Book recommendations II
BOOKS
A selection of five more books that should be on your radar.
By Matt Warren & James Warren
4th October 2018
1. The Marshmallow Test by Walter Mischel
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Renowned psychologist Walter Mischel, inventor of the famous Marshmallow test, explores the psychology of self control and how to master it.
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Mischel draws on decades of research and gives compelling examples of how willpower, or lack thereof, can influence the outcome of our lives, with implications reaching from parenting to public policy.
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In this fascinating and entertaining book, Mischel illustrates how the ability to delay gratification is critical to living a fulfilling and successful life, and identifies some of the cognitive skills that enable this.
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“Walter Mischel is one of the most influential pscyhologists of the twentieth century, and The Marshmallow Test will make him one of the most influential in this century, too.” - Steven Pinker
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“A wonderful book, engaging, enlightening, and profound.” - Daniel Goleman
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“Your view of human nature will change profoundly as you read this brilliant book” - Daniel Kahneman
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“Fascinating and rewarding” - Sunday Telegraph
2. The Science of Meditation by Daniel Goleman & Richard J. Davidson
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In this honest and rigourous summary of the current state of Meditation research, New York Times–bestselling authors Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson, critically evaluate the science and explore the recent explosion of academic interest into the benefits of meditation.
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Drawing on their own research as well as others, the authors reveal what we can learn from the changes in neural cicuitry observable in world class meditators, and how this translates to personal qualities we can all cultivate with purposeful and sustained practice.
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From attention and equanimity, to love, selflessness, and compassion; Goleman and Davidson show the variety of benefits that can be had from mindfulness and reflect upon their journey as both scientists and life long meditators.
An excellent primer; a must for skeptics interested in meditation.
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“The definitive book on the science of meditation. Rigourously researched and deeply illuminating, The Science of Meditation is a must-read for anyone interested in the hidden potential of the human mind.” - Daniel Gilbert
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“This exquisite duet between a down-to-earth science writer and path-breaking neuroscientist is a tour-de-force, revealing how training the mind can transform the brain and our sense of self, inspiring us to create a greater sense of well-being, meaning, and connection in our world. Bravo!"
- Daniel J. Siegel, M.D
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3. Hallucinations ​by Oliver Sacks
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In this fascinating volume, Oliver Sacks explores how our minds play tricks on us far more than we might imagine, describing a host of vivid examples. Discussing not only his patients, but also his own mind-altering experiences with hallucinogenics, Sacks shows that the potential for hallucinations is present in us all and a quintessential aspect of the human condition.
Insightful, elegant, and entertaining.
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“Miss this at your peril” - Sunday Times
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“Hallucinations is the keystone of the amazing edifice that is this remarkable thinker’s oeuvre”
- Will Self, Guardian
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“Hallucinations is an absorbing study of an exotic subject . . . Hallucinatory literature is either transgressive or presented as a search for for enlightenment. This volume sits elegently between the two extremes and is more rewarding than either – a continuing investigation into what makes us human.” - Literary Review
4. The Moral Landscape ​by Sam Harris
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In this audacious and well argued book, Philosopher and Neuroscientist Sam Harris puts forward a controversial thesis; that our scientific understanding of human wellbeing can ultimately guide moral values.
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In the moral landscape, Harris reframes the relationship between science, facts and values, and contends that ‘moral questions’ have objectively right and wrong answers that are grounded in empirical facts about what causes humans to flourish. Shedding light on an age old debate, here a convincing case is made for the value of science in our moral dialogue.
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“I was one of those who had unthinkingly bought into the hectoring myth that science can say nothing about morals. To my surprise, The Moral Landscape has changed all that for me.”
- Richard Dawkins
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“A lively, provocative, and timely new look at one of the deepest problems in the world of ideas. Harris makes a powerful case for a morality that is based on human flourishing and thoroughly enmeshed with science and rationality.” - Steve Pinker
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“Sam Harris breathes intellectual fire into an ancient debate. Reading this thrilling, audacious book, you feel the ground shifting beneath your feet.” - Ian McEwan
5. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance ​by Angela Duckworth
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In this enlightening exploration of why some people succeed whilst others fail, Psychologist Angela Duckworth reflects on her pioneering research and discusses the notion of ‘Grit’, a now well established metric in psychology predictive of individual success from sporting to scientific.
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Duckworth highlights how ‘Grit’, commitment to a single goal, comprised of passion and importantly perseverence, can lead to outstanding achievement; debunking the myth that talent in a given area is the sole predictor of an individuals success.
Exploring concepts such as growth mindset and goal hierachys, Grit offers tips that anyone can utilise to help them succeed, drawing on a wealth of scenarios from a variety of contexts.
Try the Grit scale for yourself and see just how Gritty you are.
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“Impressively fresh and original . . . Grit scrubs away preconceptions about how far our potential can take us. And it solves the riddle of how those not likely to succeed in fact do. Buy this, send copies to your friends, and tell the world that there is, in fact, hope. We can all dazzle.”
- Susan Cain
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“. . . persuasive and fascinating . . .” - Malcolm Gladwell
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“With a mix of masterful storytelling and the latest science, she shows that perseverance and passion matter at least as much as talent and intelligence. And far from simply urging us to work harder for the sake of working harder, Gritoffers a truly sane perspective: that true success comes when we devote ourselves to endeavors that give us joy and purpose.” - Arianna Huffington
