and philosophical style of Hesseā€™ writing and would consider this book a timeless classic that continues to inspire. 

By Hermann Hesse,

Why should I read it?

14 authors picked Siddhartha as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Here the spirituality of the East and the West have met in a novel that enfigures deep human wisdom with a rich and colorful imagination.

Written in a prose of almost biblical simplicity and beauty, it is the story of a soul's long quest in search of he ultimate answer to the enigma of man's role on this earth. As a youth, the young Indian Siddhartha meets the Buddha but cannot be content with a disciple's role: he must work out his own destiny and solve his own doubt-a tortuous road that carries him through the sensuality of a loveā€¦


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Book cover of Resting Places

Resting Places by Michael C. White,

Resting Places follows one womanā€™s journey after the devastating news of her sonā€™s death. Elizabeth ekes out a lonely and strained relationship with her husband while trying to lose her grief in alcohol. A chance meeting with a man on the side of the road spurs her to travel cross-countryā€¦

Book cover of How Roland Rolls

Oagis Revilo Why did I love this book?

While a delightful and heartwarming children's book, its meaning is profound, speaking to our underlying interconnectedness.

Jim Carrey has been known to have gone through personal spiritual transformations and it resonates in this book. We can get quite deep and detailed when it comes to the spiritual subject but its true nature is simple.

Iā€™ve always known of the wave and ocean metaphor but seeing it personified adds a beneficial facet to my cognitive visualization, helping me better foster senses of empathy and compassion for others. Its illustrations and playful writing are comical and uplifting, aligning with how I perceive Jim Carrey.

For a very quick read, it instills lasting feelings of harmony. 

By Jim Carrey, Rob Nason (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How Roland Rolls as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

HOW ROLAND ROLLS, winner of a 2013 Gelett Burgess Childrenā€™s Book Award, is a story about a wave named Roland who's afraid that, one day, when he hits the beach, his life will be over. But when he gets deep, he's struck by the notion that he's not just a wave - he's the whole big, wide ocean! The story shows humanity's interconnectedness through the metaphor of a wave in the ocean.

The book is lavishly illustrated by Rob Nason, who won a Golden Reel award for his work as Art Director on the film Anastasia, as well as anā€¦


Explore my book šŸ˜€

Spirituality Why Give a ****

By Oagis Revilo,

Book cover of Spirituality Why Give a ****

What is my book about?

What it means to be spiritual but not religious is in need of a clarifying facelift. In this non-narrative and non-bs deep-dive, spirituality aims to connect and reconcile with its debunking adversary science. So why care? What's in it for you?


Let this book tell you why developing a spiritual shield to deflect ego-seeking projectiles is a no-brainer when it comes to personal growth and pivoting gracefully through life's twists and turns.

Book cover of The "God" Part of the Brain: A Scientific Interpretation of Human Spirituality and God
Book cover of Thinking, Fast and Slow
Book cover of The Perennial Philosophy

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