The list below is a collection of books that informed and transformed our thinking, teaching, and guide work. Most of these are light, easy reads that you can pick up at any time. Please note we get a percentage of the sale price of the books here if you buy through our links. Enjoy!
The Way of the Superior Man
By David Deida
If we could only recommend one book to every man on this planet, this would be the one. It’s a shame that the true and ancient ways of masculinity and femininity have been tainted in the modern age. Fortunately, David Deida created a handbook for reconnecting to these energies. On giving and recommending this book, we’ve learned it is somewhat of a litmus test. We’ve noticed that the most joyful, loving and open hearted men whom we’ve recommended this book to, love it. Those men that just “don’t get it”, seem to be struggling more, which is OK. All it means as that we have more work to do! “Stop waiting. Feel everything. Love achingly. Give impeccably. Let go.” “The creative challenge is to tussle, play, and make love with the present moment, while giving your unique gift”
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
By Michael A. Singer
Michael gifted this book more than any other. It is the first book he read on his first trip to Peru, and Yoni did the same when Michael gifted this book to him on their trip together to Peru. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer is written in plain language, using simple examples and metaphors to make spirituality as clear as possible for the reader. Powerful and clear explanations of how the mind works and how to watch it. You are not your self-concept (the structure of thoughts, emotions, and beliefs of yourself in your mind). You are the awareness who hears the thought and sees a woman’s body in the mirror…
The Deepest Acceptance: Radical Awakening in Ordinary Life
By Jeff Foster
This book changed our lives with a nuance and clear message: “Don’t try to change or escape your present experience, just accept what is here.” – Experience is the key word here – The author was always trying to maintain and control his life. He had a breakdown and wound up in the hospital. His depression was a giant invitation for him to awaken, to go from “depressed” to “deep rest”. This book helps with coming to terms with the fact that the entire universe is exactly as it should be, that every moment is perfect, and gives a formula to end suffering: 1) Admit the truth. 2) Allow it in. 3) Notice it as acceptable.
The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
By Alan Watts
Alan Watts has influenced our understanding of consciousness deeply, and was of big support when we decided to create the Men of Integrity Retreats. In this fun and interesting read, and the message is one of connectivity – and not just with our fellow women and men, but with all of creation. In this book, you will discover a glimpse into the ancient wisdom of the Vedanta; what language can tell us about people’s perceptions; and why the inevitability of death need not be a cause for concern. Line after line of profound prose.
Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
By Sam Harris
Sam Harris is a neurobiologist and an adept meditator whose book is required reading for those who identify as “rational materialists” and therefore may be resistant to connecting with their spirituality. This book allowed us to be spiritual in an authentic way without needing the trappings of religion or new age woo. Sam explores many topics including meditation, spirituality, ethics, gurus, psychedelics and consciousness with unparalleled clarity, depth and rationality.
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
By Don Miguel Ruiz
The Four Agreements was published in 1997. It remained a best seller in the New York Times for eight years and sold over 7.2 million copies. It is based on ancient Toltec Wisdom and is a great self-improvement and awareness book. If you get the four agreements outlined in the book, you will be just fine: 1) Be Impeccable with Your Word. 2) Don’t take anything personally. 3) Don’t make assumptions. 4) Always do your best. What a handbook for life!
Guide To Getting It On
By Paul Joannides
Michael read the first printing of this book in 1996 when he graduated from his Bachelor’s Degree. He has kept it all these years because it was invaluable for learning about sex in a gentle, funny and highly informative way. This book is a masterpiece and is now in its 10th edition. After recommending it to his clients (and Yoni) in recent years, he decided to reread it. Amazing! Any question you have about sex (note, it is targeted to heterosexual relationships) and any question you never knew you had about sex is answered completely. This book is required for all humans who want to make the most of one of the life’s greatest gifts!
The Map of Consciousness Explained: A Proven Energy Scale to Actualize Your Ultimate Potential
By David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D
This book has filled so many holes in our understanding of consciousness. Doc Hawkins was a one of a kind human being who went through all levels of consciousness in one lifetime, and one of the only, if not the only, human being to ever create a logical and logarithmical scale for consciousness. This book presents a wonderful model to understand where people and societies are in terms of levels of consciousness. It explores the ego’s expressions and inherent limitations, and gives detailed explanations and instructions on how to transcend them. This leads to progressive spiritual awareness and on to higher levels of consciousness, providing specific steps for transcending each level, from preparatory to advanced states such as enlightenment itself.
The Case Against Reality: How Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes
By Donald D. Hoffman
Once one has experienced expanded states, the thesis of this book may seem obvious and consistent with a lot of what eastern spirituality (is that even a thing?) has been teaching for millennia. Hoffman puts much of this spiritual understanding into a scientific and presumably, testable, framework. The theory argues consciousness creates neural activity, and humans have evolved to see what is needed for survival— perceptions are a user interface, but not necessarily reality. Really cool!
