100 more of the top personal growth books… ever.
From nutrition and love to positive psychology, old school and modern classics, tap into the wisdom that matters.
Nutrition classics.
Let’s cut thru the hype to the scientific fundamentals of eating right with Big Ideas from a bunch of genius nutrition books. Learn more
Love classics.
Time to get our Love on with Big Ideas from some of the greatest books on creating extraordinary relationships. Learn more
Positive psychology.
Gotta love the Science of Happiness, eh? Let’s explore more scientifically proven Big Ideas from world-class researchers. Learn more
Old school classics.
From Aristotle and Plato to Hafez and Chuang Tzu, we go Old School giving you classic wisdom at its best. Learn more
Modern classics.
From creative genius to everyday Zen, we’ll dive into the Big Ideas from modern classics guaranteed to inspire. Learn more
100 Ways to Motivate Yourself: Change Your Life Forever
by Steven Chandler
Description: I’m not sure how I found this book but I’m glad I did! Steve Chandler’s awesome and this book kinda reminds me of my book: One quick, inspiring, Big Idea after another that helps us get our practical wisdom on and go out and rock it. Some of my favorites include the cure for “Intention Deficit Disorder,†Creating vs. Reacting, and the importance of replacing worry with action.
A Complaint Free World
by Will Bowen
Description: Will Bowen committed to going 21-days without complaining, criticizing or gossiping and challenged his congregation to do the same. 7 million purple bracelets later, Bowen created a little revolution and in this Note, we’ll check out some Big Ideas on how to quit getting your complaint on. And why you should care. Big Ideas range from shutting down the complaint factory to the fact that we’re all self-made—but only the successful will admit it.
A Daily Dose of Sanity
by Alan Cohen
Description: Alan Cohen has become one of my favorite writers and people and this book is great--it’s precisely what the sub-title promises: “A Five-Minute Soul Recharge for Every Day of the Year.†The perfect treat for a lover of more wisdom in less time. In this Note, we’ll learn how important it is to be in integrity as we answer the voice that’s calling and fire our inner critics while promoting our inner fan club. And, for good measure, we’ll drop in some Harry Potter wisdom. Good times.
A Guide to Rational Living
by Albert Ellis & Robert Harper
Description: Albert Ellis has been recognized as one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century (#2, in fact, right ahead of Freud and behind Carl Rogers). Ellis was, essentially, the founder of the modern cognitive behavioral movement and in this Note we’ll have fun exploring some Big Ideas on how to get our minds right—from understanding the roots of neurosis, the ABC’s of suffering, and the importance of action, you’ll feel inspired and empowered by the end!
A Guide to the Good Life: Stoic Joy
by William B. Irvine
Description: Stoicism. I love it. Although pretty obscure today, Stoicism was once the primary philosophy of the Western world. (We’ve done Notes on the three leading Stoics: Marcus Aurelius and his Meditations, Seneca and his Letters from a Stoic, and Epictetus and his Enchiridion.) In this, Note, we’ll cover some of the essential ideas of the Stoic philosophical approach along with some Big Ideas on the art of living, the true meaning of virtue, how to visualize and the fact that we’re living in a dream world.
Awaken Your Strongest Self
by Neil Fiore
Description: If you’re looking to “Break free of stress, inner conflict, and self-sabotage†then Neil Fiore’s Awaken Your Strongest Self is the book for you! We already did a Note on Fiore’s GREAT book on overcoming procrastination called The Now Habit and I’m excited to have some fun sharing a few of my favorite Big Ideas from this great book as well. You’ll get to know your Strongest Self as we learn about the third perspective, ask ourselves “Where can I start?â€, and address the genius syndrome!
Brain Power
by Michael Gelb & Kelly Howell
Description: Want to learn how to improve your mind as you age? You can and this book by Michael Gelb (author of one of my favorite books: How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci) and Kelly Howell (creator of Brain Sync’s Destiny meditation which I’ve used hundreds of times!) tells us how. In the Note, we’ll take a peek at their eight ways to boost brain power--ranging from optimism, learning and nutrition to exercise, love and rest! Powerful stuff.
Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love & Wisdom
by Rick Hanson
Description: Rick Hanson is a neuropsychologist and meditation teacher and this book delivers on its sub-title, delivering a practical look at the neuroscience of happiness, love and wisdom. It’s packed with Big Ideas on the science of how our brains work and he shares a broad range of various practices and guided meditations to help us re-wire our brains. Good stuff.
Clean
by Alejandro Junger, M.D.
Description: Are you feeling a little funky? There’s a very good chance that your body’s detox systems are overworked and could use a little re-start! And, helping you do that wisely is pretty much what Dr. Alejandro Junger’s great book is all about. In this Note, we take a look at what’s creating all that toxicity and what you can do about it!
Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice
by Robert W. Firestone, Lisa Firestone, Joyce Catlett
Description: Do you have a critical inner voice? Join the club! :) This book is, as the title suggests, all about how we can conquer those little gremlins in our head. In the note, we explore Big Ideas on how to distinguish between the “real you†and the critical inner voice, challenge depression and live a good, examined life!
Conquest of Mind
by Eknath Easwaran
Description: The Conquest of Mind is an amazing book written by an equally amazing man: Eknath Easwaran. We use Easwaran’s translations for the Bhagavad Gita and The Dhammapada and in this book he provides all kinds of great ideas on how we can win “the war within.†In the Note we’ll explore the fact that we don’t want to be heroes in the beginning and then sneak out the back door, the fact that we can ALL change, and the miracles that can be created by hard work.
Dare to Be 100
by Walter M. Bortz. II M.D.
Description: Dare to be 100! Why not? If you believe one of the world’s leading scientists on longevity, Stanford Med School Professor Walter Bortz, we should *definitely* go for it! Get gives us 100 ways we can go about it and in this Note, we’ll explore some of my favorite Big Ideas—starting with the fact that we need to quit blaming our genes, see work as our greatest friend and exercise as our first line of defense. Great stuff!
Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes
by Neal Barnard
Description: If you or someone you love is suffering from diabetes, this book is a MUST READ. Seriously. If you have diabetes, Dr. Neal Barnard and his team have developed a simple, effective, scientifically-tested program to help you take charge of your life and get your health back. In fact, Dr. Barnard’s program has proven to be THREE TIMES more effective than the American Diabetes Association’s approach to type 2 diabetes. (THREE TIMES!!) In this Note, we’ll take a quick peek at a few Big Ideas from this great book.
Eat to Live
by Joel Fuhrman
Description: This book is REALLY REALLY good. In fact, I’m gonna say that if you take the time to read only *one* book on nutrition, read this one. Integrating scientific research plus his experience treating over 10,000 patients with common sense and fun, Dr. Joel Fuhrman has created a super-readable book with a challenging, yet approachable nutrition program that can completely change your life. Big Ideas we explore in the Note include the importance of really committing, what nutritional density is all about and other goodness.
EntreLeadership
by Dave Ramsey
Description: I just love his no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point approach. His words pack a wise punch. We already profiled another one of his great books, The Total Money Makeover, and I’m excited to have some fun taking a quick peek at a few of my favorite Big Ideas from this equally great book: EntreLeadership, where he shares his best “practical business wisdom†he’s learned “from the trenches.†Big Ideas include understanding that you are the problem (and the solution!), the importance of passion and vision, and how it takes about fifteen years to be an overnight success. Good stuff!
Excuses Begone!
by Wayne Dyer
Description: This is the fourth Note I’ve done on Wayne Dyer’s stuff. We also profiled Your Erroneous Zones + The Power of Intention + Real Magic. I just love his simple, inspiring, practical wisdom. In this book Dr. Dyer walks us through how to finally (!) get rid of disempowering thoughts. It’s packed with goodness. In the Note, we’ll explore Big Ideas on the importance of moving from “excusing†to “choosing,†what self-actualizers focus on, why commitments beat pronouncements and other goodness so we can make our excuses be gone!
Fearless
by Steve Chandler
Description: Want to be fearless? Then you’ll love this book. And this Note. Steve Chandler is a funny guy. And, he’s brilliant. I really like that combo. :) We have Notes on two of his other great books: 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself + Time Warrior. All of Steve’s books are quick-reading, wisdom-packed gems that will make you laugh as you get your wisdom on. In this Note, we’ll have fun eliminating fear from our lives as we learn how to challenge fear thoughts, make tectonic shifts, and discover the secret of life. Good times!
Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being
by Martin Seligman
Description: Martin Seligman is one of the founding fathers of the Positive Psychology movement and this is the third Note we’ve done on one of his books. (Check out the Notes on his other classics: Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness for more science of happiness goodness.) In this Note, we’ll explore his shift from Authentic Happiness Theory to Well-Being Theory as we wrap our brains around PERMA, his model of well-being that consists of Positive emotions + Engagement + Relationships + Meaning + Achievement. Good times.
Happiness
by Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener
Description: Ed Diener is the world’s leading researcher on the science of happiness and his son, Robert Biswas-Diener is known as the “Indiana Jones of psychology†because of his data collection adventures around the world. (Love that. :) In their great book, Happiness, they give us a comprehensive look at what we KNOW creates happiness. In this Note, we’ll have some fun figuring out how we can become psychological billionaires as we master the happiness equation, become loving and caring angels, and take AIM at happiness.
Healthy at 100
by John Robbins
Description: How’d you like to be Healthy at 100? Me, too. John Robbins shares the scientific wisdom we have on *how* we can go about rockin’ that and in this Note we’ll have fun looking at my favorite Big Ideas including the fact that, as the Vilcabambans tell us, we all have two doctors (our right leg and our left leg :). Plus, we’ll look at the importance of love and gratitude along with the true fountain of youth.
How God Changes Your Brain
by Andrew Newberg M.D. & Mark Robert Waldman
Description: Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman are academics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Spirituality and the Mind. In this great book, they walk us through how God (or any spiritual practices in general) can, as the title suggests, changes our brains! Big Ideas we explore in the Note include the power if intention, the science of neuroplasticity and how meditation and exercise effect your brain!
Life Visioning
by Michael Bernard Beckwith
Description: Michael Bernard Beckwith. Alexandra and I love him and his wisdom. He’s a model of integrated spirituality for us one of our absolute favorite teachers. In this Note, we’ll take quick at his powerful “Life Visioning Process†and have some fun getting our wisdom on with Big Ideas ranging from The Four Stages of Evolutionary Growth to unplugging from the Internet and plugging into the “Inner-net.†Good stuff!
Live Life Aggressively!
by Mike Mahler
Description: Mike Mahler is one of the world’s leading kettlebell instructors and overall fitness experts. I’ve been following Mike’s work for awhile and absolutely loved this book.
Me to We
by Craig and Marc Kielburger
Description: Craig and Marc Kielburger are simply extraordinary human beings who, from a remarkably young age, dedicated their lives to making a huge difference in the world. This book is a manifesto on how to go from Me to We as we commit to living for something bigger than ourselves. In the Note, we explore Big Ideas ranging from classic Greek ideas about happiness to closing the gap between principle and practice. Super inspiring and transformative.
Mindset
by Carol Dweck
Description: Carol Dweck, Ph.D is a Stanford Professor and one of the world’s leading authorities on the science of motivation. She tells us that our “mindsetâ€â€”how we see the world—determines a *huge* part of our overall happiness and well-being and achievement. In this Note, we’ll explore the difference between a “fixed mindset†and a “growth mindset†and some Big Ideas on why we want to learn how to live from a growth mindset. And, of course, how to do it!
No Excuses!
by Brian Tracy
Description: Are you suffering from “excusitis†or living on “Someday Isleâ€â€”you know, where you’ll get around to living your greatest life “somedayâ€? Brian Tracy says we need to vote ourselves off that island and in this Note we’ll check out some of my favorite Big Ideas on how he says we should rock it—from understanding the root of negative moods (it’s all about blame) to thinking long-term (the happiest/most successful see the big picture!) to the importance of setting goals and taking purposeful action.
One Small Step Can Change Your Life
by Robert Maurer
Description: One small step. That’s all we ever need to take! In his great, quick-reading book One Small Step Can Change Your Life, Robert Maurer helps us understand why the small steps are so important. In this Note, we’ll take a look at the difference between kaizen and innovation, learn how to tiptoe past our fear, and identify one small step we can take on our journey to rockin’ it!
Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
by Thich Nhat Hanh
Description: A humble Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most revered spiritual leaders on the planet. This book is a collection of wisdom from his talks and private conversations and is packed with peaceful wisdom. In the Note, we’ll explore Big Ideas ranging from the importance of our breath and what he calls “mouth yoga†(aka smiling :) to how we can practice engaged mindfulness.
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure
by Caldwell Esselstyn
Description: Caldwell Esselstyn is a former Olympic gold medalist and one of the world’s leading medical doctors specializing in heart disease. He’s successfully prevented and REVERSED heart disease with his plant-based diet and in this great book shows us how and why his approach works. If you or someone you love suffers from heart disease, this book is a *must read*!! In the Note, we’ll explore some Big Ideas on how to rock it.
Relax into Wealth
by Alan Cohen
Description: Alan Cohen has quickly become one of my favorite teachers and favorite people. If you’ve been conditioned to believe that creating wealth requires high levels of stress and all that, I think you’ll love it. It’s a great, easy-to-read and practical look at how we can flow with life and welcome more of the good stuff into our lives. In the Note, we’ll have fun learning how to build our wealth consciousness by investing in ourselves, taking small steps, and lightening up!
Rethinking Depression
by Eric Maisel
Description: This is a great book. In Rethinking Depression, Eric Maisel presents an incredibly persuasive case for how medicalized we’ve made the normal human emotions of sadness, anxiety and other unfun feelings (and how dangerous that is) while giving us an existential handbook on how to deal with life’s challenges by creating an authentic life packed with meaning. In this Note, we check out the fact that unhappiness happens while learning how to create our “existential ideal†as we make meaning in our lives! (And, therefore, a *lot* more happiness.)
Revive
by Frank Lipman, M.D.
Description: Dr. Frank Lipman is known as the “voice of sustainable wellness†and is one of the world’s leading functional medicine doctors—trained in both Western and Eastern medicine. He’s also an incredibly nice and passionate guy! Revive is a great book that guides us through a six-week healing program. It’s *packed* with Big Ideas on how we can, as the sub-title suggests, stop feeling spent and start living again. In the Note, we’ll get our wisdom on as we learn about epigenetics, how to build our essential energy and create a sweeter life!
Self-Help
by Samuel Smiles
Description: Written in 1859, this is one of the classics of self-development. Smiles focuses on character development, hard work and perseverance rather than the get-it-quick-fluff found in so much of modern self-dev. In the Note, we’ll explore a bunch of Big Ideas including the power of diligence and how to make happiness a habit!
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
by John J. Ratey
Description: Exercise. At this stage—especially if you’ve read many of these Notes!—we KNOW it’s important. This book tells us WHY. John D. Ratey is a genius from the Harvard Medical School (well, technically he’s a Professor of Psychiatry there :) and his book is *packed* with goodness. If you’re looking to understand the “Revolutionary new science of exercise and the brain†then Spark is for you.
Striking Thoughts
by Bruce Lee
Description: Bruce Lee. The man. The myth. The legend... And, the Philosopher. In addition to being an iconic martial artist and actor, Bruce Lee was a passionate lover of wisdom. In this great little book, we get to take a peek at some of his thoughts on various subjects. In fact, to be precise, the book is packed with 825 Big Ideas on 72 different topics. In this Note, we’ll have fun exploring a few of my favorites. Good stuff.
Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals
by Heidi Grant Halvorson
Description: How’d you like the scientific low-down on how to effectively set goals and succeed? Well, Heidi Grant Halvorson, the young Positive Psychology superstar, gives you the goods in this awesome book. You might be surprised by what you learn. It’s not all about vision boards and visualization (obviously). In the Note, we’ll explore all kinds of Big Ideas, including the fact that we need to have a specific, difficult (but attainable) goal we believe we can achieve AND awareness of all the challenges that stand in our way. Powerful stuff.
Super Immunity
by Joel Fuhrman
Description: Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a nutritional science rock star. As one of the world’s leading medical doctors, he is leading the charge in helping us understand how nutrition impacts our well-being. Super Immunity is PACKED with goodness and, as the sub-title points out, provides us with “The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free.†In this Note, we’ll get our wisdom on as we check our Dr. Fuhrman’s food pyramid, learn about the power of cruciferous veggies (seriously amazing), get our GOMBBS on as we unleash our healing potential!
Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All
by Russell Simmons
Description: Russell Simmons. Part vegan-yogi. Part pop icon. 100% awesome. (And *really* funny. :) In PN - Volume I we did a Note on his great book Do You! and I’m excited to share some of my favorite Big Ideas from this fun weekend read as well. Favorites include getting on the right train, becoming a business yogi, the power of hard work, and cleaning out the junk mail in our minds!
Talent is Overrated
by Geoff Colvin
Description: Colvin tells us talent is overrated. (As you may have gathered from the title. :) Where’s it at? 10,000 hours of deliberate practice, yo. That’s the bedrock on which greatness is developed. In this Note, we’ll check out The Mozart Myth (you think he was born great?! Think again!) to falling on your butt 20,000 times, and we’ll have fun seeing how we can create our own personal greatness.
Thanks!
by Robert A. Emmons
Description: Robert Emmons is one of the world's leading experts on the science of gratitude and this book is packed with the whys and hows of getting our gratitude on. In this Note, we'll explore Big Ideas on how we can boost our happiness by 25% by simply keeping a daily gratitude journal, how to get our relationships flourishing, the importance of seeing challenges as opportunities for growth and more goodness.
The Art of Achievement
by Tom Morris
Description: Tom Morris is my favorite living philosopher. As a former Professor at Notre Dame with a dual Ph.D. in Religion and Philosophy, he blends old school, rigorous philosophy with a modern sense of fun. In this Note, we have fun getting our wisdom on with his “7 C’s of Successâ€: Conception, Confidence, Concentration, Consistency, Commitment, Character and a Capacity to Enjoy. Good times.
The Art of Living Consciously
by Nathaniel Branden
Description: We profiled Nathaniel Branden’s classic Six Pillars of Self-Esteem in Volume I and in this Note we explore some more Big Ideas from this brilliant mind. We’ll check out the importance of moving from defensiveness to eagerness, being present within the context of the bigger picture of past and future and why you may want to consider your ego as a friend if you have any hope of moving forward spiritually. Genius stuff.
The Art of Loving
by Erich Fromm
Description: Erich Fromm, a leading 20th century psychologist, tells us that love is an art--and that if we want to master love then we need to study it like we would any other art we want to master. In this Note, we’ll explore some Big Ideas on how to rock both the theory and the practice of love. Big Ideas include moving from “falling in†love to “STANDING in†love plus the need to get rid of the illusions of a perfect relationship. If you’re looking for more love in your life, you’ll dig it.
The Art of Peace
by Morihei Ueshiba
Description: Morihei Ueshiba was one of the world's greatest martial artists and the founder of Aikido. In this little book, he shares some awesome Big Ideas on The Art of Peace. Big Ideas range from the fact that life is about growth and that if we stop growing, we're as good as dead to the idea that our ultimate purpose is to realize our inner divinity. Good stuff.
The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life
by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander
Description: The Art of Possibility. This is a great book written by the dynamic duo Rosamund Stone Zander (family therapist and landscape painter) and her husband Benjamin Zander (conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and professor at the New England Conservatory of Music). Big Ideas include the fact that it’s all invented (so we might as well create an empowering story!), having grace as we own the risks we take, and giving yourself an A!
The China Study
by Colin Campbell
Description: Curious what the largest epidemiological study ever conducted has to say about the connection between diet and disease? Then The China Study is pretty much required reading. Over 8,000 (!) statistically significant correlations were discovered in the study and in this Note, we’ll explore some of their implications—from diseases of affluence vs. diseases of poverty to the #1 dietary factor in turning cancer on or off (hint: it’s animal protein). Powerful.
The Creativity Book: A Year’s Worth of Inspiration and Guidance
by Eric Maisel
Description: One of the world’s leading experts on creativity, Eric Maisel is a psychotherapist who works exclusively with artists. As the sub-title suggests, this book is set up as “A Year’s Worth of Inspiration and Guidance†and provides insight into everything from dealing with anxiety to taking the next baby step and having patience. Plus, you’ll learn a new power mantra for creating. :)
The Creativity Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life
by Twyla Tharp
Description: Twyla Tharp is awesome. One of the greatest choreographers in the world, she’d created more than 130 (!!!) dances for her company as well as for everyone from the Joffrey Ballet to London’s Royal Ballet. In this great book,. Twyla shares some uber-Big Ideas on how we can develop our Creative Habit to more consistently rock it.
The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything
by Ken Robinson
Description: You might have caught Sir Ken’s genius energy in his brilliant TED talk. Not only is he one of the world’s leading experts on creativity, he’s an all-around cool guy and... he’s a KNIGHT! How cool is that?! That’s pretty saucy I say. :)
The Engine 2 Diet
by Rip Esselstyn
Description: Rip Esselstyn is a great guy. A former professional triathlete turned firefighter who transformed the health of his fire station with a plant-based diet, he shares his passion for life and nutrition in this great book. In the Note, we take a quick peek at the Engine II diet, challenge some crazy myths about food and learn how to deal with the root causes of many of our health issues.
The Golden Present
by Sri Swami Satchidananda
Description: Sri Swami Satchidananda was one of the world’s greatest yoga masters and teachers. This book is organized as a daily inspirational guidebook and it’s packed with 365 wisdom gems. In the Note, we explore Big Ideas ranging from the importance of being bold and strong to the power of making a lot mistakes.
The Happiness Hypothesis
by Jonathan Haidt
Description: Wonder where happiness comes from? So does Jonathan Haidt, one of the world’s leading positive psychologists and Professor at the University of Virginia. In this phenomenal book, Haidt looks at ancient wisdom and modern wisdom as he tests some happiness hypotheses and comes up with his ultimate hypothesis. In this Note, we’ll check out the dynamic between you and your elephant, the magic pill that is meditation, and the mojo of virtue.
The Highest Goal
by Michael Ray
Description: Michael Ray is a Professor at Stanford’s Business School who teaches creativity in business. This book shares the lessons from that remarkable class and points out the fact that our “Highest Goal†is all about connecting to and living from our highest truths all the time. In this Note, we’ll take a look at how to get out of “the cruel grip of society†as we travel our own path and let the material bounty be by-products of our spiritual awesomeness. :)
The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime
by MJ DeMarco
Description: MJ DeMarco is a *really* funny guy. He’s also a self-made multi-millionaire who powerfully challenges the conventional means of acquiring wealth If you’re not easily offended and would prefer to create extraordinary wealth while you’re still young rather than hoping to create what DeMarco calls “Wheelchair Wealth†(laughing), then this book is for you. It’s PACKED with Big Ideas on not just personal finance but how to create a great business.
The Narcissism Epidemic
by Jean Twenge & Keith Campbell
Description: Newsflash: We're in the midst of a narcissism epidemic. Oh, wait, you probably already knew that! In this great book, Twenge and Campbell, two research psychologists, let us know what's up and how to deal with it. In this Note, we'll look at what narcissism is (think: overconfidence, vanity, materialism and entitlement), the five causes of narcissism, and touch on some Big Ideas on how we can deal with it—personally and culturally. Intense and powerful wisdom.
The Paradox of Choice - Why More Is Less
by Barry Schwartz
Description: Barry Schwartz tells us that some choice is obviously good but too much choice can actually stress us out! The book is packed with powerful wisdom—much of it counterintuitive. In the Note, we'll explore the difference between being a “Maximizer†vs. a “Satisficer†and why we want to shift from always needing the “absolute best†to being happy with “good enough†as we develop our gratitude and quit comparing ourselves to other peeps. Powerful.
The Power of Habit
by Jack D. Hodge
Description: Habits. They can make us or break us. This great little book by Jack D. Hodge is a quick-reading 115 pages of goodness to help us change our lives by changing the habits that drive us. It’s packed with Big Ideas. In this Note, we’ll have some fun learning about the difference between “Dreamers†and “Doers†(hint: it’s their habits!), the common denominator of success, how to become a genius, daily drudgery and the power of focus. Good stuff!
The Power of Habit
by Charles Duhigg
Description: Habits. They’re powerful. And, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg is a very cool look at why we have them, how they work, and what we can do to change them. The book is an incredibly well-written, fun read and it’s packed with great stories and wisdom and I think you’ll dig it. In this Note, we’ll take a quick peek at the basic aspects of a habit loop (cue + routine + reward), how you can get a cue, what a keystone habit is (and why you should care), the importance of believing you can change and the fact that every habit is malleable. Fun!
The RAVE Diet
by Mike Anderson
Description: RAVE = No Refined Foods + No Animal Products + No Vegetable Oils + No Exceptions + Exercise. According to Mike Anderson, it’s what all the leading Doctors who can reverse disease recommend for their patients. In this Note, we’ll explore some Big Ideas on how plants do a body good while milk does a body bad, the best approach to osteoporosis, why antacids are a joke how to best fertilize cancer (hint: just eat a lot of meat ;).
The Relaxation Revolution
by Herbert Benson
Description: Did you know you can alter your gene’s expression through mind body practices like meditation? Yep. And Harvard MD Herbert Benson has the remarkable scientific data to prove it. In this Note, we’ll learn more about his “Relaxation Response†(think: opposite of “Fight-or-Flight Responseâ€), why you should care about it and how to rock it.
The Self Health Revolution
by J. Michael Zenn
Description: J. Michael Zenn’s The Self Health Revolution is a great little book written in a super down-to-earth and funny style by a guy who describes himself as just “an ordinary guy who discovered an extraordinary secret†that he now feels compelled to share with the average, ordinary people everywhere. In this Note, we’ll see that we are what we eat (your butt doesn’t lie!), learn why we should eat like a poor person and how to stomp our ANTs as we get our self health on!
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes
by Deepak Chopra w/Gotham Chopra
Description: What do you get when you mashup Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success with his son Gotham’s passion for comic books and superheroes? This great little book. In this Note, we’ll have fun looking at what makes a superhero so super and how we can rock it as well. Big Ideas include learning how to rise to the occasion as we live our ideals and commit ourselves to service. Will *you* be a superhero?
The Talent Code
by Daniel Coyle
Description: Whatever you want to learn, know this: It’s ALL about the myelin. Myelin? Yep. Myelin. In this Note we’ll learn what myelin is and why it’s so cool along with some other Big Ideas—ranging from the importance of “Deep Practice,†to the importance of baby steps as the royal road to skill and the fact that greatness isn’t about not magic, it’s about hard work.
The Total Money Makeover
by Dave Ramsey
Description: Dave Ramsey is a seriously funny guy and this book is packed with goodness. If you’re tired of being in debt and looking for a real solution to your challenges, this book is for you. In the Note, we’ll have fun exploring the importance of having what Ramsey calls “Gazelle-like Intensity†as we get out the scissors to perform a “Plastectomy†on your credit cards and start living more like the millionaire next door rather than a wannabe rich goober.
The Untethered Soul
by Michael Singer
Description: Michael Singer is a great writer, storyteller and spiritual teacher who has a profound ability to communicate complex spiritual ideas in a simple, easy-to-grasp manner. The book is packed with wisdom. In the Note, we explore Big Ideas on how we can best relate to that voice in our heads as we develop our witness perspective and create real transformation in our lives.
The War of Art
by Steven Pressfield
Description: This book is amazing. If you’ve ever struggled with rockin’ your creativity it’s pretty much a must-read. Written in an intense, no-nonsense style, Pressfield gets to the heart of the “Resistance†that stands in our way to fully expressing ourselves as he challenges us to become true “Professionals.†In the Note, we’ll check out some of my Favorite Big Ideas—from letting the results be by-products to the importance of simply sitting down and trying day after day after day.
The Way of the Bodhisattva
by Shantideva
Description: The Way of the Bodhisattva is one of the classics of Buddhism that teaches us the key elements of the Bodhisattva—one who has dedicated his or her life to serving the world and releasing all sentient beings from suffering. In this Note, we’ll check out the importance of cultivating bodhichitta (an “awakened mindâ€) and how we can do it. (Hint: It’s all about “diligence in virtuous waysâ€! :)
The Willpower Instinct
by Kelly McGonigal
Description: Willpower. It’s huge. The Willpower Instinct by award-winning Stanford Professor Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., is a GREAT book based on “The Science of Willpower†class Kelly teaches through Stanford University’s Continuing Studies program. It’s *packed* with super practical Big Ideas on the newest scientific insights about self-control to explamkdirin how we can “break old habits and create healthy habits, conquer procrastination, find our focus, and manage stress.†In this Note, we’ll check out the #1 way to build willpower (it’s not what you’d guess), how to give ourselves willpower boosts throughout the day and other stress-relief strategies that rock.
Time Warrior
by Steve Chandler
Description: Are you looking for a way to “defeat procrastination, people-pleasing, self-doubt, over- commitment, broken promises and chaos.†Then this books for you. In the Note, we’ll have some fun checking out how to become a time warrior. Big Ideas include learning how to end overwhelm by doing one thing at a time, the power of taking decisive action and how to focus like a sci-fi laser beam! :)
Today We Are Rich
by Tim Sanders
Description: Tim Sanders is awesome. He was the Chief Solutions Officer for Yahoo! back in the day and wrote the uber-cool book Love Is the Killer App—which was one of the books that planted the seed for these PhilosophersNotes. In this great book, Tim shares the wisdom of his beloved Grandma, Billye, who taught him the power of total confidence. The key? As Tim says: “The secret to renewal and true confidence is simple: Get back to the basics.†In this Note, we’ll learn how to be truly rich via powerful daily practices as we become healthy-thought nuts and POETs who practice persistence. Fun!
Toward a Psychology of Being
by Abraham Maslow
Description: Abraham Maslow sits in the great-grandfather slot in my spiritual family tree and is kinda the great-grandfather of the modern Positive Psychology movement. We profiled the 19 characteristics of his self-actualizing individual in our Note on Motivation & Personality in Volume I and in this Note we take a look at the essence of creativity and the fact that we all have capacities that’re clamoring to be used!
True Success
by Tom Morris
Description: This is the second Note on a Tom Morris book in Volume II. As I said, he’s my favorite living philosopher. In this Note, we check out Big Ideas on the importance of embracing failure, asking the question: “How can I make my contribution?†and the fact that fame, wealth and power aren’t where it’s at. Noperz. We wanna go for Greatness of Spirit and let the rest of it flow as by-products to that noble end.
When Things Fall Apart
by Pema Chodron
Description: Pema Chödrön is a Buddhist teacher and prolific author with an incredibly strong, yet compassionate and grounded perspective. This book is all about facing challenging times with courage as we lean into our fears and grow. We'll explore a bunch of Big Ideas on everything from why we should meditate to how long the process of actualizing takes (roughly the rest of our lives :)!
Wherever You Go, There You Are
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Description: Jon Kabat-Zinn is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts and one of the world’s leading advocates for mindfulness training. He’s demonstrated the phenomenal health benefits of integrating meditation into our daily lives and in this Note we’ll learn about meditation—what it is, how we can rock it and what we can gain from doing so.
Why Meditate?
by Matthieu Ricard
Description: Why Meditate? According to Ricard, the ultimate reason is to transform ourselves so we can transform our world. That works for me! In this Note, we check out my favorite Big Ideas on working out our mindfulness muscles, looking at the power of neuroplasticity and highlighting the fact that it’s *all* about the consistent practice, working on our consciousness thought after thought and emotion by emotion.
Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation
by Edward L. Deci
Description: Edward L. Deci is one of the world’s leading researchers on human motivation and this book is *packed* with scientific wisdom—exploring what we know about the power of intrinsic motivation (vs. extrinsic motivation), the importance of autonomy (vs. being controlled) and the need for authenticity (vs. alienation). Hint: If you want happiness, focus on relationships, personal growth and making a contribution; don’t go after fame, wealth and beauty.
Why Your Life Sucks
by Alan Cohen
Description: Why Your Life Sucks. That has to win the award for best title ever. Cohen is a very funny man. He’s also super wise and a great story teller and this book is packed with goodness on how we can unsuck our lives. My favorite Big Ideas (that we cover in the Note) include everything from tuning in to radio station “KNOW,†hiring your own thought bouncer and remembering to nourish your spirit.
Willpower
by Roy Baumeister & John Tierney
Description: Willpower. It’s ESSENTIAL to optimizing our lives. In fact, in their *great* book, Willpower, Roy Baumeister (one of the world’s leading scientific researchers on self-control) and John Tierney (science writer for the New York Times) tell us that “Improving willpower is the surest way to a better life.†In this Note, we’ll learn how to eat our way to willpower (seriously), how to exercise our self-control muscles, why “precommitment†is so important and how to win the willpower game with bright lines and a great offense. :)
Wooden
by John Wooden
Description: John Wooden. He’s arguably the greatest coach EV-ER and this book is essentially one Big Idea after another. Wooden is all about the fundamentals and in this Note we’ll explore a few of my favorite Big Ideas on his old-school wisdom—from the fact that full effort = full success to the importance of becoming a realistic optimist.
You Are the Leader You’ve Been Waiting For
by Eric Klein
Description: You are the leader you’ve been waiting for. And, this great little book by Eric Klein provides some valuable insights on how to step into that role and rock it. If you’d like to enjoy high performance and high fulfillment at work, I think you’ll dig it. Big Ideas in the Note include understanding what Authentic Leadership is and how to have it, the importance of values + gifts + calling and how to quit being a Lotus Eater or Burnout as we become a blessing to the world.
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