Here are some of our favorite books. Check them out!
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The Compassionate Mind by Paul Gilbert is foundational reading in the area of Mindfulness and compassion. You’ll definitely want this one on your shelf!
The Body Keeps the Score by Besel van der Kolk has gained tremendous popularity in recent years for the insightful discussion about how we carry trauma. Van der Kolk educates us about developmental trauma in important ways.
Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom by Rick Hanson is another on our “must read” list. Dr. Hanson weaves an engaging narrative that triangulates the fields of Neurology, Psychology, and Contemplative Practice.
Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky. Smart people can understand complex things. Brilliant people can explain these complex things to a 5 year-old. Robert Sapolsky is definitely brilliant! He explains the Human stress response in interesting and entertaining ways. The basic message: Stress is good. Chronic stress will kill you!
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. Check out one of Dr. Brown’s most popular works! Daring Greatly gives an effective explanation of her work in shame and vulnerability. This one definitely needs to be on your shelf!
Rising Strong is another great installment in the Brene Brown collection! Build on her original ideas and learn about resilience form the expert on shame and vulnerability.
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World chronicles a beautiful series of conversations between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. They do a deep dive on the secrets to happiness and contentment in the modern world.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Stress by Carol Dweck helps us find out optimal performance levels and deal effectively with failure and frustration.
The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It by Kelly McGonigal helps us understand how stress motivates and inspires us. She also explains what to do with chronic stress.
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman is a truly useful book that explains Dr. Gottman’s work to the general public. he explains the relationship characteristics that predict divorce and offers practice recommendations to enhance your relationship.
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation by Thich Nhat Hanh gives a foundation to Buddhist philosophy.
Full Catastrophe Living (Revised Edition): Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn. This book provides a foundation for Dr. Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, which is a research-supported approach to treating a range of conditions.
