Sometimes it seems appropriate to turn off the news, disconnect from social media and take a deep breath to soothe the nerves. Climate change, COVID-19 resurgences, and election pandemonium can force the best of us to take an enormous step back. So, grab a warm beverage, put the world on pause and read yourself calm with a little help from your friends at MI. All titles are available for checkout through the library's To Go service.
Almost Everything: notes on hope by Anne Lamott - When surrounded by despair and uncertainty, local author Lamott's rambling stories and life philosophy will soothe, invigorate and make you laugh out loud.
Big Magic: creative living beyond fear by Elizabeth Gilbert - There's no better time than the present to capture your creative potential by finding new ways to address challenges and overcome impediments that keep us from discovering true wonder and joy.
Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon - When life gives you lemons, take to the road. Newly separated from his wife and laid off from his job, a former college professor outfits his van as a camper and leaves his Columbia, Missouri home on a 12,000-mile circular trip across the US. A travel journal through America's back roads and small towns to set the world right again.
Buddha's Brain: the practical neuroscience of happiness, love and wisdom by Rick Hanson. By combining breakthroughs in neuroscience and insights from thousands of years of contemplative practice, you, too, can find happiness, peace and wisdom.
Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh - Drawing inspiration from the shells on the beach, Lindbergh, the wife of pioneer aviator Charles Lindbergh, penned this classic more than 50 years ago. She writes so gracefully on youth and age, love and marriage, peace and solitude.
Ikigai: the Japanese secret to a long and happy life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles - Inspiring and comforting, this book will show you how to uncover your personal ikigai, or reason for living, and leave urgency behind, find your purpose, nurture friendships, and throw yourself into your passions.
The Road Not Taken: an introduction to Robert Frost - Delight in the seasons as Frost's simple poems showcase the best of New England's countryside. Gentle reading for contemplative souls.
A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver - Relax in the imagery of marshland and shore in this collection of nature poems about Oliver's Provincetown, Massachusetts home. Oliver's passion for the natural world is infectious, in a good way.
Seeds of Hope: wisdom and wonder from the world of plants by Jane Goodall with Gail Hudson - A warm and enthusiastic exploration on the diversity of plants. Goodall's love of nature may inspire readers to start a little garden as well.
Small Victories: spotting improbable moments of grace by Anne Lamott - Honest, witty essays on the hidden blessings in life. Also available as an e-book and as a book on CD.
To the Letter: a celebration of the lost art of letter writing by Simon Garfield - Now is the perfect time to revive the letter-writing tradition. Everyone appreciates a hand-written note!
Under the Tuscan Sun: at home in Italy by Frances Mayes - There is nothing more relaxing than restoring an abandoned villa in the Tuscan countryside and dining al fresco. A warm-hearted hug.
