Great Books for the Soul – and What They Teach Us

There are some books that don’t just pass the time.

They reach down into you, settle into your bones, and quietly shift something inside.

They become like companions—returnable, re-readable, even when you already know the ending.

These are books for the soul—

books that help us make sense of who we are, why we hurt, and how to heal.

So I want to share five books that I consider gentle guides for the heart and mind. Some are quiet, some are bold. But each one offers something lasting.

Let’s dive in.

📘 1. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Theme: Gentle friendship, presence, and the power of kindness

This illustrated book is like a long, deep exhale.

It follows four characters as they journey together—asking questions about life, love, fear, and hope. But what’s truly magical is how it invites us to pause and ask those same questions.

Lines like:

“What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever said?”

“Help,” said the horse.

It reminds us that vulnerability is courage, not weakness.

It’s a book to keep by your bed, or in your bag, or on your coffee table—like a tiny lighthouse for stormy days.

📙 2. Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Theme: Owning your truth, breaking free, and living wildly whole

This one is a rallying cry wrapped in a memoir. Glennon invites us to question the cages we live in—the expectations, the silence, the self-abandonment—and ask: Who was I before the world told me who to be?

She writes:

“When a woman finally learns that pleasing the world is impossible, she becomes free to learn how to please herself.”

It’s fierce and compassionate.

And even if you’re not in a life overhaul moment, it offers a mirror—showing us where we’ve dimmed ourselves, and how to reclaim the fire.

📕 3. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Theme: Creative living beyond fear

This book is a warm conversation with the creative in you—the one who dreams, writes, paints, sings, builds, or just wonders.

Gilbert dismantles the myth that creativity is only for “artists.” She argues that every person has creative energy, and that joy—not perfection—should be its compass.

“You can measure your worth by your dedication to your path, not by your successes or failures.”

It’s one part permission slip, one part gentle shove.

And for anyone who’s ever hesitated to make something just because it might not be “good enough”—this book is your invitation to try anyway.

📗 4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Theme: Destiny, trust, and the pursuit of your heart’s path

This classic novel reads like a fable, but hits like a revelation.

It tells the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who follows a dream in search of treasure, only to discover the journey itself is the reward. Along the way, the book nudges you to reflect on your own “Personal Legend”—the dream your soul came here to pursue.

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

It’s ideal for anyone feeling lost, stagnant, or in transition. It doesn’t give answers—but it lights the way.

📓 5. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

Theme: Radical empathy, brutal honesty, and soulful advice

This one’s for when you need to feel seen.

It’s a collection of real letters from people facing heartbreak, grief, loneliness, regret—and the replies from Strayed, who wrote as the anonymous advice columnist “Sugar.”

But her replies? They don’t sound like typical advice.

They sound like someone holding your hand, saying, “Me too. You’re not broken.”

“Most things will be okay eventually, but not everything will be. Sometimes you’ll put up a good fight and lose. Sometimes you’ll hold on really hard and realize there is no choice but to let go. Acceptance is a small, quiet room.”

This book feels like a conversation with your wisest friend—the one who doesn’t flinch from your pain but still dares to believe in your light.

🌿 Final Thoughts

Each of these books holds a different kind of medicine.

Some soothe.

Some challenge.

Some open doors you didn’t know were closed.

You don’t need to read them all at once.

But let them find you when you’re ready—

just like the best stories always do.

And maybe—just maybe—something in their pages will remind you how powerful your own story is.

Because it is.

And there’s still so much left to write.

With love

Noona