The 6 Quantum Secrets to an Amazing LIFE by Maureen Kitchur
This book is my current favorite. It is a self-help book that takes a slightly satirical look at self-help books J The ideas and techniques are clearly presented, and the explanations with short case studies are really useful and flexible. Maureen Kitchur has a very approachable style, and she takes a very holistic look at wellbeing, involving mind, body, and spirit. I read it in one day, and since then it has been circulated in the hands of many family members and friends, especially the ladies.
The Art of Happiness, A Handbook of Living by His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler
The title of this book explains exactly what you will find inside. It is a handbook for living…. His Holiness’s way of writing meant that you can’t help your self feel compassion; for yourself, and everyone and everything around you. I pick this book up often and just read a few paragraphs, and I find myself grounded. You should try it J
http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Art-of-Happiness-Dalai-Lama-XIV-Howard-C-Cutler/9780340995921
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck
I can thank M. Scott Peck for being able to understand statistics in psychology. I used to tell myself that I am bad at math and I just can’t do it! In this book, the author says something along the lines of ‘there is nothing you can’t do if you spend enough time on it trying’. He was right – I spent more time than others learning complicated statistical methods, but I did it, and that enabled me to finish a psychology degree. I have this book on audio file, and listen to it when I need some motivation.
http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Road-Less-Travelled-MScott-Peck/9781846041075
Daring Greatly by Dr Brene Brown
Some of you might be familiar with Dr Brene Brown’s work and her famous TED talks. If not, just google her now J I am a massive fan of her work. This book talks about vulnerability and how we need to take our masks off. She shares her research findings, and generously relates the things that she has learnt about herself. This book is a must have!
http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Daring-Greatly-Brene-Brown/9781592407330
Parenting from the Inside Out by Daniel J. Siegel and Mary Hartzell
I believe that the whole world would change if parents-to-be were made to read this book. It is a beautiful book incorporating contemporary research findings, and presenting them in a very approachable and ready-to-use way. It explains how our neurobiology affects our children and our relationship with them. It also offers very handy ideas on how to be the best parents that we can be.
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
This book is another amazing one that helps with parenting. It explains how children’s emotional development progresses, and what happens in the brain during maturation. It also offers very practical advice on how to nurture healthy emotional and brain development.
Mindsight by Daniel S. Siegel
Mindsight is one of the most important books of the 21st century. Daniel J. Siegel shares his discovery about how our neurobiology affects our relationships. It is a very insightful book, and you get to learn so much about your own brain and nervous system.
Unspoken Voice by Peter Levine
I am very passionate about Peter Levine’s work, as much that I currently finishing my 1st year in his 3 years Somatic Experiencing Training. In this book, the result of his life’s work, Peter A. Levine draws on his eclectic and in-depth experience as a clinician, a student of brain research and an observer of the naturalistic animal world to explain the nature and transformation of trauma in the body, brain and psyche. This book is based on the idea that trauma is neither a disease nor a disorder, but rather an injury caused by life threatening experiences that can be healed by engaging our body’s innate capacity to self-regulate high states of arousal and intense emotions. The book smoothly blends the latest findings in biology, neuroscience and body-oriented psychotherapy and shows that we can align our animal instincts and our cognitive reasoning to heal the affects of traumatic experiences.
Freedom from Pain by Peter Levine and Maggie Phillips
Peter Levine and Maggie Phillips created a very practical book for people suffering from chronic or enduring pain who are searching for relief. Incorporating their wild-range of knowledge of biology, stress research and somatic psychotherapy, they have developed easy to learn exercises to learn for sufferers.
Dance Me to the End of Love by Leonard Cohen
I included this book just as an example because I think for emotional well being, everyone needs to read poetry once in a while J I choose Leonard Cohen’s book because his writing is very close to my heart. I also could have chosen many others especially in my mother tongue of Hungarian J Try to pick a book of poetry and just sit under a tree and see how you feel after a little while J
