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I’ve been making book recommendations for many years, but I’m not sure I’ve ever actually written out a formal list. I’ve done that now — and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.

Although I can strongly recommend each of the 10 books on this list, I can’t say these are the 10 books I’d most recommend over everything else. There are a few that would be on any list of my favorite books, but beyond that, there might be 40 or 50 that I feel equally strongly about.

Even worse, I feel as though I would have different lists for different kinds of people and for different circumstances.

As a result, I think I’m going to try to maintain a top 1o list, but the books on that list are going to change over time. In addition, I’m going to add some speciality lists at some point — because these first 10 do no more than scratch the surface of what I’d like you to read.

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It’s been six months since I lost Lucy. I like to believe she’s patiently waiting at the gates of heaven — ready for the reunion when I meet her again one day.

I still think about this sweet and faithful companion every single day. If you’ve ever had a dog who you loved, you’ll understand.

When I put the key into my front door when I return home each day, part of me still waits to hear the sound of her tail hitting the door as she realizes I’ve returned.

When I get up in the morning, part of me still feels compelled to get her leash and take her for the first walk of the day — something she loved so much. At night, part of me wants to take her for one last walk before bed, because each walk made her so happy.

But I can’t do those things, because the World’s Happiest Dog isn’t here anymore.

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I’m going to tell you a secret.

You can get far more satisfaction in your own life by bringing joy to others than you can by pursuing pleasure for yourself.

This shouldn’t be a secret, but it seems to be. Almost everyone I know spends his or her time chasing pleasure and ego satisfaction and material goods. For the most part, these people seem remarkably uninterested in making anyone else happy. They’re often indifferent to the people they claim to care about — their friends and family, even — and they’re frequently hostile to strangers.

So if it’s true that bringing joy to others is a clear path to satisfaction for you, why don’t people do that? They either don’t know this secret — or else they can’t believe it’s true.

But I’d like to suggest something simple. If you don’t believe what I’m telling you is true, why don’t you try it? Even if you’re the most selfish person you know, wouldn’t you be a fool not to test what I’m telling you?

If you could have much more life satisfaction and happiness in your life — at little real cost to you — wouldn’t that be an incredibly good deal?

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