Personal Development Recent Picks
November 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.
Jolt challenge : the self intelligence experience, Mind Warriors (2009)
"The recession is a reality, redundancy is rampant, consumer confidence is low - and where there is uncertainty, there is fear. But hard times can be the best learning times - a time to step off the merry-go-round and reflect, re-evaluate and, ultimately, grab new opportunities. Jolt Challenge is a holistic approach to personal development, looking into physical, mental and emotional needs. Success begins with the individual and the key to that success lies with self-awareness and self-intelligence. This book is easy to read and use and is full of case studies, quotations, exercises and wisdom to enhance the health, wealth and relationships of the reader." (Global Books in Print)
Find your courage : 12 acts for becoming fearless at work and in life,Margie Warrell (2009)
"I found Find Your Courage! to be not only inspiring but just really practical and realistic. Warrell is a very 'real' writer and her book is a handbook for dealing with 'real' everyday problems - from relationship strife to problems at work - more courageously. Apart from a few I skipped over, her exercises were generally really worthwhile and did help me see things from a new angle and open up some new choices for me. I can honestly say that I think this book is one that everyone would benefit from reading and having on their shelf to refer back to as new challenges arise. I've read numerous 'self help' books over the years but i have to say that Find Your Courage leaves the others for dead in real life practical content, engaging writing style and sheer helpfulness. Well worth your dollars and your time reading." (Amazon.com Reader)
Girl on the couch : life, love, and confessions of a normal neurotic, Lorna Martin (2008)
"Journalist Lorna Martin had always thought that therapy was an outrageous con, a fraud designed for people to whine about their weight/ self-esteem/ alcohol/ commitment problem while blaming their emotionally absent father and/or overly critical mother. If you have a problem, Martin believed, you just deal with it, pray, get drunk, pop some pills, or listen to ABBA. But after yet another disastrous relationship and an embarrassing misstep at work, plus a spate of uncontrollable sobbing, Martin was running out of solutions for dealing with it. In an uncharacteristic move, she sat down on the couch of Dr. J., where she spent the next year talking, listening, and learning more than she ever expected. The result, Girl on the Couch, is Martin’s warm, funny, and intimate diary of her voyage into the world of therapy, what she calls the strangest journey of my life, and the incredible discoveries she made along the way." (Global Books in Print)
Play : how it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul,Stuart Brown with Christopher Vaughan (2009)
"We've all seen the happiness on the face of a child while playing in the school yard. Or the blissful abandon of a golden retriever racing across a lawn. This is the joy of play. By definition, play is purposeless, all-consuming, and fun. But as Dr. Stuart Brown illustrates, play is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. We are designed by nature to flourish through play. Backed by the latest research, Play explains why play is essential to our social skills, adaptability, intelligence, creativity, ability to problem solve and more. Particularly in tough times, we need to play more than ever, as it's the very means by which we prepare for the unexpected, search out new solutions, and remain optimistic. A fascinating blend of cutting-edge neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science, and inspiring human stories of the transformative power of play, this book proves why play just might be the most important work we can ever do." (Global Books in Print)
Growing great marriages, by Ian & Mary Grant (2009)
"Growing Great Marriages is the must-have guide for anyone who is married. It contains excellent advice that will help you gain new insights into your marriage, and it’s packed with practical ideas to help you build intimacy and add spice to your relationship. Whether your relationship is flaming with passion or just flaming awful, this entertaining book will help to make your life stronger and happier. Growing Great Marriages will give you all you need to transform your relationship into one that others will envy – one that is full of fun, communication, passion and intimacy." (Book jacket)
Turning the me generation into the we generation : raising kids that care,Michael Ungar (2009)
"Engaging and timely, this book is an invaluable resource for parents. Though today's youth culture may seem totally self-centred, kids still want close relationships with the significant adults in their lives. Like generations before them, they also want to be noticed for the contributions they can make. What they need, though, is compassion and encouragement from their parents. Combining inspiring stories from his professional experience with expert research from around the world, Michael Ungar reveals how the close connections kids crave, and the support adults provide, can help kids achieve their full potential - and how it can also protect them from the dangers of delinquency, whether it be drug abuse, violence, or early sexual activity. A fresh, optimistic approach to our children's true nature and potential." (Book jacket)
The me myth : what do you mean it's not all about me?, Andrew Griffiths(2009)
"Successful businessman and bestselling author Andrew Griffiths has a simple but effective message to share: it's time to stop analysing our lives and time to start living. Andrew defines 'The Me Myth' as the limiting belief that the world revolves around 'me'. In short chapters he gives advice on how to shift the focus away from 'me' and start living a better life through simple actions like mastering empathy, giving generously, inspiring people and having fun. The message is simple, but profound. And, most importantly, Andrew makes the journey fun! 'The Me Myth' is a result of Andrew's observations as well as his own personal journey. His life has been filled with extraordinary hardships and obstacles, from an unusual childhood to near-death experiences, which he has not only overcome, but thrived on. This is the next step in personal growth - it's time to move away from internal analysis and move the focus outwards." (Global Books in Print)
Have a little faith : a true story, Mitch Albom (2008)
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