Sometimes a book, or even just a line, chapter or passage within a book can stick with us long after we’ve read its final page. We asked some of our favorite community members to tell us about a book that’s had a meaningful impact on them.

Daniel Fears | Songwriter Musician, Human Being

There’s a great organization in Austin called SIMS Foundation that provides low-cost mental health services like counseling to musicians. It’s pretty incredible. Through that I met a therapist that introduced the book “A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose” by Eckhart Tolle. I spent about 5 months very slowly reading this book haha. I didn’t want it to end. It was like being reminded of something I’d known deep down, but had forgotten. Reading this book brought a level of awareness to the actions of my everyday life that I felt were missing. I realized that so much of my life had been lived in this state of what he calls “unconsciousness”– going through the motions of my day to day, seeing interactions with people as transactional, and playing into the roles I believe I belong in (musician, teacher, boyfriend, son, etc). Since reading A New Earth, I’ve made a point to be more present in my day to day actions. Read more>>

Natalie Baerwaldt | Run Coach & College Professor

Essentialism by Greg McKeown. This book changed my life in 2019. I received a copy of the book from Lululemon as an ambassador gift at the end of 2018. I read the book in the first quarter of 2019 and by June I had quit my job and started my own business as a running coach. This topic of this book is about doing the thing that is ESSENTIAL for you as a person. In relation to work/career/business, Greg discusses that when you are doing what is essential in your life, then you are giving the world what you were put on earth to do. He talks about setting your own agenda and the power of saying “no.” He states that if you do not protect your agenda, then someone else will have you working toward their goals. The book is a practical guide with lessons and scripts to help you navigate discussions with coworkers, managers and the like, to share your value in a way that highlights your skills and your essential gifts. When I read this book I was three years into a job that I liked, but did not love. I was performing in this role because of my years of experience, but I was not passionate about the role. Read more>>

Brandy Glover | Professional Photographer

I’m currently reading, Photography History, Art, Technique by Tom Ang. It’s an informative book where I’m learning about different photographers from the past and their stories. The impact that I’m receiving from this book is that they weren’t worried to much about perfection but about the story being told the way they’ve planned it. Read more>>