The Psychology of Survivor: Leading Psychologists Take an Unauthorized Look at the Most Elaborate Psychological Experiment Ever Conducted . . . Survivor!


Richard J. Gerrig - 2007
    What has this pop culture phenomenon shown us — by placing a few hundred people on islands around the world — about the psychological make-up of the average American? In Psychology of Survivor, the third installment of BenBella Books's Psychology of Popular Culture series, leading psychologists — and fans of Survivor — unite to offer up their expertise on the show that started the reality show craze. From why macho alpha males rarely win to stress and body image, from situational ethics to the dreaded Rob Cestaries factor, Psychology of Survivor is a broad look at cutting-edge psychological issues through the lens of Survivor. The tribe has spoken — Psychology of Survivor is the best book for Survivor fans and psychology enthusiasts alike!

Raising Girls in the 21st Century: From babyhood to womanhood – helping your daughter to grow up wise, warm and strong


Steve Biddulph - 2019
     There has been a sudden and universal deterioration in girls’ mental health and wellbeing, starting in primary school and devastating the teen years. Fierce and tender in its mission, Raising Girls in the Twenty-first Century is both a guidebook and a call-to-arms for parents. The five key stages of girlhood are laid out so that you know exactly what matters at which age, and how to build strength and connectedness into your daughter from infancy onwards. At last, there is a clear map of girls’ minds that accepts no limitations, narrow roles or selling-out of your daughter’s potential or uniqueness.Raising Girls in the Twenty-first Century explores how to help your daughter feel secure, become an explorer, get along with others, find her soul, and ultimately become a woman. All the hazards are signposted – bullying, eating disorders, body image and depression, social media harms and helps – as are concrete and simple measures for mums and dads to help raise a daughter to be strong, wise and able to stand up for herself and others. Parenthood is restored to an exciting journey, not one worry after another.Raising Girls in the Twenty-first Century has been updated to include: Two kinds of girlhood: why some girls go off the rails while others go from strength to strength. Finding comfort in her own skin: avoiding the toxic mix of perfectionism and overachievement. Mirror, mirror on the screen: how our devices and social media steal joy, and how we can put them in the right perspective. Pets, plants and wild places: bringing nature and its power to heal into your daughter’s life. What’s missing? A diagnostic list to identifying the gaps, and the ten vital ingredients to being happy and free.

Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice


Samuel T. Gladding - 2006
    The most thorough and well-written text in the field, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, now in its fourth edition, is a comprehensive and developmental textbook that covers all aspects of working with families. The author begins by helping students understand the differences between functional and dysfunctional families, then goes onto explain the basic processes involved in treating couples and families before it delves into a dozen theoretical ways of treating families. Readers will also learn about the history of family therapy, multicultural aspects of family therapy, ways of working with various types of families, ethical and legal issues involved in family therapy, and ways of assessing families. 250 new sources; a new chapter on how to work with couples and marriages in enriching and therapeutic ways; more on diversity issues including working with different forms of European American families, and expanded coverage of working with African-American, Native American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian-American families; an added section on dealing with infidelity in the addiction/abuse chapter; coverage of transition issues including working with military deployment or extended work assignments; and more information on managed care issues.

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything


Joshua Foer - 2011
    From the United States Memory Championship to deep within the author's own mind, this is an electrifying work of journalism that reminds us that, in every way that matters, we are the sum of our memories.

The Post-Adoption Blues


Karen J. Foli - 2004
    While the path to parenting through adoption is rich with rewards and fulfillment, it's not without its bumps. This compassionate, illuminating, and ultimately uplifting book is the first to openly recognize the very normal feelings of stress that adoptive families encounter as they cope with the challenges and expectations of their new families. Where do parents turn when the waited-for bonding with their adopted child is slow to form? When they find themselves grieving over the birth child they couldn't have? When the child they so eagerly welcomed into their home arrives with major, unexpected needs? Until now, adoptive parents have had to struggle silently with their feelings, which can range from flutters of anxiety to unbearable sadness. At last, Karen J. Foli, a registered nurse, and her husband, John R. Thompson, a psychiatrist, lift the curtain of secrecy from "Post Adoption Depression Syndrome" (PADS). Drawing on their own experience as adoptive parents as well as interviews with dozens of adoptive families and experts in the field, the couple offers parents the understanding, support, and concrete solutions they need to overcome post-adoption blues-and open their hearts to the joy adoption can bring.

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery


Sam Kean - 2014
     Early studies of the functions of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike-strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, lobotomies, horrendous accidents-and see how the victim coped. In many cases survival was miraculous, and observers could only marvel at the transformations that took place afterward, altering victims' personalities. An injury to one section can leave a person unable to recognize loved ones; some brain trauma can even make you a pathological gambler, pedophile, or liar. But a few scientists realized that these injuries were an opportunity for studying brain function at its extremes. With lucid explanations and incisive wit, Sam Kean explains the brain's secret passageways while recounting forgotten stories of common people whose struggles, resiliency, and deep humanity made modern neuroscience possible.

Seeing by Heart


K.A. Moll - 2021
    For Kora Garver, Horseback Inn is one of those places. Inherited from her great aunt, she spends her time caring for its guests and horses. Truth be known, it’s the thing that’s kept her going, helped her to push through her darkness. But her darkness has darkened to the point that she can no longer see the light. Once a beautiful woman, at forty, she sees herself as scarred and undesirable. Miserable and alone, ashamed of who she’s been and what she’s done, retraumatized every time she closes her eyes, she’s decided to end her life.At seventeen, Finn Warner lost what most take for granted, her sight. But she didn’t let that hold her back. She graduated from medical school at the top of her class. She finished her residency in psychiatry. She established a lucrative private practice. At forty-three, most of her dreams have been fulfilled—with one exception—that she has no one with whom to share her life. In a world where attraction often begins with sight, she’s come to accept that, in all likelihood, she’ll never have an intimate partner. But she has a rewarding career, good friends, and a great dog. That’s enough. The handsome woman counts her blessings each night and recognizes that she has more than most.When a blinding snowstorm leaves Finn in a snowdrift, she’ll stay at Horseback Inn, her favorite place to visit as a kid. While there, she’ll be reunited with Kora, the girl she held for hours when she was fourteen years old; the girl she’s never stopped thinking about; one of only a handful of girls that she’s ever held that close. When Kora takes a tumble, she’ll have the opportunity to get even closer. But she’s not sure that Kora is a lesbian. And if that’s not enough, Kora’s loaded down with baggage, more than any person should have to carry. After passion ignites, Kora will push her away. Snowbound, during the final countdown to suicide, two women, as different as night and day, are given a chance at love. But to seize it, they must navigate a difficult path through the darkness.

How to Use Your Mind: A Psychology of Study


Harry Dexter Kitson - 1916
    The book brings value to both students and teachers/lecturers. It explores the basics of comprehension and memorization and shows effective applications of memory in learning. Some of the topics covered are: How to master the art of effective note taking; how to become avidly interested in any subject matter; how to get a mental second wind; and how to get physically conditioned for effective study. Written by Indiana University Professor of Psychology Harry D. Kitson in 1921 (Second Edition), "How to Use Your Mind" is today still as contemporary as it was then.

The Art of Persistence: Stop Quitting, Ignore Shiny Objects and Climb Your Way to Success


Michal Stawicki - 2015
    Up to 96% of people fail to achieve their goals. But it’s so hard to form those new habits. You know you should eat better, save some money, and make time to date, but isn’t it easier to just sit on the couch? The Secret to Becoming a Millionaire If 96% of people fail to achieve their goals, that still leaves 4% who are in top shape, earning a great income, and finding the love they’ve dreamed of. What are the secrets of these top performers? What do Tony Robbins, Jim Rohn, and Steven Covey know that you don’t? What if there was a way to copy their secrets for success so you too could achieve your dreams? What if you could make healthy habits automatic so you never have to make another New Year’s resolution ever again? The Simple Solution that’s Right Under Your Nose Though the words consistency and habits may evoke eye rolls and a feeling of, “That’s too simple!” dive a little deeper and you’ll find the secret formula for success you’ve been waiting for. Michal Stawicki, ex-video game addict turned “Mr. Consistency,” has laid out a veritable formula for getting what you want in life. Whether it’s money, love, fame, a better body, or a better relationship with your kids, The Art of Persistence takes readers step by step from where they’re standing—in chaos, dysfunction, and dissatisfaction—to more happiness and fulfillment. No more broken promises to yourself—this time it’s really different.

Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge Our Misguided Drug Rehab System


Lonny Shavelson - 2001
    With court-mandated rehab being debated across the country, Shavelson’s in-depth look at the struggles of five addicts as they travel through the treatment maze makes a powerful case for reform.Highly readable and shaped by Shavelson’s experience as a journalist and physician, Hooked takes us through the anguishing “intake” and controversial House meetings, inside counselors’ and judges’ offices where many treatment decisions are made, and to prison cells where, under current policies, many addicts end up. It explores the links between drug addiction, mental illness, and trauma, including child abuse—links often ignored by current rehab efforts—and argues for an integrated approach that treats the roots of drug abuse, not just the behavior itself.Hailed as “compelling” and “heartbreaking” (Time Out), Hooked offers a provocative, honest look at the seemingly intractable issue of drug addiction, and offers powerful alternatives to our current policies.

Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart, and Mind


David J. Linden - 2015
    Linden presents an engaging and fascinating examination of how the interface between our sense of touch and our emotional responses affects our social interactions as well as our general health and development. Accessible in its wit and clarity, Touch explores scientific advances in the understanding of touch that help explain our sense of self and our experience of the world.From skin to nerves to brain, the organization of the body’s touch circuits powerfully influences our lives—affecting everything from consumer choice to sexual intercourse, tool use to the origins of language, chronic pain to healing. Interpersonal touch is crucial to social bonding and individual development. Linden lucidly explains how sensory and emotional context work together to distinguish between perceptions of what feels good and what feels bad. Linking biology and behavioral science, Linden offers an entertaining and enlightening answer to how we feel in every sense of the word.

Why We Dream: The Transformative Power of Our Nightly Journey


Alice Robb - 2018
    Finding these forays both puzzling and exhilarating, Robb dug deeper into the science of dreams at an extremely opportune moment: just as researchers began to understand why dreams exist. They aren’t just random events; they have clear purposes. They help us learn and even overcome psychic trauma. Robb draws on fresh and forgotten research, as well as her experience and that of other dream experts, to show why dreams are vital to our emotional and physical health. She explains how we can remember our dreams better—and why we should. She traces the intricate links between dreaming and creativity, and even offers advice on how we can relish the intense adventure of lucid dreaming for ourselves.Why We Dream is a clear-eyed, cutting-edge examination of the meaning and purpose of our nightly visions and a guide to changing our dream lives—and making our waking lives richer, healthier, and happier.

NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children


Po Bronson - 2008
    In a world of modern, involved, caring parents, why are so many kids aggressive and cruel?  Where is intelligence hidden in the brain, and why does that matter?  Why do cross-racial friendships decrease in schools that are more integrated?  If 98% of kids think lying is morally wrong, then why do 98% of kids lie?  What's the single most important thing that helps infants learn language?NurtureShock is a groundbreaking collaboration between award-winning science journalists Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman.  They argue that when it comes to children, we've mistaken good intentions for good ideas.  With impeccable storytelling and razor-sharp analysis, they demonstrate that many of modern society's strategies for nurturing children are in fact backfiring--because key twists in the science have been overlooked.Nothing like a parenting manual, the authors' work is an insightful exploration of themes and issues that transcend children's (and adults') lives.

Human Psychology 101: Understanding The Human Mind And What Makes People Tick


Alan G. Fields - 2016
    Psychology is the study of the human brain, but it’s so much more than a mere dissection of the gooey gray mass trapped in our skulls; it’s a study of what makes us tick as individuals and as a species.Human Psychology 101: Understanding the Human Mind and What Makes People Tick is meant to show you the facets of a human being and how they work together to make a person tick. It’s not a psychological treatise or a DSM-V. It’s a collection of my own research of psychology and stories from my life and those of my friends and acquaintances that help illustrate the principles I’m going to be telling you about.I will be dividing this book into seven aspects of human psychology: emotions, personality, decision-making, morality, perception, behavior, and relationships.To understand what makes someone tick is to have mastered a sort of psychological sleight of hand, and I hope that this book serves as a useful step on your way to mastery over that brand of magic trick. How human beings think and behave is an unendingly fascinating study, one that reveals how simple and elegant and, on the other hand, complex and mysterious we all are. I hope you are as pumped as I am to think about the inner workings of how people tick.

Stillpower: Excellence With Ease in Sports and Life


Garret Kramer - 2012
    However, in spite of a myriad of tools and techniques, success and contentment continue to be as elusive as ever, until now. Garret Kramer’s Stillpower offers a revolutionary explanation for this predicament and provides a basic, yet dynamic, approach for the future. In an accessible style, Kramer reveals the innate principles behind consistent achievement and highlights the misalignment between the experiences of all performers and the strategies of the coaches, psychologists, and experts who are hoping to help them.Stillpower uses real-life examples to explore such questions as: What is “the zone” and what must we do (or not do) to get there? Why do we need to understand the difference between insight and intellect? Is goal setting really useful? Why doesn’t willpower work? And why do the best mentors focus on a person’s state of mind and not behavior? Virtually all of us—athletes and non-athletes alike—are looking outside of ourselves, trying to unlock the keys to happiness, freedom, and excellence with ease. Stillpower encourages us to look within to finally find the answers.