Books that Shifted My Thinking by Elder C.D. Burr

 

Opening a book for the first time often fills me with a subtle wave of adrenaline, similar to the excitement I feel at my team's first game of the season kickoff.  Unlike a sporting event, my book and I are alone as I cozy into a chair and focus on the first sentence. I'm eager to establish a new relationship with the author through his or her words, someone who has dedicated years and sometimes decades to write and publish ideas, descriptions, and storylines.  I learn something from nearly every genre — ranging from the classics and entertaining mysteries to poetry and nonfiction tomes with extensive footnotes. 

Occasionally, a book will cause a major shift or transition within me, and I can no longer hold on to an old way of thinking.  Although dozens of books have created shifts, the five books below (three pictured) have firmly established themselves in my psyche.  I often think of these books while writing or making everyday decisions, even though I read two of them over forty years ago.

LET'S HAVE HEALTHY CHILDREN By Adelle Davis. My first reading was in 1979 when I was pregnant with my first child. (Not pictured in this blog.)  Davis, described as a "food expert," gives the vital nutritional dos and don'ts for expectant mothers, babies, and growing children" (1972). I never adhered to Davis's stringent focus on supplements; however, I was impressed with her evidence that sugar caused many health and psychological problems. To the dismay of my grandparents and other relatives, I shielded my toddlers from candy and sodas, allowing cookies only after meals. I also avoided buying foods containing dyes and preservatives as much as I could. By my third baby in 1986, I occasionally caved to my three children's love of boxed mac and cheese and fruit roll-ups. After the busyness of life with teens and a full-time job, I lost focus on our diets and my health suffered. While I still have issues with some of her suggestions, Davis's book instilled in me a decades-long mindset to observe my body's reaction to foods and to read labels--activities that have aided my slow recovery from chronic illness.  (See my upcoming essay, "My Thirty-Year Return to Good Health.")

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee (1960).  I saw the movie in 1964 and read the book three times since 1980. (Not pictured.) This novel laid the foundation for my interest in social justice issues when I was nine years old.  I could relate to the little girl Scout's curiosity, but it was her father Atticus's courage in confronting racism that continues to inspire me to advocate for equality and justice.

THE NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDY BIBLE (1985). I  have read, studied, and contemplated scriptures and notes in the NIV since I bought it in 1985. (Pictured.) This study bible introduced me to the power of scholarly notes accompanying Judeo-Christian scriptures.  Notes by historians and an ecumenical group of theologians provided me with a deeper understanding of the original meanings. After nearly four decades, I have discovered diverse lenses through which I might interpret the words of numerous biblical voices and writers.  The lens I choose to uphold is that God is the god of love, social justice, healing, and inclusion--connecting with each of us -- rather than a god of retribution who glorifies hate and the killing of innocents.  The Love-Thy-Neighbor lens becomes not only a litmus test for the soundness of a Biblical verse but also the way I want to live my life.  

QUIET: THE POWER OF INTROVERTS IN A WORLD THAT CAN'T STOP TALKING by Susan Cain (2012).  I read this book in 2017. (Pictured.) One powerful cultural message I received growing up was that only extroverts can succeed socially and professionally.  This book allowed me — an introspective, rather timid, and sensitive woman who has never been able to tell a joke in a crowd of friends — to embrace my quiet traits.  After reading this book, I've become more accepting of my tendencies to live a simpler life. Interestingly, acknowledging the power of my introversion has also made me more comfortable conversing with others. 

THE POWER OF NOW by Eckhart Tolle (2004 edition).  I first read this book in 2002 when I was suffering from a debilitating illness.  (Pictured) I found it interesting but perhaps too simple for my needs. However, twenty years later, in 2022, as I listened to the book while walking on a nature trail, the message created a shift in my awareness.  It offers a practice that calms me when the world seems on fire and calms my chattering monkey brain.  For the first time in years, I no longer need a sleep aid. Being present has created awe-filled moments during my nature walks, and I listen more attentively when others speak.  The beauty of this practice is that it can coexist with my deeply rooted-Christian faith. My practice deepens as I continue to read books by Buddhists that have inspired Tolle.  

Which books have shifted your way of thinking?

--C. Burr

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