The Prophet

Written by: Kahlil Gibran

First line: Almustafa, the chosen and beloved, who was a dawn unto his own day, had waited twelve years in the city of Orphalese for his ship that was to return and bear him back to the isle of his birth. 

Why you should read this book: A beloved and enduring longform poem written one hundred years ago, The Prophet is a series of mind-expanding dialogs between the prophet and the people of Orphalese, who ask him to speak to them of various aspects of the human condition. The prophet answers with advice--some metaphorical, some concrete--on living fully, openly, joyfully, and honestly. Each short chapter offers musings on topics such as love, work, freedom, pleasure, and so on, turning the everyday experience of all humans into a spiritual quest wherein every individual can hope to achieve enlightenment in this world. 

Why you shouldn't read this book: The dust jacket of the edition I have in my hand suggests that if this book doesn't uplift, educate, and inspire you, that you are likely "dead to life and truth."

Daddy Poems

Edited by: John Micklos, Jr. 

First line: It was still dark when I woke up/and stumbled out of bed,/sleepily searching for my slippers/on my way to the bathroom.

Why you should read this book: A beautifully illustrated and carefully curated collection of poetry for young readers about fathers, featuring a diverse sampling of poets. The book takes into account the complicated feelings of children whose parents are divorced, and includes a poem about a child's confusing feelings for his stepfather. These poems are full of emotion and love and joy and pain.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Probably not a great choice for people with absent or abusive fathers. 

The Goddess of Ugly

Written by: Deborah Nourse Lattimore

First line: Once, not very long ago there were twin sisters, Kiri and Mareweia.

Why you should read this book: Two little Maori girls look forward to their coming of age, when they will receive their chin tattoos, but first they must perfect their haka dance. However, one of the sisters cannot take her practice seriously, and their grandmother warns them that making ugly faces will leave them vulnerable to the Punga, the Goddess of Ugly, who once trapped Mudfish and Lizard in a lodgepole, to teach them a lesson about being ugly on purpose. Still not taking the warning seriously, the girls, naturally, have a terrifying run-in with Punga, where they quickly learn their lesson and get the best of the situation.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're very shallow. 

When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals.

Written by: Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy

First line: Somewhere in India, a blind river dolphin seeks her companion.

Why you should read this book: Biology has long held the idea of animal emotions in contempt, labeling "anthropomorphism" a sin against science and the idea that animals have only instinct and evolution to guide them, but the authors of this book remind readers that it's difficult for anyone who has ever had a relationship with any animal to discount what their eyes and ears perceive. Since such subjects cannot be truly observed in laboratory conditions, any evidence to the contrary is labeled "anecdotal," and yet, if it's possible to compile an entire book of such anecdotes, shouldn't we consider that a literature review? Citing dozens of field scientists, the authors explore hope, love, grief, and the entire range of emotional experience as witnessed in the behavior of animals in the wild, in captivity, and in domestication, creating strong evidence that other creatures share a similar range of emotional experiences with humans. 

Why you shouldn't read this book: I thought the section on shame and blushing was underwhelming compared to the rest of the book.