It’s been a minute (and a pandemic) since the last round up of books I love to recommend, so it seems like it’s about time for a list of new books to read for self-exploration, professional development and even… fun!
Books on embracing who you are:
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World , David J. Epstein
A Malcom Gladwell-ianesque book for anyone who’s every been worried that they have too many interests and need to just settle down and pick one if you’re every going to succeed.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain
A great book for anyone who’s ever thought, I better learn how to fake extroversion if I’m ever going to get ahead in my career.
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth
A great book for anyone who’s ever thought, “I don’t have enough talent to really excel at anything.”
Books on work culture:
The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups, Daniel Coyle
A fantastic book on how to create or find good culture in the workplace.
No, your toxic workplace is not special, and probably adheres to the workplace categories Laloux outlines. It also includes an explanation of “flat” or “teal” organizational structures AND case studies from companies actually using that model.
Ok, it’s a podcast, not a book – but Adam Grant, a giant in Organizational Psychology, has too many interesting episodes on work to not mention (I love the one on faking your emotions at work – aka “shallow acting” with John Lithgow!)
Books on general self-development:
I’m a huge can of Mindful Self-Compassion. I use it extensively in my practice and am going to take the teacher training if this pandemic ever ends! However, the founders aren’t the most accessible of writers – so if you’re not in the mood for their books, you can dive straight into the meat of the practice with this workbook.
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha, Tara Brach
I’m still working my way through this one, but so far it feels like Tara Brach is taking mindful self-compassion a step further. She shares the story of how her practice with Buddhism has freed her from the trance of unworthiness – basically, what if you could just be perfectly satisfied with who you are, all the time?
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, Eckhart Tolle
An oldy but a goody, I actually pulled this book off my dad’s bookshelf. And then when the silverfish crawled all over my hands, I bought a new copy. This book is not for everyone (but the beauty of the self-help genre is that this is perfect for someone, and for others, there are many other options), it definitely pushed my woo-woo limits at times. But the way Tolle phrases certain things hits different than anything else I’ve ever read.
Are you familiar with Jung? If not, he was the guy after Freud who was really into dreams and projection (as in: don’t project your mommy issues onto me!). This book is a collection of essays written by a range of practitioners exploring the topic of the shadow – the part of us that we have rejected and shoved into the darkness. Bringing that part into the light for examination and healing is not for the faint of heart, but is definitely a rich source of personal development.
That’s it for now! Happy reading 😉
