The best books to help shape your view of the world and yourself

Growing up in a household where both of my parents battled crack addiction was extremely difficult. It caused deep-seated feelings of resentment, anger, and a profound lack of trust in both my parents and society as a whole. Not being able to rely on my parents, and witnessing them consistently choose drugs over their family, was incredibly painful, especially for a child.

Reading this book brought me closer to my parents and helped me understand that their addiction was just a symptom of a much larger issue that extended beyond our home. I found a connection with characters like Elgin Swift and delving into the crack epidemic during the time my parents were growing up was truly eye-opening.

This experience allowed me to feel a deeper bond with my parents and gain a better understanding of their struggles. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has loved ones facing crack addiction and is dealing with barriers that prevent them from connecting with their community. It provides valuable insights and can be a significant part of your healing journey.

In this memoir, Stephanie Foo, in my opinion, displayed remarkable courage and vulnerability.

The idea that you don't necessarily have to "move on" from your trauma but can instead learn to live with it was truly eye-opening for me. Often, we feel the pressure to completely move on and bury the difficult experiences we've endured in life, rather than accepting them and discovering ways to better cope.

Despite all the hardships Stephanie had to endure, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her relationship with Joey and how he became an integral part of her support system and healing journey.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who has C-PTSD and for anyone learning how to cope with the trauma they have faced in their life.

ET is a formidable force, and this book unequivocally proves it.

It underscores the importance of taking control of your life and embarking on the journey to become the best version of yourself – something we all aspire to. ET breaks down this journey and shares the secrets to waking up, taking action, and uncovering your "why."

I highly recommend this book to anyone in search of motivation and a roadmap for achieving their full potential. It serves as a vital first step that we all must take, which in return will lead us to build a support network of village members on our path towards greatness.

This is a remarkable story of resilience, providing an intimate look at the immense challenges of migration and the near-impossibility of relocating from one country to another.

What struck me the most were the members of Javier's village. There were numerous powerful moments where people were willing to go the extra mile to help one another in times of need. The kindness and love among them were essential for their arduous journey from Mexico to the USA.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Unfortunately, it tells a painful yet powerful story that many people must confront daily when they have no choice but to leave their homes.

This novel was extremely moving and emotionally gripping.

The major lesson that stood out to me was that even tragedy can lead to blessings. This resonated with my personal life, and how through all the chaos, the protagonist finds a sense of community and village members she can hold on to. The character was brought to life in a way I have never seen before, and every moment of this book felt so vivid and genuine.

An emotional rollercoaster but beautifully told story. I highly recommend this book.