happiness

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Best for:  Grit is best for those interested in achievement, high-performance, goal setting, grit, resilience, and general psychology. While narrowed into a few subjects, the lessons are generally applicable to behavior and resilience.  Difficulty to digest: Grit has a conversational tone, with lots of examples and stories. Explanations of core […]

Grit By Angela Duckworth – Book Review

Best for:  Waking up is best for those with experience in meditation, psychology, and study of consciousness who want to deepen their understanding of the mind. Also those without serious attachments to religion or a particular type of spirituality.  Difficulty to digest: Fully grappling with the concepts and vocabulary in […]

Waking Up by Sam Harris – Book Review

steps on a peaceful beach
Best for:  Peace is Every Step is best for those looking for a soft, simple introduction to mindfulness and meditation. Also those who want to hear personal stories as arguments for increasing kindness in the world.  Difficulty to digest: This book is extremely easy to digest. Language is simple and […]

Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh – Book ...

pre-suasion yellow door 1
Best for: For those who are intimately interested in persuasion, influence, marketing, or psychology. This is a follow-up to Cialdini’s book Influence, which I would recommend reading first. If you liked that book, you’ll likely like this book as well although it’s slightly more dense. Difficulty to digest: While Cialdini […]

Pre-Suasion By Robert Cialdini – Book Review

rework pen and crumpled paper
Best for: Those who are interested in starting or growing their own business and want a light, conversational, and approachable read. Difficulty to digest: Rework is a simple, straightforward read broken into bite-sized pieces. Chapters are often only a few paragraphs. Everyone should be able to take some insights from […]

Rework By Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson – Book ...

lion cloud face awaken the giant
Best for: Those who are ready to examine and evaluate a huge sequence of strategies and frameworks (some outdated or woo-woo) for practical self-improvement. Also those who like questions, exercises, and activities centered around self improvement. Difficulty to digest: Awaken the giant within may be more difficult to get through because […]

Awaken The Giant Within By Tony Robbins – Book Review

influence book review picture patch of grass
Best for: Those interested in psychology, communication, marketing, influence, and sales. If you want to know about underlying triggers for decision making, this is an invaluable resource. Difficulty to digest: While there are many studies mentioned throughout the book, Cialdini’s style is approachable and conversational. Most readers should be able to easily […]

Influence By Robert Cialdini – Book Review

3 reasons not to impose your values guy pointing 11
It’s the best deal, so just take it. The woman hobbled up to the counter with 4 books in her arms, each cost a dollar. I was working the cash register and wanted to help her so I said “You know you can get 10 books for $5, right?” “You have […]

Communication: 3 Reasons Not To Impose Your Values On Others

work life balance
It was a long night. You groggily open your eyes, wondering where you are. Your neck and back are killing you, as you slowly orient yourself with your surroundings. Reaching under your head, you pull out a balled up sweater. What the? You finally realize you’re in your office. This […]

Work Life Balance: Reflect On What You Want

broken glass assumptions
What happens when we only have a little information? Have you ever had an experience like this? You’re talking to someone and they say something like ‘For the first month we worked together, I thought you didn’t like me’ and you think what? I never disliked you. You ask them […]

Effective Communication: Stop Making Assumptions