“Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry” is a wonderful book about self-improvements. Catherine M Pittman PhD and Elizabeth M Karle Mlis are the authors of this book. Though somewhat repetitive, this book is easy to read and clearly explains the basic neurobiology of fear, worry, anxiety, panic, and related conditions such as PTSD and OCD. Drawing on research by Joseph Ledoux and others, the book highlights the central role of the amygdala (the brain’s primitive and subconscious ‘fear center’), which receives surprisingly scant attention in many other books on this topic. The book also provides helpful evidence-based guidance on techniques to prevent or reduce the intensity of anxiety and related conditions. They book is easy to understand for the lay person, but also explains the current brain science well. Both educational and practical purposes can be achieved with this read.  It is well written, lots of exercises, examples and good explanations. In short, if you are interested in both the neuroscience behind stress and anxiety and learning techniques to cope with those responses, then this is an excellent volume to read.

“Real Artists Don’t Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age” is a must-read book for everyone. Jeff Goins is the guy behind this book. Jeff is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and popular blogger with a reputation for challenging the status quo. In three years, Goins built a million-dollar business, published four books, and became an online marketing expert, using his skills in writing and business to help others succeed. The “Real Artists Don’t Starve” is a feel-good book of anecdotes and research about artists of all stripes who have come to a point where they can make a living. It is not so much about the practical aspects (such as how to do it within specific industries or avenues to pursue) as it is anecdotal and inspirational. If you have read more than a few books/blogs about being an artist and making a living, particularly those of a more inspirational bent, you won’t really find anything new here. Despite that, the way that the stories are told is nicely done. It’s one of those books that’s better suited to someone who needs encouragement rather than practical instructions.

“The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression” is a great book for overcoming the depression. Andrew Solomon is the author of this book. Andrew is a professor of psychology at Columbia University and a regular contributor to The New Yorker, NPR, and The New York Times Magazine. His book was written over a five-year period, providing an intimate and complete work that examines scientific research, historical aspects, and public perspective of mental disease. Solomon’s willingness to provide us with this no-holds-barred annal is courageous and selfless, to say the least. The author poses challenging questions such as whether suicide is a personal right or if it should be obviated no matter what, and if the benefit of dulling one’s depression with the use of antidepressants outweighs the cost of emotional resilience, why the disease’s focus in the medical community isn’t on prevention like so many other diseases such as diabetes, and so much more. He is refreshingly matter-of-fact about his experiences with the disease, something that is difficult at best for most people. In short, The Noonday Demon is by far the most perfectly written book about depression and we highly recommend its reading to everyone.

“The Loneliness Cure: Six Strategies for Finding Real Connections in Your Life” helps you to rediscover the benefits of a real-life social network. Kory Floyd is the author of this book. Kory is a professor of communication at the University of Arizona. He received his PhD in communication from the University of Arizona, his MA in speech communication from the University of Washington, and his BA in English literature from Western Washington University. His research focuses on the communication of affection in personal relationships and on the interplay between interpersonal behaviour, physiology, and health. His book “The Loneliness Cure” clearly presents not only the problem in our affection and connection starved society but some tangible and applicable solutions for improving our relationships with others. This well-written and researched book is easy to read and understand, without losing the complexities of the issue. This is a wonderful guide for helping us form deeper and more meaningful connections with others. The author mentions three ways a lonely person can work on overcoming their loneliness which are reading (romance) books where one can immerse themselves into affections imaginary characters experience, immersing in nature and finally practising meditation. Although those do not necessarily mean establishing real life affectionate relationships with (other) real people, it is a good coping mechanism in loneliness situation.

“Tinker Dabble Doodle Try: Unlock the Power of the Unfocused Mind” is a great book that can help you tap into another brain frequency to remove obstacles and create opportunities and inspiration. Srini Pillay is the author of this book. Srini is a Harvard-trained practicing psychiatrist, a brain-imaging researcher, and a brain-based technology innovator. His book Tinker Dabble Doodle Try has great research told in a highly accessible format and great suggestions for adding more “unfocus” in your life. It is a great book for challenging the current trend towards more “focus”. This book’s point is that we need to be comfortable with dynamic and adaptive learning. At the end of his self-help book about unlocking the power of the unfocused mind, Dr. Srini Pillay says “Tinker, Dabble, Doodle, Try is not meant to be a book, it is meant to herald a new an invigorated movement.” Dr. Pillay wants us to find our true selves, that is, “To be nobody but ourselves in a world that is night and day trying to make us just like everybody else. This is the hardest fight any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.” Throughout his book, Dr. Pillay gives us the tools we will need to fully access the power of our minds to become our unique and creative selves.

“The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World” is a lovely, illustrated Buddhist guide to staying present. Haemin Sunim is the author of this book. By offering guideposts to well-being and happiness in eight areas including relationships, love, and spirituality, Haemin Sunim emphasizes the importance of forging a deeper connection with others and being compassionate and forgiving toward ourselves. The author shows his compassion and love for others, in short, right-on to the point, words of wisdom. We are all flawed and live our lives in reaction to what we perceive. We usually take things personally. This book helps the reader step back from his/her own ego, and see others as trying to make their way through life just as you are. It is a wonderful philosophy to help us navigate through the struggles we all face, at work, at home, in love, in rejection, in politics. Taking in the wisdom of this book could change the outcome of things like marital strife, love relations, feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, etc. We mostly face the same struggles and this book helps us develop compassion for others. The more than twenty full-color illustrations that accompany his teachings serve as calming visual interludes, encouraging us to notice that when you slow down, the world slows down with you.