I've just recently finished reading 3 books, as per the recommendations on Steve's
Personal Development Books list on his website:
I highly recommend all 3 books, especially for those who may be struggling with some of the concept Steve (Pavlina) presents with his various
Subjective Reality articles. Specifically, in relation to subjective reality, the books help explain some of the specific things Steve talks about, such as "consciousness", "awareness", and the notion that there is only one "consciousness" and "You" are that consciousness. I sure wish I had read the books
before I read the subjective reality articles and I could have saved myself a heck of a lot of confusion, hehe.
Out of the 3, I probably enjoyed reading
The Celestine Prophecy the most, however I did find
Way of the Peaceful Warrior enjoyable in more of a subtle, peaceful sort of way (once you get past the middle portion of the book that can be a
bit negative for about a chapter, but that negativity is needed to establish the story and develop the characters, so don't let that detour you). While I did enjoy
The Power of Now, it's more of an informative, practical, actionable sort of book that doesn't worry about telling a story and gets right into it, which isn't a bad thing, I just find that, for me, it's easier to remember and understand books that use fiction as a means of conveying real-life lessons as it gives your mind some symbolism to play around (which, as I said before, makes concepts/life lessons easier to remember).
I'd give a short review for each book, but the reviews and other info over on Amazon (which I linked to above) do the job pretty well, although
The Power of Now got a pretty bad rap in some of the reviews on Amazon. I'm pretty open minded, and as someone who has read
The Power of Now, while there is some truth to the reviews, I think they're missing the big picture and focusing too much on specific aspects -- exactly what the book tells you not to! -- and it seems that the reviewers just didn't "get it".
Oh and if you were going to read those books (the ones above), I'd read them in the order I listed them in since the first two (Celestine & Peaceful Warrior) set you up for the more direct, to-the-point style of the last book (Power of Now). Some people who read
The Power of Now without some sort of lead up may find it a bit too intense and direct in the presentation.
I have a tonne of other books on my "to-read" list and many other books on my figurative coffee table, so I'll try to report back with any good recommendations.
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Update, 6 April 2007: Out of the three books I've mentioned here when I first read them around about December 2006, the book that has had the greatest positive effect on my has been without a doubt
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. While it took a while for the concepts to fully "sink in" after I finished reading the book, once they did, I found myself effortlessly applying them in my life with great results (took a bit of practice, but it wasn't "hard" or "difficult" or anything like that). I now feel much more peaceful, accepting, and "present" then I have ever before, and if I was to recommend that you purchase only one of the three books I mention in this post, I'd chose
The Power of Now hands down. The book has a certain "energy" to it that almost palpable... an energy that I've begun to sample in my own life more and more.
If that previous statement made no sense to you, read the book, and if it resonates with you, I'm sure you will understand (it's not something I can adequately describe with words, so if you are curious, check out the book; if you are skeptical and are looking for the book or me to prove something before you are won over... well... you probably need to read the book the most
). A recent synchronicity lead me to purchase
A New Earth, also by Eckhart Tolle, which is kind of a sequel of sorts to
The Power of Now, as well as
Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks (and "Abraham"). I'm almost done with
Ask and It Is Given (which has been an amazing book so far) and look forward to seeing what
A New Earth has to offer. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.
Update, 27 August 2008: All three books continue to be favorites of mine, and I highly recommend them. They don't fall into my list of "books absolutely everyone should read," but then maybe they should. But I tend to keep that list short so that those who might not read many books, or those who are selective know which books have had the biggest impact on me (although there really is a cumulative effect, but for some people, one really good book is enough to get them interested and "break through").