Category: Book reviews

Posted on

The Art of the Interesting

A close-up of hands creating a detailed nature journal filled with botanical sketches and handwritten notes. The open notebook shows labelled drawings of leaves and wildflowers, while real plant specimens are arranged on a wooden table nearby. The person wears a warm, rust-coloured sweater, and the scene is lit by soft natural light, evoking focus, care, and a deep curiosity about the natural world.

What makes life interesting – and why does it matter? In The Art of the Interesting, philosopher Lorraine Besser explores this overlooked but vital question, suggesting that cultivating “interestingness” is not just pleasurable, but meaningful. Drawing on psychology, aesthetics, and moral philosophy, Besser argues that developing our capacity for curiosity, depth, and engagement enriches both personal wellbeing and our relationships with others. In a culture preoccupied with productivity and performance, her invitation is a refreshing one: to live reflectively, creatively, and with greater emotional awareness. While the tone leans philosophical, the ideas are rich and rewarding for anyone drawn to soulful living and inner growth. In the full review, I offer a reflective review of Besser’s thought-provoking book – and explore how it aligns with a deeper search for purpose, imagination, and a life that feels truly alive.

Read the full review

Posted on

Living between Worlds

A man stands at a fork in a dirt path during golden hour, facing away from the camera. To the left, the path winds through a sunlit rural landscape with a lone tree under a glowing sun. To the right, the path leads toward a distant modern city skyline under a cooler, clouded sky. The image symbolizes a choice between nature and urban life, or tradition and modernity.

In Living Between Worlds, James Hollis invites us into the soulful terrain of transition – where old maps no longer guide us and new ones have yet to appear. Drawing on Jungian depth psychology, myth, and lived experience, he explores how uncertainty can become a path to inner authority and meaning. This is a book for those navigating life’s in-between spaces, seeking not easy answers but a deeper, more authentic way of being.

Read the full review here

This book is one of the reviews from the Archetypes, Soul and Depth Psychology theme – click here for more reviews on this theme.

Click here for all book reviews
Posted on

Finding A Nature-Based Path to Soulful Living

A woman sits quietly by a small campfire in a desert landscape at sunset, surrounded by tall cacti and distant mountains. She wears rugged outdoor clothing and a backpack, gazing thoughtfully into the flames. A bird soars overhead in the golden sky, evoking a sense of solitude, reflection, and deep connection to nature.

Our latest book review, Wild Mind by Bill Plotkin offers a radical reimagining of the psyche – one that honours our innate wholeness and our deep connection to nature. Combining depth psychology, myth, and wilderness wisdom, Plotkin invites readers into a soulful journey of integration and growth. For anyone seeking to live more fully and authentically, this book is both a guide and a gateway to the wild within.

Full review
Posted on

Keeping a Nature Journal

A richly textured, vintage-style illustration of a hand drawing in a nature journal. The journal is open to pages filled with detailed botanical sketches of leaves and flowers. Surrounding it are real leaves, a pinecone, a daisy, and torn journal pages laid out on earthy ground. In the background, a soft forest path winds through tall trees, evoking a sense of peaceful observation and connection with nature.

Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie is more than a drawing guide — it’s a soulful invitation to observe, reflect, and reconnect with the living world. Filled with inspiring sketches, accessible tips, and gentle wisdom, it turns simple moments outdoors into a contemplative practice. Ideal for those seeking a meaningful, creative habit rooted in nature and self-awareness.

Read the full review

Posted on

Awakening the Sacred Feminine: A Journey Worth Reading

A traditional-style painting of a serene woman standing in a sunlit forest with her eyes closed and hands over her heart, where a glowing golden spiral radiates. She wears a light dress, and wildflowers and tall trees surround her in a peaceful, natural setting. The scene evokes inner awakening, spiritual connection, and feminine empowerment.

What happens when a woman begins to question the roles she’s been handed—and dares to seek something deeper? In The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, Sue Monk Kidd offers a deeply personal account of that awakening. It’s a courageous, often uncomfortable, but ultimately empowering journey into a new way of seeing the self, spirituality, and the sacred feminine.

If you’ve ever felt confined by traditional expectations or longed for a spirituality that speaks to the wholeness of your experience as a woman, this book may resonate deeply.

I’ve written a full review exploring the themes of feminine empowerment, spiritual reimagining, and inner authority. You can read it here:

Read full review….

Posted on

Book Review: The Genius Myth

Surreal forest scene with a cloaked figure standing on a glowing path, gazing at a spiral galaxy above. Magical symbols and constellations float among tall, bare trees. An open book lies on the forest floor, evoking themes of myth, inner wisdom, and cosmic guidance—concepts central to The Genius Myth by Michael Meade

Michael Meade’s The Genius Myth reclaims the ancient view of genius as a soulful, guiding force within each of us. Drawing on myth, depth psychology, and storytelling, Meade invites readers to reframe struggle as initiation and reconnect with their unique gifts. A rich and poetic read for anyone seeking authenticity, purpose, and a deeper way of being in the world.

Read full review