More than anything else, people ask me to recommend books, and flood Cape Talk with calls every time I mention one on air. So, here you'll find a list of some of the books that have made a difference in my life.
Finding These Books
Not all of these books are easy to find. For those that you can find, the fastest way to get them is to buy them locally. I recommend Wizards Books, Wordsworth Books, and Exclusive Books in Cape Town.
In Association with Amazon.comThe cheapest way to get them, and the way to get practically all of them, is by ordering them over the net from Amazon.com, the world's biggest bookstore. All you need is a credit card. Rod's Planet is an Amazon.com associate, meaning that you can just click on the name of a book here to get to the order page for the book at Amazon. It is cheapest to order a few so that the shipping costs don't make the books more expensive (airmail is around R55 for the first book and R25 for subsequent books - even ordering ONE book will usually only bring it up to local costs or less! Surface mail is less than half of that). They will handle all the ordering and shipping details. Often, the links I have provided here may provide you with a hardcover version at less than the local cost of a paperback. To find out more, and to find out about shipping costs, click this link. To order a book, simply click on its name. Yes, I do get a very small commission, which will be used only to enhance this recommendation service website. (Websites cost money, in case you didn't know!)
Most of the books are non-fiction, but there are also some fictional books which are informative or life-changing, or just too good to miss! I've arranged the list into arbitrary and not-so-arbitrary sections - have a good browse!
This is an ever-growing section of the site (can you imagine how much brain-draining I have to do to remember nearly 30 years of reading!?), so come back often, and I'd also appreciate your recommendations.
This list was last updated on Saturday, December 06, 2003
Books that Really Changed Me (although the others did too!)
Conversations with God (Book 1) by Neal Donald Walsch. Whether you believe its channeled God or not, this can really change your life in the best ways possible. You should also the others, Book 2 and book 3.
Illusions - The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach a single afternoon to read this, and the way you see everything will change.
The Way of Wyrd- Tales of an Anglo-Saxon Sorcerer by Brian Bates I learned to understand the real meaning of magic, nature and power
Joy's Way by William Brugh Joy The book that brought healing and psychic development down to earth
If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him by Sheldon Kopp at a young age I read this and learned how to find my own truth. Definitely life-changing!
The Teachings of Don Juan - A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Castaneda. Taught me all about the path with the heart, my true philosophy of life. Teaches a few more things too!
Understanding Self and Soul
Initiation by Elizabeth Haich a vividly real experience of reincarnation and the Egyptian mysteries
Seth Speaks - The Eternal Validity of the Soul by Seth, channeled by Jane Roberts the only channeled book I've ever read which goes beyond new-age mush into the nature of reality and soul and which can only have been written by someone in another dimension - no saccharine, no judgement - the real thing.
The Nature of Personal Reality - Specific, Practical Techniques for Solving Everyday Problems and Enriching the Life You Know (A Seth Book) Teaches you the real nature of self and reality, and how to use this knowledge. There are hundreds of other Seth Books after "Seth Speaks", but this is the one I benefitted from the most.
A Seth Reader a great compendium of lots of Seth's writings, saves you buying all those others!
The Education of Oversoul 7 by Jane Roberts based on what she learned from Seth, a fictionalised version which explains reincarnation better than most - available with its two sequels: The Oversoul Seven Trilogy - The Education of Oversoul Seven, the Further Education of Oversoul Seven, Oversoul Seven and the Museum of Time
Dreams, Reincarnation, Astral and the Invisible World
Journeys Out of the Body by Robert Monroe the only honest book I've ever read on astral travel, and I've read loads - clearly be people who've never done it. This is the real thing.
Far Journeys by Robert Monroe Monroe explores further and challenges everything you believe about everything. A total mind trip.
Ultimate Journey by Robert Monroe - explores the world of Death and helping people who have died. As usual, Mr Monroe takes your head right off!
Conscious Dreaming - A Spiritual Path for Everyday Life by Robert Moss the best and most practical dream book I know.
Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss. Excellent, down-to-earth study of hypnotic regression into past lives.
We Are One Another by Arthur Guirdham. One of the most astonishing and convincing books about reincarnation I've ever read. Followed by the equally fascinating Cathars and Reincarnation
A Little Light on Angels by Diana Cooper. From personal experience, this little book explains everything you need to know about the reality of angels - what they are and how to contact them. Diana was my studio guest on Cosmically Speaking and is sincere and genuine - her book is most inspiring.
Healing, Body and Soul, Self-Improvement
The Shaman's Body - A New Shamanism for Transforming Health, Relationships, and Community by Arthur Mindell Dr Mindell needs no introduction, and is great on health and personal responsibility, in a western/Amerindian crossover point of view
Hands of Light - A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field by Barbara Ann Brennan the best healing manual ever, thorough, practical and real, the most serious and meaningful analysis of the human energy field
Staying Healthy With Nutrition - The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine by Elson Haas. The most amazing book on nutririon you'll ever read, and also gives great details on every nutrient and additive, every vitamin - as well as recipes, diets etc. The only resource you really need.
Dr Andrew Weil is my one health guru You'll find a link to his website on my links page. These are his best:
Natural Health, Natural Medicine - A Comprehensive Manual for Wellness and Self-Care
8 Weeks to Optimum Health - A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body's Natural Healing Power
Caroline Myss is the best when it comes to understanding emotional and energetic (auric) reasons for health problems, and how to fix them. These two say it all:
Anatomy of the Spirit - The Seven Stages of Power and Healing
The Creation of Health - The Emotional, Psychological and Spiritual Responses That Promote Health and Healing
Concentration a Guide to Mental Mastery by Mouni Sadhu. Requires commitment, but could be yuor best training for every other self-improvement you ever make.
Kabbalah & The Western Mystery Tradition
Tree of Life, a Study in Magic by Israel Regardie the best book on Western Magic I know
Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune the best book on Hermetic Kabbalah I know
Psychic Self-Defense by Dion Fortune and the best book on this topic I know!
Transcendental Magic by Eliphas Levi Controversial, yes, but fascinating and thorough. Hard to find - not even at Amazon!
The Secret Teachings of All Ages- An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic & Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy by Manly Hall A good deal about just about everything, and beautifully illustrated. Well worth it!
The Occult by Colin Wilson. Complete, enthralling, and Wilson develops the history of occultism into a meaningful and fascinating theory.Theory extended and completed in Beyond the Occult.
The Anatomy of Fate - Astrology and Kabbalah by Z'ev Ben Shimon Halevi (Warren Kenton). A tad dry, but essential to understand the relationship between astrology, kabbalah and ourselves.
Astrology, Tarot, I Ching & Divination
The I Ching - Or, Book of Changes translated by Richard Wilhelm/Cary Baynes the classic, the only. The Multimedia I Ching
Philosophy of the I Ching by Carol Anthony If you ever wanted to really understand the Ching, here's how, in less than 200 pages. A transformative experience
I-Ching and Transpersonal Psychology by Marysol Gonzalez Sterling the book that let me really grasp and contextualise the Ching
Tao of Chaos - Merging East and West by Katya Walter a fascinating exposition of the relationship between I Ching, chaos, DNA and Tao. Mind-blowing!
Parkers' Astrology; The Essential Guide to Using Astrology in Your Daily Life, American ed. by Derek and Julia Parker A wonderful, coffee-table style but all-encompassing view of a host of astrological techniques. Just an introduction, but a damn fine one!
Alan Oken's Complete Astrology by Alan Oken The best beginners book I know
Synthesis & Counseling in Astrology - The Professional Manual by Noel Tyl Truly the professional practitioner's manual, not for beginners!
Also necessary reading for intermediate astrologers is Noel Tyl's Prediction in Astrology - A Master Volume of Technique and Practice, which explains the often neglected powerful predictive art of solar arcs.
Generally, anything by Noel Tyl is worth adding to your library - you'll read it for life!
The Moment of Astrology by Geoffrey Cornelius Very controversial, mind-expanding, and should be compulsory for all modern astrologers (sadly, very difficult to get hold of now - and Geoff wryly told me even he can't get a copy any more. Keep on asking Amazon for it and maybe they'll pressurise the publisher for a reprint!)
Linda Goodman's Love Signs by Linda Goodman. Don't be surprised to see Ms Goodman here, however uch you may think of this as 'popular' and 'cookbook', this book is an education in how powerful sun sign astrology really is. You'll gasp when she describes your relationship, watch.
The Tarot - The Origin, Meaning and Uses of the Cards by Alfred Douglas Simple, straight-forward and unpretentious, gives a great foundation
Astrological Keywords by Manly Hall the basics on just about everything, defined in astrological terms
Astrology, Psychology, and the Four Elements - An Energy Approach to Astrology and Its Use in the Counseling Arts by Stephen Arroyo One of the books that makes better sense out of astrology than most, another compulsory one for my students
Astrology, Karma & Transformation - The Inner Dimensions of the Birth Chart by Stephen Arroyo. A look at the outer planets in a unique and very practical approach to spiritual growth.
The Arabic Parts in Astrology - The Lost Key to Prediction by Robert Zoller. Often hard to find, but is available at Amazon on this link. Too much medieval astrology is overlooked, and this fascinating work of Zoller's deserves a place on every serious astrologer's bookshelf.
Astrology of Fate by Liz Green. A fascinating look at the relationship between the chart, fate and the individual. A modern classic.
Ancient Hindu Astrology for the Modern Western Astrologer by James Braha. For any astrologer who wishes to learn more about Vedic astrology, this is by far the best book to use.
Life Wouldn't Be the Same Without Fiction Like This
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
Winnie-The-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A A Milne
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Loads of editions are available - that first link will get you a paperback one for under R10, there are many annotated or special editions varying enormously in price - here's a hardcover edition for around R30!!: Wuthering Heights (Courage Literary Classics)
The Magus by John Fowles. Also unforgettable is his French Lieutenant's Woman
The REAL Truth
Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent et al. Will change your understanding of Christianity, the Templars and more. Talk about mind-blowing!
The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception by Michael Baigent et al. Just wait to see how your temperature rises when you realise how you've been duped! The truth will out, and here it comes, everything the Church didn't want you to know...
The Truth Behind the Bible Code by Jeffrey Satinover More honest and down-to-earth than the endless money-making hype of the ridiculous Michael Drosnin book (which came out first)
Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock. May be the book which finally solves many of the mysteries of the Pyramids, completely changes everything you ever believed about history, and contains an ominous warning about the near future. Continues in The Message of the Sphinx - A Quest for the Hidden Legacy of Mankind, also essential reading.
The Great Pyramid Decoded by Peter Lemesurier. The book which fully explains how the pyramids may be used to predict the entire history of humankind.