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100 Books to Live By: Literary Remedies for Any Occasion
A collection of life-affirming books to guide you through. Settle down with 100 Books to Live By and learn which book prescriptions can be dispensed to lift your spirits, whatever you may need.
Sometimes, only a good book will help. In life’s biggest moments and challenges, turning to a book can often help us to navigate our way through. Whether you need a dose of resilience, a course of comfort, or a prescription of purpose, this gem of a book offers guidance on everything from love and heartbreak to grief and loss, to friendship and family, and more.
These are 100 life-affirming reads and remedies for anyone searching for love, meaning, belonging, purpose, and hope in their everyday lives. Featuring well-known favorites alongside undiscovered gems and modern classics, the literary prescriptions will see you through unsteady waters, whatever they may be.
100 Books to Live By is the perfect collection of remedies, featuring books from all over the world and a wide range of authors,
Haruki Murakami
Sally Rooney
Toni Morrison
Franz Kafka
Jane Austen
Ernest Hemingway
And more!
Each prescription also features a number of 'Alternative Remedies', so the book includes as many diverse literary prescriptions as possible. With books to address all manner of ailment, this is the ultimate celebration of reading that can be referenced and treasured for years to come.
Also
100 Poems to Live By (9781789298864)100 Speeches to Live By (9781789299434)
Sometimes, only a good book will help. In life’s biggest moments and challenges, turning to a book can often help us to navigate our way through. Whether you need a dose of resilience, a course of comfort, or a prescription of purpose, this gem of a book offers guidance on everything from love and heartbreak to grief and loss, to friendship and family, and more.
These are 100 life-affirming reads and remedies for anyone searching for love, meaning, belonging, purpose, and hope in their everyday lives. Featuring well-known favorites alongside undiscovered gems and modern classics, the literary prescriptions will see you through unsteady waters, whatever they may be.
100 Books to Live By is the perfect collection of remedies, featuring books from all over the world and a wide range of authors,
Haruki Murakami
Sally Rooney
Toni Morrison
Franz Kafka
Jane Austen
Ernest Hemingway
And more!
Each prescription also features a number of 'Alternative Remedies', so the book includes as many diverse literary prescriptions as possible. With books to address all manner of ailment, this is the ultimate celebration of reading that can be referenced and treasured for years to come.
Also
100 Poems to Live By (9781789298864)100 Speeches to Live By (9781789299434)
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Hardcover
Published April 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 6, 2026
Books about books, always a reminder that I have too much to read and too little time. It's fun to dream though.
November 7, 2025
| ARC REVIEW |
"Stories have the power to connect us to universal human experiences, reminding us that we are not alone in our pain or joy."
This book starts with an interesting explanation of what bibliotherapy is, and its historical origins. From the ancient Greeks, to World War I soldiers, to avid readers of today's day and age — people have used reading as a form of therapy for millennia.
I really liked the concept of this book; a book filled with book recommendations — or "prescriptions" as they are called in the book — to suit various moods, struggles or circumstances (such as unrequited love, fear of the future, overcoming personal traumas and supporting others through their own difficult experiences). Each recommendation also comes with a short description of what the prescribed book is about. I really liked that Joseph Piercy also offered an "alternative prescription" for if the book he initially suggested didn't feel quite right for you.
Although this isn't necessarily a book that you would sit down and read from cover to cover in the way you would a traditional novel, this book is perfect to have on your shelf where you can dip in and out of when a new book recommendation is needed.
It was nice to see so many classics mentioned in this book, some of which I haven't read yet but definitely want to, such as Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
However, I was pleased to see that there were also some mentioned that I have already read, such as Lolita by Nabokov. I found the description Piercy gave for this book to be very interesting. So much so, that it actually made me reconsider some of my opinions of Nabokov's novel, which I admit, I may have potentially rated a bit too harshly (two stars) when I read it several years ago.
I do feel like it's important to mention that there are a few spoilers present when discussing the books recommended. So, definitely proceed with caution if you're reading a segment dedicated to a book you would like to read but have not yet got around to.
Overall, I thought this was a very clever idea for a book and a refreshing way of gathering new recommendations. I ended up adding several books to my (ever growing) "to be read" list. However, it would've been nice to have had a more diverse range of stories featured, such as some more contemporary/modern literature, as this book was pretty much dominated by classics.
Thank you to NetGalley, Joseph Piercy and Michael O'Mara for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
❀ Tia ❀
"Stories have the power to connect us to universal human experiences, reminding us that we are not alone in our pain or joy."
This book starts with an interesting explanation of what bibliotherapy is, and its historical origins. From the ancient Greeks, to World War I soldiers, to avid readers of today's day and age — people have used reading as a form of therapy for millennia.
I really liked the concept of this book; a book filled with book recommendations — or "prescriptions" as they are called in the book — to suit various moods, struggles or circumstances (such as unrequited love, fear of the future, overcoming personal traumas and supporting others through their own difficult experiences). Each recommendation also comes with a short description of what the prescribed book is about. I really liked that Joseph Piercy also offered an "alternative prescription" for if the book he initially suggested didn't feel quite right for you.
Although this isn't necessarily a book that you would sit down and read from cover to cover in the way you would a traditional novel, this book is perfect to have on your shelf where you can dip in and out of when a new book recommendation is needed.
It was nice to see so many classics mentioned in this book, some of which I haven't read yet but definitely want to, such as Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
However, I was pleased to see that there were also some mentioned that I have already read, such as Lolita by Nabokov. I found the description Piercy gave for this book to be very interesting. So much so, that it actually made me reconsider some of my opinions of Nabokov's novel, which I admit, I may have potentially rated a bit too harshly (two stars) when I read it several years ago.
I do feel like it's important to mention that there are a few spoilers present when discussing the books recommended. So, definitely proceed with caution if you're reading a segment dedicated to a book you would like to read but have not yet got around to.
Overall, I thought this was a very clever idea for a book and a refreshing way of gathering new recommendations. I ended up adding several books to my (ever growing) "to be read" list. However, it would've been nice to have had a more diverse range of stories featured, such as some more contemporary/modern literature, as this book was pretty much dominated by classics.
Thank you to NetGalley, Joseph Piercy and Michael O'Mara for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
❀ Tia ❀
April 21, 2026
An extremely well curated list of books to help readers through different scenarios in life.This book of books offers much food for thought, as well as reflection, and it is sure to be a valuable resource for any bibliophile. Books truly do have the power to nourish and heal ones heart and soul.
October 19, 2025
I love lists of books so I was always going to love this book. It did live up to expectations - I got some new suggestions and re-found some old classics. The medicine cabinet essentials were also well chosen. There was a good balance between classics, modern and international. Thanks to NetGalley and Michael O’Mara for the ARC.
November 1, 2025
I absolutely LOVE the idea of this book!
This is one that I will probably refer back to for as long as I hold an interest in books, not only for myself but for others as well. I don't think I'm all too great at giving advice in emotional situations as I think quite rationally. Having something like this when a friend or family member is in a tight spot emotionally and being able to give them a book that could potentially help is a lovely way to try and help them.
The range of situations from a broken heart to feeling lost to facing the inevitability of death covers everything I could think of plus it also has some 'medicine cabinet' recommendations (books to cover a number of situations). Every recommendation has a meaning full quote, a detailed synopsis that includes why the book is good for the proposed situation. I also love that each recommendation gives one or two alternatives too.
There are a lot of classics in the recommended books (which I'm ashamed to say I only read a handful of) and plenty of books that I haven't heard of either.
I would like to see something similar published in future which could be more genre specific so those with certain reading preferences!
Thank you to NetGalley & Michael O'Mara Limited for this ARC ❤️
This is one that I will probably refer back to for as long as I hold an interest in books, not only for myself but for others as well. I don't think I'm all too great at giving advice in emotional situations as I think quite rationally. Having something like this when a friend or family member is in a tight spot emotionally and being able to give them a book that could potentially help is a lovely way to try and help them.
The range of situations from a broken heart to feeling lost to facing the inevitability of death covers everything I could think of plus it also has some 'medicine cabinet' recommendations (books to cover a number of situations). Every recommendation has a meaning full quote, a detailed synopsis that includes why the book is good for the proposed situation. I also love that each recommendation gives one or two alternatives too.
There are a lot of classics in the recommended books (which I'm ashamed to say I only read a handful of) and plenty of books that I haven't heard of either.
I would like to see something similar published in future which could be more genre specific so those with certain reading preferences!
Thank you to NetGalley & Michael O'Mara Limited for this ARC ❤️
June 5, 2026
This is basically a book-length list article. The author provides short descriptions of different books, relating each one to a different life circumstance or emotion that someone might be dealing with. I like the concept of recommending literary experiences that speak to someone's current life situation, but I found this book rather bland. The writing style is fine, but I found the content in this book less insightful than many Goodreads reviews.
The descriptions are deliberately vague, in order to describe the basic contours of each story without giving away plot twists. Each description includes fundamental details about the story and its themes, and a short recap of the message. The author also briefly mentions secondary recommendations for the same life issue.
This book can help people find new reads, but so can a simple Internet search. The main value I see in this title is that it can be an attractive coffee table book.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The descriptions are deliberately vague, in order to describe the basic contours of each story without giving away plot twists. Each description includes fundamental details about the story and its themes, and a short recap of the message. The author also briefly mentions secondary recommendations for the same life issue.
This book can help people find new reads, but so can a simple Internet search. The main value I see in this title is that it can be an attractive coffee table book.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
October 19, 2025
100 Books to Live By by Joseph Piercy is a lovely book prescribing literary remedies for all sorts of life conditions, from anxiety and unrequited love to growing pains and other everyday struggles. I enjoyed reading about bibliotherapy and found it very interesting, especially learning that books were actually suggested to soldiers as a ‘remedy’ after the First World War. The range of titles Piercy includes spans the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, offering something for every kind of reader. I especially loved the comprehensive list of books and authors at the back. This is definitely a book to dip in and out of, making it a thoughtful gift for a friend or a treat for yourself. I received a free advance review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
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May 25, 2026
Book recommendations of old and new comprise this small, concise book about feelings. There are suggestions for remedies of the heart, soul, mind, and everyday living. The fifth chapter has remedies for self and others. Each book review contains a short 2-page discussion, with one alternative book to consider. All in all, readers could find enough material to skip seeing the doctor or psychiatrist. There are enough books to occupy the mind for at least 2 or 3 years. I’ve only read seven of his many recommendations, so I need to get busy.
June 11, 2026
I love the premise of this book, but not the content. Many of the books are too old for me and two diverse for me. I did grab about six books worth checking out so for that it was helpful. The author is definitely more liberal than my own personal beliefs so that was another thing I didn’t care for.
Re-create the idea of this book with modern titles in all different additions and it would be an amazing asset. If you like to read international books as well as books of old, you probably will like this book as a resource.
Re-create the idea of this book with modern titles in all different additions and it would be an amazing asset. If you like to read international books as well as books of old, you probably will like this book as a resource.
September 6, 2026
This seemed like a pretty random list of books everyone should consider reading. It’s not a bad list, just random. I didn’t really agree with the classifications and I certainly didn’t think that these were books “to live by,” but I did end up adding a number of classic works of canon literature to my TBR pile. I was particularly impressed by how multicultural the selected works were, though it did seem heavy on Russian authors. Overall, nothing special found here, but a good summary of many classic works of literature.
June 28, 2026
Not so much a book to read.. but a great resource for people who like to read.
September 18, 2026
A fun book through.
November 15, 2025
This book was super informative, and has definitely contributed to more books in my TBR and wishlists.
I like the way the book was broken into sections, so you can dip in and out and use it for specific events and emotions or of course you could just read this book as a whole, making a note of books that spike your interest as you go.
I also liked the fact that the book covered such a diverse range of genres and ages - There was a good balance between classics, modern and translated work.
A must have for an avid reader!
I like the way the book was broken into sections, so you can dip in and out and use it for specific events and emotions or of course you could just read this book as a whole, making a note of books that spike your interest as you go.
I also liked the fact that the book covered such a diverse range of genres and ages - There was a good balance between classics, modern and translated work.
A must have for an avid reader!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews