Poetry Books

Recommendation: Tao Te Ching is a classic Chinese text that offers timeless wisdom for modern living. It presents the philosophy of Taoism in a simple and concise manner, with poetic language and profound insights. If you are looking to deepen your understanding of life and find peace within yourself, this book is a must-read. Its most unique and distinctive feature is the emphasis on the importance of going with the flow of nature, rather than resisting it, which is highly relevant in our fast-paced society.

Dhammapada means “the path of dharma,” the path of truth, harmony, and righteousness that anyone can follow to reach the highest good. Easwaran’s translation of this classic Buddhist text is the best-selling edition in its field, praised by Huston Smith as a “sublime rendering.”The introduction gives an overview of the Buddha’s teachings that is penetrating and clear – accessible for readers new to Buddhism, but also with fresh insights and practical applications for readers familiar with this text. Chapter introductions place individual verses into the context of the broader Buddhist canon.Easwaran is a master storyteller, and his opening essay includes many stories that make moving, memorable reading, bringing young Siddhartha and his heroic spiritual quest vividly to life.But Easwaran’s main qualification for interpreting the Dhammapada, he said, was that he knew from his own experience that these verses could transform our lives. This faithful rendition brings us closer to the compassionate heart of the Buddha.

The Tao Te Ching offers a unique and insightful perspective on spirituality that is still relevant today. This edition, translated and introduced by David Hinton, does an excellent job of revealing the contemporary applicability of the text. The book discusses the Tao, a concept of universal harmony and balance, and provides practical advice on how to achieve these states of being. This book is perfect for those seeking to improve their mindfulness and spiritual awareness.

Make a cup of tea and let yourself feel.Pillow Thoughts is a collection of poetry and prose about heartbreak, love, and raw emotions. It is divided into sections to read when you feel you need them most.

In the tradition of Post Secret and Other People’s Love Letters, a crowdsourced compilation of letters, stories, and art work about the modern state of love and relationships, edited by rising filmmaker and beloved YouTube vlogger Will Darbyshire.“What would you say to your ex, without judgment?”This is the question filmmaker and vlogger Will Darbyshire posed to hundreds of thousands of his closest friends on YouTube. Seeking closure after a tough break-up, Will was driven to strike up an intimate conversation with his online audience, and to get at the heart of one of life’s unknowable yet universal love.Over a period of six months, Will posed a series of questions to his audience and asked them to reveal their innermost feelings about their own romantic experiences in the form of hand-written letters, poems, photographs, and emails.The result is a curated collection of responses that are, at turns, funny, dark, confessional, awkward, comforting, and uplifting. This Modern Love is a compelling portrait of individual desires, fantasies, resentments, and fears that reminds us that, whether we’re in or out of love, we’re not alone.

This could be a good read for someone who enjoys reading about different perspectives on love and relationships. The book is unique in that it features a crowd-sourced compilation of personal stories, poems, and art work. Reviews often mention the book's relatable, honest, and emotional content, which provides readers with a sense of comfort and reassurance that they are not alone in their experiences with love and heartbreak.

Essayist, poet, and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) propounded a transcendental idealism emphasizing self-reliance, self-culture, and individual expression. The six essays and one address included in this volume, selected from Essays, First Series (1841) and Essays, Second Series (1844), offer a representative sampling of his views outlining that moral idealism as well as a hint of the later skepticism that colored his thought. In addition to the celebrated title essay, the others included here are "History," "Friendship," "The Over-Soul," "The Poet," and "Experience," plus the well-known and frequently read Harvard Divinity School Address.

Zen Pencils could be a great read for those who enjoy motivational and heart-warming stories. This book offers a unique approach by creating cartoons that adapt meaningful quotes from famous people such as Einstein, Gandhi, and Twain. Gavin Aung Than's idea of combining inspiring quotes with his love for drawing makes this book a perfect fit for those who enjoy creative, illustrated stories that will leave you feeling motivated and inspired.

The Dhammapada is a must-read for those interested in Buddhist philosophy and morals. The book is filled with short, yet thought-provoking aphorisms that offer insight into the human condition and ways to achieve inner peace. The book's most distinctive feature is its ability to provide practical wisdom through concise and relatable stories. Readers will find this book to be both inspirational and enlightening as it offers guidance on how to better navigate the complexities of life.

Seeds Planted in Concrete is a must-read for anyone who appreciates poetry that is both raw and beautiful. Sparacino masterfully weaves in themes of love and loss, while celebrating the beauty found in the sharp contrasts of life. Her words will speak to the depths of anyone who has ever been hurt, felt, healed, or loved. This collection is a testament to the resilience of the human heart and the journey we all take in life.

First some thoughts, then a widely followed blog, then a successful book, I Wrote This For You is a phenomenon that has touched countless people around the world. The almost complete works of over 400 poems is contained in this book with select photography. Each section reflects on an aspect of life, love and loss and is a book to keep close by for years to come. It was, after all, written for you.

THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERThis Modern Love is a unique crowdsourced book of letters, stories, and photographs about the state of modern romance by YouTuber Will Darbyshire.‘Question 1. What would you say to your ex, without judgement?’Seeking closure after a tough break-up, Will Darbyshire was driven to strike up an intimate conversation with his online audience. Posting a series of questions via his YouTube, Twitter and Instagram channels, Will asked his followers to share their innermost thoughts about their relationship experiences, in the form of hand-written letters, poems, photographs, and emails.After 6 months and over 15,000 heartfelt submissions later, from over 100 countries, This Modern Love collects these letters together to form a compendium of 21st century love, structured into the beginning, middle and end of a relationship.Tender, funny and cathartic, This Modern Love is a compelling portrait of individual desires, resentments and fears that reminds us that, whether we're in or out of love, we're not alone.

This book could be a good read for those seeking timeless wisdom and guidance on achieving balance and harmony in their lives. With its concise and insightful advice, it imparts a serene and generous spirit that teaches us how to work effortlessly for the greater good. Stephen Mitchell's translation captures the essence of Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, enabling readers to tap into the basic principle of the universe and find their own path towards fulfillment.

This book is a great read for anyone interested in a different approach to personal success. Tao Te Ching provides a perspective that is focused on attunement, inner peace, and fulfillment rather than command-and-control leadership or mindless struggle. The book opens up new possibilities and ways of thinking on personal development. With a new introduction by Tom Butler Bowdon, this book is an excellent gift edition for anyone looking for inspiration and guidance on attunement, fulfillment, and peace.

The (Other) F Word would be a great read for someone struggling with body image and looking for relatable and diverse stories. The book offers a collection of personal essays, prose, poetry, fashion tips and art, all created by fat writers, influencers and creators. What makes this book unique is that it emphasizes that fat people telling their own stories, with no judgement. The (Other) F Word is an inspiring and empowering read that promotes body acceptance and self-love.

Composed more than 2,000 years ago during a turbulent period of Chinese history, the Dao de jing set forth an alternative vision of reality in a world torn apart by violence and betrayal. Daoism, as this subtle but enduring philosophy came to be known, offers a comprehensive view of experience grounded in a full understanding of the wonders hidden in the ordinary. Now in this luminous new translation, based on the recently discovered ancient bamboo scrolls, China scholars Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall bring the timeless wisdom of the Dao de jing into our contemporary world.Though attributed to Laozi, “the Old Master,” the Dao de jing is, in fact, of unknown authorship and may well have originated in an oral tradition four hundred years before the time of Christ. Eschewing philosophical dogma, the Dao de jing set forth a series of maxims that outlined a new perspective on reality and invited readers to embark on a regimen of self-cultivation. In the Daoist world view, each particular element in our experience sends out an endless series of ripples throughout the cosmos. The unstated goal of the Dao de jing is self-transformation–the attainment of personal excellence that flows from the world and back into it. Responding to the teachings of Confucius, the Dao de jing revitalizes moral behavior by recommending a spontaneity made possible by the cultivated “habits” of the individual.In this elegant volume, Ames and Hall feature the original Chinese texts of the Dao de jing and translate them into crisp, chiseled English that reads like poetry. Each of the eighty-one brief chapters is followed by clear, thought-provoking commentary exploring the layers of meaning in the text. The book’s extensive introduction is a model of accessible scholarship in which Ames and Hall consider the origin of the text, place the emergence of Daoist philosophy in its historical and political context, and outline its central tenets.The Dao de jing is a work of timeless wisdom and beauty, as vital today as it was in ancient China. This new version will stand as both a compelling introduction to the complexities of Daoist thought and as the classic modern English translation.

Shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize 2016 for English PoetryWe Were Always Eating Expired Things is centered on our innate desire for connection, both physical and emotional. The poems deal with the impossibility of such an endeavor and celebrate our persistence in striving anyway.At its core, the collection is built around a very wise line from a Beatles song: I want to hold your hand. I want to hold your hand with no further expectations. I want to hold your hand instead of telling you I understand when I don’t. I want to hold your hand although we don’t always get along. I want to hold your hand despite the calluses, scratches, and scars that get in the way. I want to hold your hand knowing I’ll have to let it go one day.I just want to hold your hand.