I have taken an interest in Self Help and Psychology books ever since I read Anthony Robbins "Awaken The Giant Within" when I found advice like walking with your head up instead of slouching (which I was prone to do) ACTUALLY does improve your mood.
It is important because, to quote Nasim Nicholas Taleb I have "Skin in the Game". With the help of some excellent counselling and some of the knowledge from these books I have recovered from severe PTSD after a botched, negligent medical procedure 4 years ago. As I was recovering my goal was Post Traumatic Growth. This website is part of that ongoing process.
It is important because, to quote Nasim Nicholas Taleb I have "Skin in the Game". With the help of some excellent counselling and some of the knowledge from these books I have recovered from severe PTSD after a botched, negligent medical procedure 4 years ago. As I was recovering my goal was Post Traumatic Growth. This website is part of that ongoing process.
STOP PRESS : Dr David Purves said the one Self Development book I should read was Authentic Happiness by Martin E.P. Seligman. Well it took me a few months but I can now say it is the most important book on being happy that i've read and reinforced a lot of the positive ideas and techniques that Dr Purves gave me.
I have produced my most detailed and hopefully professional book summary to date which although not quite finished should give a good indication of why reading it is a really good idea . Click on the cover to access. |
2o years of reading self help books may not have made me incredibly rich or have a celebrated career but that was never the reason for reading them and I avoid the books which make the most sensational claims. What I believe it has done is to help me see the world clearer , make better decisions some of the time, and enjoy and marvel at just how amazing the human mind is.
I have listed below my favorite nuggets from all the books I have read which i'll try to keep adding to over time.
I have listed below my favorite nuggets from all the books I have read which i'll try to keep adding to over time.
- Change is usually sudden and unexpected not gradual and foreseen – Nasim Taleb
- Happiness is recognizing how much pressure you can take - Jacques Gassmann
- Happiness is a balance between purpose and pleasure – Paul Dolan
- We can only control two things. What we think and what we do.....We can decide everything else is just fine - Derren Brown
- Rapid repeated indulgence in the same pleasure does not enhance it - Martin Seligman
- Watching/Reading the news is not conducive to being happy.- Nasim Taleb
- Having a choice of 2-3 is great. Choosing between 20 can make us unhappy and decide not to choose at all – Barry Schwartz
- Giving people the benefit of the doubt is usually the best starting position - Dr David Purves
- All relationships are like bank accounts. We can make despoits and withdrawals but overdrafts are never unlimited – Stephen Covey
- Be very wary of advice given by people who have nothing to lose if they are wrong – Nasim Taleb
- We feel the pain of a loss far more than the joy of a gain – Daniel Kahneman/Anthony Robbins/Nasim Taleb
- The joy of a major purchase like a car will only last around 3 months – Daniel Gilbert
- Inject life with many events that produce pleasure but the time between them is crucial. Experiment to find optimal spacing - Martin Seligman
- Our memories are not perfect recorders – Malcolm Gladwell
- Willpower is a muscle, like any other it's power gets used up throughout the day - Kelly McGonigal
- It takes 10,000 hours of practice to become world class at any activity - Malcolm Gladwell
- It is the Black Swans the unknown unknowns that are dangerous as they can not be prepared for - Nasim Taleb
- We are the average of our five best friends - Miki Agrawal
- Life is full of so many small, unexpected pleasures, not just in space but right here on earth...I see them more clearly now because microgravity insists you pay attention - Chris Hadfield