READING LISTS

ESSENTIAL MINDFULNESS

The first books I'd recommend if you are new to this, or on one of our courses:
  1. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment is a book by Eckhart Tolle - quintessential spiritual basics. My Rating: 9/10​
  2. Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana - Probably the clearest guide I have read to traditional mindfulness, but not commonly available. My Rating: 9/10
  3. ​Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World - these books are perfect companions to our 6 week courses, but sometimes I find them a bit dry. Rating: 6/10 
  4. The Body Keeps Score - Van Der Kolk - A masterpiece of clinical methods at healing trauma. My Rating 10/10

OTHER BOOKS, I LOVE, BY SUBJECT:

MINDFULNESS & HAPPINESS ​​
METHODS & SELF HELP
  • A Liberated Mind: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Steven Haynes gives a concise and yet thorough method of integrating mindfulness and cognitive skills that helps you live a live of values and meaning. Quite long, but good. Hint: Skip to the 'methods' section on each of the 6 pivots. My rating: 10./10
  • Byron Katie: The work (this is where the STOP technique originates, which you will learn about later). My rating 9/10
  • Feel the Fear and do it anyway - Susan Jeffers: a practical book to help you move forward. Quick and easy to read. My Rating 9/10
  • The subtle art of not giving a fuck by Mark Manson - I love this witty and simple book to pop the bubble of exceptionalism and come back to reality  My Rating 9/10
  • The Easy Way to Quit Sugar (Illustrated) Alan Carr. I love this book - it explains how to change a habit using the mind and not willpower. Rating 10/10
  • I Heart Me: The Science Of Self-Love - This will kick start your self-love practices IF you follow it’s advice, by David R. Hamilton PhD  My Rating 7/10
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Covey. A guideline for effectiveness in life. Rating: 7/10
  • Insanely Gifted - Jamie Catto - A comedic look at healing trauma and getting over our addiction with approval seeking. My Rating 7/10
  • Atomic Habits - The science of habits and a great book to start transforming regular behaviour. James has produced a great list of books and podcasts here. Rating 7/10​
  • The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness Paperback by Prof Steve Peters. My Rating 6/10

SCIENCE & HISTORY
  • The Body Keeps Score - Van Der Kolk - A masterpiece of clinical methods at healing trauma. My Rating 10/10
  • Sapiens: Yuval Noah Harari, author of 'Sapiens' and 'Homo Deus', explains the difference between humans and other mammals very well and helps us to understand the storytelling nature of the human mind. We highly recommend this book to help understand how we have become seduced by stories. My Rating 10/10
  • Hacking of the American Mind: Robert Lustig's website (the 30 minute video is half-way down the homepage). Robert is a leading US academic who studies addiction and hedonic behaviour and explains brilliantly the difference between happiness and pleasure. Myr Rating 7/10
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PERSONAL STORIES & PHILOSOPHY
  • Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine by Derren Brown (Author) - A clear an easy to read philosophy book. My Rating: 7/10
  • Man's Search for meaning - Victor Frankl - This is a story of a man who survived the Nazi death camps because of his self-awareness. His ability to choose his response transcended the situation he was in. The first half is harrowing, but stick with it, the second half is full of insights. My Rating: 10/10
  • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz - a basic instruction book for how to live well!  My Rating 9/10
  • The Tao of Pooh & The Te of Piglet (Wisdom of Pooh) by Benjamin Hoff, E. H. Shepard - A joyful interpretation of the classic and ancient Tao te Ching Rating 9/10
  • The Road Less Traveled by Scott M Peck - A wonderful read, that inspired me early on. My Rating 9/10
  • Irv Yalom: Various books including 'Love's Executioner' and 'Creatures of a Day'. These give insights into psychotherapy. My Rating 8/10
  • Couch Fiction by Philipa Perry - A great picture book to help understand therapy. Rating: 8/10
  • The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan W. Watts - A philosophical look at why uncertainty is there to help you. My Rating 6/10
  • Good Ideas: How to Be Your Child's and Your Own) Best Teacher by Micheal Rosen : This is lovely and incredibly useful Rating: 5/10 ​
  • Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown - A wonderful book inspired by a poem abourt belonging and how we can pursue this without falling into the fear based strategy of 'fitting in'. 

LEARNING STYLE & COMMUNICATION
  • The Easy Way to Quit Sugar (Illustrated) Alan Carr. I love this book - it explains how to change a habit using the mind and not willpower. Rating 10/10

Videos and Audio

USEFUL MEDIA LINKS FOR MINDFULNESS COURSES 

RETREATS

​Retreat Centres in the UK: