As we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, we’re all presented with a unique opportunity for reflection and reconsideration. Do we really want our lives to go back to “normal”? Do we want our old habits, tendencies, and preferences to simply return to how they were?
For many of us, the answer is a resounding “no.” Perhaps we’re ready for a new job or a new adventure—or perhaps we’re ready to look inward and change something about ourselves. Striving for personal transformation is never easy, but with these seven remarkable new books on your shelf, we wouldn’t bet against you.
Your Turn: How to Be an Adult
By Julie Lythcott-Haims
Many of us have realized that being a grown-up isn’t easy—so how can we do it better? Julie Lythcott-Haims, a former Stanford dean and author of the perennial bestseller How to Raise an Adult, believes that being an adult is a process of slow improvement. It’s a matter of becoming more comfortable with uncertainty, and gaining the knowhow to keep going. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Be Who You Want: Unlocking the Science of Personality Change
By Christian Jarrett
“Life isn’t about finding yourself,” George Bernard Shaw once said. “Life is about creating yourself.” In Be Who You Want, cognitive neuroscientist Christian Jarrett shares research-backed advice for turning Shaw’s words into action, showing how anyone can change their personality to become more emotionally stable, extraverted, open-minded, and more. View on Amazon
Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day
By Jay Shetty
When business and media influencer Jay Shetty encourages us to “think like a monk,” he’s not referencing something he read about, or researched for a doctorate degree. He’s talking about something he lived, as he spent years in India as a monk himself. This remarkable book lays bare the most ancient, most valuable wisdom he learned along the way. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick
By Wendy Wood
University of Southern California psychologist Wendy Wood draws on three decades of original research to explain the fascinating science of how we form habits, and offers the key to unlocking our habitual mind in order to make the changes we seek. View on Amazon
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
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
How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
By Katy Milkman
Wharton professor Katy Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. Whether you’re a teacher or coach trying to change someone else or simply trying to change yourself, this is a science-based blueprint for achieving your goals. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
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