Personal Development Recent Picks

July 2008

The title-underlined links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Ask for it : how women can get what they really want, by Linda Babcock & Sara Laschever. (2008)
"In Ask For It, Babcock and Laschever have developed a unique, cooperative approach to negotiating that begins before you ever get to a bargaining table, one that will help women realise their self-worth and identify their goals as well as maximise their bargaining power. It will help propel you to new places both professionally and personally - and open doors you thought were closed. Essential reading for women everywhere, Ask For It will help you recognise how much more you deserve - and show you how to get it." (Book jacket)

The friendship factor : how to get closer to the people you care for, by Alan Loy McGinnis. (2004)
"Dr Alan Loy McGinnis, pastor and counsellor, demonstrates that the friendship factor - the essential ingredient of warmth and caring - is at the heart of each relationship. In recognising that friendship is the springboard to every other love, McGinnis shows readers how to be a warmer, more loving person, how to communicate better, and how to resolve tension in their relationships. With captivating case histories and anecdotes about such famous people as George Burns, Howard Hughes, and C.S. Lewis, McGinnis shares the secret of how to love and be loved." (Book Jacket).

Against happiness : in praise of melancholy, by Eric G. Wilson. (2008)
"More than any other generation, Americans today believe in the transformative power of positive thinking. But who says we're supposed to be happy? In Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy, the scholar Eric G. Wilson argues that melancholia is necessary to any thriving culture, that it is the muse of great literature painting, music, and innovation - and that it is the force underlying original insights. Francisco Goya, Emily Dickinson, Marcel Proust, an Abraham Lincoln - all confirmed melancholics. So enough Prozac-ing of our brains. Let's embrace our depressive sides as the wellspring of creativity. What most people take for contentment, Wilson argues, is living death, and what the majority sees as depression is a vital force. It's time to throw off the shackles of positivity and relish the blues that make us human." (Book jacket)

The creative habit : learn it and use it for life : a practical guide, by Twyla Tharp, with Mark Reiter. (2003)
"All it takes to make creativity a part of your life is the willingness to make it a habit. It is the product of preparation and effort, and is within reach of everyone. Whether you are a painter, musician, businessperson, or simply an individual yearning to put your creativity to use, The Creative Habit provides you with thirty-two practical exercises based on the lessons Twyla Tharp has learned in her remarkable thirty-five-year career. In "Where's Your Pencil?" Tharp reminds you to observe the world - and get it down on paper. In "Coins and Chaos," she gives you an easy way to restore order and peace. In "Do a Verb," she turns your mind and body into co-workers. In "Build a Bridge to the Next Day," she shows you how to clean the clutter from your mind overnight. Tharp leads you through the painful first steps of scratching for ideas, finding the spine of your work, and getting out of ruts and into productive grooves. The wide-open realm of possibilities can be energizing, and Twyla Tharp explains how to take a deep breath and begin... (Book jacket)

Life's too f***ing short : a guide to getting what you want out of life without wasting time, effort or money, by Janet Street-Porter. (2008)
"Janet Street-Porter has a unique take on life and this is no ordinary 21st-centruy survival guide. Drawing on the experiences of her action-packed life and incredibly successful career, Janet dispenses advice and tips on how to get the best out of everything, get what you want, do the things you crave, achieve more, feel happier and healthier and - most importantly - live the life YOU want to lead." (Book jacket)

Stop whining, start living, by Laura Schlessinger. (2008)
"Dr. Laura Schlessinger agrees that there are things worth whining about! A certain amount of whining allows for some venting of reasonable pain, disappointment, fear, frustration, or frank rage. However, staying stuck in whining mode can become a life-long problem. This is where Dr. Laura steps in with Stop Whining, Start Living to help folks conquer the temptation to retreat from living life to the fullest. Building on the principles developed during her long career as a licensed marriage and family therapist, and addressing the chronic struggles of so many of her listeners and readers, Dr. Laura issues an important message in the no-nonsense but compassionate voice that is her trademark: If you don't like your life, quit talking about your unhappiness and try to fix it, no matter how difficult or impossible your situation seems. While it is healthy to vent occasionally, endless rumination on the negative only keeps you paralyzed in misery, reinforces hopelessness, and demoralizes those around you who feel helpless to bring any happiness into your life. Stop Whining, Start Living gives readers stuck in their suffering the jump start they need to break out of reactive mode and get proactive, moving in the direction of a joyful, meaningful, happy, fulfilling, and purposeful future. Everyone can use a kick in the pants sometimes, and Dr. Laura, who "preaches, teaches, and nags" to millions every day on her radio program, is here to deliver it." (Book jacket)

Mindset : the new psychology of success, Carol S. Dweck. (2006)

Predictably irrational : the hidden forces that shape our decisions, by Dan Ariely. (2008)

Making time work for you : to build the life you want!, by Kris Cole. (2007)

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