Category Book reviews

Inspire Yourself, Take an ‘Awe Walk’

Reg Spittle Leave a comment

I paused on my way to the Mount Whitney summit in California’s Sierra Nevada, Guitar Lake posing behind me.

I was on an “awe walk,” what Dacher Kiltner, UC Berkeley psychology professor, calls experiences that positively affect our bodies, our relationships with others and how we perceive our world.

You don’t need to climb the highest peak in the continental USA to experience awe, Kiltner advises. It is available all around us, if we only take the time and pay more attention.

Keltner writes about the phenomenon in “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.

Read about it on this Huffington Post article.

Book of the Year: All About Life, Wishes, and Death

Reg Spittle 3 Comments

My favorite book that I read in 2025 features a heartwarming friendship, unexpected twists, and a race.

Jason Cashman is 10 years old when he meets Murray McBride, a former major league baseball player who is 100.

One has a terminal illness and the other is racing to help him fulfill his five wishes before he dies.

The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride, by Joe Siple, had me wishing it wouldn’t end. You’ll find out why when you read this wonderful story.

If you are looking for other ideas for your next book, see my list of reviews, with links to my reviews of the books. I read at least 50 books a year, but only post comments about ones I recommend.

I would love to hear about your favorite book of 2025; post yours in comments below. Here’s to 2026!