Category: Psychology

Buzz! Inside The Minds Of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, And Adrenaline Junkies by Kenneth Carter

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

Most of us crave new experiences and sensations.  Whether it’s our attraction to that new burger place or the latest gadget, newness tugs at us.  But what about those who can’t seem to get enough?  They jump out of planes, climb skyscrapers, and will anything (even poisonous pufferfish) … Prompting others to ask “what’s wrong” with them.  These are sensation-seekers and they crave intense experiences, despite physical or social risk.  They don’t have a death wish, but seemingly a need for an adrenaline rush, no matter what.

Buzz! describes the world of the high sensation-seeking personality in a way that we can all understand.  It explores the lifestyle, psychology, and neuroscience behind adrenaline junkies and daredevils.  This tendency, or compulsion, has a role in our culture.  But where is the line between healthy and unhealthy thrill-seeking?  THe minds of these adventurers are explained page by page.  

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order BUZZ! INSIDE THE MINDS OF THRILL-SEEKERS, DAREDEVILS, AND ADRENALINE JUNKIES by Kenneth Carter from Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need by Bruce Hood

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

How ownership came to control us – and what we can do about it.

You may not believe it, but there is a link between our current political instability and your childhood attachment to teddy bears.  There’s also a reason why children in Asia are more likely to share than their Western counterparts and why the poor spend more of their income on luxury goods than the rich.  Or why your mother is more likely to leave her money to you than your father.  What connects these things?

The answer is our need for ownership.  Award-winning psychologist Bruce Hood draws on research from his own lab and others around the world to explain why this uniquely human preoccupation governs our behaviour from the cradle to the grave, even when it is often irrational and destructive.  What motives us to buy more than we need?  Is it innate, or cultural?  How does our urge to acquire control our behaviour, even the way we vote?  And what can we do about it?

Timely, engaging and persuasive, Possessed is the first book to explore how ownership has us enthralled in relentless pursuit of a false happiness, with damaging consequences for society and the planet – and how we can stop buying into it. 

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book

You can order POSSESSED: WHY WE WANT MORE THAN WE NEED by Bruce Hood from Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

The Enduring Kiss: Seven Short Lessons On Love by Massimo Recalcati

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

The kiss is the image that, perhaps more than any other, encompasses the beauty and poetry of love.  Every love is required to maintain the kiss, to make it last.  When they kiss, the noise of the world is silenced, its laws broken, time is stolen from its normal continuity.  They fall together in their distinct, embraced tongues.  The kiss joins the tongue that declares love with the body of the lover.  And the extinction of the kiss and, most importantly, of the desire to kiss one’s beloved announces the demise of love.

In this short book, Massimo Recalcati – one of Italy’s leading intellectuals and bestselling authors – offers seven brief lessons on the mystery and miracle of love, from the serendipity of the first encounter to its end or its continuation over time, as mysterious and miraculous as the fist encounter itself.  

You can buy THE ENDURING KISS: SEVEN SHORT LESSONS ON LOVE by Massimo Recalcati from Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

Teachers vs Tech? The Case For An Ed Tech Revolution by Daisy Christodoulou

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

Daisy Christodoulou asks why ed tech – with all its potential – hasn’t yet had the transformative impact on education that it has long promised.

Rooted in research and written from an educationalist’s perspective, Teachers vs Tech?  examines a broad range of topics, from the science of learning and assessment to the continued importance of teaching facts, exploring international examples from both big brand digital platforms and smaller start-ups.

Daisy Christodoulou draws on her experience working in classrooms and within the education community to outline a revolutionary vision for the future: one where technology is developed in conjunction with teacher expertise and is ultimately used to improve education outcomes for all. 

You can buy TEACHERS VS TECH? THE CASE FOR AN ED TECH REVOLUTION by Daisy Christodoulou from Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):Read More »

Offline: Free Your Mind From Smartphone And Social Media Stress by Imran Rashid and Soren Kenner

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

Are you being digitally manipulated?

Authors Imran Rashid and Soren Kenner have sparked an international debate by revealing the “mind hacks” Facebook, Apple, Google, and Instagram use to get you and your children hooked on their products. 

In Offline, they deliver an eye-opening research-based journey into the world of tech giants, smartphones, social engineering, and subconscious manipulation.  This provocative work shows you how digital devices change individuals and communities for better and worse.

A must-read if you or your kids use smartphones or tablets and spend time browsing social networks, playing online games or even just browsing sites with news and entertainment.

Learn how to recognise ‘mind hacks’ and avoid the potentially disastrous side-effects of digital pollution.  Unplug from the matrix.  Learn digital habits that work for you. 

You can order Offline: Free Your Mind From Smartphone And Social Media Stress by Imran Rashid and Soren Kenner from Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

Good Money: Understand Your Choices by Nathalie Spencer

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

We all make choices with money – understand yours.

Using a unique, visual approach, Nathalie Spencer uncovers the science behind how w think about, use and manage money to guide you to a wiser and more enjoyable relationship with your finances.

From examining how cashless transactions affect our spending and decoding the principles of why a bargain draws you in, through to exposing what it really means to be an effective forecaster, Good Money reveals how you can be motivated to be better with money and provides you with essential tools to boost your financial wellbeing. 

You can order Good Money: Understand Your Choices by Nathalie Spencer from Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

Unlocking Creativity by Michael A. Roberto

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

Creativity is an elusive but essential component of innovation and success in competitive, changing markets.  The old way of thinking had it that creativity was a kind of mystical property possessed only by certain innately talented people.  If an organisation wasn’t innovative enough, its leaders simply needed to find and hire those rare creative people.  The past few decades of constant disruption by newcomers has roundly proven this theory false, even if organisational leaders don’t recognise it yet.  Years of trying to recruit and retain creative workforce’s just hasn’t helped the established players keep up.

If hiring creativity isn’t helping, it means that organisations have all the creativity they need but aren’t harnessing it properly.  What’s going wrong?  Some people point to the pressure to keep shareholders happy and to other external pressures, claiming that market forces prevent them from giving creativity the space to develop.  But the supersonic rise of companies like Netflix and Amazon show that market forces aren’t stopping the people who really know how to innovate.  In Unlocking Creativity Michael A. Roberto draws on years of investigation to reveal the true nature of the problem: enterprise-wide mindsets that stifle creativity on a daily basis.

Every organisation is full of creative minds just waiting for an opportunity to shine.  Unfortunately, deeply entrenched organisational cultures and ways of thinking frustrate people when they try to present original ideas.  Without knowing it, we may be falling victim to one of the six mindsets that prevent talented people from experimenting, discovering, innovating and helping the organisation flourish.

Unlocking Creativity presents the six mindsets that block creativity, bringing them to life through colourful examples and abundant research evidence, to help leaders recognise the habits that might be preventing creativity from taking flight.  With illustrations taken from far and wide – academic research, corporate case studies, hit TV shows, and rock and roll legends all make eye-opening appearances in the pages of this book – Michael Roberto clears the fog around creativity and equips leaders with the insight they need to shift to supportive mindsets and cultures where creativity can thrive. 

You can order Unlocking Creativity by Michael A. Roberto from Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

The Joy Of Missing Out: The Art Of Self-Restraint In An Age Of Excess by Svend Brinkmann

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

”Because you’re worth it”, proclaims the classic cosmetics ad.  “Just do it!” implores the global sports retailer.  Everywhere we turn, we are constantly encouraged to experience as much as possible, for as long as possible, in as many ways as possible. FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – has become a central preoccupation in a world fixated on the never-ending pursuit of gratification and self-fulfilment.

But this pursuit can become a treadmill leading nowhere. How can we break out of it?  In this refreshing book, bestselling Danish philosopher and psychologist Svend Brinkmann reveals the many virtues of missing out on the constant choices and temptations that dominate our experience-obsessed consumer society.  By cultivating self-restraint and celebrating moderation we can develop a more fulfilling way of living that enriches ourselves and our fellow humans and protects the planet we all share – in short, we can discover the joy of missing out. 

You can order The Joy Of Missing Out: The Art Of Self-Restraint In An Age Of Excess by Svend Brinkmann from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

Against Hate by Carolin Emcke

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

Racism, extremism, anti-democratic sentiment – our increasingly polarized world is dominated by a type of thinking that doubts others’ positions but never its own.

In a powerful challenge to fundamentalism in all its forms, Carolin Emcke, one of Germany’s leading intellectuals, argues that we can only preserve individual freedom and protect people’s rights by cherishing and celebrating diversity.  If we want to safeguard democracy, we must have the courage to challenge hatred and the will to fight for and defend plurality in our societies. Emcke rises to the challenge that identitarian dogmas and populist narratives pose, exposing the way in which they simplify and distort our perception of the world.

Against Hate is an impassioned call to fight intolerance and defend liberal ideals.  It will be of great interest to anyone concerned about the darkening politics of our time and searching for ways forward. 

You can order AGAINST HATE by Carolin Emcke from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

Positive Thinking Pocketbook by Gill Hasson

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

If you can change your thinking, you can change your life.

Positive thinking – and positive actions – can bring about significant shifts for the better in many areas of your life. But what are the practical steps to achieving an optimistic outlook?

Over 100 tips and techniques for thinking positively in every situation.

Following on from her bestselling book Positive Thinking, personal development expert and bestselling author Gill Hasson distils the power of positive thought into practical activities and suggestions that will really help you think and act positively. IN the Positive Thinking Pocketbook, you will learn to:

– Recognise negative thinking and make the shift towards positivity;

– Transfer positive thinking into positive action and outcomes;

– Avoid getting stuck in negative patterns by making positivity a habit;

– Employ positive thinking to manage feelings in difficult situations.

Positive thinking is a skill anyone can learn. The Positive Thinking Pocketbook can become your constant companion as you work towards confidence and optimism in your everyday life. For any situation needing a dose of positivity, flip through these pages and find a technique, activity or suggestion to inspire you and propel you forward. 

You can order POSITIVE THINKING POCKETBOOK by Gill Hassan from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

The Happiness Fantasy by Carl Cederström

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

In this devastatingly witty new book, Carl Cederström traces our present-day conception of happiness from its roots in early-twentieth-century European psychiatry, to the Beat generation, to Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.  He argues that happiness is now defined by a desire to be ‘authentic’, to experience physical pleasure, and to cultivate a quirky individuality.  But over the last fifty years, these once-revolutionary ideas have been co-opted by corporations and advertisers, pushing us to live lives that are ever more unfulfilling, insecure and narcissistic.

In an age of increasing austerity and social division, Cederströmargues that a radical new dream of happiness is gathering pace. There is a vision of the good life which promotes deeper engagement with the world and our place within it, rather than the individualism and hedonism of previous generations.  Guided by this more egalitarian worldview, we can reinvent ourselves and our societies.

You can order THE HAPPINESS FANTASY by Carl Cederström from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

The Broken Ladder: How Inequality Changes The Way We Think, Live And Die by Keith Payne

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

Inequality makes us feel poor and act poor, even when we’re not.  It affects our mood, decision-making and even our immune systems.

Using groundbreaking research in psychology and neuroscience, Keith Payne explains how inequality shapes our world and influences our thinking, how we perform at work and respond to stress – and what we can do to combat its most insidious effects on our lives.

You can order THE BROKEN LADDER: HOW INEQUALITY CHANGES THE WAY WE THINK, LIVE AND DIE by Keith Payne from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

Society Of Fear by Heinz Bude

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

From the rise of terrorism to the uncertainties associated with economic crisis and recession, our age is characterised by fear.  Fear is the expression of a society on unstable foundations.  Most of us feel that our social status is under threat and our future prospects in jeopardy.  We are overwhelmed by a sense of having been catapulted into a world to which we no longer belong.

Tracing this experience, Heinz Bude uncovers a society marked by disturbing uncertainty, suppressed anger and quiet resentment.  This is as true in our close relationships as it is in the world of work, in how we react to politicians as much as in our attitudes towards bankers and others in the financial sector.  Bude shows how this fear is not derived so much from a “powerful other” but rather from the seemingly endless range of possibilities that we face.  While this may seem to offer us greater autonomy and freedom, in reality the unknown impact and meaning of each option creates a vacuum which is filled by fear.

What conditions lead people to feel anxious and fearful for themselves and others?  How can individuals withstand fear and develop ways of making their fears intelligible?  Probing these and other questions, Bude provides a fresh analysis of some of the most fundamental features of our societies today. 

You can order SOCIETY OF FEAR by Heinz Bude from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »

The Playstation Dreamworld by Alfie Bown

I Read, Therefore I BlogLeave a comment

The Blurb On The Back:

From mobile phones to consoles to tablets, we are now a generation of gamers.  This book dissects the structure of our relationships to all forms of technological entertainment at a time when digital enjoyment has become ubiquitous.  

You can order THE PLAYSTATION DREAMWORLD by Alfie Bown from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

Read More »