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.  

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.
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  1.        Change is usually sudden and unexpected not gradual and foreseen – Nasim Taleb
  2.        Happiness is recognizing how much pressure you can take - Jacques Gassmann
  3.        Happiness is a balance between purpose and pleasure – Paul Dolan 
  4.        We can only control two things.  What we think and what we do.....We can decide everything else  is just fine - Derren Brown
  5.        Rapid repeated indulgence in the same pleasure does not enhance it - Martin Seligman​
  6.        Watching/Reading the news is not conducive to being happy.- Nasim Taleb
  7.        Having a choice of 2-3 is great.  Choosing between 20 can make us unhappy and decide not to choose at all – Barry Schwartz
  8.        Giving people the benefit of the doubt is usually the best starting position - Dr David Purves
  9.        All relationships are like bank accounts.  We can make despoits and withdrawals but overdrafts are never unlimited – Stephen                  Covey
  10.       Be very wary of advice given by people who have nothing to lose if they are wrong – Nasim Taleb
  11.      We feel the pain of a loss far more than the joy of a gain – Daniel Kahneman/Anthony Robbins/Nasim Taleb   
  12.      The joy of a major purchase like a car will only last around 3 months – Daniel Gilbert
  13.       Inject life with many events that produce pleasure but the time between them is crucial.  Experiment to find optimal spacing -                 Martin Seligman
  14.      Our memories are not perfect recorders – Malcolm Gladwell     
  15.      Willpower is a muscle, like any other it's power gets used up throughout the day - Kelly McGonigal
  16.       It takes 10,000 hours of practice to become world class at any activity - Malcolm Gladwell  
  17.       It is the Black Swans the unknown unknowns that are dangerous as they can not be prepared for - Nasim Taleb
  18.      We are the average of our five best friends - Miki Agrawal 
  19.      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