An Interrupted Life and Letters from Westerbork by Etty Hillesum
I almost didn’t include this on the list because there’s nothing I can say that would do this book justice. All the great things I want to say inevitably fall short; it’s simply one of the best books I’ve ever read, probably in my top three. How had I never heard of Etty Hillesum? She was a Dutch Jewish woman who began keeping a journal at twenty-seven—just nine months after Hitler occupied the Netherlands in 1941. Two years later, she was deported to Auschwitz, along with her parents, and killed in a gas chamber. But her journals and letters to friends survive—and they’re remarkable. Actually, remarkable doesn’t even come close. Through her writing, we watch her grow—spiritually, emotionally, philosophically—in the face of unthinkable horror. She writes with a clarity and depth that reminds me of the Stoics. In Westerbork, the transit camp, she describes walking beside the barbed wire fences and feeling…joy. She wasn’t delusional or in denial—she knew full well her likely fate. Yet her awareness didn’t lead her to despair; it led her to presence, to love, to lightness. I told Courtney how obsessed I am with Etty. And I meant it. I’ve already started ordering more books about her, including…
The Jungian Inspired Holocaust Writings of Etty Hillesum: To Write is to Act by Barbara Morrill
As I mentioned, I’ve been obsessed with Etty Hillesum ever since I read her diaries. This is a powerful companion to her writing, offering deeper context about the world she lived in and the Jungian philosophy that helped shape her inner transformation.
What You’re Made For by George Raveling and Ryan Holiday
I really enjoyed this one. One of my favorite takeaways: before ending a conversation, Raveling tells the person he loves them (if they’re not a stranger) and asks sincerely, What can I do for you? I’ve been trying to remember to ask that question to everyone I talk to.
Vertigo by Louise DeSalvo
I’ve been reading Louise DeSalvo ever since I read Writing as a Way of Healing. There’s something deeply comforting about her voice—clear, honest, easy to read but never simplistic. Every book of hers circles the same theme: how we make space for our creative work while still thriving in the real world.
Abundance by Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson
Wow. This book opened my eyes to the problems we face as a country and what we can actually do to solve them. Really thought-provoking and, surprisingly, hopeful.
Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton
I’ve been reading published journals lately, and I really enjoyed this one. May Sarton captures a year of her inner life—writing, reflecting, and navigating the tension between solitude and connection. She calls time to think and be the greatest luxury, and wrestles honestly with how to use it well.