15 Books To Nourish Your Soul

This week’s optional theme for The Fit Dish (hosted by Jessica and Jill) is Books To Engage Your Mind and Energize Your Spirit!

I adore reading, and used to hit up the school library every day to read a different book. When I was but a wee child, my brother and I would frequent our public library and come back with ginormous stacks of books to finish off over the week. Twas a good time!

Ever since grad school and med school came around (or even college, if we want to be super honest), however, my leisure reading hasn’t really had much of a chance to happen, because the time just isn’t there. I spend more of my time trying to stuff UpToDate into my head.

But let’s give this a whirl, shall we?! (This post contains some affiliate links, which means I may receive a small amount of monies if you click the link and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you!)

15 Books To Nourish Your Soul

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I broke em’ down into three different categories: Medicine, Food, and Health/Wellness/Other! :P

Medicine

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  • The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Anne Fadiman
    This was the first (and only) book I’ve ever read that dealt with cultural competency. It was one of the assigned readings for an Asian American Studies course I took (one of my very first classes in undergrad!). It’s a heartbreaking read, and stayed in my mind as I worked as a volunteer medical interpreter and patient advocate for Paul Hom Asian Clinic, and even now, as I’m seeing patients. To really and truly help someone, you need to let them know that you care, and if your worlds are vastly different, start by finding common ground.
  • Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder
    So…perhaps it’s not entirely fair to include this in my list since I have yet to read it. But this book has been on my to-read list since 2008. It was chosen as THE book for my undergrad’s campus community book project, and is about a physician (Dr. Paul Farmer) who is determined to fight HIV and tuberculosis + improve the health of people living in Haiti. Given my love for working with under-served populations + international medicine, I am pretty darn sure I will love it, and am hoping to read it before I graduate!
  • This Won’t Hurt A Bit (And Other White Lies), by Dr. Michelle Au
    …I haven’t read this one either, but I feel like I’d really enjoy it–it’s a medical memoir about a physician’s struggle to maintain a work-life balance + raising a family whilst being a doctor.
  • The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly, by Dr. Matt McCarthy – I shared my review of this book over on one of my side projects, FM Student! It details an intern’s experiences in residency!
  • Pet Goats & Pap Smears, by Dr. Pamela Wible
    This was written by a physician I really admire (my review for this book is also over on FM Student). Her enthusiasm is evident throughout the pages, and her anecdotes are whimsical and heartwarming. :] I’d recommend this to anyone who needs some inspiration to go after their dreams.

Food

I’ve accumulated a rather awesome collection of cookbooks over the past year, so I’m sharing some of my favorites! :] Since I’ve already written full reviews on each, I won’t go into super-crazy detail on em’!

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Health/Wellness/Other

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  • Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom
    I read this back in sophomore year of high school, which was…apparently over a decade ago (…), and it’s still one of my favorite books! I think most everyone else loved The Five People You Meet In Heaven more, but this is the one that really resonated with me. It teaches you a lot of life lessons. <3
  • The No More Excuses Diet, by Maria Kang
    An awesome step-by-step approach to incorporate healthy changes into your diet + lifestyle! (Full review here!)
  • Essentials of Strength Training & Conditioning, by National Strength and Conditioning Association
    Channeling my inner nerd! I took several kinesiology classes after I graduated from college, and this was the textbook I was most excited to purchase! <3
  • Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, by Vivian Heyward
    Still channeling my inner nerd! I took almost all the kinesiology courses offered at my local community college after I graduated and was thisclose to getting an Associate’s in Athletic Training too! (Sigh.) I think it would’ve been fun, but at this point, I suppose getting a 5th degree would be considered overkill.
  • My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
    I’ve long been a fan of Jodi Picoult, and this is probably one of the first of her books that I read. It’s actually been a good number of years since I’ve read it, but the story is heartbreaking, but beautifully written.

  • What books have you read lately? Anything to recommend me? :D
  • Are you on GoodReads? Come say hello!
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42 comments

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  1. great reccomendations! I want to check out the memoir about the doctor and her work/life balance!!

    Have you read Brain On Fire? It has a medcial background. I LOVED it so much!! :) great books!

    1. She blogs at http://theunderweardrawer.blogspot.com/ and draws really hilarious comics! :P

      I have not, but thanks so much for the recommendation! :D I shall add it to my to-read list! <3

  2. This is a great list. I wish I was more of a reader, for serious. All I can muster to read are CSCS and exercise phys books. My eyes just get tired so easily!

    But forever Tuesdays With Morrie.<3 :)
    Tiffany @ The Chi-Athlete recently posted…Tangent Tuesday and Why I’m OKAY With Missing a WorkoutMy Profile

    1. Yay for CSCS + exercise phys books! Those are the textbooks I’d read for fun! :P

      Agreed! <3

  3. Oh I love Mitch Albom books! I can’t believe I didn’t include them in my post. Too many great books to list! I’m looking up the strength essentials and assessment books now. I think I need them :)
    jill conyers recently posted…Books That InspireMy Profile

    1. I think you’d like that one a lot! :D!

  4. I need some of those cookbooks in my life!
    Annmarie recently posted…Meatless Monday Night: Chocolate Peanut Butter Football Pudding DipMy Profile

    1. I can’t wait to have my own space so I can actually have em’ with me! *-*

  5. You should come over with one of those cook books so we can get to eating! :P
    GiGi Eats recently posted…Stuff Everything But The Kitchen Sink, In Your MouthMy Profile

    1. That would be so darn awesome! I have some friends in LA I’ve been wanting to visit too–I’ll have to see if I can find a way to make it happen! :P

  6. I LOVE Mitch Albom books!!!!! Thanks for sharing all of these, I’m always looking for a good list of books to read :)

    1. Yay! I hope you find something you like in there! :D!

  7. Farrah – you make the most of every day – not only are you a medical student with a boat load on your plate, but you manage to eat decent meals and share some amazing reads with us!
    Shashi at RunninSrilankan recently posted…Inside-Out Curried Pumpkin Chicken SandwichMy Profile

    1. :D I try hard to! It helps to keep life exciting, and I love having a place to unload my thoughts! <3

  8. I haven’t read any of these! That Sprouted Kitchen book looks awesome! thanks for sharing these :D
    Tianna recently posted…Josh Rosebrook BALANCE Hair Care ReviewMy Profile

    1. It was an awesome one! :D I love “stuff-in-a-bowl” recipes!

  9. Of course you already know that I loved street vegan, lol. I couldn’t help but giggle when I read that title pet goats and pap smears. I just started getting back into reading recently and ordered some re-imagined classic books with beautiful covers! :)
    Channing recently posted…Citrus: Sweet & Savory Sun-Kissed Recipes (A Cookbook Review)My Profile

    1. hahaha, I thought it was a hilarious title too! :]

      I love re-imagined classics (and yay for pretty covers)! :D What are you reading!

  10. These are some great recommendations, especially your Health/Wellness/Other section! I’m a history major so a lot of the books I have read recently have been about history and my thesis topic, so nothing really to recommend. But yay reading!
    Zoe Diaz-McLeese recently posted…My Noise NotebookMy Profile

    1. I feel ya! Most of my reading is usually just journal articles or review books on different medical topics, but…yay for these!

  11. What great picks! I want to read The No More Excuses Diet and the Natural Pregnancy Cookbook. I never read Tuesdays with Morrie, but it was my Grandpa’s name so I feel like it would be a really emotional read. :)
    Kate @KateMovingForward recently posted…My Favorite Healthy Living BooksMy Profile

    1. They were great books! Tuesdays with Morrie definitely left me with a somewhat melancholy feeling, but it was an amazing read and filled with great life advice!

  12. I recommend The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down to all my NP students. It’s so important to be culturally sensitive! I love all of your medical choices!

    What about House of God?
    Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…So many books, so little time! #thefitfam #thefitdishMy Profile

    1. Definitely agreed!

      I’ve heard a lot of good things about House of God, but haven’t had the chance to read it yet! Thank you for the reminder! <3

  13. I haven’t read a single one of these!! Excited to have some new options to add to my list! Thanks for sharing such honest and authentic reviews!
    Rachel @ RachelMcMichael.com recently posted…Rachel’s Spaghetti Sauce RecipeMy Profile

    1. Yay! I hope you find something you like in there! :D

  14. Pet Goats and Pap Smears – that cover. It’s killing me. I love it! The only book I’ve read on here is My Sister’s Keeper, and I loved it! Jodi Picoukt is my favorite!
    Tiffany Khyla recently posted…Halloween is My FavoriteMy Profile

    1. hahaha, right!? I was a little disturbed by the name when my friend first told me about it, but it’s a lovely book! :P

      Agreed! :D I’ve fallen way behind on her most recent books, but hopefully I’ll catch up eventually!

  15. I loved my sisters Keeper! Great selections! How can you not pick up Pet goats and Pap smears, that is to funny! Have a great week!
    Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…Holiday challenges, sweat and giveaways!My Profile

    1. hahaha, agreed! :P I hope you have an awesome week as well!

  16. Thanks for sharing these!! I love your, read-a-book-a-day lifestyle you talked about. So awesome. All those cookbooks are calling to me. I can get lost in healthy cook books – I think they’re so inspiring, and have put them on the back burner. Silly SIlly. lol. Always love ‘seeing’ you at #thefitdish #fitfamlove
    Jessica Joy recently posted…10 Books To Make You Stronger, Healthier & Thinner FOR LIFEMy Profile

    1. haha, I definitely blew through a tonnnn of books that year! (I did reread some of my favorites too, so not exactly a new book every day!)

      Same here! <3 I adore healthy cookbooks! So glad that I can pop into #TheFitDish whenever possible! <3

  17. So oddly enough my father in law is an OB/GYN and he has a farm in which he recently bought goats! I think I may have to get him the Pet Goats and Pap Smears book for a good laugh! Thanks for sharing!

    1. hahaha, that’s too perfect! :P It’s a great book!

  18. So many wonderful looking books! Thanks so much for including mine. You’re too sweet :)
    Sonali- The Foodie Physician recently posted…Dining with the Doc: No-Bake Chocolate Cherry Almond Granola BarsMy Profile

    1. I definitely had to include yours! <3 It's one of my favorites in my collection--gotta love the combination of tasty+healthy food + pertinent information that I need to know for future counseling! :D

  19. Better than before by gretchen is one I REALLY want to read! Thanks for all these book suggestions.
    Linda @ The Fitty recently posted…Food Photo Dump + An Update!My Profile

    1. I haven’t had a chance to read that one yet either–it’s going on my list! <3

  20. I’ve never really cared for Jodi P’s books until I read the Storyteller. Have you read that one? Just wow. You should pick it up ASAP.
    amber recently posted…Needles, Cats and PoniesMy Profile

    1. I haven’t read that one yet, but I will definitely go check it out! :] Thanks so much for the recommendation!

    • Liz on November 6, 2015 at 10:26 am
    • Reply

    I’ve read a number of your suggestions—mostly through my book club! What a marvelous list!
    Liz recently posted…Loaded Oatmeal CookiesMy Profile

  21. I like reading Sprouted Kitchen recipes – bet I’d enjoy the book! I want to buy the Pioneer Woman’s newest cookbook.
    Jess @hellotofit recently posted…Easy chicken nachosMy Profile

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