Must Reads for your Bookshelf
A good book not only enhances your life experience but it can also change you. The following books do just that: you cannot read them without opening up, forgiving and seeing yourself and the relationships you weave in a new way.
I wish I knew (Donna Ashworth)
This book is the perfect companion that will provide much-needed comfort when you’re having “one of those days”. Based on the lessons that author Donna Ashworth learned from reaching rock bottom herself, this book is a moving collection of poems that guides you through topics such as body image, self-esteem and mental health, with both compassion and kindness.
Four Thousand Weeks (Oliver Burkeman)
Are you obsessed with your lengthening to-do lists, overfilled inboxes, work-life balance and ceaseless struggle against distraction? If your answer is “yes” then you’ve probably already tried all sorts of techniques and life hacks to optimize your days and become more productive and efficient. But that’s not what this book is about. So if you’re looking for tips on how to jam more things and tasks into your day then you don’t need to read this one. But if you’re looking for an insightful and practical guide about time and how you can use your own 4000 weeks to construct a meaningful life then I definitely recommend this book!
PS: the 4000 weeks in the title refers to the amount of time you’ll get through if you live to be 80.
Why has nobody told me this before? (Dr. Julie Smith)
Drawing on years of experience as a clinical psychologist, Dr Julie Smith shares all the skills you need to get through life's ups and downs. Her simple but expert advice and powerful coping techniques help you stay resilient no matter what life throws your way. The book is a collection of short, bite-sized entries so you can turn straight to the section you need and immediately find the appropriate tools to help you with things like managing anxiety, dealing with criticism, battling low mood, building self-confidence, finding motivation and learning to forgive yourself.
The Gifts of Imperfection (Brené Brown)
Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we'd no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please and perfect, all the while thinking “What if I can't keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn't everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself?”.
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In case these questions are also going through your mind: “The Gifts of Imperfection” written by Brené Brown is definitely a must-read. In her ten guideposts she engages your mind, heart and spirit as she explores how you can cultivate the courage, compassion and connection to wake up in the morning and think “No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough” and to go to bed at night thinking “Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.”
I didn’t do the thing today (Madeleine Dore)
Any given day brings a never-ending list of things to do. There’s the work thing, the catch-up thing, the laundry thing, the creative thing, the exercise thing, the family thing, the thing we don’t want to do, the thing we’ve been putting off (despite it being the most important thing). Even on days when we get a lot done, the thing left undone can leave us feeling guilty, anxious or disappointed. “I didn’t do the thing today” by Madeleine Dore is an inspiring call to take this productivity-obsession off its pedestal and to embrace the joyful messiness and unpredictability of life.
The uncomfortable truth: change your life by taming 10 of your mind’s greatest fears (Anna Mathur)
Leading psychotherapist Anna Mathur believes that many of the challenges we experience can be put down to avoiding life’s uncomfortable truths and she wants to help us approach them head-on so that they hold less influence over us. In her latest book she pinpoints 10 uncomfortable truths that many of us share, from “I am going to fail” to “some people don’t like me”, using client anecdotes and stories. She gently addresses the cost to our mental health when we avoid them, what we can gain by embracing them and how to live with knowing the uncomfortable truth.​
Self-care for winter (Suzy Reading)
There is something so magical about winter and I absolutely love this season (it’s my favorite one of the whole year) but this seasonal change doesn’t have a positive effect on everyone’s mind and body. If this is true for you and you have a hard time thriving in the colder months then this book is definitely for you because psychologist Suzy Reading’s little book of self-care has everything you need to cozy up and create your own winter self-care plan.
Ten Times Calmer (Dr. Kirren Schnack)
Whether you’re going through something and need support to feel like yourself again or have been dealing with anxious thoughts for a long time: this book has the help you’ve been looking for to put your anxiety in the back-seat and reclaim control.
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Dr. Kirren Schnack is a clinical psychologist with twenty years of experience. The ten chapters in her book cover everything from dealing with anxious thoughts and stress to managing uncertainty and safely tackling trauma and each one takes you a step closer to an anxiety-free life. She not only helps you understand what you’re going through and what you’re feeling but she also helps you to adapt and manage those feelings with practical exercises and advice to help you find calm each and every day.
Good mourning (Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn
Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn met after the sudden deaths of their mothers only months apart. Their experiences led them to launch a podcast and their no-holds-barred, relatable approach to talking about grief sparked a growing following of people eager to have honest conversations about what it really feels like to deal with loss. Their book “Good Mourning” is a compassionate survival guide for anyone dealing with grief. They shine a light on the many ways grief can impact our lives. Along with expert advice from clinical psychologist Tamara Cavenett and warm words and insights from hundreds of others who’ve experienced grief, the authors offer practical tips for coping with isolation and loneliness, navigating grief at work, managing milestones and so much more.
How emotions are made: the secret life of the brain (Lisa Feldman Barrett)
Prepare to have your brain twisted around as psychology professor Lisa Feldman Barrett takes it on a tour of itself. Her enthusiasm for her topic brightens every amazing fact and theory about where our emotions come from and each chapter offers startling insights.
We can do hard things (Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle)
When you travel through a new country, you need a guidebook. When you travel through love, heartbreak, joy, parenting, friendship, uncertainty, aging, grief, new beginnings – life – you need a guidebook too. Gathering insights from more than 100 of the worlds most brilliant wayfinders, this book offers a cheat sheet to living.
Set Boundaries (Nedra Glover Tawwab)
Healthy boundaries. We all know we should have them in order to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends and family. But what do “healthy boundaries” really mean and how can you successfully express your needs, say no and be assertive without offending others?
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This book, written by licensed counsellor and relationship expert Nedra Glover Tawwab, helps you find an answer to those questions. She not only demystifies this complex topic but she also presents simple yet powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life.
