Koncocoo

Best Adolescent Psychology

The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When the World Overwhelms Them
The bestselling author and psychologist whose books have topped 240,000 copies in print now addresses the trait of “high sensitivity” in children–and offers a breakthrough parenting guidebook for highly sensitive children and their caregivers. Up to 20 percent of the population is born highly sensitive, and now in The Highly Sensitive Child, Aron shifts her focus to highly sensitive children, who share the same characteristics as highly sensitive adults and thus face unique challenges as they grow up. As a highly sensitive person (HSP) herself and a psychotherapist, Aron is in a strong position to provide guidance to parents who are raising highly sensitive children (HSCs), and provides here a wealth of useful suggestions and case studies.
Reviews
"As an HSP myself, reading "The Highly Sensitive Child" offered invigorating insight into the mind and heart of my oldest daughter, who is also highly sensitive. Having read "The Highly Sensitive Person" before "The Highly Sensitive Child," I would "highly" recommend both books, especially if a parent suspects that his/her child may be highly sensitive, as well."
"Pretty good book."
"There are many helpful concepts in this book."
"Amazon book for parents and those who work with children."
"An interesting book that was somewhat helpful for me as the mom of a sensitive child."
"My grandson and I are highly sensitive."
"Such a eye opener."
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Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men
Now, Dr. Leonard Sax delves into the scientific literature and draws on more than twenty years of clinical experience to explain why boys and young men are failing in school and disengaged at home. "JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) "A must-read for any parent of boys." Leonard Sax MD PhD graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at the age of 19, and then went on to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned both a PhD in psychology, and an MD. For 19 years, Dr. Sax was a practicing family physician in Maryland, just outside Washington DC. Dr. Sax has spoken on issues of child and adolescent development not only in the United States but also in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland. Dr. Sax now lives with his wife and daughter in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His favorite activities are hiking in the woods, and making music with his wife and daughter. You can reach Dr. Sax directly, or visit his Facebook page, via his web site leonardsax.com.
Reviews
"This book is a great book to understand some of the struggles our boys are facing."
"I am a mental health counselor that works with many adolescents and. Dr. Sax assaulted me with facts and data and truth that explains so much that I see in all of the boys I have the privilege to work with."
"I felt like this book was written for and about my son."
"Fantastic read, speaks well to many aspects of society and the environment and how they affect our growing boys."
"I love this book and I'm only beginning chapter 2!"
"I recommend this book for any parent with a boy."
"I was recommended this book by a family doctor."
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The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist's Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults
But this heightened adaptability can be hijacked by addiction, and the adolescent brain can become addicted more strongly and for a longer duration than the adult brain. Emotionally stressful situations may impact the adolescent more than it would affect the adult: stress can have permanent effects on mental health and can to lead to higher risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. Dr. Jensen gathers what we’ve discovered about adolescent brain function, wiring, and capacity and explains the science in the contexts of everyday learning and multitasking, stress and memory, sleep, addiction, and decision-making. Give him time, writes neurologist Jensen: Empathy comes with age.” (Good Housekeeping). “This well-written, accessible work surveys recent research into the adolescent brain, a subject relatively unexplored until just this past decade. Interweaving clear summary and analysis of research data with anecdotes drawn from her years as a clinician, researcher, and public speaker, renowned neurologist Frances E. Jensen, MD, explores adolescent brain functioning and development in the context of learning and multitasking, stress and memory, sleep, addiction, and decision making. “This well-written, accessible work...offers support and a way for parents to understand and relate to their own soon-to-be-adult offspring.”— Publishers Weekly.
Reviews
"Dr. Jensen starts with an overview of brain structures relevant for cognitive and emotional functioning, including, among others, the brain stem, the amygdala, the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex, especially the frontal lobes. These developmental processes start from the back, more primitive parts of the brain and work forward toward the more advanced "executive" parts of the brain. The processes of pruning and myelination are part of brain "plasticity", meaning that the brain has great potential to change. But it also means that the perils of the teen years are even more intense because negative experiences during these years are more likely to be encoded in the brain and lead to life-long emotional, relational, legal and general health problems. Dr. Jensen spends a chapter discussing what this means for teens' ability to learn and the importance of sleep (along with a discussion about teens' diurnal cycles, indicating that teens' tend to be sleep deprived because they are biologically programmed to go to sleep and wake up later than adults, but are nonetheless required to function on adults' schedules and how this is potentially harmful for teen brain development). She then spends a chapter discussing risk-taking behavior in teens and how the reward centers in teens' brains are wired to respond much more excitedly to potential rewards (including and especially peer approval) than adults' brains - to the point that teens have difficulty evaluating risks if the pull of the reward is too strong. Next Dr. Jensen spends a chapter each discussing potential harmful influences and obstacles frequently encountered in the teen years, including tobacco, alcohol, pot, stress, mental illness, digital overload and concussions, along with how those factors can affect teens' brains and why teens are so much more susceptible to their influence. But there also needs to be a discussion of the possibility that brain abnormalities may be likely to lead teens to such behavior - perhaps they are more prone to risk-taking or more responsive to rewards, or perhaps they are "self-medicating" to deal with the effects of their abnormalities. For a better view of the brain science side of the equation I recommend Laurence Steinberg's AGE OF OPPORTUNITY (although I part company with him too on a lot of his applications of what we've learned about teenage brain development). The important take-away of that book is how children's and teen's brains are wired to respond to perceived stress and threats, including that posed by how we as parents interact with our kids when we get angry and punitive. The more we learn about brain development and functioning over the life course, the more we seem to realize that stress is one of the prime determinants in whether people thrive or fail."
"Makes all the new research very clear and understandable."
"Good insight to the teenage brain, especially as a parent to read."
"Dr. Jensen sheds new light on brain development is such a "down to earth manner;" easily readable and applicable to a great understanding of many of the WHY's about behavior."
"Very interesting and informative."
"Although there is medical and technical terminology, it is so well written that it is easy to follow."
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Best Applied Psychology

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
People with a fixed mindset —those who believe that abilities are fixed—are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset —those who believe that abilities can be developed. She introduces a phenomenon she calls false growth mindset and guides people toward adopting a deeper, truer growth mindset. “One of the most influential books ever about motivation.” —Po Bronson, author of NurtureShock “If you manage people or are a parent (which is a form of managing people), drop everything and read Mindset .” —Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start 2.0. In other words, you are who you are, your intelligence and talents are fixed, and your fate is to go through life avoiding challenge and failure. Dweck provides a checklist to assess yourself and shows how a particular mindset can affect all areas of your life, from business to sports and love. as well as for those who would like to increase their own feelings of success and fulfillment.” —Library Journal (starred review) “Everyone should read this book.” —Chip Heath and Dan Heath, authors of Made to Stick “One of the most influential books ever about motivation.” —Po Bronson, author of NurtureShock “If you manage people or are a parent (which is a form of managing people), drop everything and read Mindset .” —Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start 2.0.
Reviews
"The book is valuable for its conceit: that there are two types of mind-sets; the growth and the fixed. It's an informational book, but not a great book."
"However, most of the book seems to focus on discussing the difference between "fixed mindset" and "growth mindset" applied to different fields. It is like the author uses the entire book to emphasize how important "growth mindset" is but doesn't really offer much help."
"A common sense and proven approach, which I recommend to parents, coaches, teachers and business leaders."
"It is a compilation of a century of studying patterns of attitudes that have created champions and happiness in lives from every sector of life."
"its ok, nothing earth shattering in the book, but for those who need the message, read it!"
"Interesting but to Many repetitions and the examples Where not specific enogh. Could be interesting if we were given more precise info on how to keep The mindset if there are obstacles. A positive mindset can be Hard to maintain in a competitive environment or When experiencing personal problems or negative obstructing persons. A positive mindset may not be The cure for every problem in real life."
"The other side views all challenges as a learning experience while exhibiting cooperative strategies and tactics."
"Dweck preaches the power of hard work and it's effectiveness."
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Best Forensic Psychology

Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us
Presenting a compelling portrait of these dangerous men and women based on 25 years of distinguished scientific research, Dr. Robert D. Hare vividly describes a world of con artists, hustlers, rapists, and other predators who charm, lie, and manipulate their way through life. ( Kirkus Reviews 1999-01-10) A brilliant, in-depth handling of a most complex subject (Hugh Aynesworth, author of Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer).
Reviews
"Although many of us will not encounter a criminal psychopath, there are plenty of us who have lived with them and experienced their crazymaking and destructive behavior behind closed doors."
"Great resource for Therapists, Counselors and anyone who needs to know whom they are dealing with in sensitive areas."
"Fabulous book about antisocial personality DO."
"I couldn't put this book down, it was a fantastic read."
"Book came within 2 days through Prime, looks just like the picture, and packed properly with no bends or folds."
"I love this book, because it describes a personal situation I had been dealing with...a real Sociopath."
"I've been doing research on psychopath's for a book I'm writing."
"Since I'm researching Pyschopaths for a story, this book really helped me understand what is going on in their heads...and also to understand that you may not have any idea whats going on in their heads!"
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Best Experimental Psychology

How to Get Your Ex Back Fast! Toy with the Male Psyche and Get Him Back with Skills only a Dating Coach Knows (Relationship and Dating Advice for Women Book 4)
Then trigger the male mind by stirring his most POWERFUL emotion; When he realizes he might lose you, your little pink smart phone is going to text off the hook. Let's see another Author step up to the plate and make that claim! I actual enjoy helping people and my reviews prove this. Forget the psychologists and Doctor Jerk Off with a plague on the wall and listen to a top MALE dating coach who knows the male psyche. In fact, the moment you start reading my book your heart will flutter and your sadness will mellow because you will have HOPE! He is going to return to find you holding a different set of cards and they ain’t sixes. 2) Write him a POWERFUL letter (I give you the exact template). 3) Change your routine. 4) Turn up the heat by using social media (deviously). 5) Slip in, slip out (you will LOVE this step and he will beg to get you back!). My plan will keep you busy, build back your confidence, and hedge your bet with other men. Gregg is an Amazon. #1 Best Selling Author with; To Date a Man You Must Understand a Man, 10 Secrets You Need to Know About Men, Who Holds the Cards Now?, The Social Tigress!, Power Texting Men, Love is in The Mouse, Committed to Love Separated by Distance and Be Quiet and Date Me! Here's Why... By Anne P. Mitchell HALL OF FAME TOP 10 REVIEWER. This is by far and away one of the best books on how to deal with a breakup where you are certain that you really aren't done, and you want to try again with your ex. If you are easily offended by "bad" words, you may not love this book - but I suggest you get over it because, if you are looking to *understand* what happened and why, and to *understand* what you must do in order to create the opportunity to try again with your ex, this is what you need to read, and to whom you need to listen. But it's not advice that you'll ever hear from your girl friends, or your family - you know, those people who are dispensing 'wisdom' designed to make you feel better in the moment, but not to actually move forward, let alone get back together with your ex. I've read/listened to Rori Raye, Matthew Hussey, Marie Forleo, and Cat Volz, all of whom, except for Forleo, give good practical advice which *boils down* to much the same advice that Michaelson gives, but *none* of the others in such a clear, direct, and concise way as does Michaelson - "Here's the situation, here's why, and here's what you need to do."
Reviews
"but it's true and what I NEEDED to hear because I let my hobbies and my true self go in this relationship, a lesson I've learned and will never do again."
"I enjoyed the book."
"I have followed the steps hasn't been enough time yet to report that it worked or not but honestly if it doesn't it's gonna be ok."
"Not only about getting an ex back but learning a new way of thinking and living to build self esteem and living a positive life by changing our thoughts to positive ones."
"Not only does Gregg help you get your ex back, he helps you get your confidence back."
"Gregg is offering a look into their ways of thinking while simultaneously helping you to rebuild & strengthen yourself."
"Not only is this book extremely well written with a lot of insights of the male brain, but you also get the feeling like Gregg is right there with you, holding your hand."
"I was really interested in seeing what Gregg had to say after reading all the reviews."
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Best Medicine & Psychology

The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity
Iconic couples’ therapist and bestselling author of Mating in Captivity Esther Perel returns with a provocative look at relationships through the lens of infidelity. Perel weaves real-life case stories with incisive psychological and cultural analysis in this fast-paced and compelling book. For the past ten years, Perel has traveled the globe and worked with hundreds of couples who have grappled with infidelity. Through examining illicit love from multiple angles, Perel invites readers into an honest, enlightened, and entertaining exploration of modern marriage in its many variations. In The State of Affairs , Perel explores a vast landscape of the adulterous terrain... in a way that’s deeply humane and never preachy.” (NPR’s Guide to 2017’s Greatest Reads). “[Perel] deals with the mess and pain of fractured relationships with searing honesty, astute observations and compassion… If your marriage were in trouble, you’d want her help.” ( Guardian (UK)). “In her opinion, confronting and unearthing the why behind an affair with honesty and courage, can steer a relationship back from brink—possibly towards a place of erotic rediscovery.” (Esquire). Her celebrated TED talks have garnered nearly 20 million views and her international bestseller Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence became a global phenomenon translated into 24 languages.
Reviews
"Maybe it was you or your spouse. I keep finding myself looking back at passages and rethinking the relationships I have seen, the people I have counseled, and understandings or judgments I have had about others, rightly or wrongly. But often our preconceived, worst construction on everything the cheater did, stands in the way of ever finding the ability to forgive the person, or see them as human, even when we pay lip service to forgiveness. Esther, brings in real people, real situations, with pseudonyms, and their real thoughts and feelings."
"I started following Esther Perel's work years ago when she did a riveting TEDtalk about infidelity & she authored a fascinating book called MATING IN CAPTIVITY. Both captivated me --not just because it's a titillating topic or because we were finally getting access to the underbelly of relationships that nobody openly discusses-- but because her work is full of human truths. About desire, love, the often inconvenient construct of marriage, egos, the secret longings people hide. Her work lets reality finally breathe.... uncloaked, so we can learn from it vs getting continually stuck in judgment. Without meaning to, she may have written the first guidebook to having healthier relationships (with ourselves and others) in the REAL world, because she tells us the actual state of affairs, not that Face-tuned version."
"I'm not sure I would have had the same appreciation of it had I not gone through my personal experience, but I still think this could be a great book for couples to read together, even as part of pre-marriage counseling or marriage therapy."
"Writing in a very readable format, she also looks at the causative factors in considerable depth providing greater insight into the behavior of the unfaithful partner."
"I picked up this book after listening to the podcast."
"I can't even begin to give this book the plaudits it deserves."
"Very unique and enlightening book!"
"A wonderful listening experience on Audible.com."
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Best Clinical Psychology

Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Yo
As featured on Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday,” the classic bestseller on a true case of past-life trauma and past-life therapy from author and psychotherapist Dr. Brian Weiss—now featuring a new afterword by the author. Dr. Weiss, who was once firmly entrenched in a clinical approach to psychiatry, finds himself reluctantly drawn into past-life therapy when a hypnotized client suddenly reveals details of her previous lives. However, it is hard to dispute that this well-respected graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School has discovered a personal truth that has led him to be an enormously popular speaker, author, and leader in the field of past-life therapy. --Gail Hudson In 1980, Weiss, head of the psychiatry department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, began treating Catherine, a 27-year-old woman plagued by anxiety, depression and phobias. When Weiss turned to hypnosis to help Catherine remember repressed childhood traumas, what emerged were the patient's descriptions of a dozen or so of her hitherto unknown 86 past lives, as well as philosophical messages channeled from "Master Spirits."
Reviews
"Very interesting."
"The information in these books reinforces my beliefs, and it certainly was enlightening..I hope to read all of this author's books."
"In depth and heartfelt exploration of reincarnation, the bardo, and the possibility of disincarnate guides."
"Scientific Proof of Reincarnation."
"For anyone ready to dive into life's bigger picture and meaning this book is a perfect introduction."
"Amazing research about past life regressions."
"Each time I get a deeper understanding from the Masters messages."
"Reading this book is like getting an answer sheet to a difficult test you didn't know you had to take."
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Best Developmental Psychology

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook--What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing
Child psychiatrist Bruce Perry has treated children faced with unimaginable horror: genocide survivors, witnesses, children raised in closets and cages, and victims of family violence. In beautifully written, fascinating accounts of experiences working with emotionally stunted and traumatized children, child psychiatrist Perry educates readers about how early-life stress and violence affects the developing brain. The stories exhibit compassion, understanding and hope as Perry paints detailed, humane pictures of patients who have experienced violence, sexual abuse or neglect, and Perry invites the reader on his own journey to understanding how the developing child's brain works. Each child, from the seven-year-old who offered him sexual favors to the eponymous boy who spent his early years living in a dog cage, taught Perry something about the effects of early childhood trauma on brain development.
Reviews
"This is a wonderful book to read if you are fostering or adopting a child and if you are working with children."
"It made me sad ,mad and happy I think we really need to look at our day cares and school system."
"The content is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, as it details trauma and recovery, and the role neuroplasticity plays in stress response and self healing."
"Great book."
"It is truly the most concise and understandable description of the impact of trauma on the growth and development of children I have every seen in my 32 years of family law practice."
"This book was recommended to me by a friend, and it is PHENOMENAL!"
"Yet, Dr. Perry reinforces the lessons of coming to understand how normal brain growth first happens, and then how it can be in part derailed during life's first 3 year as a starting point for so much dysfunction we read about, see, and sometimes experience in our families.. Time and again I found myself nodding my head and mumbling, "this makes so much sense."
"Great book, I will use it and refer back to it often in my school and career."
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Best History of Psychology

So You've Been Publicly Shamed
Now a New York Times bestseller and from the author of The Psychopath Test, a captivating and brilliant exploration of one of our world's most underappreciated forces: shame. Once their transgression is revealed, collective outrage circles with the force of a hurricane and the next thing they know they're being torn apart by an angry mob, jeered at, demonized, sometimes even fired from their job. Simultaneously powerful and hilarious in the way only Jon Ronson can be, So You've Been Publicly Shamed is a deeply honest book about modern life, full of eye-opening truths about the escalating war on human flaws - and the very scary part we all play in it. When a trio of "academics" hijacked his persona for an infomorph—basically an automated Twitter feed that spewed inane comments about food in his name—he took the fight to the internet, where the virtual, virulent hordes soon compelled the spambot authors to cease and desist. But as with most everything else, the internet has made condemnation an exercise in crowdsourcing, with today’s angry mobs trading stockades and scarlet As for social media and its inherent anonymity. So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed is Ronson's tour through a not-necessarily-brave new world where faceless commenters wield the power to destroy lives and careers, where the punishments often outweigh the crimes, and where there is no self-control and (ironically) no consequences. “With an introspective and often funny lens, [Ronson] tracks down those whose blunders have exploded in the public eye… So You've Been Publicly Shamed is an insightful, well-researched, and important text about how we react to others' poor decisions.” – The Huffington Post “Personable and empathetic, Ronson is an entertaining guide to the odd corners of the shame-o-sphere.” – The Minneapolis Star Tribune “It’s sharply observed, amusingly told, and, while its conclusions may stop just short of profound, the true pleasure of the book lies in arriving at those conclusions.” –The Onion. “An irresistibly gossipy cocktail with a chaser of guilt.” – Newsday “With So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed Ronson has written a timely, interesting and titillating read for any Internet drama junkie.” –PopMatters.com. "With confidence, verve, and empathy, Ronson skillfully informs and engages the reader without excusing those caught up in the shame game. – Publishers Weekly “Relentlessly entertaining and thought-provoking.”– TheGuardian “Certainly, no reader could finish it without feeling a need to be gentler online, to defer judgment, not to press the retweet button, to resist that primal impulse to stoke the fires of shame.”– The Times “Excruciating, un-put-downable… So You've Been Publicly Shamed is a gripping read, packed with humor and compassion and Ronson's characteristic linguistic juggling of the poignant and the absurd.” –Chapter16.org“A powerful and rewarding read, a book utterly of the moment.”— The Hamilton Spectator “Ronson is a lovely, fluid writer, and he has a keen eye for painful, telling details.” — The Bloomberg View. “Fascinating and trenchant.” –The Denver Post “[Ronson] is one of our most important modern day thinkers…[ So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed ] is one of the most therapeutic books imaginable.” – US News & Word Report. “Personable and empathetic, Ronson is an entertaining guide to the odd corners of the shame-o-sphere.” – The Houston Chronicle “[A] satirical Malcolm Gladwell… an accessible, fun read.” – Everyday Ebook. "[A] brilliant, thought-provoking book – a fascinating examination of citizen justice, which has enjoyed a great renaissance since the advent of the internet."
Reviews
"Imagine cracking a joke that you know that some folks might consider off color to a buddy sitting next to you at a conference presentation -- then having the woman in front of you turn around, snap your picture, smile at you -- and tweet about how offensive your comments were to women, already a minority and arguably struggling to find a way to feel comfortable in Silicon Valley's "bro culture". But whether the name is a familiar one -- Jonah Lehrer, popular science writer pilloried for inventing quotes and for recycling his own content -- or someone unknown, such as the teenager turned into a pariah for mocking what she saw as a self-evident and superfluous sign at Arlington national cemetery requesting silence and respect -- he does a good job of exploring different examples of shame and reasons for shaming, as well as the societal and historical context. Ronson does occasionally fall into the trap of what I refer to as "stunt" anecdotes: going off to explore things as a participant and taking notes because he knows it will make a good part of the copy to be a fly on the wall. I've long been aware of the dangers of having a personal "brand", and been vigilant about what I say on social media and my privacy settings on Facebook, for instance. In the social media universe, there simply is no privacy -- or at least, none that you can count on -- and few of those "shame victims" that Ronson profiles in these pages are evil or malicious."
"Through digging into the stories of and conducting interviews with well-know people like disgraced author and journalist Jonah Lehrer and ordinary, previously unknown people like Justine Sacco, Ronson provides a vivid and disturbing picture of what happens to the people on the receiving end of vigilante-style justice and raises interesting philosophical questions about what this means for our larger culture. This book's strength is that it humanizes the people on the receiving end of Internet justice and makes you ponder whether the scorched earth campaign waged against people like Justine Sacco is justified. You'll feel uncomfortable when you read this book, and you should. I squirmed as I thought of the times when I jumped on the outrage bandwagon and then moved on with my life without really stopping to wonder what had become of the people on the other end of the outrage."
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Best Child Development & Psychology

The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind
In this pioneering, practical book, Daniel J. Siegel, neuropsychiatrist and author of the bestselling Mindsight , and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson offer a revolutionary approach to child rearing with twelve key strategies that foster healthy brain development, leading to calmer, happier children. Praise for The Whole-Brain Child "This erudite, tender and funny book is filled with fresh ideas based on the latest neuroscience research. Most of all, The Whole-Brain Child helps parents teach kids about how their brain actually works, giving even very young children the self-understanding that can lead them to make good choices, and, ultimately, to lead meaningful and joyful lives.”. – Christine Carter, Ph.D., author of Raising Happiness “In their dynamic and readable new book, Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson sweep aside the old models of 'good' and 'bad' parenting to offer a scientific focus: the impact of parenting on brain development.
Reviews
"Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson's "The Whole Brain Child" fails to deliver on the titular promise of "revolutionary" parenting strategies to "truly help your kids be happier, healthier, and more fully themselves"; it does, however, provide innovative and effective explanations, packaging, and delivery of many tried-and-true parenting techniques that turn out to be neuroscientifically based. The first four chapters are the love child of the Johns - Medina's "Brain Rules for Baby" and Gottman's "Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child." The following seven strategies result: (1) "Connect and Redirect: [Helping Kids Learn to Surf] Emotional Waves"; (2) "Name It to Tame It: Telling Stories to Calm Big Emotions"; (3) "Engage, Don't Enrage: Appealing to the Upstairs Brain"; (4) "Use It or Lose It: Exercising the Upstairs Brain"; (5) "Move It or Lose It: Moving the Body to Avoid Losing the Mind"; (6) "Use the Remote of the Mind: Replaying Memories"; and (7) "Remember to Remember: Making Recollection a Part of Your Family's Daily Life." The fifth and sixth chapters, however, throw a little of Susan Stiffelman's "Parenting Without Power Struggles" into the mix, offering child therapy techniques and explaining why they work through the prism of brain science. "By helping our kids connect left [brain] and right [brain]" - as well as their "upstairs" and "downstairs" brains and implicit and explicit memories - "we give them a better chance of [finding] . Finally, I want to share two interesting tidbits from "The Whole Brain Child" approach that contradict standard parenting advice but perfectly align with my parenting instincts: "An upstairs tantrum occurs when a child essentially decides to throw a fit. On the "eh" side of the scale, "The Whole Brain Child" is more useful for older children than younger ones, is often redundant and long-winded (darned brain scientists trying to make information stick), and isn't as comprehensive as "Parenting with Love & Logic." Though Spiegel and Bryson don't offer much that's new in the realm of what parents ought to do, "The Whole Brain Child" adds value to the genre in providing the why and organizing the what into an easily understood, memorable, and, yes, at one point even "revolutionary," how."
"Very well written."
"He loved doing it - he'd ask to read the brain book - and it became the perfect way to discuss the concepts in the book."
"Excellent resource whether you are a parent, teacher, or professional!"
"Very interesting and refreshing look on child care without being too "coddling" in the author's approach."
"Logical, common sense tied to scientific research: easy to understand and use with children."
"This was a great book."
"Helped to understand how my child's brain is developing."
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Best Psychology Movements

Man's Search for Meaning
At the time of Frankl's death in 1997, Man's Search for Meaning had sold more than 10 million copies in twenty-four languages. The book begins with a lengthy, austere, and deeply moving personal essay about Frankl's imprisonment in Auschwitz and other concentration camps for five years, and his struggle during this time to find reasons to live. The second part of the book, called "Logotherapy in a Nutshell," describes the psychotherapeutic method that Frankl pioneered as a result of his experiences in the concentration camps.
Reviews
"Read this book, read this book."
"Those that had developed purpose and meaning to the harsh conditions got out of bed every morning to face another unbearable day."
"Frankl is able to find meaning in a concentration camp."
"One of the best works you can take in."
"Life would have been easier if I had read this book sooner in life."
"A little twist of ideas as to why some people survive the worst and why others don't survive medium bad."
"If you're a student of any religion or ideology trying to figure out how to reach a point where you can take control of your own experience of life, and truly see the world from your internal perspective rather than from your external perspective this is an invaluable text for you to read through."
"The second part of the book is an analysis of logotherapy and a description of Frankl's studies on the subject."
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Best Ethnopsychology

Black Skin, White Masks
Hailed for its scientific analysis and poetic grace when it was first published in 1952, the book remains a vital force today from one of the most important theorists of revolutionary struggle, colonialism, and racial difference in history. “A strange, haunting mélange of analysis, revolutionary manifesto, metaphysics, prose poetry and literary criticism—and yet the nakedest of human cries.” — Newsweek “A brilliant, vivid and hurt mind, walking the thin line that separates effective outrage from despair... As a writer he demonstrates how insidiously the problem of race, of color, connects with a whole range of words and images. “A reasoned, explosive, and important book centered on the identity problem of the black man, by the author of a classic study of racism and colonialism, Wretched of the Earth.” — Publishers Weekly.
Reviews
"Great service and product."
"Very revealing thoughts on the processes and consequences of colonization."
"Received in time, loved reading it!"
"Great early vision of African diaspora problems with colonialism."
"This book is somewhat difficult to follow."
"Great book."
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Best Psychopharmacology

Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness inAmerica
Now with bonus material, including a new foreword and afterword with updated research In this astonishing and startling book, award-winning science and history writer Robert Whitaker investigates a medical mystery: Why has the number of disabled mentally ill in the United States tripled over the past two decades? Every day, 1,100 adults and children are added to the government disability rolls because they have become newly disabled by mental illness, with this epidemic spreading most rapidly among our nation’s children. Or did they find that these medications, for some paradoxical reason, increase the likelihood that people will become chronically ill, less able to function well, more prone to physical illness? Our nation has been hit by an epidemic of disabling mental illness, and yet, as Anatomy of an Epidemic reveals, the medical blueprints for curbing that epidemic have already been drawn up. What with the conclusions Whitaker draws from his assembled literature and the accusations he levels at those who consciously deceive consumers eager for magical cures, his book will either blow the lid off a multibillion-dollar industry or cause him to be labeled a crackpot and, perhaps, medicated into obscurity. In Anatomy of an Epidemic investigative reporter Robert Whitaker cuts through flawed science, greed and outright lies to reveal that the drugs hailed as the cure for mental disorders instead worsen them over the long term. Whitaker tenderly interviews children and adults who bear witness to the ravages of mental illness, and testify to their newly found “aliveness” when freed from the prison of mind-numbing drugs.”—Daniel Dorman, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine and author of Dante’s Cure: A Journey Out of Madness “This is the most alarming book I’ve read in years.
Reviews
"There's a bunch of reviews on here that say this book is invalid, but when you dig into their reasons, they are cherry picking data and using disproven research. But gradual withdrawal does work, and many people have gotten their lives back by learning how to use psych drugs appropriately as a tool instead of as the entire solution. This book cites like 400 studies, works with all the best patient advocates in the industry, and is the best science has to offer to explain both problems and solutions."
"Many of the harshest reviews of this book seem to be coming from those who currently depend on psychiatric medications, and find the author's conclusions heartless, given their own distress. I had been told by well-respected psychiatrists at two major research universities that the only way to prevent recurring depressive episodes was to be on medication for life. As I looked around at my many, many friends and family members on psychiatric medications, it seemed to me that most of them were still pretty substantially depressed a lot of the time. I understand how doctors came to use that analogy to reassure patients who were alarmed at the prospect of being on mind-altering drugs for long periods of time. I did a very slow, careful taper off of my psych drugs, over a period of months (this part is absolutely crucial). I have found daily aerobic exercise to be a far more reliable way of mitigating depression than my former medications, and research in this book shows this to be true for a majority of people as well. The "medical model" of psychiatry saved that branch of medicine from dying out, given our insurance-based healthcare system, and Robert Whitaker does a great job of exposing the collusion between the pharmaceutical companies and the American Psychiatric Association, with its frightening consequences. I found the section of the book describing the way research evidence was "rewritten" for medical school textbooks truly alarming. There's a lot at stake here for the psychiatric profession; it's not surprising that so many psychiatrists turn from this research with alarm and denial."
"I purchased this book as part of a personal project and, the further I get in it, the more interested I am."
"A must read for anyone considering taking or prescribing psychoactive medication."
"this is a book everyone who is on or about to go on any medications for mental health."
"Great book and highly recommended!"
"Not every claim in it - I my opinion is accurate - but enough are and enough important questions are raised that every doctor and every patient should be familiar with questions it raises."
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Best Neuropsychology

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
“Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” —Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this New York Times Science bestseller Trauma is a fact of life. Praise for The Body Keeps the Score “In this inspirational work which seamlessly weaves keen clinical observation, neuroscience, historical analysis, the arts, and personal narrative, Dr. van der Kolk has created an authoritative guide to the effects of trauma, and pathways to recovery. A must read for mental health and other health care professionals, trauma survivors, their loved ones, and those who seek clinical, social, or political solutions to the cycle of trauma and violence in our society.” —Rachel Yehuda, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, director of the Traumatic Stress Studies Division at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY “This is an absolutely fascinating and clearly written book by one of the nation’s most experienced physicians in the field of emotional trauma. “Breathtaking in its scope and breadth, The Body Keeps the Score is a seminal work by one of the preeminent pioneers in trauma research and treatment. Van der Kolk, the eminent impresario of trauma treatment, who has spent a career bringing together diverse trauma scientists and clinicians and their ideas, while making his own pivotal contributions, describes what is arguably the most important series of breakthroughs in mental health in the last thirty years. Here we see not only how psychological trauma also breaks connections within the brain, but also between mind and body, and learn about the exciting new approaches that allow people with the severest forms of trauma to put all the parts back together again.” —Norman Doidge, author of The Brain That Changes Itself. “ The Body Keeps the Score articulates new and better therapies for toxic stress based on a deep understanding of the effects of trauma on brain development and attachment systems. Bessel van der Kolk may focus on the body and trauma, but what a mind he must have to have written this book.”. Its deeply empathic, insightful, and compassionate perspective promises to further humanize the treatment of trauma victims, dramatically expand their repertoire of self-regulatory healing practices and therapeutic options, and also stimulate greater creative thinking and research on trauma and its effective treatment. The body does keep the score, and Van der Kolk’s ability to demonstrate this through compelling descriptions of the work of others, his own pioneering trajectory and experience as the field evolved and him along with it, and above all, his discovery of ways to work skillfully with people by bringing mindfulness to the body (as well as to their thoughts and emotions) through yoga, movement, and theater are a wonderful and welcome breath of fresh air and possibility in the therapy world.”. “In The Body Keeps the Score we share the author’s courageous journey into the parallel dissociative worlds of trauma victims and the medical and psychological disciplines that are meant to provide relief. “Bessel van der Kolk is unequaled in his ability to synthesize the stunning developments in the field of psychological trauma over the past few decades. —Ruth A. Lanius, MD, PhD, Harris-Woodman chair in Psyche and Soma, professor of psychiatry, and director PTSD research at the University of Western Ontario; author of The Impact of Early Life Trauma on Health and Disease. Interspersed with that narrative are clear and understandable descriptions of the neurobiology of trauma; explanations of the ineffectiveness of traditional approaches to treating trauma; and introductions to the approaches that take patients beneath their cognitive minds to heal the parts of them that remained frozen in the past. “When it comes to understanding the impact of trauma and being able to continue to grow despite overwhelming life experiences, Bessel van der Kolk leads the way in his comprehensive knowledge, clinical courage, and creative strategies to help us heal. Dr. Van der Kolk offer a brilliant synthesis of clinical cases, neuroscience, powerful tools and caring humanity, offering a whole new level of healing for the traumas carried by so many.”. Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., is the founder and medical director of the Trauma Center in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Reviews
"Frankly, nothing really worked until I discovered - and applied - the somatic (body) techniques espoused by van der Kolk, and other luminaries such as Peter Levine, Pat Ogden, and Eugene Gendlin. The only way to ‘communicate’ with this pre-verbal system is through the body, which can signal to the brain stem that it is OK to begin the process of unfreezing the emotional paralysis that has plagued us for decades. UPDATE 2018: One of the treatments that Bessel van der Kolk mentions in his book - MDMA (Ecstasy) - was recently granted ‘Breakthrough Therapy’ status by the FDA for phase 3 trials. This is because the phase 1 and 2 trials were so successful, that nearly 70% of participants no longer had PTSD after just 3 MDMA sessions (most of these participants had suffered PTSD for decades)."
"I believed I could gut it out, that the past was the past and that only weak people needed to talk through their problems. I believed only losers behaved badly as adults due to anything in their childhood or past and that claiming you were affected by any past problem was a crutch to allow you to embrace failure. It's very hard to be kind to people, to focus on your work, to love others when all your power is spent trying to pretend you don't feel like s***. When you see everything you have go away and can only occasionally find the strength to take care of yourself and your business and need others in your life to carry you from time to time (much to your embarrassment) and yet you think you're smart and capable and have no understanding of why you are where you are, life becomes a slog. While I can't attribute every part of my success to this book alone as it takes many things to get where you want to go (mostly you), I can absolutely attest to the power of this book. If you've suffered any sort of major and/or persistent trauma in your life, please buy (and read) this book."
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Best Psychology Research

The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind
The Future of the Mind is an extraordinary, mind-boggling exploration of the frontiers of neuroscience. These seemingly unrelated facts tell us two things: our brains are magnificently complex organisms, and science fiction has a way of becoming reality rather quickly. This deeply fascinating book by theoretical physicist Kaku explores what might be in store for our minds: practical telepathy and telekinesis; artificial memories implanted into our brains; and a pill that will make us smarter. He describes work being done right now on using sensors to read images in the human brain and on downloading artificial memories into the brain to treat victims of strokes and Alzheimer’s. --David Pitt Praise for The Future of the Mind, #1 New York Times Bestseller “Compelling…Kaku thinks with great breadth, and the vistas he presents us are worth the trip” — The New York Times Book Review “Intriguing….extraordinary findings…A fascinating sprint through everything from telepathy research to the 147,456 processors of the Blue Gene computer, which has been used to simulate 4.5% of the brain’s synapses and neurons” —Nature “Fizzes with his characteristic effervescence….Fascinating….. For all his talk of surrogates and intelligent robots, no manufactured being could have a fraction of his charisma.” — The Independent “A mind-bending study of the possibilities of the brain....a clear and readable guide to what is going on at a time of astonishingly rapid change.”. — The Telegraph “ In this expansive, illuminating journey through the mind, theoretical physicist Kaku ( Physics of the Future ) explores fantastical realms of science fiction that may soon become our reality. This deeply fascinating book by theoretical physicist Kaku explores what might be in store for our minds: practical telepathy and telekinesis; artificial memories implanted into our brains; and a pill that will make us smarter. He describes work being done right now on using sensors to read images in the human brain and on downloading artificial memories into the brain to treat victims of strokes and Alzheimer’s.
Reviews
"Nevertheless if you've enjoyed any of those scientific or theoretical physics type shows on the Discovery Channel, Science Channel, and/or History Channel, I'd highly recommend reading this book."
"This encyclopedic snapshot of a wide range of scientific research relates to just two newly revealed mother lodes of source material: the human brain and outer space. Bu Kaki and his colleagues have given rise to a plethora of movies and TV series focused on the misuse or outright evil cooked up by the world's bad guys to take advantage of super or telepathic brains, brain networks and intelligent robots."
"What else can I say about Mr. Kaku excellent writing about a very difficult subject."
"The "Future of mind" is a fascinating science book for general audience (not scientists nor specialists) that describes the latest advances and state of the art in neuroscience, mind, brain, memory, artificial intelligence and other related themes."
"There's just something about this book that is kinda hard to follow along with."
"The book is an interesting read for those who like psychology, neurology, and physics."
"Sadly, the professor does not explore the obvious implications of extending the Brain Computer Interface to an external memory and computational device accessible via miniature WiFi antenna, which of course could be installed on a chip."
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Best Psychology Reference

Stop Caretaking the Borderline or Narcissist: How to End the Drama and Get On with Life
The book looks at the underlying rules and expectations in these relationships and shows Caretaker’s how to move themselves out of these rigid interactions and into a healthier, more productive, and positive lifestyle—with or without the Borderline/Narcissistic partner or family member. It presents a realistic, yet compassionate, attitude toward the self-destructive nature of these relationships, and gives real life examples of how individuals have let go of their Caretaker behaviors with creative and effective solutions. ( Metapsychology Online ). Stop Caretaking the Borderline or Narcissist is refreshingly no-nonsense, provides lots of useful hints on how to put this self-care model into practice while at the same time informing thoroughly and in no uncertain terms about the BP/NP's view of the world. Margalis Fjelstad, PhD, LMFT, has a private psychotherapy practice in Ft. Collins, CO, specializing in work with clients who are in relationship to someone who has borderline or narcissistic personality disorder, and she facilitates groups on Caretaker recovery.
Reviews
"Granted, as a recovering Caretaker, I was ready to hear the whole truth about how dysfunctional I had become and how much work is ahead of me to fix myself and not the other people in my life, but this book got into every nook and cranny of dysfunction and called it what it was."
"A real relationship is based on each person giving the other approximately the same amount of energy as the other receives. In addition, a healthy relationship. * Does not drain the other, but gives the other energy, * Helps each other feel relaxed and. * Makes the other feel wanted and cared for."
"This book explains both the underlying psychological mechanisms of the dysfunctional relationship and gives clear advice on how to change them."
"excellent read for those caught in over caring for a self centered drama-centered person."
"This is a must read for anyone dealing with a BPD or NPD in their life."
"This is a tremendously helpful book for anyone dealing with, or recovering from a relationship with a Borderline."
"And yeah, we are learning to let go and. grab our lives back and, let go of guilt!"
"This book has been most beneficial in my living with a person who yet to be diagnose as a borderline/narsistic persons."
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Best Psychological Pathologies

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
“Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” —Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this New York Times Science bestseller Trauma is a fact of life. Praise for The Body Keeps the Score “In this inspirational work which seamlessly weaves keen clinical observation, neuroscience, historical analysis, the arts, and personal narrative, Dr. van der Kolk has created an authoritative guide to the effects of trauma, and pathways to recovery. A must read for mental health and other health care professionals, trauma survivors, their loved ones, and those who seek clinical, social, or political solutions to the cycle of trauma and violence in our society.” —Rachel Yehuda, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, director of the Traumatic Stress Studies Division at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY “This is an absolutely fascinating and clearly written book by one of the nation’s most experienced physicians in the field of emotional trauma. “Breathtaking in its scope and breadth, The Body Keeps the Score is a seminal work by one of the preeminent pioneers in trauma research and treatment. Van der Kolk, the eminent impresario of trauma treatment, who has spent a career bringing together diverse trauma scientists and clinicians and their ideas, while making his own pivotal contributions, describes what is arguably the most important series of breakthroughs in mental health in the last thirty years. Here we see not only how psychological trauma also breaks connections within the brain, but also between mind and body, and learn about the exciting new approaches that allow people with the severest forms of trauma to put all the parts back together again.” —Norman Doidge, author of The Brain That Changes Itself. “ The Body Keeps the Score articulates new and better therapies for toxic stress based on a deep understanding of the effects of trauma on brain development and attachment systems. Bessel van der Kolk may focus on the body and trauma, but what a mind he must have to have written this book.”. Its deeply empathic, insightful, and compassionate perspective promises to further humanize the treatment of trauma victims, dramatically expand their repertoire of self-regulatory healing practices and therapeutic options, and also stimulate greater creative thinking and research on trauma and its effective treatment. The body does keep the score, and Van der Kolk’s ability to demonstrate this through compelling descriptions of the work of others, his own pioneering trajectory and experience as the field evolved and him along with it, and above all, his discovery of ways to work skillfully with people by bringing mindfulness to the body (as well as to their thoughts and emotions) through yoga, movement, and theater are a wonderful and welcome breath of fresh air and possibility in the therapy world.”. “In The Body Keeps the Score we share the author’s courageous journey into the parallel dissociative worlds of trauma victims and the medical and psychological disciplines that are meant to provide relief. “Bessel van der Kolk is unequaled in his ability to synthesize the stunning developments in the field of psychological trauma over the past few decades. —Ruth A. Lanius, MD, PhD, Harris-Woodman chair in Psyche and Soma, professor of psychiatry, and director PTSD research at the University of Western Ontario; author of The Impact of Early Life Trauma on Health and Disease. Interspersed with that narrative are clear and understandable descriptions of the neurobiology of trauma; explanations of the ineffectiveness of traditional approaches to treating trauma; and introductions to the approaches that take patients beneath their cognitive minds to heal the parts of them that remained frozen in the past. “When it comes to understanding the impact of trauma and being able to continue to grow despite overwhelming life experiences, Bessel van der Kolk leads the way in his comprehensive knowledge, clinical courage, and creative strategies to help us heal. Dr. Van der Kolk offer a brilliant synthesis of clinical cases, neuroscience, powerful tools and caring humanity, offering a whole new level of healing for the traumas carried by so many.”. Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., is the founder and medical director of the Trauma Center in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Reviews
"Frankly, nothing really worked until I discovered - and applied - the somatic (body) techniques espoused by van der Kolk, and other luminaries such as Peter Levine, Pat Ogden, and Eugene Gendlin. The only way to ‘communicate’ with this pre-verbal system is through the body, which can signal to the brain stem that it is OK to begin the process of unfreezing the emotional paralysis that has plagued us for decades. UPDATE 2018: One of the treatments that Bessel van der Kolk mentions in his book - MDMA (Ecstasy) - was recently granted ‘Breakthrough Therapy’ status by the FDA for phase 3 trials. This is because the phase 1 and 2 trials were so successful, that nearly 70% of participants no longer had PTSD after just 3 MDMA sessions (most of these participants had suffered PTSD for decades)."
"I believed I could gut it out, that the past was the past and that only weak people needed to talk through their problems. I believed only losers behaved badly as adults due to anything in their childhood or past and that claiming you were affected by any past problem was a crutch to allow you to embrace failure. It's very hard to be kind to people, to focus on your work, to love others when all your power is spent trying to pretend you don't feel like s***. When you see everything you have go away and can only occasionally find the strength to take care of yourself and your business and need others in your life to carry you from time to time (much to your embarrassment) and yet you think you're smart and capable and have no understanding of why you are where you are, life becomes a slog. While I can't attribute every part of my success to this book alone as it takes many things to get where you want to go (mostly you), I can absolutely attest to the power of this book. If you've suffered any sort of major and/or persistent trauma in your life, please buy (and read) this book."
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Best Psychology Statistics

Applied Statistics: From Bivariate Through Multivariate Techniques
Rebecca M. Warner's Applied Statistics: From Bivariate Through Multivariate Techniques, Second Edition provides a clear introduction to widely used topics in bivariate and multivariate statistics, including multiple regression, discriminant analysis, MANOVA, factor analysis, and binary logistic regression. She is a Fellow in the Association for Psychological Science and a member of the American Psychological Association, the International Association for Relationships Research, the Society of Experimental Social Psychology, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
Reviews
"While it is gigantic, Warner does a great job of explaining the underlying concepts, using data to make it even more clear, and showing tables and charts for it to all come together."
"Very easy to read this book."
"I am using this textbook in my PhD Program."
"Who doesn't love stats?!?"
"Excellent text."
"It wasn't the one assigned by my professor but I bought it anyway because it was so clear and I preferred it to the assigned text."
"Excellent, so much to learn and excellent examples."
"Oh my... this is now for light reading but amazing for my advanced stats class in doctoral program."
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Best Physiological Aspects in Psychology

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life (Revised and Expanded): The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness,Lack of Focus, Anger, and Memory Problems
In this completely revised and updated edition of the breakthrough bestseller, neuropsychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen includes effective "brain prescriptions" that can help heal your brain and change your life. Filled with "brain prescriptions" (among them cognitive exercises and nutritional advice) that are geared toward readers who've experienced anxiety, depression, impulsiveness, excessive anger or worry, and obsessive behavior, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life milks the mind-body connection for all it's worth. Written by a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who has also authored a book on attention deficit disorder, Change Your Brain contains dozens of brain scans of patients with various neurological problems, from caffeine, nicotine, and heroin addiction to manic-depression to epilepsy. Although Amen provides step-by-step "prescriptions" geared toward optimizing and healing the different sections of the brain ("create a library of wonderful experiences"; "try meditation/self-hypnosis"), 80 percent of the patients in his case studies were given medication to treat their behavioral problems.
Reviews
"This book would be so much better if it focused purely on the science and what behaviors can be modified with actionable tasks/steps people can take (i.e. changing the questions they ask themselves, writing goals on paper, joining support groups). The authors concept is this: Spend thousands getting your brain scanned, then spend hundreds on supplements he sells for your special kind of brain, and join a church."
"it helps reduce guess work, and generalized treatments that sometimes cause more problems for people seeking help. I have been reducing alcohol for years, looking at Scan of Alcohol use has given me enough Reasons to Quit. In this Book Dr. Amen Identifies problems, causes, and potential Solutions and a ton of resources to help manage and treat bad behavior."
"This is the second time I've read this book because there is so much pertinent information in it about the parts of the brain, what they do and the problems they can cause."
"Dr. Amen has provided a wealth of information for readers to understand their brains and has equipped them to make a difference in their lives."
"loved the book made me smarter on the function of the brain."
"Excellent..simple and easy to read."
"Dr. Amen has given me a new perspective on brain health!"
"Great book, very informative, I learned an amazing amount of information on how to handle mental illness."
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Best Psychology of Suicide

Answers about the Afterlife: A Private Investigator's 15-Year Research Unlocks the Mysteries of Life after Death
Whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, curious about what happens when we die, or pondering your own mortality, this book will leave you feeling less fear about death, inspired to live a more loving and purposeful life, and comforted by new thoughts about your loved ones in the afterlife. Bob Olson presents an impressive compilation of many lines of evidence that converge on the conclusion that the afterlife is, in a word, real . With the keen and thorough eye of an investigative reporter, Bob Olson takes on this question with a loving heart and full-on determination. Sifting through more than fifteen years of intense and exhaustive research, he's created a spiritual encyclopedia of sorts that provides the reader with answers. Bob Olson has taken his education, experience and passion for being an investigator and applied them to the study of the afterlife, death and dying, and the world of spirit, sharing what these topics can teach us about life. This event ignited questions in Bob that he never before considered, so he decided to use his skills as a private eye to investigate the afterlife.
Reviews
"This book gave me some understanding of the forces at work that day that I will never believe were just lucky coincidences that helped me survive the most heartbreaking time of my life, and I'm very grateful to Bob Olson for sharing his vast research in this book."
"I just finished reading Bob’s new book on the Afterlife and give it an A+++. Of course, based on the quality of the interviews I’ve watched Bob conduct on Afterlifetv.com, how could his book be anything but wonderful, personable, highly readable, down to earth and thorough."
"If you're trying to understand and make sense of no only our lives here on earth but the before and after you'll want to read this book."
"The book is ok and somewhat resourceful however the book is very repetitive to the point I Initially skipped the last 40 some pages but then decided to go back and read them the next night."
"Olson has gathered his evidence of the afterlife from accounts of NDE (Near Death Experiences), from the accounts of thousands of mediums, and most important: from his own experiences as a person receiving evidence from mediums: evidence to which the mediums have had no prior knowledge. ANSWERS ABOUT THE AFTERLIFE will not only give you things to consider, but you will feel motivated to have your own personal experiences as you investigate the afterlife."
"It's a very good book but really just getting started on it, into 3rd chapter."
"extremely interesting - recommend to anyone interested in this subject."
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Best Psychology of Personalities

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves. In our culture, which emphasizes group work from elementary school through the business world, everything seems geared toward extroverts. With Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking , Cain explores introversion through psychological research old and new, personal experiences, and even brain chemistry, in an engaging and highly-readable fashion. Introverts are to extroverts what women were to men at that time--second-class citizens with gigantic amounts of untapped talent. The bias against introversion leads to a colossal waste of talent, energy, and, ultimately, happiness. Q: What personal significance does the subject have for you?A: When I was in my twenties, I started practicing corporate law on Wall Street. At first I thought I was taking on an enormous challenge, because in my mind, the successful lawyer was comfortable in the spotlight, whereas I was introverted and occasionally shy. But I soon realized that my nature had a lot of advantages: I was good at building loyal alliances, one-on-one, behind the scenes; I could close my door, concentrate, and get the work done well; and like many introverts, I tended to ask a lot of questions and listen intently to the answers, which is an invaluable tool in negotiation. Here are two to consider: (1) Introverts perform best in quiet, private workspaces—but unfortunately we’re trending in precisely the opposite direction, toward open-plan offices. (2) If you want to get the best of all your employees’ brains, don’t simply throw them into a meeting and assume you’re hearing everyone’s ideas. Ask people to put their ideas in writing before the meeting, and make sure you give everyone time to speak. (3) Not calling them “shy”--they’ll believe the label and experience their nervousness as a fixed trait rather than an emotion they can learn to control. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society-from van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer. Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. QUIET talks about the New Groupthink, the value system holding that creativity and productivity emerge from group work rather than individual thought. QUIET talks about “restorative niches,” the places introverts go or the things they do to recharge their batteries. “A superbly researched, deeply insightful, and fascinating book that will change forever the way society views introverts .”. — Gretchen Rubin , author of The Happiness Project “ Susan Cain is the definer of a new and valuable paradigm . In this moving and original argument, she makes the case that we are losing immense reserves of talent and vision because of our culture's overvaluation of extroversion. Mark my words, this book will be a bestseller.”. — Guy Kawasaki , author of Enchantment “Susan Cain has done a superb job of sifting through decades of complex research.
Reviews
"My entire life has been on hold since this started, I get home from work too exhausted to do anything except veg out for a couple hours and go to bed, and even weekends aren't much better. I learned that the job situation I'm currently in - the non-stop deadline demands, interruptions, never being able to work quietly or alone no matter how difficult a project was, phones ringing incessantly, people in my face all day long, etc. And as enlightening as it was to learn how many of the traits I've beat myself up for over the years are just a product of my introverted temperament (being highly sensitive, shutting down when subjected to stimulation overload, preferring to think a thing through before I speak - something I never get to do at work, as if it takes me more than 5 seconds to say something, I get interrupted and cut off), the most important thing I got from this book is that it's okay to be myself, it's okay to feel the way I do. I am not weak or a failure because I don't feel or behave like my extremely extroverted boss (who thrives in high-energy crisis mode, and is bored unless he's doing 10 things at once - and expects the rest of us to keep up). I also found the information on the history of the "rise of the Culture of Personality" completely fascinating, it really gave me a new insight as to just exactly how we 'grew' this tendency to value extroversion over introversion. I know I will meet resistance from my boss (I'd love for him to read this book, but unfortunately I know he won't), and I know I won't instantly fix everything in one day, and that I'll probably always need to be able to stretch myself a bit to do things that are not ideal for me ... but this book taught me that there are ways to make that work, too, if you understand and honor the need for recharging around such tasks, instead of trying to force yourself to do them 8 hours a day with no break. The wealth of information and insights in this book cannot be overstated - especially if you are an introverted type of person who has always felt there was something not quite right about you, or that you somehow needed to change to fit in or succeed. Thank you, Susan Cain, from the bottom of my heart (which is finally beating at a more normal speed because I'm not panicked about going to work for the first time in months)."
"This book is written by an introvert, and while it discusses extroversion, it focuses on the benefits of introversion. I like myself, but reading this book made me feel like there are many other people who face the same feelings and worries that I do. Somewhere while reading this book, I stopped feeling like I was a good teacher despite my introverstion but that I am a good teacher largely because of my introversion."
"As somebody who has been called at some point or another the gamut of terms associated with introversion, from "shy" (which I don't object) to "anti-social" (which I most certainly consider unfair), I found in Susan Cain's "Quiet," the validation and appreciation many introverts have been searching for. In "Quiet," Ms. Cain explains the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the 1920s and how it is that today we associate talkative, risk-taking, and action-oriented people with intelligence, beauty, power and success. She interviews scientists who have conducted hundreds of studies to test different theories in an effort to determine how much of our temperament is a result of genetics and/or of our free will. For those still deciding on a career, the author reminds readers that research shows that introverts are not reward-seeking like extroverts, but rather motivated by the enjoyment they find in pursuing an activity; in other words, by being in what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls the "flow"."
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Best Psychoanalysis

The Dark Side of the Light Chasers
We find ourselves disproportionately frustrated and angry at the selfishness of friends, the laziness of colleagues, the arrogance of siblings. Through the stories and exercises in The Dark Side of the Light Chasers , Debbie Ford shows us not only how to recognize our hidden emotions, but also how to find the gifts they offer us. Everyone possesses the entire range of human traits and emotionsA"the saintly and the cynical, the divine and the diabolical, the courageous and the cowardly"Acontends Ford, a faculty member of California's Chopra Center for Well-Being. The problem, as Ford (and Freud) define it, is that in growing up, people suppress those behaviors, thoughts, feelings and characteristics that are unacceptable within their particular environments. But rather than daily sessions on the couch, Ford advocates re-imagining and reclaiming lost aspects of self, urging readers to "unconceal" and embrace those traits buried in their "shadow," in order to find their "gift." She offers exercises designed to bring such traits to the surface, including directed self-questioning; listing one's characteristics for closer examination of positives and negatives; and "discharging toxic emotions" physically.
Reviews
"This is a fantastic book for recognizing that we all have good and bad (light and dark) within us, and that it is up to us to decide which we will nurture."
"This book is a GREAT TOOL to use towards finding that better and brilliant you!"
"Super, super thought provoking."
"I have a background in this type of work, and her stuff is on a very high level."
"They have loved the exercises as well."
"Deep stuff here."
"By learning to love ALL of yourself, your life will be filled with light and success. This book provides life-changing exercises that enable you to uncover your shadows and learn how to embrace all of who you are."
"This book is amazing!"
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Best Psychology Testing & Measurement

Letters From The Looney Bin (Book 1)
These letters, all addressed to the pseudonym Dr. Quill, were written by the patients as they documented the demise of the Emerson Rose Asylum. Their journey will become your journey as the patients chronicle their final months in these, Letters from the Looney Bin. Weaves a creepy tale in the form of letters found from an abandoned insane asylum...a girl who smashes the head of a white coated orderly...a doctor who experiments on the inmates in unspeakable ways...patients dragged away in the middle of the night to have parts of their brains removed.The author does a great job at weaving the different characters together.The imagery is macabre and the chills are sublime.You are given a unique insight into the minds and perspectives of the condemned mental patients, and what brought them to the edge.Interesting book which reads very easily and enjoyably.
Reviews
"I read it after and agree."
"Beautifully written."
"Characters writing letters about their unfortunate lives before and after their arrival to the Emerson Rose asylum."
"I liked how it was written from the pov of the patients but I feel there needs to be 2nd one to answer some questions I had.I would definitely read a 2nd one if the author wrote one."
"Absolutely kept me on the edge of my seat!"
"It was intriguing to hear the background story of each patient."
"Interesting read."
"Excellent book arrived quickly. Very easy interesting read didn't want to end."
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Best Psychology of Human Sexuality

The Art of Seduction
From the creators of the phenomenal bestseller The 48 Laws of Power, a mesmerizing handbook on seduction: the most subtle and effective form of power When raised to the level of art, seduction, an indirect and subtle form of power, has toppled empires, won elections and enslaved great minds. Following on the heels of his 48 Laws of Power, this book continues Greene's gross exploration of social power, this time in the realm of sexual politics. In Part 1, Greene, again paired with "packager" Joost Elffers (Play with Your Food), offers a straight-faced description of the nine types of seductive character, from the "Ideal Lover" to the "Rake." Syst., WA. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. Greene is the author of The 48 Laws of Power (1998), a compilation of quotes from throughout history that prescribe methods of obtaining and wielding power. A "quote" from a Newsweek review of The 48 Laws is used to hype the new book, though the actual article in which the quote appeared challenged Greene's credentials as an editor and playwright and offered only lukewarm praise.
Reviews
"I feel like a lot of the negative reviews (my focus) are caught up in labeling this book somehow misogynistic and manipulative at its core. And I certainly agree to an extent: the language that Greene uses is definitely suggestive of manipulation and in many ways focuses on upsetting the power balances that naturally occur in relationships. Greene is careful to explain that "the art of seduction" originates in the feminine mystique, and that men have adopted it because they recognize the great power that it holds. Sure, society still has a ways to go in order to truly honor any REAL notion of equality between genders, but if you see a man reading this book, it is because he is trying to master the art that originated in the depths, mysteriousness and natural power of femininity. What you do with that knowledge and power will determine whether you are a manipulative scumbag/gold-digger, or a person who is simply trying to improve your social interactions with NOT ONLY the gender of your preference, but people in general. This chapter really forced me to look at some of my behaviours and to realize, that ultimately, I am acting a large part of the time out of selfishness. But Greene has helped me understand where that selfishness is simply a real need to move forward with my life, or an utter inability to empathize with others. It's a long read, so I would recommend taking notes on anything you find particularly interesting for your own review at a later date, just as a refresher."
"I don't read nonfiction books very often but this grabbed my attention and didn't let me go."
"This is a great 467 page book; a PUA classic."
"This book is a "must read" one."
"Awsome book, highly recommend."
"Great book."
"I really don't remember many particular and specific details of this book, which I read over 2 years ago, but it was good and informative, and super interesting."
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Best Social Psychology & Interactions

The 48 Laws of Power
In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Elffers's layout (he is identified as the co-conceiver and designer in the press release) is stylish, with short epigrams set in red at the margins. Each law, with such allusive titles as "Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy," "Get Others to Do the Work for You, But Always Take the Credit," "Conceal Your Intentions," is demonstrated in four ways?using it correctly, failing to use it, key aspects of the law and when not to use it. Illustrations are drawn from the courts of modern and ancient Europe, Africa and Asia, and devious strategies culled from well-known personae: Machiavelli, Talleyrand, Bismarck, Catherine the Great, Mao, Kissinger, Haile Selassie, Lola Montes and various con artists of our century.
Reviews
"This has become one of my favorite books in a short period of time, and it has given me a new way to perceive the world around me. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to every single person in the world, because it is not for the faint of heart; but if you've ever been taken advantage of, shut out of someone's life, lost control of a situation, had someone feign authority over you (successfully), had relationship problems, problems in the workplace, etc, you deserve to give this a read-through at LEAST once."
"there seems to be a lot of love and hate surrounding this book, so if you are curious but unsure, this review should help you decide whether or not to buy the book, and how it will impact you. First, to understand the 48 laws of power, you must know two key ideas. 1. you CAN NOT escape the power game. you wil become exponentially more powerfull by knowing and understanding these laws. -CRYSTAL CLEAR. every law is clearly outlined with "transgression" of the law, "observance" of the law, keys to power, and a "reversal". -GREAT STORIES. the 48 laws are packed with mindblowing and sometimes humorous stories of people in history practicing these laws. OVERALL: If you want to have more power or a better understanding of why different situations turn out the the way they do, you should definitely read the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene."
"Next to the Bible, probably the best book ever written."
"Too bad I didn't read this when it was first released."
"If you're tired of a meager existence then purchase this book."
"very interesting and good read."
"Excellent book providing a list of Laws about power dynamics between people."
"Amazing book, great purchase."
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Best Psychology Education & Training

Man's Search for Meaning
At the time of Frankl's death in 1997, Man's Search for Meaning had sold more than 10 million copies in twenty-four languages. The book begins with a lengthy, austere, and deeply moving personal essay about Frankl's imprisonment in Auschwitz and other concentration camps for five years, and his struggle during this time to find reasons to live. The second part of the book, called "Logotherapy in a Nutshell," describes the psychotherapeutic method that Frankl pioneered as a result of his experiences in the concentration camps.
Reviews
"Read this book, read this book."
"Those that had developed purpose and meaning to the harsh conditions got out of bed every morning to face another unbearable day."
"Profound insight."
"A little twist of ideas as to why some people survive the worst and why others don't survive medium bad."
"A nice read about the importance of finding meaning in your life."
"This is a great book from both the personal story aspect as well as for its philosophical aspects."
"A powerful book."
"This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in logotherapy, Positive thinking, or Holocaust survival stories."
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Best Occupational & Organizational Psychology

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
As Daniel H. Pink (author of To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Motivating Others ) explains in his paradigm-shattering book Drive , the secret to high performance and satisfaction in today's world is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world. "Pink makes a convincing case that organizations ignore intrinsic motivation at their peril." Corporate boards, in fact, could do well by kicking out their pay consultants for an hour and reading Pink's conclusions instead." "Pink's deft traversal of research at the intersection of psychology and economics make this a worthwhile read-no sticks necessary." "Pink's a gifted writer who turns even the heaviest scientific study into something digestible-and often amusing-without losing his intellectual punch." "Important reading...an integral addition to a growing body of literature that argues for a radical shift in how businesses operate." Pink makes a strong, science-based case for rethinking motivation--and then provides the tools you need to transform your life."
Reviews
"Managers should use the lure of higher degree of mastery of skills to motivate people. It is important the challenge is not too difficult for the person involved, but just enough so the person will face difficulty and yet can overcome with sufficiently higher mastery of the skillset required. Finally, we are motivated by higher purpose other than mere self-interests."
"I have been able to use this to help teams at work grow and be effective when other, more traditional, methods fell flat."
"Or, do freedom, challenge, and purpose float your boat? What I like about "Drive" is the explanation of the "mismatch between what science knows and what business does": "...science shows that the secret to high performance isn't our biological drive or our reward-and-punishment drive, but our third drive--our deep-seated desire to direct our own lives, to extend and expand our abilities, and to live a life of purpose.""
"Using a variety of metaphors to clearly state his arguments, Pink makes a compelling case for recognizing that management approaches based on compliance are not going to serve organizations well in the new world of work that is evolving with our changing business and economic environment. If you enjoy the book (or if you need more to explore before purchasing), be sure to watch his TED Talk on this topic, and Google the RSA animation video as well."
"Fantastic work on what drives people to do work."
"Daniel Pink's DRIVE is one of those rare books where nuggets are as plentiful as acorns in autumn woods."
"This doesn’t help much if you are already doing employee motivation in your company and you are a progressive leader."
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Best Psychology of Creativity & Genius

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves. In our culture, which emphasizes group work from elementary school through the business world, everything seems geared toward extroverts. With Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking , Cain explores introversion through psychological research old and new, personal experiences, and even brain chemistry, in an engaging and highly-readable fashion. Introverts are to extroverts what women were to men at that time--second-class citizens with gigantic amounts of untapped talent. The bias against introversion leads to a colossal waste of talent, energy, and, ultimately, happiness. Q: What personal significance does the subject have for you?A: When I was in my twenties, I started practicing corporate law on Wall Street. At first I thought I was taking on an enormous challenge, because in my mind, the successful lawyer was comfortable in the spotlight, whereas I was introverted and occasionally shy. But I soon realized that my nature had a lot of advantages: I was good at building loyal alliances, one-on-one, behind the scenes; I could close my door, concentrate, and get the work done well; and like many introverts, I tended to ask a lot of questions and listen intently to the answers, which is an invaluable tool in negotiation. Here are two to consider: (1) Introverts perform best in quiet, private workspaces—but unfortunately we’re trending in precisely the opposite direction, toward open-plan offices. (2) If you want to get the best of all your employees’ brains, don’t simply throw them into a meeting and assume you’re hearing everyone’s ideas. Ask people to put their ideas in writing before the meeting, and make sure you give everyone time to speak. (3) Not calling them “shy”--they’ll believe the label and experience their nervousness as a fixed trait rather than an emotion they can learn to control. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society-from van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer. Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. QUIET talks about the New Groupthink, the value system holding that creativity and productivity emerge from group work rather than individual thought. QUIET talks about “restorative niches,” the places introverts go or the things they do to recharge their batteries. “A superbly researched, deeply insightful, and fascinating book that will change forever the way society views introverts .”. — Gretchen Rubin , author of The Happiness Project “ Susan Cain is the definer of a new and valuable paradigm . In this moving and original argument, she makes the case that we are losing immense reserves of talent and vision because of our culture's overvaluation of extroversion. Mark my words, this book will be a bestseller.”. — Guy Kawasaki , author of Enchantment “Susan Cain has done a superb job of sifting through decades of complex research.
Reviews
"My entire life has been on hold since this started, I get home from work too exhausted to do anything except veg out for a couple hours and go to bed, and even weekends aren't much better. I learned that the job situation I'm currently in - the non-stop deadline demands, interruptions, never being able to work quietly or alone no matter how difficult a project was, phones ringing incessantly, people in my face all day long, etc. And as enlightening as it was to learn how many of the traits I've beat myself up for over the years are just a product of my introverted temperament (being highly sensitive, shutting down when subjected to stimulation overload, preferring to think a thing through before I speak - something I never get to do at work, as if it takes me more than 5 seconds to say something, I get interrupted and cut off), the most important thing I got from this book is that it's okay to be myself, it's okay to feel the way I do. I am not weak or a failure because I don't feel or behave like my extremely extroverted boss (who thrives in high-energy crisis mode, and is bored unless he's doing 10 things at once - and expects the rest of us to keep up). I also found the information on the history of the "rise of the Culture of Personality" completely fascinating, it really gave me a new insight as to just exactly how we 'grew' this tendency to value extroversion over introversion. I know I will meet resistance from my boss (I'd love for him to read this book, but unfortunately I know he won't), and I know I won't instantly fix everything in one day, and that I'll probably always need to be able to stretch myself a bit to do things that are not ideal for me ... but this book taught me that there are ways to make that work, too, if you understand and honor the need for recharging around such tasks, instead of trying to force yourself to do them 8 hours a day with no break. The wealth of information and insights in this book cannot be overstated - especially if you are an introverted type of person who has always felt there was something not quite right about you, or that you somehow needed to change to fit in or succeed. Thank you, Susan Cain, from the bottom of my heart (which is finally beating at a more normal speed because I'm not panicked about going to work for the first time in months)."
"As somebody who has been called at some point or another the gamut of terms associated with introversion, from "shy" (which I don't object) to "anti-social" (which I most certainly consider unfair), I found in Susan Cain's "Quiet," the validation and appreciation many introverts have been searching for. In "Quiet," Ms. Cain explains the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the 1920s and how it is that today we associate talkative, risk-taking, and action-oriented people with intelligence, beauty, power and success. She interviews scientists who have conducted hundreds of studies to test different theories in an effort to determine how much of our temperament is a result of genetics and/or of our free will. For those still deciding on a career, the author reminds readers that research shows that introverts are not reward-seeking like extroverts, but rather motivated by the enjoyment they find in pursuing an activity; in other words, by being in what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls the "flow"."
"An engaging non-fiction book that doesn't just devolve into confirmation bias or a single note thesis."
"I recommend this to both introverts and extroverts."
"As a very classic introvert, I felt like she was reading my mail."
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Best TA & NLP Psychotherapy

Man's Search for Meaning
At the time of Frankl's death in 1997, Man's Search for Meaning had sold more than 10 million copies in twenty-four languages. The book begins with a lengthy, austere, and deeply moving personal essay about Frankl's imprisonment in Auschwitz and other concentration camps for five years, and his struggle during this time to find reasons to live. The second part of the book, called "Logotherapy in a Nutshell," describes the psychotherapeutic method that Frankl pioneered as a result of his experiences in the concentration camps.
Reviews
"Read this book, read this book."
"Those that had developed purpose and meaning to the harsh conditions got out of bed every morning to face another unbearable day."
"I cried and became distressed as I listened to Viktor Frankl's personal journey."
"About suffering and learning to go on and live a happy, productive life after devastating losses, situations, and personal catastrophes."
"Profound insight."
"A little twist of ideas as to why some people survive the worst and why others don't survive medium bad."
"I am just now to the place he talks about how thinking of his wife and having mental conversations with her gave him strength to stay alive!"
"A nice read about the importance of finding meaning in your life."
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Best Cognitive Neuroscience & Cognitive Neuropsychology

Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
Maybe you think it’s your ability to design tools, your sense of self, or your grasp of past and future—all traits that have helped us define ourselves as the planet’s preeminent species. Based on research involving crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, whales, and of course chimpanzees and bonobos, Frans de Waal explores both the scope and the depth of animal intelligence. He offers a firsthand account of how science has stood traditional behaviorism on its head by revealing how smart animals really are, and how we’ve underestimated their abilities for too long. “An entertaining, convincing case for assessing each species’s intelligence on its own terms….not only full of information and thought-provoking, it’s also a lot of fun to read.”. - Nancy Szokan, Washington Post “A passionate and convincing case for the sophistication of nonhuman minds.”. - Alison Gopnik, The Atlantic. Drawing on a growing body of research including his own, de Waal shows that animals, from elephants and chimpanzees to the lowly invertebrates, are not only smarter than we thought, but also engaged in forms of thought we have only begun to understand.”. - Edward O. Wilson, University Professor Emeritus, Harvard University. will completely change your perceptions of the abilities of animals.
Reviews
"In this fascinating and eye-opening compendium, Frans de Waal says we are prejudiced towards ourselves, always comparing animals’ performance to ours, in unfairly biased experiments designed for us. This said two things: mice could hide their own pain, and every experiment using mice is to some extent invalid, prejudiced by the mere presence of humans. To that story, de Waal adds attention, motivation, and especially cognition, giving animals the full range of unlimited possibility, including communication (bottlenose dolphins call to each other by name). Possibly the most telling sentence about primates (de Waal’s focus) is that the caretakers in a primate center have greater respect for the intelligence of the animals than do the psychologists and philosophers who run the experiments. The whole field of comparative psychology, where we test how animals measure up to humans, is irrelevant and invalid."
"Dutch/American biologist with a Ph.D. in zoology and ethology and author of Our Inner Ape and others, Frans de Waal, takes the reader on a journey of the sophistication of nonhuman minds. A fascinating topic in the hands of a subject matter expert, nonhuman cognition. He is careful to not oversell nonhuman cognition while providing a mixture of stories, experiments and observations to back his points. “I will pick and choose from among many discoveries, species, and scientists, so as to convey the excitement of the past twenty years.”. 4. Does a wonderful job of explaining the most important topic of this book, animal cognition. “No wonder Griffin became an early champion of animal cognition—a term considered an oxymoron until well into the 1980s—because what else is cognition but information processing? “It is far more logical to assume continuity in every domain, Griffin said, echoing Charles Darwin’s well-known observation that the mental difference between humans and other animals is one of degree rather than kind.”. 11. Behaviorists sought to dictate behavior by placing animals in barren environments in which they could do little else than what the experimenter wanted.”. 12. The book provides interesting examples that includes animals beyond de Waal’s expertise of primates. “With animals such as chimpanzees, elephants, and crows, for which we have ample evidence of complex cognition, we really do not need to start at zero every time we are struck by seemingly smart behavior.”. 13. “A century ago Wolfgang Köhler set the stage for animal cognition research by demonstrating that apes can solve problems in their heads by means of a flash of insight, before enacting the solution.” “Apes do not just search for tools for specific occasions; they actually fabricate them.”. 15. “Nadia Ladygina-Kohts was a pioneer in animal cognition, who studied not only primates but also parrots, such as this macaw. “This study was quite ingenious and included a few additional controls, leading the authors to conclude that jays recall what items they have put where and at what point in time.” “Lisala, a bonobo, carries a heavy rock on a long trek toward a place where she knows there are nuts. “In short, elephants make sophisticated distinctions regarding potential enemies to the point that they classify our own species based on language, age, and gender. The scientific process needed to be explained in more detail and specifically how it relates to the study of primates. Professor De Waal succeeds in entertaining and educating the public on animal cognition. Further recommendations: “The Bonobo and the Atheist”, “Our Inner Ape”, “The Age of Empathy”, “Chimpanzee Politics” by the same author, “The Genius of Birds” by Jennifer Ackerman, “Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel” by Carl Safina, “The Soul of an Octopus” by Sy Montgomery, “Animal Wise” by Virginia Morell, “Zoobiquity” by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, “The Secret Lives of Bats” by Merlin Tuttle, and “Last Ape Standing” by Chip Walter."
"So many fascinating stories, examples, experiments and all of it written in clear, concise language that even I could follow. I vividly remember my 8th grade science teacher telling the class that what separated us from animals was our ability to make and use tools."
"Interesting insight from a technical, biological viewpoint."
"I've long believed animals are far smarter than we give them credit for."
"A book every adult should read and then tell children about."
"Extraordinary information!"
"Amazingly informative and exciting on both an intellectual and emotional level."
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Best Mental Health

Man's Search for Meaning
At the time of Frankl's death in 1997, Man's Search for Meaning had sold more than 10 million copies in twenty-four languages. The book begins with a lengthy, austere, and deeply moving personal essay about Frankl's imprisonment in Auschwitz and other concentration camps for five years, and his struggle during this time to find reasons to live. The second part of the book, called "Logotherapy in a Nutshell," describes the psychotherapeutic method that Frankl pioneered as a result of his experiences in the concentration camps.
Reviews
"Read this book, read this book."
"Those that had developed purpose and meaning to the harsh conditions got out of bed every morning to face another unbearable day."
"Profound insight."
"A little twist of ideas as to why some people survive the worst and why others don't survive medium bad."
"A nice read about the importance of finding meaning in your life."
"This is a great book from both the personal story aspect as well as for its philosophical aspects."
"A powerful book."
"This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in logotherapy, Positive thinking, or Holocaust survival stories."
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