In times of disconnection, change, and darker periods, how can we continue to cope and grow? How do we grant ourselves and others the grace to falter and learn from our mistakes? The insights from these new books illuminate the profound power of thought, self-expression, and compassionate connection. They guide us in navigating life’s challenges with resilience and empathy, showing us how to harness these tools effectively for personal growth and understanding.
Bright shining: How grace changes everything / Baird, Julia
“If karma is getting what you deserve, then grace is the opposite: forgiving the unforgivable, favouring the undeserving, loving the unlovable. But, information “silos” dot the media landscape like skyscrapers. Growing distrust of the media, politicians and public figures has choked our ability to cut each other slack, allow each other to stumble, and to forgive. So what does grace look like now? How do we recognise it, nurture it and express it, even in the darkest of times?” (Adapted from catalogue)
Build the life you want: The art and science of getting happier / Brooks, Arthur C.
“Brooks and Oprah combine decades of experience studying happiness from every angle, showing us how to manage emotions so they no longer control our outlook and behaviour; turn life’s inevitable difficulties and challenges into growth; strengthen family ties (by managing expectations and building trust); create and preserve deep and lasting friendships at any age; develop a satisfying work approach that fits our life; and find inner peace with a spiritual practice” (Adapted from publisher and catalogue)
Feel something, make something: A guide to collaborating with your emotions / Metz, Caitlin
“An artist and educator presents a guide to experimental and creative self-expression and reflection that can help readers use art to process and understand negative emotions such as grief, anger and sadness.” (Catalogue)
Radiant rebellion: Reclaim aging, practice joy, and raise a little hell / Walrond, Karen
“What if aging is something to aspire to, not to dread? A book on how we can reclaim aging, cultivate joy, and resist ageism. A deep dive into different aspects of getting older, including health, beauty, spirituality, relationships, adventure, activism, and purpose.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Reconnecting Aotearoa: Loneliness and connection in the age of social distance
“By combining first-person narratives, journalism and research, ‘Reconnecting Aotearoa’ explores the profound impact of strong connections and the consequences of loneliness and disconnection. Through poignant personal accounts and compelling evidence, this work advocates for transformative change within Aotearoa’s unique social, cultural and political landscape, to foster a more connected and resilient society in the aftermath of the pandemic.” (Adapted from catalogue)
The visionaries: Arendt, Beauvoir, Rand, Weil, and the salvation of philosophy / Eilenberger, Wolfram
“1933. Hannah Arendt escapes Berlin for refuge in Paris. Simone de Beauvoir explores consciousness in a Rouen café. Ayn Rand writes in Hollywood exile, aiming to reignite liberty in her adoptive nation. Simone Weil turns her focus to the oppressed. In the following dark decade, these philosophers conceive ideas that reshape the world. Along the way they face injustice, unfreedom, and violence as women, refugees, activists, and thinkers. Wolfram Eilenberger brilliantly distils their radical philosophies, revealing the redemptive power of thought.” (Adapted from catalogue)
