I finished reading this book, “When Everything Calms Down,” in six hours—and in a rather unusual way. It moved me one moment and filled me with joy the next. We have to learn to bravely talk to ourselves. To some extent, we all see our own life stories reflected in it. The best part is the hunger that hits your body once your spirit feels full—you just want to sit down to a big, satisfying meal. In that moment, nothing else matters.

In a nutshell: We spend our whole lives striving for perfection, only to gradually understand that it’s the cracks, regrets, and choices we make that add up to a real life.