News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Equip yourself with flying lessons and emotional equations for understanding – amongst other things - love and betrayal, angry brains and how to lose your mind to create a new one.

Breaking the habit of being yourself : how to lose your mind and create a new one / Joe Dispenza.
“You are not doomed by your genes and hardwired to be a certain way for the rest of your life. A new science is emerging that empowers all human beings to create the reality they choose. In ‘Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself’, renowned author, speaker, researcher, and chiropractor Dr. Joe Dispenza combines the fields of quantum physics, neuroscience, brain chemistry, biology, and genetics to show you what is truly possible. Not only will you be given the necessary knowledge to change any aspect of yourself, but you will be taught the step-by-step tools to apply what you learn in order to make measurable changes in any area of your life. Dr. Joe demystifies ancient understandings and bridges the gap between science and spirituality. Through his powerful workshops and lectures, thousands of people in 24 different countries have used these principles to change from the inside out. Once you break the habit of being yourself and truly change your mind, your life will never be the same!” – (adapted from Book cover description)

The science of love and betrayal / by Robin Dunbar.
“Falling in love is one of the strangest things we can do – and one of the things that makes us uniquely human. But what happens to our brains when our eyes meet across a crowded room? Why do we kiss each other, forget our friends, seek a ‘good sense of humour’ in Lonely Hearts adverts and try (and fail) to be monogamous? How are our romantic relationships different from our relationships with friends, family or even God? Basing his arguments on new and experimental scientific research, Robin Dunbar explores the psychology and ethology of romantic love and how our evolutionary programming still affects our behaviour. Fascinating and illuminating, witty and accessible, ‘The Science of Love and Betrayal’ is essential reading for anyone who’s ever wondered why we fall in love and what on earth is going on when we do.” – (adapted from Book cover description)

Flying lessons : how to be the pilot of your own life / Pamela Hale ; foreword by Alberto Villoldo.
“Flying Lessons is an inspirational manual for leading, living, and loving with passion and joy. It is a seven-step journey that helps anyone break free of the “gravity” of old limits and recognize one’s power to soar-without even leaving the ground. Pamela uses seven stories from her own private pilot lessons to draw the metaphor between flying and life. A multilayered creative work, Flying Lessons is augmented by Pam’s stunning aerial photos, which enhance the ancient and classic metaphor of flight. Each lesson corresponds with a chakra, a yoga pose, and an archetype, so the manual works as a course for readers on all levels of body, mind, and spirit. From the “dipstick” that helps flyers manage their energy, to the story of how the flying lessons helped Pam in her cancer journey, Flying Lessons is a practical and entertaining journey into authentic power, freedom, and fulfillment.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

Emotional equations : simple truths for creating happiness + success / Chip Conley.
“Hotelier and motivational speaker Conley (Marketing That Matters) introduces his concept of emotional equations (such as “Joy equals Love – Fear”) to help readers “get a handle on how emotions work together and how you can work with them.” To deal with despair, he turned to the post-WWII classic Man’s Search for Meaning, in which Viktor Frankl recalled how concentration camp prisoners who focused on meaning and learning survived while others who saw only suffering died. Trying to explain Frankl’s ideas to friends, Conley reduced them to an equation: “Despair = Suffering – Meaning.” Now he takes off from that first equation. For Conley, these equations are a way of allowing the brain to gain some control over irrational emotions, a new twist on the self-help staple of learning to monitor one’s emotions. But his equations do help break down the components of an emotion: for instance, both mistrust and self-esteem are elements in jealousy. Exploring such emotional landscapes as disappointment, regret, jealousy, anxiety, pleasure, pain, courage, narcissism, love, and fear. Conley filters his own readings in psychology and philosophy into his teachings, which may help some readers who can appreciate a rational, mathematical approach to managing their emotional lives.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Healing the angry brain : how understanding the way your brain works can help you control anger & aggression / Ronald Potter-Efron.
“Practicing therapist Potter-Efron examines the biochemical reasons why some people are wired for anger and more likely to fly into dangerous rages that leave them feeling out of control. He reviews the structure of the brain, the limbic system in particular, and details how it regulates anger in both helpful and detrimental ways. Potter-Efron delivers a measure of hope to people who accept that they can lose control but who also recognize that they can change their behavior and neural pathways to create a more balanced personality. Appendixes on medications round out the guidance. Potter-Efron helps sufferers recognize unconscious anger activation, avoid conscious bad choices, and develop empathy. Of great use to those who realize they have such a problem.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)