Personal Development Recent Picks

August 2009

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.

Procrastination : why you do it, what to do about it now, Jane B. Burka & Lenora M. Yuen (2008)
"By identifying and examining the reasons we put off tasks in the first place – fears of failure, success, control, separation, and attachment, as well as our concept of time and the neuroscience of our brain – Procrastination lays important groundwork for learning how to understand the impulse to delay and how to take action in new ways. Burka and Yuen’s is a practical, tested program designed to overcome procrastination by achieving goals, managing time, enlisting support, and handling stress. It takes into account the demands of an accelerated, 24/7 culture, as well as the impact of such neurocognitive conditions as ADHD and executive dysfunction. It even provides helpful tips on living and working with the other procrastinators you may know". (Book jacket)

It sucked and then I cried : how I had a baby, a breakdown, and a much needed margarita ,Heather B. Armstrong (2009)
"An irreverent and captivating memoir about the unexpected joys and glaring indignities of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood - from the beloved creator of the most popular personal blog on the web, dooce.com Heather Armstrong gave up a lot of things when she and her husband, Jon, decided to have a baby: beer, small boobs, free time -- and antidepressants. In It Sucked and Then I Cried, Heather tells, with trademark wit, the heartfelt, unrelentingly honest story of her battle with postpartum depression and all the other minor details of pregnancy and motherhood that no one cares to mention". (Book jacket)

The mindgym: Relationships, by Mind Gym. (2009)
"Whether it's the boss, clients, friends or lovers, getting relationships right matters. This book shows how to make yours shine. Drawing on the latest research and the experience of 500,000 people who use The Mind Gym, Relationships reveals how to: be loved, respected and even obeyed; build trust in moments that lasts for years; turn an angry argument into an unbreakable bond; get on with people who don't get on with anyone else; and repair a broken relationship so it's stronger than ever". (Book jacket)

Loneliness as a way of life, by Thomas Dumm. (2008)
"What does it mean to be lonely?" Thomas Dumm asks. His inquiry, documented in this book, takes us beyond social circumstances and into the deeper forces that shape our very existence as modern individuals. The modern individual, Dumm suggests, is fundamentally a lonely self. Through reflections on philosophy, political theory, literature, and tragic drama, he proceeds to illuminate a hidden dimension of the human condition. His book shows how loneliness shapes the contemporary division between public and private, our inability to live with each other honestly and in comity, the estranged forms that our intimate relationships assume, and the weakness of our common bonds". (Book jacket)

Staying in love : the top secrets of great relationships, by Robyn Salisbury. (2009)
"Sex is not something people discuss much in New Zealand. We don't often hear conversations about what couples are doing to keep their relationship strong and alive. We often hear complaints about partners' inadequacies or announcements of relationships ending. There is no one right way to build a healthy, happy sexual relationship. It's a living ongoing process that takes place through many interactions and conversations over time as you learn to know each other and how to be together. This book is designed as a manual to guide you through a process. Each of the brief chapters will not take long to read. They're designed as conversation starters to provide information about the many aspects of building a lasting, happy sexual relationship. At the end of each chapter are some discussion points and a case study to illustrate the issue under consideration". (Global Books in Print)

The secret life of France, by Lucy Wadham. (2009)

How to make good decisions and be right all the time : solving the riddle of right and wrong, Iain King (2008)

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