What's Toxic, What's Not
by Gary Ginsberg and Brian Toal

This book is a reference book that everyone should have in their home. It's the complete book about what you should know about everything in the environment--from water to shampoos to radon testing to why you should air your dry cleaning out. It's accessible and wonderfully written.

The One: Discovering the Secrets of Soul Mate Love
by Kathy Freston

We think Kathy has the real secrets for finding your passion for a long-lasting love.

The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
by Francis S. Collins

Francis Collins, one of the two who led the human genome projects, presents compelling arguments about why science and faith are not only compatible, but even required for one another.

The Selfish Gene
by Richard Dawkins

This book will help you understand that human pathology and biology only comes to clear focus when you understand evolutionary processes.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

These guys took over our homes or wrote with us—and the book is sensational.

Good Night: The Sleep Doctor's 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health
by Michael Breus

If you have problems with sleep, this book will solve them.

Love and Survival: 8 Pathways to Intimacy and Health
by Dean Ornish

Dean is a pioneer and developer—he knows how important love is.

Stumbling on Happiness
by Daniel Gilbert

Funny and full of surprising statistics on why "what we think will make us happy" doesn't, and insights on how it is that we are so bad at predicting our own lives.

The Known World
by Edward P. Jones

History lesson brought to life in this pre-Civil War story, layered and complex. Telling the story of trying to build families and bonds through the threat of sale, death, abuse by a free black slave owner and others. The randomness of major events is what's compelling about the book.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Pocketbook Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams
by Deepak Chopra

A compact but important book. Chopra has a gift for reminding us of what we probably already know, but fail to act on, to realize our personal success.

Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain

Hemingway said that all American literature comes from this book (and many think he may have been right). It's a story good enough that kids love it, but the subtext (the layering) is interesting enough that it is the basis for much thought.

Leaves of Grass
by Walt Whitman

We only found out recently that Clinton gave it to Monica, making it a best seller again when people found out. We can't read more than three lines without becoming excited and ready to take on the world.