Carol Talbot’s 5 favourite books

Courtesy Penguin Random House

Courtesy Hay House Publishers

Courtesy Hodder & Stoughton​

Courtesy HarperCollins

As a self-confessed “course junkie”, Carol Talbot spends a lot of time reading. She is on a constant quest to fuel her own development, while helping others tap into their potential, as well.

It means she has read thousands of books and articles across a spectrum of genres and authors.

“I get so drawn into the essence of great written work,” she says. “I get inspired by others to inspire others, which in turn, turns me on to have a go, too. It’s such a beautiful process and books, the written and spoken word, play a great part in this, for me.”

Talbot has several books on the go at any given time. “I’m a fast reader, particularly if it is really an interesting read,” she says. “It’s as if I’m hungry to devour more – and if a book I enjoy recommends another book or author, I usually explore, which means often one book will lead to the next and the next.”

She enjoys books that inspire and lead her to question herself and challenge her perceptions of reality and what is possible, “and expand my heart, mind and soul”.

“There is something quite exhilarating and thrilling as I feel my whole world expand as a result of a thought or idea put forward by the author,” she says.

“When I am reading, I feel a sense of being in another zone, my imagination zone – the zone that inspires my dreams and my inspirations. The zone that helps fuel my confidence, to have the confidence to share.”

Illusions by Richard Bach

“This is a short book with thought-provoking quotes that ensure you bathe in its glow for a while after reading. It’s a simple story of the adventures of a reluctant messiah and I gain another nugget each time I read this book.”

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

“A powerful story commencing with an advertisement: ‘Teacher seeks student’. You’ll be surprised by the teacher and even more surprised by the adventures it leads to.”

The Divine Matrix by Gregg Braden

“This is a fabulous book to expand your heart and mind by exploring the quantum world in easy-to- understand language. My copy of this book is a little tired as I was so engrossed that I fell, with the book, into a swimming pool.”

The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom Hartmann

“This book was the ­inspiration for Leonardo DiCaprio’s web movie Global Warning, The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight, which details what is happening to our planet, the reasons for our culture’s blind behaviour, and how we can fix the problem.”

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“This magical masterpiece tells the story of a shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. The story of the treasures found along the way teach us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path and, above all, following our dreams.”