Russell Brand, the well-known comedian, actor, and writer, is not only famous for his comedic and acting skills, but also for his intellectual and philosophical pursuits. Brand is an avid reader and has often spoken about his favourite books in interviews and on his social media platforms. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at Russell Brand's favourite books and why they are important to him.
- "Perennial Philosophy" by Aldous Huxley
Brand has mentioned on several occasions that "Perennial Philosophy" is one of his favourite books. In this book, Huxley explores the similarities between various religious and mystical traditions from around the world. Brand is drawn to the book because it helps him understand that there is a shared spiritual essence among all people, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds.
- "The Bhagavad Gita"
"The Bhagavad Gita" is a Hindu scripture that has been revered for centuries for its spiritual teachings. Brand has spoken about how the book has helped him find meaning in his life and has influenced his outlook on the world. He has often recommended the book to others who are on a spiritual journey.
- "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis
Russell Brand has also expressed his love for "The Screwtape Letters," a novel by C.S. Lewis that explores the nature of temptation and the battle between good and evil. Brand has said that the book helped him understand the importance of being mindful and present in the moment, rather than getting caught up in negative thoughts and emotions.
- "The Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu
"The Tao Te Ching" is a Chinese classic that has been translated into many languages and has influenced countless people over the centuries. Brand has spoken about how the book has helped him understand the concept of the Tao, or the way, and has given him insight into the nature of existence.
- "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran
Russell Brand has also mentioned "The Prophet" as one of his favourite books. This book is a collection of poetic essays that explore various aspects of life, including love, marriage, and death. Brand has said that the book has helped him understand the importance of living in the moment and cherishing the relationships he has with others.
Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed expectations in order to reconnect with a state of innocence from which the surprising becomes inevitable. Over the years, as he has thought deeply about where creativity comes from and where it doesn’t, he has learned that being an artist isn’t about your specific output, it’s about your relationship to the world. Creativity has a place in everyone’s life, and everyone can make that place larger. In fact, there are few more important responsibilities.
The Creative Act is a beautiful and generous course of study that illuminates the path of the artist as a road we all can follow. It distills the wisdom gleaned from a lifetime’s work into a luminous reading experience that puts the power to create moments—and lifetimes—of exhilaration and transcendence within closer reach for all of us.
The rise of Milo, Trump and the alt-right are not evidence of the return of the conservatism, but instead of the absolute hegemony of the culture of non-conformism, self-expression, transgression and irreverence for its own sake – an aesthetic that suits those who believe in nothing but the liberation of the individual and the id, whether they’re on the left or the right. The principle-free idea of counterculture did not go away; it has just become the style of the new right.
Recent years have seen a revival of the heated culture wars of the 1990s, but this time its battle ground is the internet. On one side the alt right ranges from the once obscure neo-reactionary and white separatist movements, to geeky subcultures like 4chan, to more mainstream manifestations such as the Trump-supporting gay libertarian Milo Yiannopolous. On the other side, a culture of struggle sessions and virtue signalling lurks behind a therapeutic language of trigger warnings and safe spaces. The feminist side of the online culture wars has its equally geeky subcultures right through to its mainstream expression. Kill All Normies explores some of the cultural genealogies and past parallels of these styles and subcultures, drawing from transgressive styles of 60s libertinism and conservative movements, to make the case for a rejection of the perpetual cultural turn.
In times of pain, when the future is too terrifying to contemplate and the past too painful to remember, I have learned to pay attention to right now. The precise moment I was in was always the only safe place for me.
Elegantly repackaged, The Morning Pages Journal is one of The Artist's Way's most effective tools for cultivating creativity, personal growth, and change.
Now more compact and featuring spiral binding to make for easier use, these Morning Pages invite you to do three pages daily of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-consciousness, which provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize, and synchronize the day at hand. This daily writing, coupled with the twelve-week program outlined in The Artist's Way, will help you discover and recover your personal creativity, artistic confidence, and productivity.
The Artist's Way Morning Pages Journal includes an introduction by Julia Cameron, complete instructions on how to use the Morning Pages and benefit fully from their daily use, and inspiring quotations that will guide you through the process.
In this long-awaited follow up to The Journey Home, renowned spiritual leader Radhanath Swami shares intimate stories from his forty years as a teacher of devotional (bhakti) yoga. His heartfelt down-to-earth writing makes accessible topics that have remained esoteric for generations: explanations of the material and spiritual selves, three levels of God-realization, the feminine nature of divinity, the way of righteousness (dharma), what happens at death, and formulas for spiritual health. In brief sidebars, he spells out how to adapt chanting as a daily practice, how to recognize an authentic guru, which rituals to attempt, methods for achieving balance in relationships, and ways to transform a home or apartment into a place of pilgrimage. Radhanath Swami may be the Dr. Oz of yoga, prescribing through anecdote and wise commentary simple principles for balancing our material and spiritual lives.
Destined to become a classic of self-discovery, The Journey Within escorts readers from remote villages of South India to the halls of power in Europe and America. The author’s palette of storytelling includes tales of the famous and infamous, moguls of industry, lepers, newborn babies, the redwoods of California, and jellyfish in Italy. In simple, approachable language, he demystifies India’s ancient path of devotion and reveals how heaven is within the grasp of every man, woman, and child. What is love? Who is God? How can we live in the world without becoming entangled? Radhanath Swami addresses these and other seminal questions with vivid portraits of people confronting life-threatening tragedies with life-affirming tools of devotion, people who discover how to solve impossible dilemmas with the simplest of resources and who uncover miracles in the ordinary course of a day.
Became a vegetarian, and after a month of eating nothing but veggie food I was surprised to notice that I definitely felt more peaceful. I had no idea that a change in diet could have such a powerful effect on your emotional life!
Rising in Love tells the story of the author's extraordinary spiritual awakening in America (which included meeting an angel), his discovery of Amma (the living Guru known in the West as the Hugging Saint), and the 27 amazing years he has spent in quest of Enlightenment as Amma's devotee, most of that time in India. The book is a multi-faceted diamond: a suspenseful psychological thriller, a page-turner from the outset - yet there so much humor in the narrative that at times it reads like a comedic novel. From another angle, it is a story of profound healing from delusion, drug addiction and despair into a joyous and beautifully fulfilled life, and as such it is a ray of hope for all who suffer from addiction or mental illness of one kind or another. It is also a treasure chest full of gems from Amma's teachings, and contains 22 photos of Amma. All royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to an orphanage in India.
Russell Brand's favourite books are a reflection of his deep interest in spirituality, philosophy, and self-improvement. These books have helped him understand the nature of existence, the importance of being mindful and present in the moment, and the value of relationships. For anyone looking to expand their own understanding of these topics, these books are definitely worth a read.
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