The need for a little indulgence (and a good reading list)

Forgive me, for, yet again, I am writing another egotistical self-reflective post.
However, if it encourages you to keep reading, this one is more optimistic-- and I also want some help!

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This past year has put me through the wringer in a long, drawn out sort of manner that seems to preclude any obvious side effects, but rather taps me on the shoulder when I least expect it.

While the emotional stuff is actually rationally dealt with (I've been an overemotional teenager, after all), what I think has been troubling me the most of all is my diminishing passion.

Part of my core identity is being driven. It's what I feel separates me from a lot of people-- it's hard to engage in self-pity about being so busy when you know what you are supposed to be doing and are fulfilled by it. However, something has recently sapped that out of me. I think part of it is just the absurdity of the demands made upon students in a clinical graduate program-- I've seen many a passionate person crumble prior to me under it all. I also think the particular stress of the last semester of my MA was the proverbial camel back-breaker, when I had to hold it together while it felt like I had to ignore the taken-for-granted aspects of my life disintegrating before me.

While the spark is still there (it may be cliche, but it amazes me how working with one client in particular almost rejuvenates me at times), it is more stifled than it has been in ages. I saw this at the conference I just attended-- I went to a variety of talks on things that were superficially interesting, but didn't get as engaged as usual. I find myself dodging thoughts of getting back to work now that several big projects are out of the way.

However, interestingly, over the past few days (after my conference talk, I decided to take a couple days to get settled in my new place and just be), I have spent a lot of time walking, reading, and watched two really fascinating documentaries. And I can feel my mind sparking again. It's exciting, actually.

Thus, I have decided, while I do have things to accomplish this summer (which the neurotic in me will guarantee to get done), what these next few months have to be about is a little indulgence. Not indulgence in the traditional sense (though I certainly hope to do a little lazing about and drink a few marguaritas), but rather indulgence of the mind. I want to read great novels and watch great films, and actually think about them. I want to ponder the great theorists in my field (and others) and connect their ideas to my research. I want to sit outside and discuss these ideas with people-- it is so funny how we forget the brilliant people around us in the midst of all these deadlines. I want to actually do that "self-reflection" that we psychologists are supposedly ethically obligated to do, but often ignore... I really believe it will make it better at what I do.

I've already hit up the public library once, and intend to go to the university library tomorrow. I'm finally going to read more Freud, who has such intriguing ideas and case studies, but I have only got to read in little smatterings. I'm reading more Yalom because I assumed his case studies must be delightful if he can make such engaging textbooks. And the video store by me is rife with great documentaries. I'm in geek heaven!!

I want you all to bombard me with suggestions! Throw out those books, academic or not, that have made you think, and even better, challenge the way you think, or just stimulated something in you. To all my fellow psych students, I would love any field specific suggestions. Movies are fair game, too. I want to drown in this stuff!!

EDIT: I didn't mean to imply that I only wanted psychology related stuff. I'm looking for anything that any of you may have found interesting, thought-provoking, enlightening, or even just damned entertaining!