Philosophy, Self Help, and Cognition

• A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthough Ideas by Warren Berger.Bloomsbury : 2014. Civilizations have been built by the wisdom of questioners. In today's society, we are often taught to think in terms of formulas- in religious, educational, governmental, and business settings. There are countless examples of individuals who contributed to the development of civilization by solving problems through the vehicle of questioning. The late Steve Jobs was known to constantly question in order to develop new innovative products. Critical thinking- in the form of questions and problem solving is essential to daily life and career development. This book will have wide appeal- especially to those who choose alternative life approaches via questioning. The author is a journalist whose writing has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, Wired and Fast Company His book, Glimmer is as an in-depth analysis of creative thinking. The book's web site. has extensive background info and a blog. The author's web site is warrenberger.com.

• Aristotle's Way : How Ancient Wisdom can Change your Life by Edith Hall. Penguin Random House 2018. Our modern thinking is greatly influenced by the ancient Greeks. In this enlightening introduction to the great philosopher, the author guides the reader through the well-known passages of his works, and illustrates how Aristotle's philosphy is relevant to every day life. This book is a valuable source for opening the door to the study of Ancient Greek philsophy. The author is one of Britain's foremost classicists, and is a professor at King's College London She is the first woman to have won the Erasamus Medal of the European Academy. She is the author of several books including Introducing the Ancient Greeks.

• Defining the World: The Extraordinary Story of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary by Henry Hitchings. Farrar. Straus, and Giroux, New York: 2005. A fascinating window into the London literary world of the 18th century and the compilation of Dr. Johnson's seminal English Dictionary. The world of Dr. Johnson and his associates is brought to light as the reader discovers the decade long endeavor to complete the first comprehensive dictionary of the English language. Each chapter is titled with a word and its contemporary definition in Dr. Johnson's dictionary. The author was educated at the Universities of Oxford and London. He wrote his Ph.D on Samuel Johnson. Defining the World is his first book.

• Free Will by Sam Harris. Simon&Schuster :2012. A provocative book which challenges the concept of free will. Is free will an illusion- or do we act according to forces of nature which dictate our actions? The author does not support the latter- our lives are determined by natural forces. Our tastes, deeds, and thoughts are not freely controlled. The web master would disagree with the author on a central point- what is choice? Do we choose "freely"? This highly provocative book was the subject of many letters to the editor in the New York Times Book Review All critical thinkers should read this somewhat disturbing book. The author won the 2005 non-fiction Pen Award for The End of Faith. He has also written Letter to a Christian Nation,The Moral Landscape, and Lying. The author and his wife, Annaka Harris founded Project Reason, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading scientific reason and secular values. His web site is samharris.org.

• Living The Secular Life by Phil Zuckerman.Penguin Press :2014. Americans are leaning more towards less leading a religious oriented life-especially the millennial generation. Religious scandals, repression of women, and advanced cosmological information lead Americans and others in Western Europe to embrace a more secular lifestyle. Secular people choose to create a moral compass which is independent of the dictates of a Supreme Being. They tend to be less prejudiced, more law abiding, and politically progressive. Morality ruled by human reason- not religion- can be the path towards a spiritually fulfilling life. The author does not disparage religion; he merely demonstrates through research and interviews with secularists that a rich spiritual life can realized without the overhanging encroachment of religion. Secular can also pertain to those who lead a non-religious life, yet have a belief in a Supreme Being. Highly recommended to those who rely on secular judgment to rule their moral disposition. The author is a Professor of sociology at Pitzer College in Claremont, California. He recently founded a Interdisciplinary Department of Secular Studies at the college, the first in the nation. His most recent books are Faith no More, and Society Without God.

• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. Crown Publishers New York: 2012.The introverted way of life is deprecated in America: the bon vivant, the extrovert, and the fearless leader have exalted status in Western society. "Quiet" debunks this myth and celebrates the power of the introvert. Great thinkers been introverted: Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Ludwig Van Beethoven, to name a few. Our society has relegated the introvert to the periphery of social acceptability. Susan Cain a self-proclaimed introvert, validates introversion as a positive mode de vivre. This book will have special importance to bibliophiles, who by nature are introverted. The author's articles have appeared in the New York Times and in Psychology Today.. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

• Successful Intelligence How Practical and Creative Intelligence Determine Success In Life by Robert J. Sternberg. Simon and Schuster, New York:1996. The author illustrates how successful intelligence, which differs from IQ, involves three distinct types of thinking: creative, practical, and analytic. Individuals who possess successful intelligence are "smart" at achieving. The book rails against the conventional emphasis given to high test scores, which do not reflect an individuals full intelligence and capabilities. Successful Intelligence is especially resourceful and inspiring to creative minded individuals who think "outside the box". The author is the former IBM Professor of Psychology and Education in the Yale University Department of Psychology. He is currently the Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Psychology at Tufts University.

• Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell. Little, Brown and Company New York, Boston: 2005. A fascinating account of the importance of the adaptive unconscious: the reservoir of the psyche which is involved in making quick analyses. The author illustrates how the adaptive unconscious is involved in decisive conclusions that are equal in importance to those brought about by long involved deliberation. Diverse examples illustrate this concept: art curators making an immediate analysis about the authenticity of a Greek statue; a psychologist predicting the eventual outcome of the relationships of married couples on video within fifteen minutes; the snap choice of an instrumentalist auditioning for an orchestra behind a screen. Mr. Gladwell is the author of The Tipping Point. He is a staff writer for The New Yorker. He is formerly a science and business reporter at The Washington Post.

• The Tao of Leadership by John Heider. Bantam Books, Toronto, New York, Sydney, London, Auckland: 1988. The author guides us to effective leadership strategies through the ancient wisdom of the Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, dating back to fifth century B.C. China. Lao Tzu's main premise is leadership without dominance, and limited intercession. This train of thought is contrary to both modern-day business strategies and relationships in everyday affairs. This is a refreshing philosophy, and a reader will find this book an invaluable source for dealing with both business and personal relationships. The author has a Ph.d in clinical psychology and was the director of the Human Potential School of Mendocino, California.

  
  

• The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison Graywolf Press 2014.The author explores a diverse range of subjects: her employment as a Medical actor, the trauma of being mugged in Nicaragua, a Morgellons Disease convention, the Barkley Marathons, Female pain, and other experiences. The essays are recounted in an articulate, and erudite tone. There is a clarity of purpose and human commonality in them which envelop the reader. The author is one of the emerging voices of the Millenial generation. Her previous novel, The Gin Closet, a runner-up in the Los Angeles Times Seidenberg First Fiction Prize. is also highly recommended. The author's web site is lesliejamison.com

• Rainbow in the Cloud: The Wisdom and Spirit of Maya Angelou. Random House : 2014. One of the great literary artists of the past 50 years soulfully expresses her life philosophies. Many subjects are addressed in this short inspirational book: Childhood & Parenthood, Black Identity, America, Self Esteem, Womanhood, and more human wisdom to which all readers can relate. Although this book is short, it is rich with philosophical insight which epiphanize and enlighten. The late author, who died in 2014, has written best selling autobiographies, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, The Heart of a Woman, and numerous volumes of poetry including Phenomenal Woman, And I Shall Rise, On the Pulse of the Morning, and Mother.

• Bringing up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman. Penguin Press New York: 2012. A native New York journalist living in Paris experiences the French approach to parenting first hand. Unlike the current American style, French parenting emphasizes developing a child who evolves a comfortable sense of self, and also learns to behave appropriately around adults from a young age. The author grapples with difficult transitions to parenting in the French style: pre-toddlers are expected to sleep through the night as babies, Pediatricians do not encourage breast feeding, and parents hold firm control of decisions while fostering a sense of independence in their children. Her parenting experience with a daughter and twin sons will be enlightening to the reader: babies learn to sleep regularly through the night within several months, adult conversations are not interrupted by children, and healthy meals are the norm. The author is a former staff reporter for the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. Her previous book was Lust in Translation. The author's web site is pameladrucker.com

• There are no Grown-Ups: A Midlife Coming-of-Age Story  by Pamela Druckerman Penguin: 2018. The author of Bringing Up Bebe reflects about her life transitions in her 40's. Now the mother of twin boys in addition to her daughter, the author asserts that the 40's is a mellowing out era where one comes to grips with the reality of a irreversible changed identity. The chapters in this book are comically realistic: How to Hear, How To Plan a Menage a Trois, and How To Have a Mid-Life Crisis are amongst the numerous chapters which cast the author's eye to the realities of mid-life, which welcome a more stable, less frantic pace. Part of the book is a recounting of her younger days, and how the author's new perceptions have changed her life in a positive light. A flowing, humorous, and insightful read. The author is contributing opinion writer at the New York Times. Her web site is https://pameladruckerman.com/

  La Seduction by Elaine Sciolino. Macmillan New York: 2011. The word seduction is a multi-layered concept to the French. Unlike the primarily sexual connotation of this word in American usage, la seduction encompasses a complete gamut of interaction: romantic relationships, family, friendships, diplomacy, and the marketplace. The author explores the French way of employing this subtle tool as a means of "seducing" or influencing an individual or situation. This book is an incisive guide to the inner core of French thinking, depicting the startling contrasts between the American and French approach to relationships. The author has written the award winning book Persian Mirrors:The Elusive Face of Iran. She is a Paris correspondent and former Paris bureau chief for the New York Times. In 2010, she was decorated as chevalier of the French Legion of Honor.

•  I Feel Bad About My Neck by Norah Ephron. Alfred A. Knopf New York: 2006. The author, based in New York, uses humor as a straight forward vehicle for reflecting on her life as she gets older: the minute details are the funniest and illustrate life's lessons. This is a fast refreshing read and will reach a broad range of readers. Ms. Ephron received the Academy Award Nominations for Best Original Screenplay for When Harry Met Sally..., Silkwood, and Sleepless in Seattle, which she directed. She is also the author of the best sellers Heartburn, Scribble, Scribble, and Crazy Salad

• In Praise of Messy Lives by Katie Roiphe. Random House :2012.The author is a new-wave feminist at odds with the counter-feminist trends now popular in the United States. A central theme in her essays is the jettisoning of feminist values in favor of more traditional lifestyles: the marketing of women in marriage, child-centric living, and disdain for the single parent who choses to raise a family without a partner. There are also insightful essays on the contemporary internet, and important authors such as Joan Didion and Susan Sontag. The author's voice is one of contemporary clarity and transparency. This book is important reading for the progressive thinker. The author is a professor of journalism at New York University, and writes for Slate.com She has also written for The New York Times, the Financial Times.

• The Violet Hour: Great Writers at the End by Katie Roiphe. Random House: 2016. The lives of authors Susan Sontag, Sigmund Freud, John Updike, Dylan Thomas, and Maurice Sendak are examined as they confront dying. The author researched their last days, including the interactions of friends and family.

  Sontag waged a long battle against cancer, having recovered once only to eventually succumb to another bout years later. Her emotional energy and defiance required constant attention from friends and her son.

  Freud was neurotic in his attitude towards death: he smoked despite the deleterious effect on his health. He continued to write, and was highly possessive of his daughter Anna, his primary caretaker.

  
  Updike had a conflicted relationship with his children and first wife: his second wife served as a gatekeeper during his illness. He was both repentant and celebratory about his former adulterous life, and sought religion as a solace for balming his inner conflicts towards death.

  Thomas continued heavy drinking, excessive spending, promiscuity, and unhealthy habits to the end of his days. He basked in his excess, dismissive of its ill effects. Thomas, like Sontag, was a magnet to others who were drawn to his prodigal lifestyle.

  Sendak had a fear of death from an early age, illustrating his children's books with tales of danger and dyeing. His book's illustration confronts his fear of dying, and was an expressive outlet for his childhood fear of the unknown. He had a group of long-time friends- caretakers who attended to his needs in his last days.

  A wonderful conclusive afterword includes an interview with the late author, James Salter. The book examines the lives of these authors without being overtly judgmental. There is a sense of articulate empathy, guiding the reader into the author's struggles as they confront their finality. The author has written several books, including The Morning After: Sex, Fear, and Feminism; Uncommon Arrangements: Seven Marriages; In Praise of Messy Lives: Essays; and a novel, Still She Haunts Me. She is the director of the Cultural Reporting and Criticism program at New York University.

• This is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids by Dannielle Owens-Reid and Kristin Russo. Chronicle Books An essential handbook for parents of gay children. In contemporary society, the LGBTQ equality is evolving. Parents of kids (including young adults) who are coming out as Gay have an important need to understand their child's sexuality and its expression. The authors display an encouraging sensitivity about parental understanding of a child's gay identity and the possibilities which will arise as she/he comes out. The book also demythologizes conventional misperceptions about being Gay- there is a lot of diversity within gay identity and sexuality. The authors have been dialoguing with the gay community and their parents through their web site Everyone Is Gay. Their tour schedule, important questions and more info is available on the site. Linda Stone Fish is a marriage and family therapy at Syracuse University. She is the author of Nurturing Queer Youth: Family Therapy Transformed.

• When Difficult Relatives Happen to Good People by Leonard Felder, PH.D. Rodale:2003. An invaluable guide for resolving familial problems. Dr. Felder draws from his patient's experiences with difficult relatives and suggests possible solutions for resolving conflicts. The reader will find that the conflicts related in this book may mirror one's own difficulties with relatives, and positive steps can be taken to move beyond an emotional impasse. Dr. Felder is a licensed psychologist and the co-author of the best selling book, Making Peace With Your Parents. He has appeared on Oprah, National Public Radio, Cnn, A.M. Canada, and ABC Talk Radio.

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. Harper Collins:2018  Super Blogger Mark Manson tells it like it is. A candid guidebook which dispels all the conventional myths we choose to believe. The author, although in his 30's, has an expert's insight into guiding oneself through life by setting aside conventional myths and taking an incisive look into the realities of life. This book will appeal to all readers of all ages and will be especially poignant with those who have major contentions with conventional thinking. The author's web site is https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck

• I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It by Charles Barkley. Edited by Michael Wilbon. Penguin Random House, New York: 2002. The NBA great and star of TNT's Inside The NBA and CNN's TalkBack Live openly discusses issues such as race, politics, religion, and sports personalities. Mr. Barklay is candid on these subjects and approachs them with humor, irreverence, and straightforward clarity. The author was named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all time and won the MVP award in 1993. Mr. Wilbon is a sports columnist for the Washington Post.

• When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take it! by Yogi Berra. With Dave Kaplan. Hachette Books, New York:2001. Mr. Berra, one of the great all-time stars of the New York Yankees, offers us precious pearls of wisdom in this autobiography. Sharing a lifetime passion for baseball with Americans and others around the globe, Mr. Berra illustrates how his experience in the big leagues reveals important life lessons. One of his most famous lines: "It ain't over until it's over". My favorite quote from this book: "If you don't know where you're going, you might not get there." The reader will be wise to take to heart the lessons imparted in this easy flowing read.

• The Tao of Leadership by John Heider. Bantam Books, Toronto, New York, Sydney, London, Auckland: 1988. The author guides us to effective leadership strategies through the ancient wisdom of the Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, dating back to fifth century B.C. China. Lao Tzu's main premise is leadership without dominance, and limited intercession. This train of thought is contrary to both modern-day business strategies and relationships in everyday affairs. This is a refreshing philosophy, and a reader will find this book an invaluable source for dealing with both business and personal relationships. The author has a Ph.d in clinical psychology and was the director of the Human Potential School of Mendocino, California.

• Hatred: The Psychological Descent into Violence by Willard Gaylin M.D. PublicAffairs, The Perseus Book Group, New York:2003. An in-depth psychological analysis of the origins of hatred. Dr. Gaylin analyzes the psyche of the hater and the culture of hatred, and its evolution into a political force. The author is a clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the founder of the Hastings Center, an institute for the study of ethical issues in the life sciences. Dr. Gaylin is the author of sixteen books, including Rediscovering Love, and Talk Is Not Enough.

• Heroes, Rogues, and Lovers: Testosterone and Behavior by James McBride Dabbs, with Mary Godwin Dabbs. Mcgraw-Hill:2000. The authors explore testosterone and its effects on human behavior. They hypothesize that human behaviors are directly impacted by testosterone levels. Individuals as diverse as ministers, construction workers, and actors exhibit behaviors which are a direct reflection of their testosterone levels. The authors support their conclusions with extensive testing results. Mr. Dabbs is a psychology professor and head of the Social/Cognitive Psychology program at Georgia State University. Mary Godwin Dabbs has written for national magazines and has been a publicist for several feminist organizations.

• The Harvard Psychedelic Club: How Timothy Leary, Baba Ram Dass, Huston Smith, and Andrew Weil Killed the Fifties and Ushered in a New Age for America. by Don Lattin. Harper Collins New York:2010. The sixties unveiled a new era of psychological pioneering: a quest for understanding the frontiers of the human mind and its unlimited consciousness. At the forefront of this inquiry were four individuals: Timothy Leary, Harvard professor and future high priest of LSD, his Harvard colleague, Richard Alpert, later known as Ram Dass, a Harvard student, Andrew Weil, who would become a commercially successful spokesperson for integrated medicine, and Huston Smith, a well-known religious writer. Leary and Alpert led psychedelic experiments at Harvard and in the Boston area. There were conflicts and controversy in the aftermath. Leary, a national figure in the psychedelic movement, would eventually become a fugitive. Alpert had lifelong issues with Weil, whose cooperation with Harvard authorities about the experiments eventually led to Leary and Alpert's dismissal. Huston's participation in the experiments placed him in the role as teacher- he introduced the Dalai Lama to the world and is a proponent of a tolerant viewpoint towards others religions. The Harvard Group's experiments blossomed into a significant cultural impact which reengineered the consciousness and life attitudes of future generations. The author is a leading journalist writing about alternative and mainstream religious movements. He has been a commentator for Dateline, Nightline, and PBS's Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. His web site is donlattin.com.