Whether you’re interested in cognitive science, human relationships, or the mysteries and potential of the human mind, there’s something for everyone in these thought-provoking personal development books.
Anatomy of a breakthrough: How to get unstuck and unlock your potential / Alter, Adam
“Anatomy of a Breakthrough” is a smart-thinking book that helps people optimize their minds to overcome obstacles. We all get stuck sometimes, whether it’s in our careers, relationships, personal lives, or artistic endeavours. “Anatomy of a Breakthrough” helps identify and overcome our ‘friction points’, offering a new framework to get ‘unstuck’ and thrive as the key to reaching our full potential.” (Adapted from catalogue)
Brainwashed: A new history of thought control / Pick, Daniel
“Psychoanalyst and historian Daniel Pick delves into the mysterious world of brainwashing in the 20th and 21st centuries, from ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ to ISIS, TV advertising to online algorithms. Mixing fascinating case studies with historical and psychological insights, ‘Brainwashed’ is a stimulating journey into the mysteries of thought control.” (Catalogue – From publisher’s website)
The creative act: A way of being / Rubin, Rick
“Rick Rubin is known for creating a supportive environment where artists can discover their true selves and surprise the world with their unique talents. He believes that creativity is a fundamental part of human life and that everyone has the ability to tap into it. This timeless classic is a must-read for anyone seeking to unleash their artistic potential and find transcendence through creativity.” (Adapted from catalogue)
The experience machine: How our minds predict and shape reality / Clark, Andy
“This book presents a new perspective on cognitive science, suggesting that our minds are not passive observers but active predictors. The brain anticipates what we will see before we process it, and experience itself is shaped by prior expectations, making it a controlled hallucination. Prediction errors help us learn, but feedback loops can also lock in conditions like chronic pain, addiction, and anxiety. The book explores the mechanics and implications of this “predictive processing” theory, which has the power to explain much about our lives, health, world, and society.” (Adapted from catalogue)
The good life and how to live it: Lessons from the world’s longest study on happiness / Waldinger, Robert J.
“What makes for a happy life? This is a question that concerns us all and has been studied for over 80 years in the Harvard Study of Adult Development. It’s been revealed that a happy and fulfilling life is not just about financial success and achievement, but is primarily the result of our relationships. Combining science, tradition, real-life stories, and practical advice, this book demonstrates that our happiness and ability to thrive are entirely under our control.” (Adapted from catalogue)
The human mind: A brief tour of everything we know / Bloom, Paul
“Are you a human? Do you have a mind? Then this book is for you. Nothing is more familiar and yet less understood than the human mind. It defines the experience of being human, and yet its workings contain some of the deepest mysteries ever encountered. “The Human Mind” provides a masterful guide to all that we have learned since modern science began probing those mysteries. It shines new light on all that you take most for granted, everything you think, feel, say and do, everything that makes you you” (Adapted from catalogue)
