Magazine / 7 Books to Help You Make Peace with Your Mind

7 Books to Help You Make Peace with Your Mind

Arts & Culture Introvert Psychology

“The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master,” author Robin Sharma once wrote. Indeed, our minds can be the source of insight and creativity, or they can trip us up with doubt, and keep us mired in anxiety.

So how can we prevent intrusive thoughts and fears from bossing us around? Each of the seven new books below offers a unique perspective on this question—and they will all take you one step closer to living peacefully with your mind.

 

The Book of Moods: How I Turned My Worst Emotions into My Best Life

By Lauren Martin

With a good job and healthy relationships, Lauren Martin seemed to have it all—but she couldn’t shake persistent feelings of inferiority, irritability, and more. The Book of Moods is her deep dive into what causes such negative emotions, what purpose they serve, and how anyone can manage them more effectively. View Our “Book Bite” Summary

 

Laziness Does Not Exist

By Devon Price

For too many of us, our self-worth has become a function of our productivity. In other words, we only feel good about ourselves by working harder and harder. But social psychologist Devon Price is here to explain why what we call “laziness” isn’t just natural—it’s something we should all strive to embrace. View Our “Book Bite” Summary

 

Wiser: The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good

By Dilip Jeste, with Scott LaFee

Wisdom often feels like this unquantifiable, almost ethereal quality that some of us—our grandparents, perhaps—are blessed with. But after two decades of research, UC San Diego neuropsychiatrist Dilip Jeste has pinned down the scientific basis of wisdom, and he’s ready to share how anyone can become wiser. View Our “Book Bite” Summary

 

Nobody’s Normal: How Culture Created the Stigma of Mental Illness

By Roy Richard Grinker

For centuries, writes anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker, we relegated the mentally ill to the fringes of society, judging them to be inferior or fundamentally broken. But in this brave new book, he argues that mental illness touches all of our lives, either directly or through those we love—and it’s time to end the stigma that surrounds it. View Our “Book Bite” Summary

 

Better Boys, Better Men: The New Masculinity That Creates Greater Courage and Emotional Resiliency

By Andrew Reiner

Rising rates of male unemployment, depression, and violence signal a pressing crisis for modern masculinity. In Better Boys, Better Men, cultural critic Andrew Reiner explains why the social norms around manhood are outdated and downright damaging, and he lays out a better, healthier vision for what it means to be a man. View Our “Book Bite” Summary

 

The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You

By Holley Gerth

Do you feel drained by too much socializing? Enjoy long stretches of focused alone time? If so, you might be an introvert—and while the world may not fully understand your needs, you can turn your introverted traits into your greatest strength. Much like Susan Cain’s Quiet, this new book from Holley Gerth is a game-changer for introverts everywhere. View Our “Book Bite” Summary

 

The Child in You: The Breakthrough Method for Bringing Out Your Authentic Self

By Stefanie Stahl

At long last, this million-copy international bestseller is available for English-speaking readers. Clinical psychologist Stefanie Stahl explains how to shed past traumas and societal pressures to uncover your most joyful, most authentic self. View Our “Book Bite” Summary

 

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