Year of Words Book Recommendations for Reason

When I dug in, to research book recommendations I was surprised by how many of the books I found were once again religious based. When I think of the word reason, my first thought isn’t God. It was interesting to look through and and see how people relate to the word reason.

There are two definitions for the word reason.

Personally I find myself connecting with the first definition more often than the second. I’d love to know which definition you think of most when you think of the word reason. Hop over to the book club and share! I ended up finding plenty of books I would want to read related to this word, and both definitions. So here’s my book recommendations for the word reason, as well as my reasons for choosing them. When I choose books for the recommended list they are all books I, myself, would be willing (or want) to put on my to be read list. I look through tons and tons of books over the weekend, and choose the few I would want to read to share with you.  If you are participating in the Year of Words book club you do NOT have to choose the word reason, you can choose any word you like, and any book you like. 🙂 If you don’t have the full list of words for the year, they are available in the online book club.

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Book Recommendations for Reason

Fiction: 

Reasons I Fell For the Funny Fat Friend Description from Amazon:

It’s stupid to fall for your brother’s ex. It’s even worse to enlist another’s help to win the ex over. But Brody is desperate and Hayley, his partner in American Sign Language, is more than willing to lend him a few tips. She’s the school’s ‘matchmaker’, and with her bizarre and positive personality, Brody finds her easy to talk too, even about the most awkward situations. Hayley’s tips seem to be working, but as Brody learns more about his matchmaker, he starts finding reasons to spend time with her, and not the girl he thought he was in love with.

But Hayley isn’t ready to fall for anyone. Labeled the “Funny Fat Friend” within her group, her self image makes it impossible for Brody to share his feelings without Hayley shrugging it off as a joke.

Convincing her Brody can, and did, fall for the “Funny Fat Friend” turns out to be a lot harder than simply falling in love.

Why I chose this book:

I enjoy thinking about the reasons why we like other people, even in a easy reading, Young Adult romance book I’m offered the opportunity to look at the reasons why we fall in love, why we make friends, why we like the people we like. When I look at the reasons the characters have I can also look at my reasons as well.

For those of you trying to stay in your book budget you’ll be glad to hear this is a Kindle Unlimited book. 🙂

A Reason to Run Description from Amazon:

People are talking about C.W. Oliver, the mysterious author with a book sitting atop the bestseller list. They are also talking about Camdyn Taylor, the pretty blonde from an embarrassing proposal rejection video that has recently gone viral.
What would happen if people knew that those two individuals were one and the same?

Camdyn Taylor doesn’t like chaos, but it always seems to find her. When it inevitably appears, she does what comes naturally: She runs.
That is one of the reasons she finds herself drawn to her ancestor, Willa Lawrence. A young widow with a new baby in the early 1800’s, her future and inheritance looked steady. Then, unexpectedly, she ran. With only the most basic necessities, she set off on a journey with her child toward an uncertain future.
Camdyn is determined to keep her pen name a secret, and she’s almost as determined to discover the reason for Willa’s impulsive departure. When she finds herself suddenly thrust into the spotlight after a suitor’s ill-advised proposal, she resorts to following Willa’s footsteps to Tennessee in order to finish her latest book.
Finding herself lost and in need of a little hope, she crosses paths with Cole Parker at just the right moment. She quickly becomes aware that things might never be the same, and while she’s focused on unearthing Willa’s reason to run…she just might discover her own.

Why I chose this book:

I love to look at the reasons we react the way we do. Why is our default setting our default? This book looks like a fun one to dig into some of those ideas. This is also a series… this book is the first of 4, and they all have reason in the titles. 🙂 I love series, books with the same characters. I enjoy really getting to know characters across multiple books. If you are a fan of series as well, you’ll be happy to know this is also a kindle unlimited book, and in fact, the whole series is unlimited. I know choosing unlimited books can be iffy, but these books have a lot of great reviews. In fact, this one has 284 (at the time of this writing), and a 4.7 out of 5 star rating. Seems worth a chance to me. You can check out the reviews for yourself over on Amazon.

By Reason of Insanity description from Amazon:

Stevens takes readers on a harrowing descent into the mind of a mass murderer in this eerily realistic serial-killer novel.

At the center of this gripping epic novel of mass murder, pursuit, and psychological terror is Thomas Bishop, a psychotic young killer who believes he is the son of Caryl Chessman, who was executed for rape in California amid intense controversy. Subjected to unmerciful physical and mental torture from an early age, Bishop kills his mother at the age of ten and is placed in an institution for the criminally insane. He grows to manhood knowing the outside world only through a television screen. At twenty-five, he succeeds in a brilliant escape and change of identity and begins to move across the country, murdering women in particularly gruesome ways. Pursued by reporters, police, and the mob, Bishop manages to elude them all, and the search for him becomes the greatest manhunt in US history.The chilling denouement will hold readers spellbound until the shattering, unforgettable conclusion.

Why I chose this book:

I have always had a fascination with the mind. How it works, why people do what they do, and this fascination also includes people who end up on the wrong side of the law. How did they get there, why, what happened to them that allowed that to happen. Although this is fiction, I think it will be a fantastic, if not scary, look at the reasons why.

Reason to Breathe description from Amazon:

USA Today Bestselling Novel

“No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?”

In the affluent town of Weslyn, Connecticut, where most people worry about what to be seen in and who to be seen with, Emma Thomas would rather not be seen at all. She’s more concerned with feigning perfection—pulling down her sleeves to conceal the bruises, not wanting anyone to know how far from perfect her life truly is. Without expecting it, she finds love. It challenges her to recognize her own worth?at the risk of revealing the terrible secret she’s desperate to hide.

One girl’s story of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and her precarious grasp of hope: Reason to Breathe is the first installment of the acclaimed Breathing Series.

Why I chose this book: 

As a woman I see so many women who feel like they need to be perfect. I enjoy looking at the reason behind that belief, and reading stories about women who live through it and overcome it. I think this is one such story. This book is also a kindle unlimited book, it’s also a series, and it has nearly 3000 reviews! It’s at a 4.4 out of 5 star rating at the time of this writing. Read through the reviews yourself, maybe this is the book for you this week.

 

Memoir/Autobiography

 

Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey description from Amazon:

Dr. Jane Goodall’s revolutionary study of chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe preserve forever altered the very, definition of humanity.Now, in a poignant and insightful memoir, Jane Goodall explores her extraordinary life and personal spiritual odyssey, with observations as profound as the knowledge she has brought back from the forest.

Why I chose  this book:

What are the reasons someone chooses to give up the life they know and choose to spend it in the wilderness studying chimpanzees? I’m a huge fan of Jane Goodall and her work, I think this will be a fantastic book. (in fact, it’s going on my TBR pile.)

For the Right Reasons description from Amazon:

The “virgin Bachelor” Sean Lowe reveals the challenges of finding love while championing his Christian convictions in the morally complex world of reality TV.

After The Bachelorette broke his heart, Sean Lowe suspected his “nice guy” image hurt him. The show never emphasized it, but Sean committed to living according to biblical standards of sexuality, even as producers emphasized the risqué and promiscuous. A Texas boy from a Baptist home, Sean tells the story of how he went from a Division I college football player to a fan favorite on reality television, taking readers behind the scenes of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette to see the challenges of living out his values and faith—and ultimately winning his true love’s heart.

For the Right Reasons is about the journeys we all have to take in the real world, where being “good” is the right thing to do but sometimes doesn’t seem to be enough; where betrayal is commonplace; and where that thing called perfection is actually just a cruel myth. Sean learned a few things from his two seasons on the hottest romance shows on television, and he wants others to benefit from those lessons: good does eventually win, lies will be discovered, and “nice guys” do ultimately finish first.

Why I chose this book:

I gave up on the Bachelor a LONG time ago, however, this book intrigues me and it’s something I would actually read, simply to see the reason behind choosing a show like this when you have the beliefs he has. This kindle version of this book is currently only .99 on Amazon, so it’s a bargain.

The Reason: How I Discovered a Life Worth Living description from Amazon:

There is a reason you exist . . .

The day Lacey Sturm planned to kill herself was the day her old life ended. As an atheist who hated Christians, she thought church was a place for hypocrites, fakers, and simpletons. After a screaming match with her grandmother, she ended up in the back of a sanctuary, hating everyone in the room. But what happened in that room is The Reason she is alive today.

With raw vulnerability, this hard rock princess tells her story of physical abuse, depression, suicidal struggles, and more–and her ultimate salvation. She asks the hard questions–Why am I here?Why am I empty?Why should I go on living?–showing that beyond the temporary highs and the soul-crushing lows is a reason each of us exists and a purpose for our lives.

Why I chose this book:

Funny this book almost made the list last week for worth. I’m not a huge fan of “finding my religion” type of books but there’s something I’m drawn to about this one. I do find stories about the reason people turn from suicide, and how they find their way back to be very interesting. This one may find it’s way onto my TBR list. If you read this one, I’d love to know what you think. With almost 200 reviews it’s got a 4.9 out of 5 star rating, which really gets me seriously thinking about adding it to my stack.

The Reason I Jump description from Amazon:

You’ve never read a book like The Reason I Jump. Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within.

Using an alphabet grid to painstakingly construct words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to speak out loud, Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know. Questions such as: “Why do people with autism talk so loudly and weirdly?” “Why do you line up your toy cars and blocks?” “Why don’t you make eye contact when you’re talking?” and “What’s the reason you jump?” (Naoki’s answer: “When I’m jumping, it’s as if my feelings are going upward to the sky.”) With disarming honesty and a generous heart, Naoki shares his unique point of view on not only autism but life itself. His insights—into the mystery of words, the wonders of laughter, and the elusiveness of memory—are so startling, so strange, and so powerful that you will never look at the world the same way again.

In his introduction, bestselling novelist David Mitchell writes that Naoki’s words allowed him to feel, for the first time, as if his own autistic child was explaining what was happening in his mind. “It is no exaggeration to say that The Reason I Jump allowed me to round a corner in our relationship.” This translation was a labor of love by David and his wife, KA Yoshida, so they’d be able to share that feeling with friends, the wider autism community, and beyond. Naoki’s book, in its beauty, truthfulness, and simplicity, is a gift to be shared.

Why I chose this book: 

Of all the memoirs on the list today, this is the one I want to read the most. Autism is becoming an epidemic in our society, but it seems there is little work being done trying to understand how the mind of autistic people works or the reasons behind why they do what they do. This book looks like an amazing peek inside the mind of an autistic boy, one I’d very much like to see. It has almost 1500 reviews and a 4.5 out of 5 star rating.

 

Self Improvement

Love for No Reason description from Amazon:

What if you could live in a state of unconditional love all the time? If you could love people, not because they fill your needs or because they love you, but because you’re connected to a state of pure love within yourself? What if you could bring the highest and best part of yourself to your family and friends, to your work, to your community, and even to the things that you find most challenging in your life? You can, when you learn to Love for No Reason.

In this compelling and life-changing follow-up to her New York Times bestselling book Happy for No Reason, transformational expert Marci Shimoff now offers a breakthrough approach to experiencing unconditional love—the kind of love that doesn’t depend on another person, situation, or romantic partner. This is the deepest and truest form of love and is the key to lasting joy and fulfillment in life.

Love for No Reason introduces a new paradigm—love as an inner state of being that you can access at any time and in any circumstance. In this state, instead of trying to get love from the outside, you bring love to everyone and everything around you. Supported by the latest scientific research on the biochemistry of love along with ancient, time-tested wisdom from cultures across the globe, Shimoff offers a revolutionary 7-step program to develop and maintain unconditional love from the inside out.

Combining practical tools and cutting-edge methods, this program empowers you to bring an open heart and unconditional love to every aspect of your life, including your relationships with yourself, your family, your friends, and your work. You’ll learn how to break through the boundaries that block love’s flow—whether these are past negative experiences, limiting beliefs about love, judgments, or self-doubt. You’ll also gain insights from Marci’s interviews with 150 Love Luminaries—world-renowned scientists, spiritual leaders, psychologists, and other experts on love, as well as people living in the state of Love for No Reason in their everyday lives. Many of these people—including a Grammy Award–winning singer, a woman who has lost and gained over a thousand pounds, and a man whose loving actions have made him a national icon—share their extraordinary and moving personal stories.

Whatever your experiences of love have been in the past, you can begin to love at a higher level today. Love for No Reason is your essential guide. This one-of-a-kind book shows you how to strengthen the foundation of love within to become an unshakeable source of love for yourself and everyone around you.

Why I chose this book:

I totally forgot to include the self improvement books last week for the word Worth. 🙁 I’ve got some good ones for you this week though. This book looks like a fantastic one if you’re looking to strengthen your foundation of love. I love the idea of becoming an unshakeable source of love for myself and everyone around me! Marci Shimoff also has a book called Happy for No Reason, many of the reviewers said they much preferred this one though, which is why I’m sharing it int he recommended list today.

Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate description from Amazon:

In Getting to Yes, renowned educator and negotiator Roger Fisher presented a universally applicable method for effectively negotiating personal and professional disputes. Building on his work as director of the Harvard Negotiation Project, Fisher now teams with Harvard psychologist Daniel Shapiro, an expert on the emotional dimension of negotiation and author of Negotiating the Nonnegotiable: How to Resolve Your Most Emotionally Charged Conflicts. In Beyond Reason, Fisher and Shapiro show readers how to use emotions to turn a disagreement-big or small, professional or personal-into an opportunity for mutual gain.

Why I chose this book:

As a person who has often been told I’m “too emotional” this book hit a nerve. I’m interested in the reasons why people think it’s bad to be emotional, as well as finding ways to be able to use emotion to my advantage. Ultimately it was the reviews that got this book added to the list. The description made it sound way too business oriented for me, but then I read the reviews, and found lawyers were using it to better try cases, interact with judges, as well as their families, which gave me the confidence I needed to put it on the recommended book list. I highly suggest taking a look at the reviews if you’re contemplating reading this book this week.

 

Everything Happens for a Reason description from Amazon:

In each of our lives we are faced with events that seem inexplicable, unjust, even cruel—events that can shatter our perception of the world, our understanding of ourselves, and our faith in a higher power. Friends and family members often offer comfort with “Everything happens for a reason”—a simple, common phrase with an unbearably elusive meaning.

In Everything Happens for a Reason, psychotherapist Mira Kirshenbaum helps us understand the principles behind this frequently used phrase and provides us with tools to grasp its true meaning. According to Kirshenbaum, there is significance to each of the events in our lives. We all can discover meaning in what has happened to us—seeing such occurrences as gifts, lessons, or opportunities that we might not have been able to get any other way. Building on more than twenty-five years of clinical research, Kirshenbaum has developed tests to help readers decode the confusing or unfortunate events in their lives and find solace and strength in the positive outcomes that exist.

Kirshenbaum offers ten universal reasons for the tragedies in our lives, among them letting go of fear, radically accepting ourselves, becoming a truly good person, finding forgiveness, and discovering our mission.

While coming to terms with unexpected loss and disappointment is never easy, Everything Happens for a Reason empowers readers to embrace the positive and comprehend the specific message that is larger and more powerful than their grief.

Why I chose this book:

As someone who’s had their fair share of “bad” things happen, I also tend to believe that things happen for a reason, and if you’re willing to dig in and look that reason can be found. I think it would be really interesting to take a look at that belief and really dig into it with this book.

What I’m Reading this Week:

 

The Kindness Diaries description from Amazon:

The incredible journey of one man who sets out to circumnavigate the globe on a vintage motorbike fueled by kindness.

Follow the inspirational journey of a former stockbroker who leaves his unfulfilling desk job in search of a meaningful life. He sets out from Los Angeles on a vintage motorbike, determined to circumnavigate the globe surviving only on the kindness of strangers. Incredibly, he makes his way across the U.S., through Europe, India, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and finally to Canada and back to the Hollywood sign, by asking strangers for shelter, food, and gas. Again and again, he’s won over by the generosity of humanity, from the homeless man who shares his blanket to the poor farmer who helps him with his broken down bike, and the HIV-positive mother who takes him in and feeds him. At each stop, he finds a way to give back to these unsuspecting Good Samaritans in life-changing ways, by rebuilding their homes, paying for their schooling, and leaving behind gifts big and small. The Kindness Diaries will introduce you to a world of adventure, renew your faith in the bonds that connect people, and inspire you to accept and generate kindness in your own life.

Reason I’m reading this book this week:

Last night a friend of mine on Facebook said they were watching this show on cable. I don’t happen to have cable, but I went online to see if it was streaming anywhere. I couldn’t find it, but I did find the book. 🙂 Ultimately, I believe the reason we are here is to change the world, by following your bliss, doing the things that make you happy, connecting with other people, sharing yourself with the world. Most times I find that easier said than done. 🙂 So, when I find a book where someone is doing just that… I leap on it.

I had planned to choose Breakfast with Buddha this week, since I’m already reading it. I do plan to finish it this week as well. It’s also a good choice for this week, it’s really digging into the reasons we believe what we believe, and the reasons we see the world the way we do, and how simply changing one thing can change everything. Yes, another book right up my alley! Breakfast with Buddha is currently (at the time of this writing) still on sale (kindle edition) for $1.99. It is also part of a series, you can also have lunch and dinner with Buddha. 😉

So there you have it, my recommendations for the word REASON this week. I’d love to hear what you’re reading. Join the online book club and tell us what book you’ve chosen for reason or any other word. 🙂

If you aren’t currently part of the Year of Words book club, it’s not too late!! You can join any time! It’s a relaxed, low key book club, with the intention to get you choosing books you might never have looked at and digging a little deeper into what words mean to us. Can’t wait to see you in the book club! Just enter your email address below.

Happy Reading.