5 Books to Expand Your Horizons While "Sheltering in Place"

Whether you are quarantined or staying home to avoid catching the Coronavirus, picking up a good book can help you escape reality for a time and alleviate the social isolation you might feel. 

Or you could consider it a good opportunity to expand your horizons.  
Reading can expand your perspective and give you insights into other worlds.  There is nothing like  seeing the world through another's eyes!

Where did this list come from?  
The five books on this list came from suggestions from readers and friends.  It's not  meant to be comprehensive, it's more of a starter list, so if you have a book to suggest, I'd like to hear about it.  Just leave the title and author in the comments.  

1) The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz  and Janet Mills  .   I was introduced to this book  quite a few years ago in a book club; it has all types of helpful philosophy while remaining interesting to read.  The four agreements include: Be impeccable with your word. Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions. Always do your best. It's the how and why one should do these things that make The Four Agreements worth reading and remembering.
 
2) The Art of Happiness by the Dali Lama.
The Art of Happiness is credited with starting the "happiness books" genre, and it remains the cornerstone of the field of positive psychology. Through conversations, stories, and meditations, the Dalai Lama shows how to defeat day-to-day anxiety, insecurity, anger, and discouragement.  He explores many facets of everyday life, including relationships, loss, and the pursuit of wealth, to illustrate how to ride through life's obstacles on a deep and abiding source of inner peace. Based on 2,500 years of Buddhist meditations mixed with a healthy dose of common sense,   This book has touched countless lives and uplifted spirits around the world -- you could join them!

3) Plain, Honest Men - by Richard Beeman
We often hear people talking about the  Constitution of the United States. This book illuminates the historical background, conflicts and  personalities of the men who wrote it and the compromises that were needed to make the United States possible. 

4) Becoming  - by Michelle Obama.   
This is a well written and entertaining book about growing up, striving and being a working mother and political spouse.  I wish I had read it earlier in my life, as the way Michelle looks at the world is refreshing.  Especially recommend it to smart young women -- of any color or political leaning.  

5) A Gentleman from Moscow - by  Amor Towles       
This is the only fiction book on the list, but belongs here as the writing is so eloquent and the story uplifting.  Amid the likeable personalities and historical details,
the main character, Count Alexander Rostov, is sentenced to live in the Metro hotel for his crime of being a aristocrat.  How he is able to master his circumstances makes delightful reading.