News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Gok Cooks Chinese / Gok Wan ; photography by Jemma Watts.
“Not only is Gok Wan one of the UK’s top fashion stylists, but he can cook too! His fantastic new book, Cook Yourself Chinese, contains 80 personal and family recipes, which are not only delicious and healthy but incredibly simple to make. His love and passion for Chinese food and cooking techniques shine through from every page. From his unique perspective he gives us his personal and modern take on the Chinese food that he grew up eating, drawing on his Chinese heritage to give us a different angle on how to eat – for Gok, it’s all about sitting down, tucking into fantastic food that is fuss-free and relaxed….” – (adapted from Global Books summary)

The Preservation Ktchen : The Craft of Making and Cooking with Pickles, Preserves, and Aigre-Doux / Paul Virant with Kate Leahy.
“Virant, a restaurateur and chef at the Michelin-starred Vie (Western Springs, IL), bases his first cookbook on preserves. Pickles are generally among the least glamorous foods, often taken from dusty jars pulled from the cellar in midwinter to perk up the root vegetables on hand, but Virant brings preserved fruit and vegetables to a new level…” – (adapted from Library Journal summary)

What to Cook & How to Cook It : Fresh & Easy / Jane Hornby.
“Beautiful watercolor illustrations and step-by-step instructional photographs adorn this follow-up to Hornby’s popular What To Cook & How To Cook It. After explaining the ingredients, techniques, and equipment you’ll need to use the book effectively, she offers dishes for a variety of courses and occasions…” – (adapted from Library Journal summary)

100 Essential Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know About Sport / John D. Barrow.
“Focuses on the mysteries of running, jumping, swimming and points scoring across the whole sporting spectrum. This title lets you find out: Why high-jumpers use the Fosbury Flop? How fast Usain Bolt can ultimately run and how he could break his records without running any faster? And, more.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The Art of Running Faster / Julian Goater, Don Melvin.
“The Art of Running Faster provides you with a new approach to running, achieving your goals and setting your personal best. Whether you are old or young, new to the sport or an experienced marathoner, this guide will change how you run and the results you achieve. The Art of Running Faster challenges the stereotypes, removes the doubts and erases the self-imposed limitations by prescribing not only what to do but also how to do it.” – (adapted from Global Books summary)

Galloping Ghosts : Australasian 18-footers, 1890-1965 / Robin Elliott.
“With every scrap aloft, carrying more sail than many larger keel yachts, and the crew driving her as fast as possible on the edge of control, no other yacht captures the attention quite like an 18-footer in full flight. This is as true today as it was 100 years ago….Galloping Ghosts in the history of the 18-footer as it has never been told before.” – (adapted from Global Books summary)

Aging as a spiritual practice : a contemplative guide to growing older and wiser, by Lewis Richmond.
“Although this is a user’s guide to aging well written from the perspective of a Buddhist priest and meditation teacher, you don’t have to be a Buddhist or, for that matter, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or even a believer to appreciate its very helpful reflections. … As Richmond poignantly observes, Everything we love and care about . . . will change, transform, and eventually pass away. … Included are stories of ordinary people, some of whom like growing old and others who do not. In addition, Richmond offers examples of contemplative Buddhist practices.” (drawn from Booklist, courtesy of Syndetics)

Heaven is now : awakening your five spiritual senses to the wonders of grace, by Andrew Farley.
“In his latest book, Farley (God Without Religion) explores ways to live life and love God through the five senses. Each sense is loosely attached to a spiritual idea; for example, the “hear” section is about knowing which voice to listen to in one’s life and the “see” section is about being aware of what Jesus accomplished. … Readers who can get past the standard sermon fodder and take the time to employ the back matter will learn how to refocus their lives on God. (drawn from Publisher Weekly, courtesy of Syndetics)

The novice : a story of true love, by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh transforms an ancient folktale into a timeless parable. Born in rural Vietnam, Kinh Tam’s beauty and intelligence were obvious to all. …. Throughout her marriage, Kinh Tam’s mind was devoted to her husband, but her heart never wavered from her true calling. She wanted to be a monk. Yet Buddhism was still new to Vietnam and temples accepted only men for ordination. So Kinh Tam disguised herself as a man, and joined a monastery as a novice. Years of joy and peace passed until a local woman accused the novice of fathering her unborn child. Torn between two impossible choices, Kinh Tam faced the unbearable with the boundless heart of Buddha, and her choice forever changed her life, her country, and her faith. (From the publisher’s description.)

The woman who changed her brain : unlocking the extraordinary potential of the human mind / Barbara Arrowsmith-Young ; foreword by Norman Doidge.
“… Barbara Arrowsmith Young was born with severe learning disabilities. Undaunted, she used her strengths to develop brain exercises to overcome her neurological deficits… Young’s work is one of the first examples of the extensive and practical application of “neuroplasticity.” As the individuals described in this book change their brains, readers see how the brain works and what a profound impact improved mental capacity has on how we can participate in the world…” (adapted from Simon and Schuster summary)

A calm brain : unlocking your natural relaxation system / Gayatri Devi.
“…With a warm, lucid voice, Dr. Devi shares stories from her medical practice of ordinary people – suffering from migraines, neck pain, gastrointestinal upsets, and sleep deprivation – trying to work through life’s difficulties. With practical advice she shows just how to promote a higher “vagal tone,” and delivers the best news yet, you don’t need more drugs. Here are the keys to more tranquil, productive, and enjoyable life…” – (adapted from Book cover)

Teaching your child with love and skill : a guide for parents and other educators of children with autism, including moderate to severe autism / Joyce Show.
“Parents of children with autism can often feel out of their depth when it comes to nurturing their child’s learning and development. This book helps parents to make sense of the confusing array of educational interventions available, and shows how to combine and adapt different strategies to meet the specific needs of their child, including those with moderate to severe autism…” – (adapted from Book cover)

Life coaching activities and powerful questions : a practical workbook for life coaches and all involved in personal development / Phyllis Reardon.
“Life Coaching Activities and Powerful Questions has been designed for a dual purpose; first and foremost it is a working book for the life coach; it is also designed for the individual who wishes to make changes in their life using the Life Coaching Process. Parents, managers, teachers, career coaches, school counsellors and anyone involved in human or personal development, this book is a great asset. The Life Coaching Activities Exercise Workbook takes you through the Life Coaching process in terms of definitions, quotes, activities or exercises and Coaching Questions as designed by CoachPhyllis.com Inc. Use this book to focus on your life and make it the best it can be.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

The thing you think you cannot do : thirty truths about fear and courage / Gordon Livingston.
“What are we afraid of and what can we do about it? Fear – of change, of intimacy, of loss, of the unknown – has become a corrosive influence in modern life, eroding our ability to think clearly. Exploited for power by politicians and for money by the media, it has become embedded in the way we think about our lives. Overcoming our fear, says Gordon Livingston, constitutes the most difficult struggle we face. Dr. Livingston, a psychiatrist, has increasingly found himself prescribing virtues like courage to his patients instead of tranquilizers or antidepressants. Now he tells us all what we need to do to develop personal virtues in the face of societal fear and our own individual fears.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

The gifts of imperfection : let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are / by Brené Brown.
“Each day we face a barrage of images and ideas from society and the media telling us who we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only change those flaws by looking perfect and leading a perfect life, then we’d no longer feel inadequate. In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown, Ph.D., the leading expert on shame, reveals that it is actually our imperfections that connect us to one another as human beings and make us who we are. In this fresh guide, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits in finding the greatness in our flaws and evolving our self-perceptions through fifteen guideposts, from embracing our mistakes to letting go of our fear of rejection to an authentic, WholeHearted life. Each guidepost to live by is illustrated with essays, stories, inspiring quotes, meditations, and dynamic creative exercises designed to help us develop the skills to accept our humanness with compassion and practice empathy with ourselves and others.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)