Authors Pick Five: Suzanne Beecher

Last week, I reviewed Suzanne Beecher's fun book, Muffins and Mayhem. This week, I asked her my favorite author question:

What five books are most important or influential to you?

This is her answer:


My favorite books, the ones that I’d consider all-time favorites, change with the flow of my life. I read for what I need. But answering the question today, here are my five choices: (I’m primarily a nonfiction reader.)

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Humor is essential to a satisfying, happy life and this book makes me laugh and laugh and laugh out-of-control every time I reread it. ( I wish I would have written the book.--my greatest compliment.)

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

One of my favorite inspirational books for writing, especially when I started working on my memoir, “Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life”. You can pick this book up, turn to any page and jump into a story. It’s fabulous.

A Complaint is a Gift by Janelle Barlow and Claus Moeller

This book changed the way I run my company, DearReader.com In the midst of reading it, I was so excited about trying out the suggestions that I couldn’t wait for someone to complain to me. You don’t have to own a business to get something out of this book. If people complain to you, or you ever feel the need to complain to others, you’ll love the strategies in this book.

Poems Old and New and Girls by Helen Ferris

This is a book of poetry copyright 1957. I had this book when I was a kid. I’ve read this book so much that there isn’t even a cover on it any longer. I can even recite some of my favorites from memory. . .

“The Monkeys and the Crocodile” by Laura E. Richards 

Five little monkeys
Swinging from a tree;
Teasing Uncle Crocodile,
Merry as can be.
Swinging high, swinging low,
Swinging left and right:
“Dear Uncle Crocodile,
Come and take a bite!”

Five little monkeys
Swinging in the air;
Heads up, tails up,
Little do they care.
Swinging up, swinging down,
Swinging far and near;
“Poor Uncle Crocodile,
Aren’t you hungry, dear?”

Four little monkeys
Sitting in a tree;
Heads down, tails down,
Dreary as can be.
Weeping loud, weeping low,
Crying to each other;
“Wicked Uncle Crocodile
To gobble up our brother!”

(I live in Florida and I never tease crocodiles! :))

The Answer to How is Yes by Peter Block

It’s an older book. The author offers a new way of thinking, so we can free ourselves from making life choices and decisions out of guilt and messages that we are bombarded with from marketing and other people. A great book that really made me think.

Thanks for participating Suzanne! What a fun list of books!

Please check out Suzanne's DearReader.com site and learn more about her book at MuffinsandMayhem.com. If you are at all interested in life stories mixed with fantastic recipes, you'll want to read this book!