Is there a book you still think about? Perhaps a book that made you challenge your beliefs, attitudes about life, work, politics or culture? Has there been a book that deepened your convictions or broadened your worldview? These are among the questions we asked some thoughtful members of our community recently and we’ve shared their responses below.

Yefu Liu | Artist

In Praise of Shadows (1933) by Junichiro Tanizaki

This book tells the beauty of darkness with a unique oriental perspective. It’s about aesthetics and meditation. It’s a slow and peaceful way to review the continues misunderstanding between today’s east and west. Read more>>

Tasha-Nicole Terani | Author

I recently became an Award Winning Author and Publisher of a children’s book titled, “A Tree for Me.” I have to say, that it’s my favorite book! I have never known any biological family. For so long, I searched for and yearned for unconditional love from the outside world. What I discovered over time is that the love, strength, and support I craved were, in fact, mine to give. I look forward to doing storytime with Tasha-Nicole for children all over the world! Reading the book to them and talking with them about unconditional love, nature and nurture. I want to guide them towards looking within for the answers in life. Leading them to follow their heart more often and to choose kindness over fear whenever possible. Read more>>

dawn Landes | singer songwriter

I’ve been carrying around a copy of The Liberated Woman’s Songbook for 10+ years, it moved with me from NYC to Nashville to North Carolina. The book is a collection of folk songs about women’s activism published in 1971 at the height of the Women’s Liberation Movement. I was drawn to it because it’s got a ballsy cover, very retro 70’s vibe and really cool photographs and bits of history behind each song. I treated it like an art book for awhile, and it wasn’t until 2022 when Roe fell and I was lamenting the loss of women’s rights (my rights, my daughter’s rights) that I started studying the book. I went looking for solace in it, hoping to find answers from women of the past- what did they sing about during times of struggle? I started learning a song a day and really digging into the stories behind them. I made a timeline of the songs and wrote a script, envisioning the whole thing as a musical revue. I made an album of a few of the songs, reimagining them with my collaborator Josh Kaufman, updating some of the language and music. It’s consumed me for most of the last two years: researching, making costumes, lining up musicians and singers for the shows (we’ve now done it 3 times and there are more performances on the books). It feels important and I’ve invested a ton of time and money into it- like any creative project it’s a little scary… will this make an impact on other people the way it’s impacted me? I can only hope so. Read more>>