For many of us, our daily routine—wake up, eat, work, watch Neflix, go to sleep—can start to feel like a rut. And when we’re stuck in a rut, it’s tempting to think that every day is the same, that life has lost a certain magic we used to enjoy.
But that magic is always there; we just have to revitalize our perspective to see it. So what can we do to reconnect with a sense of wonder? The seven remarkable new books below can help point us in the right direction.
In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy
By John O’Leary
With so much bad news showing up everywhere from TV to Twitter, we may find ourselves feeling burned out and jaded more often than we’d like. But internationally renowned speaker John O’Leary believes that we can adopt a better, healthier, more joyful mindset. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning
By Tom Vanderbilt
When we’re kids, we constantly try new hobbies, sports, and activities. So why do we stop trying new things in adulthood? In Beginners, acclaimed journalist Tom Vanderbilt contends that you’re never too old to learn something new. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Probable Impossibilities: Musings on Beginnings and Endings
By Alan Lightman
In this heartfelt and mind-blowing collection of essays, MIT physicist Alan Lightman reflects on the preciousness and precariousness of life on Earth in the vast and wondrous cosmos. View Our Conversation with the Author
Being the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are: The Science of a Better You
By Jim Davies
Your dog thinks you’re probably the best person in the world. After all, enduring your absence for even half an hour stresses her out. So if you want to become every bit as kind, generous, and wise as she thinks you are, crack open this book by cognitive scientist Jim Davies. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving
By Celeste Headlee
While work tries to worm its way into every waking moment, award-winning journalist Celeste Headlee reminds us that we can and should set some time aside for ourselves. In other words, it really is okay to sit back and do nothing. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness
By Mark Solms
Neuropsychologist Mark Solms proposes a revelatory new theory of consciousness. In The Hidden Spring, he helps readers recognize the workings of their own minds for what they really are, including every stray thought, pulse of emotion, and shift of attention. 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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