What these books teach
Here is a brief summary of what each book taught me.
Time to Think - Nancy Kline
My feel good favourite book
It revealed that when we fully listen to someone, regardless of their educational, ethnicity, etc. background, that person becomes empowered to speak, and they can often come up with the brightest ideas.
Let people:
Speak
Cry
Vent in anger
Let them be heard
Highlights the importance of creating a “thinking environment” where people feel heard. Offers techniques to improve listening and foster deeper, more productive conversations.
The Chimp Paradox – Steve Peters
Most helpful to understand our and their behaviours
Those things you want to be, you already are. Your inner monkey sabotages you when you don't take care of your it.
It teaches the differences between what our human and chimp want and how to navigate through each.
Explains how the “chimp brain” (emotional) and “human brain” (logical) interact, often causing internal conflict. Offers practical strategies to manage emotions, improve decision-making, and achieve personal success.
Chatter – Ethan Kross
To reign your inner critic
It was mentioned to me by a colleague who noticed I had a brain versus heart conflict. I wanted a serious job, yet I was walking 2 steps forward, 3 backwards with unconscious self sabotaging language.
Ethan is an experimental psychologist, neuroscientist and writer, who specialises in emotion regulation. The irony at his inability to regulate his emotions when he was threatened..
Explores the science of our inner voice and why self-talk can help or harm us. Provides tools to turn negative chatter into constructive dialogue for better mental well-being.
Bulletproof - Evy Poumpouras
Read people, be assertive
Spotted in Instagram whilst looking at "Women of Impact". Evy mentioned how (most) USA presidents are taught to always act like the bigger person. To not let others drive your life.
She is a former Secret Service agent who shares lessons on resilience, confidence, and mental toughness. Focuses on building inner strength to handle fear, adversity, and high-pressure situations.
Judgment Detox – Gabrielle Bernstein
What makes us judge others
When we are "separated from love", e.g. when someone rejects us, we start judging people.
Guides readers through releasing judgment of self and others to find peace. Includes practical steps for forgiveness and cultivating compassion.
How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
To foster relationships
How people turned their relationships in business and politics around. The art of grooming honestly.
A timeless guide to building relationships through empathy, respect, and effective communication. Teaches principles for influencing others positively without manipulation.
Healing Trauma – Peter Levine
To overcome trauma
Most of us are unconsciously reenacting a past trauma. We are irremediably attracted to a person or situation. Often repeating our parent's story. The pain you feel is probably also from your ancestors.
Only the ones actively seeking for a escape can avoid trauma.
Introduces somatic experiencing as a way to resolve trauma stored in the body. Emphasises gentle, body-based techniques to restore balance and resilience.
The Road Less Travelled – M. Scott Peck
We can learn things with practice, life can change us because of our beliefs
The Scenario: Until he was 37, M. Scott Peck considered himself a "mechanical idiot" who could not fix machinery.
The Interaction: Walking past his neighbour, who was working on a lawnmower, Peck admired the neighbour's skill, noting that he himself could never fix such things.
The Lesson: The neighbour responded directly and provocatively: "That's because you don't take the time".
This comment bothered Peck for weeks, but it taught him that the difference between success and failure in solving life's problems often boils down to the willingness to invest time, energy, and discipline into fixing them rather than simply complaining about them. It highlights the principle of confronting and solving problems rather than avoiding them.
Combines psychology and spirituality to explore discipline, love, and personal growth. Encourages embracing challenges as a path to fulfilment.
The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle
When you can’t reconcile parent’s behaviours, arsonist story
The Scenario: Two ducks fight, separate, and then vigorously flap their wings to release the energy, immediately returning to peace.
The Lesson: Tolle contrasts this with humans, who often perpetuate anger through mental "story-making" rather than releasing it.
Imagine you are the Chief of Police, looking for the arsonist. But you are the arsonist. Your mind knows it, yet doesn't want you to find out.
You are the awareness behind your thoughts. Like a radio transmitting a frequency signal, thoughts occur through you. You are not the signal, but the receiver of the signal.
Teaches the transformative power of living fully in the present moment. Offers practical insights to quiet the mind and overcome anxiety rooted in past or future thinking.
Living in the Light – Shakti Gawain
Giving away power, envisaging a romantic relationship, anger
We have more power than we think. When we let others in charge to our detriment, we can always remove their power.
The importance of using our female and masculine energies, to avoid attracting the wrong kind of partner.
Explores personal growth through intuition and creative visualisation. Encourages balancing inner guidance with external action for authentic living.
The Secret – Rhonda Byrne
Mindset is key
If you are wishing it, you might likely find ways to get what you are after.
Popularised the concept of the Law of Attraction: thoughts create reality. Suggests using positive thinking and visualization to manifest desires.
Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman
Emotional vs rational brain
Our emotional brain is really fast to react, based on previous learned responses. By the time our rational brain arrives around 20 minutes later, it might be too late, our emotional brain might have gotten us into big trouble.
Explains why emotional intelligence (EQ) often matters more than IQ for success. Covers self-awareness, empathy, and social skills as keys to thriving personally and professionally.