Top 100 Inspirational Books: 60 - 41

59 - For Esme With Love and Squalor

Originally published in the New Yorker magazine as a short story on April 8, 1950, "For Esmé – with Love & Squalor" was published with other tales in J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories two years later after his spectacular success with Catcher in the Rye – a classic story of a rich kid who cannot fit into society’s demands. While the story collection's formal title is Nine Stories, it is more commonly known as For Esmé – With Love & Squalorafter it most memorable story. Believed to be autobiographical, it tells of a World War II American Army sergeant – referred to only as Sergeant X – and a chance meeting he had with a teenage girl and her little brother at a church. She is distant, yet intriguing to the homesick serviceman. She keeps him at arm’s length and upon learning that he is a writer, lets him know that she’d like him to write her a story about “squalor.” He does – recounting their meeting and how much it meant to him. The short story was immediately popular with readers. Less than two weeks after its publication, Salinger received more letters about For Esmé than he had for any story he had published." A warm and melancholy tale, it is an inspiring, touching slice of life by an American master.

~ Rob Kerby

Purchase "For Esme With Love and Squalor" here.

58 - Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption

This novella was originally published in a collection of stories in 1982 (titled Different Seasons), and while originally hailed as one of King’s greatest stories, it wasn’t until the film adaptation (abbreviated to simply The Shawshank Redemption) in 1994 that it truly achieved recognition.

The novella tells the story of Andy Dufrane, a banker wrongly imprisoned for his wife’s murder. But rather than focus on “clearing his name,” (as most similar stories would) it deals with how Andy handles prison life, the friendships he forms, and how he ultimately triumphs over injustice, although not in the way you might think. This is a stunning movie about the indomitable nature of the human spirit and an entertaining yarn to boot. It’s impossible not to cheer when Andy raises his arms to the heavens as the clear rain of freedom falls upon his face.

~ Evan Derrick

Purchase "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redepmtion" here.

54 - Winnie the Pooh

There is a sweet simplicity in the stories of Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, and a honey-loving bear named Winnie the Pooh. They’re about friendship and loyalty and overcoming obstacles, but often they’re simply silly tales of bouncing Tiggers and bears getting stuck in Rabbit holes and hunts for missing honey pots. These silly stories, however, celebrate the joy of a child’s imagination. I’ve often watched my children playing by themselves, making up their own adventures out of thin air, and it’s easy to spot that same innocent whimsy within A. A. Milne’s classic stories.

~ Evan Derrick

Purchase "The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh" here.

52 - Chicken Soup for the Soul

Chicken Soup for the Soul is a series of more than 200 books, most of which are a collection of inspirational stories and motivational essays. The first was compiled by motivational speakers Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Subsequent titles have been directed at specific audiences, such as Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul, Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People, Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Relationships, and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Dad. Inspiration is the point – and with 100 million copies in print in 54 languages worldwide, inspiration appears to have been the result. The title derives from the cross-cultural tradition that chicken soup is an effective home remedy that cures almost anything.

~ Rob Kerby

Purchase "Chicken Soup for the Soul" here.

50 - Where the Sidewalk Ends

The incomparable Shel Silverstein, artist and poet, first published Where the Sidewalk Ends in 1974. His poems, much like Dr. Seuss’ best work, spoke not only to the children they were aimed at, but also to adults. Many of his poems are whimsical and silly, but often they touch on serious subjects, and sometimes they unexpectedly fill you with inspiration. The following, “Listen to the Mustn’ts,” is just such a poem.

Listen to Mustn'ts, child, listen to the Don'ts.
Listen to the Shouldn'ts, the Impossibles, the Won'ts.
Listen to the Never Haves, then listen close to me.
Anything can happen, child, Anything can be.

~ Evan Derrick

Purchase "Where the Sidewalk Ends" here.

49 - Heidi

Swiss author Johanna Spyri tells the inspiring story of five-year-old orphan, Heidi, dumped off on her grumpy hermit grandfather – a goatherd and cheese maker who lives high in the Swiss Alps – by the conniving Aunt Dete. He at first resents Heidi's arrival, but the charming child manages to penetrate his harsh exterior and his heart. However, Aunt Dete returns three years later, snatching her away, hiring her to a rich family in Germany as a companion of wheelchair-bound 12-year-old Klara. Heidi inspires Klara to try to walk all while annoying the family’s stern housekeeper Fraulein Rottenmeier. The story is well-known to all who have seen the Shirley Temple classic movie of the same name – and who are inspired by the joy and selflessness of a little girl who loves those who mistreat her … and triumphs against negativity thinkers.

~ Rob Kerby

Purchase "Heidi" here.

48 - The Five People You Meet in Heaven

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a fanciful novel by Mitch Albom that spent 95 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. It recounts how a janitor named Eddie encounters in the hereafter five people who were affected by his time on earth. First, Eddie meets Joseph, “The Blue Man” from a freak show, who was killed when he crashed his car, avoiding young Eddie – who as a child had dashed out in the street. Next Eddie encounters his commanding officer in World War II – who had promised his troops: “No man gets left behind” and is killed saving Eddie's life. Then Eddie meets Ruby, whose husband was present at Eddie’s father’s death and is able to share the details. Eddie's fourth meeting is with Marguerite, Eddie’s wife. They recall their life together, simple but mostly happy until her death. Finally, Eddie meets a child who he was unable to save from a fire that he started. In these inspiring and thought-provoking encounters, Eddie learns forgiveness and how to rest eternally at peace.

~ Rob Kerby

Purchase "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" here.

45 - The Cost of Discipleship

German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s exposition on the Sermon on the Mount is a Christian classic, but is even more than that. It is the most accessible work in the career of a great theologian, and one who truly knew the cost of discipleship. His theology was born out of his life in Germany during World War II, as he experienced the rise of the Nazi regime. This text is the practical version of Bonhoeffer’s usually academic theology, describing in detail what he believes Jesus taught Christians about how to live their lives. It is a truly fascinating and uplifting read, but one that will cause you to think and consider every facet of your life.

~ Stephen Russ

Purchase "The Cost of Discipleship" here.

44 - Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

This 248-page how-to bestseller shows how to keep from letting the little things in life drive you crazy. In thoughtful and insightful language, author Richard Carlson reveals ways to calm down in the midst of your frantic, stress-filled life. He shows how to put life in perspective by making certain small daily changes. He offers simple but useful advice such as "Think of your problems as potential teachers," "Remember that when you die, your 'in' box won't be empty" and "Do one thing at a time." The messages: Try to live in the present moment. Let others have the glory. Write down your most stubborn positions and see if you can soften them. Learn to trust your intuitions. Live each day as if it might be your last. With these gentle, supportive guidelines, Dr. Carlson offers ways to make life more peaceful and caring -- with the added benefit of making life calmer, more meaningful and stress-free.

~ Rob Kerby

Purchase "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" here.

42 - Eat Pray Love

I was on a much needed vacation in the Dominican Republic when I first read Eat Pray Love. I was nursing a broken heart and feeling overworked, under appreciated in my professional life. From the first chapter, I found a friend in author Elizabeth Gilbert. In Eat Pray Love, a divorce sends the 30-something woman on a soul-searching journey to Italy, India, and Indonesia. As she navigates through the pleasures of eating, spiritual practice, and learning to love, I found myself doing the same. It was the beginning of emotional healing and it helped me discover that the adventure I wanted was always in my hands. I count Eat Pray Love as a life-changing book and a catalyst for my own self-discovery.

~ Jennifer Jones

Purchase "Eat Pray Love" here.

41 - The Hobbit

Although eclipsed in terms of scale and importance by Tolkein’s later opus, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit still remains a powerful and moving book. There is courage and loyalty and friendship and adventure in the story of Bilbo Baggins. The book is also, surprisingly, a sober look at the horrors of war. Tolkein was, in many ways, dealing with his own experiences as a veteran of World War I, and while his prose is never gratuitous (it was a children’s book, after all), it is deeply moving. As Bilbo says at the conclusion of the Battle of the Five Armies, “Victory after all, I suppose! Well, it seems a very gloomy business.”

~ Evan Derrick

Purchase "The Hobbit" here.