My daughter asked me once, which twenty books I would recommend if she were retiring to a desert island for the rest of her life. I gave the matter some thought and came up with this list. As we both believe that spirituality is the most important aspect of a person's life, she expected, and was not surprised that each was spiritual in nature. I decided to share that list here - in case anyone would like some ideas. Feel free to add your own ideas.

Who ordered this truckload of dung - Ajahn Brahm. A collection of true stories told by a great storyteller and Theravada monk. Very funny.

The Key: And the name of the key is willingness - Cheri Huber. Cheri is the founder of the Zen Mountain Monastery. This book is worth getting just because of the font - but the essay in the back of this book changed my life instantly.

Desert Wisdom - Yushi Nomura. Delightful stories and sayings of Christian monastics and hermits in the fourth and fifth centuries in Egypt.

Be Here Now - Ram Dass. The journey from Richard Alpert to Ram Dass; Harvard to the Himalaya's. Hindu influences.

The Sermon on the Mount according to Vedanta - Swami Prabhavananda. Simply the most beautiful commentary on the Sermon on the Mount that I have been privileged to hear.

The Wandering Taoist - Deng Ming Dao. The first book of three. Six year old Deng Ming Dao's journey to the Taoist temple and his life there.

The Tao is Silent - Raymond Smullyan. The author is hilarious and yet he expresses his thoughts and interpretations of the Tao in a way that is beautiful to me.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard Bach. A new copy landed in my hands in 1971 and promptly changed my life.

Illusions - Richard Bach. A quick but powerful spiritual read.

The Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman The first of three transformative books. Inside the cover is a quote from a 15 year old girl named Hope that says it all. "This book changed my life." It's that kind of book. Made into a movie with Nick Nolte and Amy Smart.

Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior - Millman The second book in this series yet a stand alone book if you haven't read the first. Also a great introduction to Huna.

The Journey of Socrates - Millman This is the third book but it pre-dates the first two historically. This book is based on a true story and contains the single greatest act of forgiveness I have ever heard. It is my yardstick and encouragement when I find forgiveness hard to offer. Thinking on this story has never failed to prompt me to forgive.

Yhantishor - Daniel Shahid. A whimsical spiritual journey in a land that never was and always is.

When you can walk on water, take the boat - John Harricharan. Okay, to tell the truth I bought it because the title rocks...but so did the story.

Parables from other Planets - Hugh Prather. Ditto and ditto. Short stories you digest on the couch in an evening or one at a time while on your toilet.

How to live in the world and still be Happy - Hugh Prather. Prather is the king of great titles - and the title is accurate, that's what he discusses.

Love is letting go of fear - Jampolsky. The only psych book on the list...because of the subject matter: love and fear

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

Kara, the Lonely Falcon - Joseph Girzone

Don't Just Do Something - Sit There - Sylvia Boorstein