Getting to know yourself

I remember learning in high school literature class (long ago) the three types of conflict:  man vs man, man vs his environment, or man vs himself.   So if one is battling one’s self, does that make the battle easier to win or harder? Peter White Public Library offers an array of titles that invite readers to get to know themselves and strive for inner peace.

Journey to the ancestral self: the native lifeway guide to living in harmony with the Earth Mother by Tamarack Song

"For the deer and the grasses I have written this book, so that we may again be At One with them," writes Tamarack Song in this guide to native lifeways. Though the author is white, the book speaks to readers of every background who seek a connection with their essential self -- that person, deep within, "who dances to the Drum around the ritual Fire, who knows healing lore from times when plants spoke, who yearns for the peace and Blessings of walking again in the Balance of Our Earth." The author shares his unique message: that the lifeways of all Native peoples are essentially one, sharing not just the same ceremonies and life transitions, but the same spirit and reverence for life; and that all of us, regardless of ethnic background or religious upbringing, are essentially Native people. 

The tides of mind: uncovering the spectrum of consciousness by David Hillel Gelernter
This new exploration of the human psyche shows us how the purpose of the mind changes throughout the day. As Gelernter explains, when we are at our most alert, when reasoning and creating new memories is our main mental business, the mind is a computer-like machine that keeps emotion on a short leash and attention on our surroundings. As we gradually tire, however, and descend the "mental spectrum," reasoning comes unglued. Memory ranges more freely, the mind wanders, and daydreams grow more insistent. Self-awareness fades, reflection blinks out, and at last we are completely immersed in our own minds.  By understanding this process, David Gelernter hopes to answer many of our most fundamental questions about the origins of creativity, thought, and consciousness.

Smarter faster better: the secrets of productivity in life and business by Charles Duhigg

At the core of Smarter Faster Better are eight key productivity concepts—motivation, goal setting, focus, decision making, etc—that explain why some people and companies get so much done. Drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics—as well as the experiences of CEOs, educational reformers, four-star generals, FBI agents, airplane pilots, and Broadway songwriters—this book explains that the most productive people, companies, and organizations don’t merely act differently.  They know that productivity relies on making certain choices. The way we frame our daily decisions; the big ambitions we embrace and the easy goals we ignore; the cultures we establish as leaders to drive innovation; the way we interact with data: These are the things that separate the merely busy from the genuinely productive.

Pretty happy: healthy ways to love your body by Kate Hudson
In Pretty Happy, Hudson shows how she honors her relationship with herself through exercise, making the right choices about what she eats, and constantly going back to the drawing board and starting fresh, instead of holding herself to unrealistic standards of perfection and giving up when she falls short.

How to have a good day: harnessing the power of behavioral science to transform our working lives by Caroline Webb
In How to Have a Good Day, Webb explains how to apply behavioral science to our daily tasks and routines. She translates three big scientific ideas into step-by-step guidance that shows us how to set better priorities, make our time go further, be our smartest selves, strengthen our personal impact, be resilient to setbacks, and boost our energy and enjoyment. Through it all, Webb teaches us how to navigate the typical challenges of modern workplaces—from conflict with colleagues to dull meetings and overflowing inboxes—with skill and ease.

The 30-day sobriety solution: how to cut back or quit drinking in the privacy of your own home by Jack Canfield

Organized into five phases that span 30-day periods, this book guides you through each day with practical exercises that, over time, allow you to more easily make positive choices again and again. Canfield’s program moves systematically from beliefs (including limiting ones) to feelings and emotions to concrete actions and behaviors that promote better outcomes.
Integrating neuroscience, cognitive therapy, proven tools, and teachings, The 30-Day Sobriety Solution is a clear, practical daily program designed to help you achieve your goals—whether that’s getting sober or just cutting back—and create positive, permanent change in your life.

Presence: bringing your boldest self to your biggest challenges by Amy Joy Casselberry Cuddy

By accessing our personal power, we can achieve "presence," the state in which we stop worrying about the impression we're making on others and instead adjust the impression we've been making on ourselves. As Harvard professor Amy Cuddy's revolutionary book reveals, we don't need to embark on a grand spiritual quest or complete an inner transformation to harness the power of presence. Instead, we need to nudge ourselves, moment by moment, by tweaking our body language, behavior, and mind-set in our day-to-day lives.

Living with intent: my somewhat messy journey to purpose, peace, and joy by Mallika Chopra

Living with Intent is a chronicle of Mallika Chopra’s search to find more meaning, joy, and balance in life. She hopes that by telling her story, she can inspire others with her own successes (and failures) as well as share some of the wisdom she has gathered from friends, experts, and family along the way— people like her dad, Deepak, as well as Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, Arianna Huffington, Andrew Weil, and Dan Siegel. She also provides a practical road map for how we can all move from thought to action to outcome.


--Ellen Moore, Webmaster