Last update: 4/15/09
New entries in BOLD or pictures.
Recent entries at the top of each section.
I had to split up the list because it was getting too long. So, now it's in categories. Just click the category you want.
Enjoy.
Non-Fiction: Psychology |
Religion |
Writing |
Emotional Intelligence
by Daniel Goleman
Learned Optimism
by Martin Seligman
One of the defining books of my life, one I have read over and over again, and continue referring to and applying to my everyday life. In a nutshell, success in life can be predicted by explanatory style. Optimists tend to succeed more than pessimists. Part of the reason this is true is that when faced with negative events, optimists explain those events in a way that is impersonal, temporary and specific. For example, my boss yells at me today and I say "He's just in a bad mood today." Impersonal, i.e. not my fault. Temporary, i.e. only this morning. And specific, i.e. just this one person at just this one time. Pessimists on the other hand explain negative events as personal, permanent, and pervasive -- it's all my fault, it will last forever, and it will affect everything I do. That's a particularly hurtful explanatory style. The good news is that you can learn to change your explanatory style. Read it. Seriously. It's good for you.
What Happy People Know
by
Dan Baker
Favorite quote from this book: "When people fail to live up to their values, the first thing they feel is disappointment in themselves, which creates a lot of stress."
(See blog entry Primary Values 2-13-05)