Here are 100 books that The Truth about Butterflies fans have personally recommended if you like The Truth about Butterflies. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Dinner at God's House

Leila Summers Author Of It Rains in February

From my list on death from a different perspective.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been interested in the bigger questions of life, spirituality, and the way our minds work, but it wasn’t until I came up close and personal with grief that I really delved into reading more about death and the afterlife. After my husband died, I read just about every book I could find on the topic, especially those that taught me more about the greater mysteries of love, loss, mental illness, and myself.

Leila's book list on death from a different perspective

Leila Summers Why Leila loves this book

This book made me laugh, shed a tear, and, most importantly, think deeply about the meaning of life and my own life choices. It isn’t about God in the religious sense but rather takes place in a fictionalized afterlife.

I enjoyed the author's authentic, personal voice, quirky ideas, and overall message about learning to love yourself.

By Todd B. Lieman ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dinner at God's House as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What kind of life is possible when you finally learn to forgive, trust, and love yourself?

Erik Bernstein wasn’t afraid of death. He was afraid of life. He battled with inadequacy and the feeling that he never belonged. He became an expert at deflecting intimacy to mask his shame, lies, self-doubt, and bad choices. From the time he was eleven years old, or even younger, death was never far from his mind. Needless to say, death was front of mind as he sat in the back corner of the synagogue, watching his own funeral.

Long confused by religion and the…


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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

Book cover of Long Goodbye

Leila Summers Author Of It Rains in February

From my list on death from a different perspective.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been interested in the bigger questions of life, spirituality, and the way our minds work, but it wasn’t until I came up close and personal with grief that I really delved into reading more about death and the afterlife. After my husband died, I read just about every book I could find on the topic, especially those that taught me more about the greater mysteries of love, loss, mental illness, and myself.

Leila's book list on death from a different perspective

Leila Summers Why Leila loves this book

I couldn’t put this book down. It is a well-written, riveting story told by the lawyer who represented the Cruzans in their legal battle to remove the feeding tube from their daughter, Nancy, who had been in a persistent vegetative state for years.

If you enjoy medical and law topics as I do, then you will certainly enjoy this book. Moreover, it made me really think about the ethics of life and death. 

By William H. Colby ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Long Goodbye as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Looks at the 1987 right-to-die trial affecting the parents who wished to remove the feeding tube from their vegetative daughter, and examines the surrounding protests that held them in the courtroom for the next seven years.


Book cover of An Uncommon Friendship

Leila Summers Author Of It Rains in February

From my list on death from a different perspective.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been interested in the bigger questions of life, spirituality, and the way our minds work, but it wasn’t until I came up close and personal with grief that I really delved into reading more about death and the afterlife. After my husband died, I read just about every book I could find on the topic, especially those that taught me more about the greater mysteries of love, loss, mental illness, and myself.

Leila's book list on death from a different perspective

Leila Summers Why Leila loves this book

I found this memoir to be truly fascinating, perhaps because I am so interested in the way the mind works, as well as relationships between people.

I was particularly intrigued by the unusual glimpse into the world of mental illness described in great detail from two very different perspectives: the narrator, wife, friend, and caregiver, Monique, and her mentally ill husband, Stewart shared by way of interspersed emails and stories. Even after they divorced, Monique continued to care for Stewart through his mental illness and cancer diagnosis.

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Book cover of The Guardian of the Palace

The Guardian of the Palace by Steven J. Morris,

The Guardian of the Palace is the first novel in a modern fantasy series set in a New York City where magic is real—but hidden, suppressed, and dangerous when exposed.

When an ancient magic begins to leak into the world, a small group of unlikely allies is forced to act…

Book cover of Life on the Other Side

Leila Summers Author Of It Rains in February

From my list on death from a different perspective.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been interested in the bigger questions of life, spirituality, and the way our minds work, but it wasn’t until I came up close and personal with grief that I really delved into reading more about death and the afterlife. After my husband died, I read just about every book I could find on the topic, especially those that taught me more about the greater mysteries of love, loss, mental illness, and myself.

Leila's book list on death from a different perspective

Leila Summers Why Leila loves this book

I read this book as fiction, being that it is written by a psychic, and I’m still not convinced that anyone knows what exists on the other side. As such, I was fascinated by the wonders and possibilities that are put forth and it was extremely encouraging to me during my time of grief.

My young daughters also loved the “book about heaven” and would insist on me reading parts of it to them at bedtime after their dad died.  

By Lindsay Harrison , Sylvia Browne ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Life on the Other Side as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Renowned psychic, spiritual teacher, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of End of Days Sylvia Browne has changed millions of lives with her unique gifts. Now, she leads readers on an adventure of the spirit: a surprising glimpse into the next world, where their loved ones patiently await them.

Take a journey you will never forget and discover the answer to life’s greatest question:

“What’s on The Other Side?”

In this extraordinary and inspirational book, Sylvia reflects upon her past experiences, hypnosis sessions, and research to tell the truth about The Other Side. She explains the process of leaving…


Book cover of The Book of Tea

Kevin Nute Author Of This Here Now: Japanese Building and the Architecture of the Individual

From my list on Japanese aesthetics.

Why am I passionate about this?

I've spent the last three decades thinking about Japanese aesthetics, and in particular if and how they can be meaningfully used beyond Japan. I'm the author of several books on the subject: Frank Lloyd Wright and Japan, Place Time and Being in Japanese Architecture, This Here Now: Japanese Building and the Architecture of the Individual, and most recently, The Constructed Other: Japanese Architecture in the Western Mind. I teach about Asian Pacific architecture at the University of Hawai'i, Mānoa.

Kevin's book list on Japanese aesthetics

Kevin Nute Why Kevin loves this book

Okakura links Taoist and Zen philosophy to the tangible world by way of the aesthetics of tea, which are actually the aesthetics of life itself.  The title of this slim volume is disarmingly understated, then. It is the most approachable book on aesthetics I know.

By Kakuzo Okakura ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Book of Tea as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Now available in a gorgeous hardcover slipcase edition, this "object d'art" will be sure to add grace and elegance to tea shelves, coffee tables and bookshelves. A keepsake enjoyed by tea lovers for over a hundred years, The Book of Tea Classic Edition will enhance your enjoyment and understanding of the seemingly simple act of making and drinking tea.

In 1906 in turn-of-the-century Boston, a small, esoteric book about tea was written with the intention of being read aloud in the famous salon of Isabella Gardner, Boston's most notorious socialite. It was authored by Okakura Kakuzo, a Japanese philosopher, art…


Book cover of Masque

Christina Baehr Author Of Wormwood Abbey

From my list on gaslamp heroines with tea and adventures.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up surrounded by a library of dusty vintage novels, so perhaps it wasn’t that surprising that I went on to write my own gaslamp fantasy influenced by English folklore and Victorian heroines. I love historical novels that provoke wonder, and magical novels that are rich with history, and (blame it on being an only child?) most of all I love a female protagonist I’d want to have tea with.

Christina's book list on gaslamp heroines with tea and adventures

Christina Baehr Why Christina loves this book

Isabella Farrah is one of the funniest, most exasperating leading ladies in literature. I was surprised and delighted by this loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast with murder, cake, pretty dresses, magic, intrigue, and Isabella’s hilarious brand of ladylike mayhem.

I would probably choke on my cake laughing if I ever had tea with Isabella (and maybe she’d slip something into my tea), but it would be worth it.

By W.R. Gingell ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Masque as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"...an inventive and funny mystery with a dynamic lead, which will make you want to pick up the next book in the series." Self-Publishing Review, 4½ Stars Beauty met the Beast and there was . . . Bloody murder? It’s the Annual Ambassadorial Ball in Glause, and Lady Isabella Farrah, the daughter of New Civet’s Ambassador, is feeling pleasantly scintillated. In the library is Lord Pecus, a charming gentleman whose double mask hides a beastly face, and who has decided that Isabella is the very person to break the Pecus curse. In the ball-room is young Lord Topher, who is…


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Book cover of Oaky With a Hint of Murder

Oaky With a Hint of Murder by Dawn Brotherton,

Aury and Scott travel to the Finger Lakes in New York’s wine country to get to the bottom of the mysterious happenings at the Songscape Winery. Disturbed furniture and curious noises are one thing, but when a customer winds up dead, it’s time to dig into the details and see…

Book cover of Fortnum & Mason: Time for Tea

Darien Gee Author Of The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society

From my list on feel-good stories that take place in a tea salon.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a well-traveled writer who has lived around the world, I’ve visited a tea salon in almost every city I visit. My favorite places are small communities filled with old-timers and well-wrought customs. Our lives are very fast-paced, and books that celebrate slowing down and a simpler life will always be a draw for me. Since I’m primarily a fiction writer, I also like a little mystery and tension in these otherwise idyllic little towns, not to mention the occasional scone and cup of tea.

Darien's book list on feel-good stories that take place in a tea salon

Darien Gee Why Darien loves this book

While this isn’t a novel about tea or tea salons, it’s a great primer on all things tea related. Fortnum & Mason has been in the tea business since 1707, and their expertise will help you brew the perfect pot of tea to pair with your favorite tea salon novel.

By Tom Parker Bowles ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Fortnum & Mason as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Time for Tea is a celebration of Fortnum's passion for tea in its every form. Drawing on over 300 years of experience, you will find the history, geography, seasonality of tea - everything from leaf to cup - as well as 50 delicious recipes.

Fortnum & Mason has nearly as much experience of selling tea as Britain has of drinking it - some three centuries' worth, in fact, since the early eighteenth century.

This fun and deeply authoritative guide whisks you through all the information you need to get the most out of your cuppa. It instructs on how to…


Book cover of Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties

Jane Pettigrew Author Of Jane Pettigrew's World of Tea: Discovering Producing Regions and Their Teas

From my list on tea and tea history.

Why am I passionate about this?

I fell into the world of tea by chance in the 1980s when I gave up a career in higher education to open a 1930s style tearoom in southwest London. I grew up in the 1950s in a typical British family that drank tea throughout the day but little did I know, as I baked endless supplies of scones and cakes for the tearoom at 4 am every day, that I would end up writing books and magazine articles, editing a tea magazine for the UK Tea Council, speaking at world tea conferences, training staff in hotels, travelling to almost every major tea producing country, and eventually working today as Director of Studies at the UK Tea Academy.

Jane's book list on tea and tea history

Jane Pettigrew Why Jane loves this book

I dip into this must-have book all the time – for pleasure but also to learn and check facts. The four authors own the wonderful tea store, Camellia Sinensis in Montreal, Canada. They are extremely experienced in tasting and selecting teas from around the world for their business and just love sharing their infectious passion for tea and their extensive knowledge of the growing regions, growers, and manufacturers. As well as discussing the most important tea origins, they highlight some of the personalities and industry specialists they have met on their tea journey and whose insights help us understand the day-to-day work of tea gardens and factories. The book also includes invaluable advice on brewing and tasting tea, and the section on tea and gastronomy offers some absolutely stunning recipes for cooking with tea.

By Kevin Gascoyne , François Marchand , Jasmin Desharnais , Hugo Americi

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tea as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An updated edition of the "World's Best Tea Book" acclaimed by the 2014 World Tea Awards.

This widely praised bestseller has been updated to incorporate the changing tastes of tea drinkers, developments in production, the impact of climate change and an expanded and more highly developed tea market. This third edition improves Tea with this revised and extended content plus new photographs.

TeaTime Magazine called Tea "the reference work we've been waiting for", noting its value to students. Library Journal praised it as a "definitive guide to tea (that) will appeal to die-hard tea enthusiasts." Tea House Times found it…


Book cover of A Thirst for Empire: How Tea Shaped the Modern World

Harold J. Cook Author Of Matters of Exchange

From my list on how the desire for foods and drugs shaped the world.

Why am I passionate about this?

Big things have happened long ago and far away. As a kid born into the American Midwest in the Cold War, the world out there seemed like a scary place. But reading was a way to imagine other realities, and from college onward, I have been fortunate enough to encounter people in person and on paper who share their stories if you put in the work and listen. Keeping your ears open, unknown but intelligible worlds of personal contingencies and impersonal forces from other times and places can be glimpsed. How better to begin exploring the communion and conflict than by attending to changes in our practices of eating and medicating?

Harold's book list on how the desire for foods and drugs shaped the world

Harold J. Cook Why Harold loves this book

I found Rappaport’s book to be a really marvelous example of what is now being called “entangled history.” That kind of history picks up one topic and follows it wherever it leads. Because tangible things are easier to trace than intangible things (like ideas or rumors), commodity history is a lively subject, but this is something larger.

Tea has a chemistry to it that people gravitate toward, but there is so much more to the story about why it is so widely consumed in our world today. Once it was a substance grown and sipped in China, but European trading companies also discovered that markets for it could be created. It was famously a commodity deeply entangled in the opium wars, in the new plantation economies of northeastern India and Sri Lanka/Ceylon, and other systems of production.

But Rappaport has so much more to say about the consumption side, too:…

By Erika Rappaport ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked A Thirst for Empire as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

How the global tea industry influenced the international economy and the rise of mass consumerism

Tea has been one of the most popular commodities in the world. For centuries, profits from its growth and sales funded wars and fueled colonization, and its cultivation brought about massive changes-in land use, labor systems, market practices, and social hierarchies-the effects of which are with us even today. A Thirst for Empire takes an in-depth historical look at how men and women-through the tea industry in Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa-transformed global tastes and habits. An expansive and original global history of imperial…


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Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Book cover of Tea: A History of the Drink That Changed the World

Jane Pettigrew Author Of Jane Pettigrew's World of Tea: Discovering Producing Regions and Their Teas

From my list on tea and tea history.

Why am I passionate about this?

I fell into the world of tea by chance in the 1980s when I gave up a career in higher education to open a 1930s style tearoom in southwest London. I grew up in the 1950s in a typical British family that drank tea throughout the day but little did I know, as I baked endless supplies of scones and cakes for the tearoom at 4 am every day, that I would end up writing books and magazine articles, editing a tea magazine for the UK Tea Council, speaking at world tea conferences, training staff in hotels, travelling to almost every major tea producing country, and eventually working today as Director of Studies at the UK Tea Academy.

Jane's book list on tea and tea history

Jane Pettigrew Why Jane loves this book

John Griffiths has a talent for bringing history to life so that we are carried along by his storytelling and fluid narrative. We imagine ourselves right there with the characters he describes – the British East India Company and their opium trade with China; the spies and adventurers who brought tales of tea to the west; the merchants who encouraged the trade; and the botanists, politicians, government officials and pioneers planters who risked so much to establish the tea industry in India. Griffiths immerses us is every aspect of the business from its 16th-century beginnings to the famous companies of the 20th century, and along the way, dips into all that lies behind the story of success. Enlightening and fascinating!

By John Griffiths ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tea as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Tea is a phenomenon that has changed the attitudes of one nation to another, exposed divisions of class and race, ossified social behaviour, shaped the ethics of business, influenced relations between management and labour and led to significant advances in medicine. "Tea" is a comprehensive study of a drink that is imbibed daily by over half the population of the world, looking at the phenomenon as well as the commodity - from 2,500 AD to the present day. Following on from the success of books such as Cod, Tobacco and Salt, "Tea" takes a well-researched and fascinating approach to the…


Book cover of Dinner at God's House
Book cover of Long Goodbye
Book cover of An Uncommon Friendship

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