Favorite Books of the Bs

 Illustration by Evan Robinson. Buy this and other awesome quote prints here. 

 

The Bs’ favorite books are as varied as the Bs themselves, but they all share a common trait: they’ve either changed the way we live our lives, or changed the way we look at life.

Naturally, there are some classics on this list –but there are also a few titles you’ve probably never heard of. So next time you’re looking for a good read, try one of these. 

Chip’s fave: The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss 

Brian’s fave: David and the Phoenix by Edward Ormondroyd 

Brian says: It was the first book I remember reading. I must have read it like ten times as a kid. It let me go on an adventure in my mind, full of wonderment and fantasy and friendship.

Kim’s fave: Oh,the Places You'll Go byDr. Seuss 

Kim says: So simple, yet inspirational. 

Lynne’s faves:

Charlotte’sWeb by E.B. White 

It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both. 

AtlasShrugged by Ayn Rand 

Don't ever get angry at a man forstating the truth.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 

I can't think aboutthat right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.

Lynne says: I've always been drawn to books with strong female protagonists. Iwanted to BE these women (or in one case, very cool spider) because they took control of their sometimes bleak existence and made the most of it. As a little girl in a broken home, this concept was very appealing to me and helped shape the grown woman I became.

Lauren T.’s fave: TheGreat Gatsby byF. Scott Fitzgerald 

Sowe beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

Lauren says: I always really loved The Great Gatsby.

Toni’s fave: Pride and Prejudice byJane Austen 

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”

Toni says: Elizabeth Bennett is one of my favorite literary characters.  She’s astrong, intelligent woman who refuses to bend to society’s rules for her. 

Toni and Susan's fave: To Kill a Mockingbird byHarper Lee 

“Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It'sknowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”

Toni says: Southern literature is a favorite of mine; and Atticus, Scout and Jem are such great characters. Harper Lee’s writing is so descriptive. What a shame shenever wrote anything else. (p.s.  I named one of my cats Boo after BooRadley.)

Susan says: Having grown up in the Deep South, the story ofracial conflict hits close to home. GA, AL, MS. It's so hard to believe that all this went on. We just wish that there were more people like Atticus Finchto make a difference. And I love that this scary, mysterious guy, Boo Radley, protects these children. Doesn't every child have a bad dream kind of person like Boo that we all just hope turns out to be as great as Boo does?

Trey’s fave: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom 

Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.

Trey says: A newspaper columnist recounts time spent with his 78-year-old

sociology professor, who was dyingfrom Lou Gehrig's disease. Great book for coping with loss and learning to makethe most of the life you live.

Stephanie’s fave: The Book Thief byMarkus Zusak 

I have hated words and I have loved them, and Ihope I have made them right.

Stephanie says: About a foster child in Nazi Germany who steals booksfrom bonfires. The narrator is Death. I know it sounds morbid, but it isn’t. It breaks my heart about a hundred times, but ultimately leaves me hopeful.

Ashley’s fave: Unbroken:A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand 

Ashley says: I recently read Laura Hillenbrand's book, and was moved greatly by the story of WWII lieutenant and former Olympian Louis Zamperini(who is still alive today). It will remain among my favorite reads because itis a testament to the human spirit, the will to live and the miracle of grace. 

Audrey and Lauren M.’s fave: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers  

You are free. You just don't know it yet.”

Set in 1850s California, a powerful retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea: a prostitute and the man who married her.

Audrey says: This story, based on the Book of Hosea, will tug at your heart stringsand unveil the power of unconditional love – to restore, heal and redeem awounded heart.

LJ agrees: A timeless love story. It showed me what unconditional love looks like. It shaped the way I communicate with God and how I love others around me. This is a book that takes hold of your heart and forces you to feel the characters' emotions,which you realize are your own, too. A perfect analogy.    

Ali’s fave: True Colors by Kristin Hannah 

Ali says: I can read it over and over again. Not only am I a pathetic romance novel junkie, but this one has substance. It deals with family differences, pride, love, and all the other elements that help me remember whoI am and what I value. Oh, and there are horses. So obviously that's a huge benefit. :)

Jennifer’s fave: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier 

Lastnight I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

The story of a young woman who marries a wealthy, recently widowed Englishman. She moves into his beautiful country estate, Manderley, only to find she cannot escape theovershadowing presence of her husband's late wife, Rebecca. 

Jennifer says: Rebecca is truly a masterpiece. Thestory is so enthralling — you literally can't put it down. There is also a nunforeseen twist that leaves you dumbfounded and questioning everything youthought you knew. The narrative is so descriptive and haunting, you honestly feel like you are there at Manderley experiencing everything firsthand. 

Lesley’s fave: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris 

Lesley says: A collection of personal essays. While it is sometimes challenging to tell what is Sedaris' brilliant observation and what is his exaggerated imagination, he is a talented storyteller. It's one of my favorite books because even after reading a story several times, it will still make me laugh out loud. 

David’s fave: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri 

David says: A collection of short stories that are so concise and almost poetic, you get the emotional investment of a novel but in a fraction of the words.

Jeff’s fave: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski  

Jeff says: Thisis a terrifying book that I would not recommend to anyone. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you can handle impossible architecture, chaotic typography, endless pages of footnotes, and haunted houses, you may be able to finish the book. Reader beware.