2023 Reading List
Here are a few books I read this year that you might find useful in your own journey of Purpose.
King, Warrior, Magician, Lover (Moore/Gillette)
explores the four foundational archetypes of the mature masculine, arguing that modern societal issues stem from men being stuck in "boyhood" behaviors. The authors provide a roadmap for accessing these ancient archetypes to transition from destructive shadows to constructive, balanced adulthood.
Why I liked it: The shadow sides of masculine archetypes were important to reflect on and recognize how they show up in my life.
Read if: you want a deeper understanding of how immature masculinity is playing out in your own life or in the patriarchy of our society and culture.
Self as Coach, Self as Leader (McLean)
argues that a coach’s most powerful tool is their own internal landscape, requiring a deep alignment between their inner self and their outward actions. The author provides a comprehensive developmental roadmap that helps leaders move beyond simple skills and toward a state of "presence" that naturally inspires and coaches those around them.
Why I liked it: I enjoyed the examples and vignettes as well as the deeper exploration of expert-level coaching skills. I refer often to this book when coaching other coaches on coaching mastery.
Read if: You are a coach and want to be a stellar coach or if you are looking to pass your ICF evaluation. You are an experienced leader looking to get better at coaching.
No Bad Parts (Schwartz)
introduces the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, and holds that the psyche is composed of various distinct "parts," each with their own personality. All of our parts have a positive intent, even if their actions are currently disruptive. The book teaches that by accessing our core "Self" characterized by qualities like compassion and curiosity, we can heal our wounded parts and lead ourselves from a place of wholeness rather than internal conflict.
Why I liked it: The accounts of profound healing in this book were personally resonant. IFS has been one of the most powerful modalities on my healing journey.
Read if: You have heard about IFS, want to learn more about how to work with your parts, and are ready to dive into the exercises in the book.
Letters to a Young Poet (Rilke)
was written as a series of responses to a young military officer seeking literary advice. Instead of focusing on technical writing tips, Rilke focuses on the necessity of a rich inner life. He argues that true art and personal growth can only be found by embracing solitude, leaning into what is difficult, and looking inward for validation rather than seeking it from the world.
Why I liked it: Rilke’s prose is lyrical, beautiful, dripping with grief, and devastatingly authentic. In a world that’s obsessed with social connection Rilke acknowledges loneliness as a sacred, productive space for Purpose to emerge.
Read if: You appreciate the soul-laden writing of Rilke, or you’re questioning your current orientation to life.
Big Feelings (Fosslien/West Duffy)
tackles seven difficult emotions including burnout, uncertainty, comparison, anger, perfectionism, despair, and envy by combining relatable illustrations with actionable psychological research. It argues that these intense feelings aren't signs of failure, but rather internal signals that, when understood and embraced, can lead to deeper self-awareness and resilience.
Why I liked it: The empathy and normalization of “difficult” emotions in this book is important. I enjoyed the approach to taking small steps when dealing with these emotions. Liz and Mollie’s visuals always make me think.
Read if: You find yourself stuck in a spiral with these difficult emotions.
Women Who Run with the Wolves [abridged] (Pinkola Estés)
is a collection of cross-cultural myths, fairy tales, and "cantadoras" (stories), featuring the "Wild Woman" as a powerful, instinctual force that has been suppressed by modern societal expectations. The author argues that by analyzing these stories, women can reclaim their intuition, creativity, and fierce, natural vitality that has been buried under "civilized" life.
Why I liked it: Psychological depth, the medicine of stories, and celebrating the Wild Woman parts of us that our society has exiled.
Read if: You are keen to reclaim and rekindle the Wild Woman archetype within. You enjoy folklore, myth, and symbolic stories.
The Marriage of the Sun and Moon (Weil)
chronicles the author’s global travels to investigate how different cultures use plants, rituals, and altered states of consciousness to heal. He argues that true wellness requires a "marriage" between the Sun (the rational, solar, logical mind) and the Moon (the intuitive, lunar, unconscious mind).
Why I liked it: I loved the stories of his travels highlighting the fact that there are so many different ways to shift consciousness. This shifting of consciousness resonates with my own journey to heal and integrate the solar and lunar.
Read if: Your friend Dave gives it to you. You like personal accounts of traditional ceremony.
Japanese Death Poems (Hoffmann)
is a compilation of poems that captures the final "parting words" written by Zen monks and haiku poets as they faced their own mortality. These poems use imagery of the seasons (falling petals, winter frost, or the morning dew) to illustrate the Zen Buddhist concept that life is a fleeting, beautiful illusion.
Why I liked it: To get to know our own big-D Death is a radical endeavor in a society that does everything to ignore it. By immersing ourselves in Death we can normalize this most natural process of life, and learn how to die small-d deaths to our old selves, old ways of being, old beliefs, old identities. The poets within are wise teachers whose final lessons in death teach others the beauty of how to live.
Read if: You are trying to shed old ways, find yourself in dissolution phase of the Descent to Soul, or need a dose of eastern wisdom on your coffee table.
