Wisdom & Wordplay
Shortlisted for The People's Book Prize| February 2018 Book of the Month. A perfectly formed absolute treat of a book, containing 300 aphorisms by Robert Eddison, journalist, playwright, public speaker, and aphorist. The foreword by Gyles Brandreth salutes the skill of Eddison. These pithy, witty, thoughtful one-liners at times burst onto my consciousness, while others made me think, ponder, consider. Two favourites of mine are “Deep thoughts take time to surface”, and “Throwaway remarks are not always caught”. This little book would make the perfect gift for anyone with an appreciation for words, written or spoken. It can be picked up and dipped into, become a topic of conversation, revisited and evaluated. Wisdom and Wordplay contains some wonderful one-liners, they tease, fence, pierce, creating a fabulous addition to any bookshelf. ~ Liz Robinson
Boundaries
A self-help book for our modern age, using boundaries to create a mentally and physically healthier you. In this 24/7 world, psychotherapist Jennie Miller and journalist Victoria Lambert have initiated a four step programme using boundaries to firstly focus on yourself, followed by the workplace, love, and family. Exercises, practical tips, and explanations sit side by side, supporting, and stimulating new thoughts and feelings. I found myself turning to the chapters that resonated most clearly with me, even those that didn’t connect to my personal situation, I still found fascinating. It is interesting to note in the conclusion, that Victoria found the writing of this book with Jennie, incredibly valuable and fulfilling. Boundaries just makes so much sense, it really is an encouraging read, teeming with practical, useful and helpful tips. ~ Liz Robinson
Lost Connections
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Scream, a radically new way of thinking about depression and anxiety What really causes depression and anxiety - and how can we really solve them? Award-winning journalist Johann Hari suffered from depression since he was a child and started taking anti-depressants when he was a teenager. He was told that his problems were caused by a chemical imbalance in his brain. As an adult, trained in the social sciences, he began to investigate whether this was true - and he learned that almost everything we have been told about depression and anxiety is wrong. Across the world, Hari found social scientists who were uncovering evidence that depression and anxiety are not caused by a chemical imbalance in our brains. In fact, they are largely caused by key problems with the way we live today. Hari's journey took him from a mind-blowing series of experiments in Baltimore, to an Amish community in Indiana, to an uprising in Berlin. Once he had uncovered nine real causes of depression and anxiety, they led him to scientists who are discovering seven very different solutions - ones that work. It is an epic journey that will change how we think about one of the biggest crises in our culture today. His TED talk - `Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong' - has been viewed more than 8 million times and revolutionized the global debate. This book will do the same.
The Little Book of Happiness Live. Laugh. Love
The Little Book of Happiness shows you how to live in the moment, flourish as an individual and improve your wellbeing. Through over 150 uplifting and practical tips, inspirational quotes and straight forward exercises, learn how to let go, find true bliss and reclaim your smile to help you to live a happier life.
Cat Wisdom
Cats have the answers; we humans only have to watch – and learn. Life lessons in friendship, courage and responsibility or discovering how to improve your appearance and surroundings – Neil Somerville reminds us of what there is to learn…. I see he is not encouraging us to take up curtain climbing and the similar bad habits I could learn from my cats so we are talking ideal cats here, the ones who have had some training in mindfulness. ~ Sue Baker Like for Like Reading How it Works: The Ladybird Book of the Cat by Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris One Hundred Secret Thoughts Cats Have about Humans by Celia Haddon
The Gift of Anger
From Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson a memoir that also shares some of the beliefs and teachings of his grandfather. Arun Gandhi believes that what his grandfather had to say about co-existence and tolerance is needed now more than ever. A deceptively simple book that has a powerful message about the level of inequality and unrest in the world today. ~ Sue Baker Like for Like Reading An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth by M K Ghandi The Life of Mahatma Gandhi by Louis Fischer
BBC Radio 4 Brain of Britain Ultimate Quiz Book
Think you've got what it takes to pit your wits against some of the brightest brains in Britain? Now you can take on the challenge with this ultimate quiz containing 2000 questions from the Brain of Britain archives.
The Magic Lamp: Dreams of Our Age
Twenty-five fairy tales for adults, these narratives are a response to our times, informed by our world but not limited by it, imaginative, enchanting, haunting - both prescient and prophetic. Twenty-five original paintings, beautiful, playful, intimate, dreamlike, these works pull you in to a land of colour and vision. Who can say which came first, the word or image, when both grew together out of a long friendship and a creative symbiosis. What if Calvino and Magritte had combined inspiration? What if we could see our world again with a child's eyes? What if there really is a magic lamp?
The ABCs of Coping with Anxiety
A simple, clear book to help those suffering from anxiety and stress. Written by James Cowart, PhD, an American psychologist who specialises in treating depression and anxiety, this is a relatively short book, it feels safe to pick up, is easy to read and understand, and in particular the exercises feel achievable. While primarily for those suffering from anxiety and stress, this would also be suitable for their relations or friends. Anxiety touches nearly all of us in some way, the explanation of anxiety, and the coping mechanisms using cognitive behavioural therapy, should help create a greater understanding of anxiety and how it can be reduced or even stopped.
Rules for Mavericks
Quite simply, a go to book for anyone who would like to explore their potential. You do not have to consider yourself (or have been told that you are) a maverick, in order to connect to the thoughts on offer here. Thoughtful, encouraging, and bitingly realistic, Phil Beadle made me smile, nod, and have quite a few ahah! moments as I read. I found the layout a little unsettling to begin with, however soon got used to having the flow of the words interrupted for a second as my mind took in the alternative way of punctuating the highlights. Chapter 11 struck a particular chord with me and cemented my own thoughts on the subject. As I explored, as I reflected and ideas settled around me, I found my inner voice inspired to speak up and discuss the points on offer. While it occasionally gives your mind a jolly good shake, ’Rules for Mavericks’ is a perfectly placed spark of encouragement to explore your creative side. ~ Liz Robinson
The Book of Joy
'I want to wish all of you joy-because there is no better gift. Two spiritual masters, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, share their wisdom in this uplifting book. I promise you, it's the best $26 you can spend.' Oprah Winfrey Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have survived more than fifty years of exile and the soul-crushing violence of oppression. Despite their hardships - or, as they would say, because of them - they are two of the most joyful people on the planet. In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu travelled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate His Holiness's eightieth birthday and to create this book as a gift for others. They looked back on their long lives to answer a single burning question: how do we find joy in the face of life's inevitable suffering? They traded intimate stories, teased each other continually, and shared their spiritual practices. By the end of a week filled with laughter and punctuated with tears, these two global heroes had stared into the abyss and despair of our times and revealed how to live a life brimming with joy. This book offers us a rare opportunity to experience their astonishing and unprecedented week together, from the first embrace to the final goodbye.
Mindfulness for Women Declutter Your Mind, Simplify Your Life, Find Time to 'Be'
No matter who we are, or what stage of life we are at, we all long for similar things; to be happy, connected with others, in touch with a sense of calm and peace, vital, alive and joyful. And we long to be able to ride out the tough patches that hit all of us from time to time with some degree of grace and dignity. The good news is that we can fulfil these longings at any time, in any place. They are only a moment away, a breath away. We can learn how to be comfortable with our body, know and understand our mind, and love our heart. It isn't difficult, long-winded or time-consuming. In doing so you'll feel happier in your own skin, less stressed, more confident, more capable and more at ease with yourself and life. This is what Mindfulness for Women is about. It is a practical guide to coming home to yourself in each present moment. To finding the ledge behind the waterfall. To resting in the depths of the ocean rather than being tossed about by surface waves. Mindfulness is a potent antidote to anxiety, stress, depression, exhaustion and irritability. It leads to a greater sense of contentment and can also reduce addictive and self-destructive behavioural patterns. This book will enable you to experience the benefits for yourself. It's not designed as a lengthy course but is solutions-based. It's fast - evidence shows that a little bit of mindfulness goes a long way. It's also bespoke - you can read all of it cover to cover, or simply dip in and out, depending on what you want to focus on. You can listen to whichever meditation track suits you at any given time and you can run tracks together if you want to meditate for longer periods. It's designed to suit your life and priorities now and well into the future.
I am Here Now A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal
An essential guide to mindfulness, filled with tools and practices that can enhance our well-being. (Arianna Huffington). Be here now with exercises to challenge your powers of observation, investigation and cultivation and bring new awareness to your senses, thoughts and emotions. Practise meditation with the I am here now audio track, guided by internationally renowned mindfulness teacher Tara Brach. Use the field notes pages to record your findings and capture your insights. Mindfulness is a simple and very powerful practice of training our attention. It's simple in that it's really just about paying attention to what's happening here and now (i.e. sensations, thoughts, and emotions) in a non-judgemental way. It's powerful because it can interrupt the habit of getting lost in thoughts, mostly about the future or past, which often generates more stress on top of the real pressures of everyday life. (The Mindfulness Project).
The Mindfulness Diet Eat in the 'Now' and Be the Perfect Weight for Life - With Mindfulness Practices and 70 Recipes
Heal your relationship with food with mindfulness - techniques and recipes to eat your way to your perfect weight. Mindfulness is the new attitude to living. Taking an attitude of mindful awareness to eating will not only help you appreciate every mouthful, but reward you with a whole new way to eat that heals your food issues. If you've always wanted to eat better and manage your weight, The Mindful Diet is for you. There's no dieting, calorie-counting or fasting - by changing your approach to feeding yourself, you can tune in to your 'body wisdom' and begin to eat less of what you don't need, while filling up nourishing foods that help you reach the weight you'll be happy with for life. The recipes in this book are simple and nutritious, so you can cook fast, but eat slow, with appreciation and mindful awareness of every delicious bite. DISCOVER: * How to tune into your body and eat the foods you really needand achieve your best weight.* Freedom from cravings - how to beat emotional eating.* Mindful eating plans to keep you on track.* 70 quick and easy recipes - breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks.* The essential Mindfulness techniques that will transform your eating habits forever. Eat your way to your perfect weight!
The De-Stress Effect Rebalance Your Body's Systems for Vibrant Health and Happiness
The De-Stress Effect is a new revolution in eating, exercise and relaxation that will return you to vibrant health by gently bringing balance back to your body and your life. The fast pace of modern life and the constant pressure we put on ourselves to keep doing and achieving can keep us locked in patterns of giving in to food cravings, negative habits and self-criticism - keeping our minds and bodies on constant alert. This disruption to the natural rhythms of our body can lead to all kinds of complications that are hard to resolve, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, IBS, weight gain, fertility problems and skin issues. Presenting the latest research on how we can finally heal this damaging cycle, The De-Stress Effect will give you the space to truly feel what is right for your health and your life - realistically, intuitively and with compassion. With a low-stress preparation, six-week eating plan for optimum nutrition, mindfulness practices, yoga sequences and exercise routines, this book will soothe you back to a happier, healthier you, whatever your life's demands.
Mindfulness Diet Eat in the 'Now' and be the Perfect Weight for Life - With Mindfulness Practices and 70 Recipes
Mindfulness is the new attitude to living. Taking an attitude of mindful awareness to eating will not only help you appreciate every mouthful, but reward you with a whole new way to eat that heals your food issues. If you've always wanted to eat better and manage your weight, The Mindful Diet is for you. There's no dieting, calorie-counting or fasting - by changing your approach to feeding yourself, you can tune in to your 'body wisdom' and begin to eat less of what you don't need, while filling up nourishing foods that help you reach the weight you'll be happy with for life. The recipes in this book are simple and nutritious, so you can cook fast, but eat slow, with appreciation and mindful awareness of every delicious bite. DISCOVER: * How to tune in to your body and eat the foods you really need and achieve your best weight * Freedom from cravings - how to beat emotional eating * Mindful eating plans to keep you ontrack * 70 quick and easy recipes - breakfasts,lunches, dinners and snacks * The essential Mindfulness techniques that will transform your eating habits forever Eat your way to your perfect weight!
Practising Happiness How Mindfulness Can Free You From Psychological Traps and Help You Build the Life You Want
Mindfulness is a way of paying attention that originates in Eastern meditation traditions but is increasingly discussed and practiced in Western culture. It is usually defined as focusing one's complete attention on present-moment experiences in a nonjudgmental and accepting way. Buddhist traditions suggest that the cultivation of mindfulness through the practice of meditation reduces suffering and cultivates positive qualities, such as insight, wisdom, compassion, and equanimity. In recent years, the Western mental health community has adapted mindfulness meditation practices for use in medical and mental health settings, and several interventions based on mindfulness training are now widely available. Those with the best scientific support include mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These treatments can be applied to a wide range of problems, disorders, and populations and the evidence increasingly supports their efficacy. Mindfulness Skills to Overcome Stress, Anxiety and Unhappiness is the first self-help book to integrate the wisdom, skills, and practices available from the four leading evidence-based mindfulness treatments (MBSR, MBCT, DBT, and ACT).
Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done
How do you solve the problem of human happiness? It's a subject that has occupied some of the greatest philosophers of all time, from Aristotle to Paul McKenna - but how do we sort the good ideas from the terrible ones? Over the past five years, Oliver Burkeman has travelled to some of the strangest outposts of the 'happiness industry' in an attempt to find out. In Help!, the first collection of his popular Guardian columns, Burkeman presents his findings. It's a witty and thought-provoking exploration that punctures many of self-help's most popular myths, while also offering clear-headed, practical and often counterintuitive advice on a range of subjects, from stress, procrastination and insomnia to wealth, laughter, time management and creativity. It doesn't claim to have solved the problem of human happiness. But it might just bring us one step closer.
The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl
A fantastic book based on the blog that Shauna Reid began when she decided to lose weight. The book charts her progress on losing half her body weight from 25 stone to 12 and a half. This isn’t a quick fix weight loss either, this is a 6 year progressive loss where Shauna changes her approach to food and exercise and finds herself a much happier, healthier person. Written with great humour and honesty this should be an inspiration to all those who think it’s too late to fight the battle of the bulge.
Be The Change
This is a fascinating collection of inspiring stories and ideas from a varied selection of individuals. Entrepreneurs to peace campaigners, environmentalist to civil rights lawyer, these stories are encouraging and motivating. The title of the book is from a quote by Gandhi “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” and hopefully these accounts will inspire and challenge you.
The Best Kept Secret
This is a wonderful 'feel good' book, a must for anyone whether you’re in a rocky relationship or one that’s incredibly happy and enduring. Just how those happy and enduring relationships remain so have never been documented but here at last Janet Reibstein, an internationally respected psychologist and relationship expert, has talked in depth to over 200 couples who talk candidly and profoundly about their lives together. Secrets, both large and small are revealed to show how couples can achieve life-long love if they really want it.
You: On a Diet
Not another diet book I heard myself say when this came across my path, but then I took a closer look and actually gave it the time of day. Crucially and unlike so many diet books this one is not about cutting carbohydrates or doing aerobics or using a tape measure constantly. Instead it’s straight-forward, no-nonsense realistic advice that will give you permanent weight-loss if you are prepared to take the time to better understand your body and what you need to do to maintain it at a realistic level.
Think Slim : The Key to Making Any Diet Work
If you have tried all kinds of diets and forms of exercise, to lose weight, and nothing works then maybe this is the book for you. This book concentrates more on your state of mind towards yourself and your attitude to food and exercise and through self-hypnosis Mark Stephens gives you the tools to finally change your thought processes to embrace a healthier lifestyle.
The Enthusiast Almanack
There are people who are enthusiastic about life and who always regard that a glass is half full rather than half empty. It’s those in the category of the former that will absolutely devour this brilliantly compiled, rather eccentric but often funny and very satisfying read. It’s a book that’s designed to be dipped into, possibly at times of low ebb as it’s sure to make you laugh, cheer you up and enlighten your view on many facets of life and indeed the world in which we live.
Why Men Don't Have a Clue and Women Always Need More Shoes
This essential and highly entertaining book gives the lowdown on some of the issues that time and time again confuse men and women. From channel-hopping to loo seats, communication to shopping, from emotional blackmail to the biggest mysteries about men, you are sure to improve your relationship if you’re more informed. So, to help you do just that, read this book. Like its sister books definitive The book of body language and why men don't listen and women can't read maps, they are all guaranteed to lift the human spirit.
The Good Back Guide
A little out of the ordinary for Lovereading on the surface but as we all personally spend many hours sitting down reading or working at our computers we knew we would benefit from the book's advice. We also know many people who suffer daily agony from back pain. Barrie Savory is one of the country's most respected osteopaths and he believes that the world we have created for ourselves is the main cause of most of our back pain. His solution is to take charge of the situation and use the world around us as a ‘gym’ collecting points for small changes in our behaviour such as getting off the bus a stop early and walking or walking up the stairs, rather than squeeze in the lift! The book is chatty, easy to follow and as our office is on the 2nd floor of a building with lifts (that we don't use..) we are already 20 points up!
The Definitive Book of Body Language
The author’s have created an incredibly informative yet highly entertaining read that will captivate your attention from beginning to end whilst at the same time help you interpret the all-important world of body language. All the answers to ‘What vibes am I sending out?’ and ‘what vibes is he giving me?’ provide wonderfully fresh insights into the self-evident truths about relationships between the sexes. All manner of emotions are touched upon and will make the reader think and render an experience to remember. Like its sister books why men don't have a clue and women always need more shoes and why men don't listen and women can't read maps, they are all guaranteed to lift the human spirit.
The Ladybird Book of Mindfulness
This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them. The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope. The subject of the book will greatly appeal to grown-ups. The eight books in the series feature original Ladybird artwork alongside brilliantly funny, brand new text. The other books in the series are: - The Ladybird Book of Dating - The Ladybird Book of Sheds - The Ladybird Book of The Hipster - The Ladybird Book of the Mid-Life Crisis - The Ladybird Book of the Hangover - How it Works: The Husband - How it Works: The Wife.
Calm
What a lovely, warm, kind and friendly book this is, Fearne Cotton writes about the state of calm, and how to find it in our modern, hectic lives. This isn’t just to read, it’s an interactive book too, encouraging you to make notes, to revisit thoughts and feelings. Fearne looks at everyday life, she also visits anxiety, trauma, and PTSD, she highlights breathing, living in the moment, and also introduces us to various friends and experts who have the ability to reach or teach a sense of calm. The book itself feels calm, the colours, font, and layout all help to soothe, to give you a hug as you read. While this could be read in order from beginning to end, I also feel you can dip in and out, take your time, visit when you have a moment. Calm is reassuring and revitalising, it’s the perfect helping hand for you to make some time for yourself, to reflect, and look for peace. ~ Liz Robinson
LoveReading Top 10
