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What book changed your life/way if thinking?

82 replies

topsyandtimison · 08/03/2018 20:33

Anyone have a book that changed their life? It's a cliche but I read 'The Secret' and OMG it was like a huge lightbulb went on. Looking for another inspirational book....

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parrotonmyshoulder · 08/03/2018 20:35

I’ve had a great year so far after reading Derren Brown’s ‘Happy’. A big surprise.

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Vitalogy · 08/03/2018 20:40

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

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Sadik · 08/03/2018 21:59

A bit different as it's a novel, but reading The Dispossessed by Ursula le Guin in my early 30s has massively influenced my political beliefs.

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CaptainNelson · 08/03/2018 22:12

Maybe slightly obvious, but Thinking Fast and Slow is really mind-opening. It's totally changed the way I make decisions and how I think through things at work. I wouldn't say it's a lightbulb, but I do think that if everyone read it, we'd all think a lot more clearly.

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Sadik · 08/03/2018 22:13

Agree Thinking Fast And Slow is excellent.

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Itscliffmas · 08/03/2018 22:19

Don't sweat the small stuff.

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topsyandtimison · 09/03/2018 06:27

Wow these are good suggestions

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Rubyslippers7780 · 09/03/2018 06:28

Who moved my cheese - cleared my head and let me see how people try and manipulate situations

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lolalotta · 09/03/2018 06:33

Following

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KeithLeMonde · 09/03/2018 11:51

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie (and then later Americanah by the same author) made me think a lot about identity and race. That led me on to think afresh about feminism and the politics of belonging/not belonging. I don't like the word "woke" much but I really felt like I was looking at the world with fresher and more clear vision.

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Sallystyle · 09/03/2018 12:01

The Shame and Vulnerability books by Brene Brown.

Any books on self-compassion.

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Orangecake123 · 09/03/2018 17:17

The subtle art of not giving a f*ck.

I started putting myself first and started turning down things I didn't want to do but felt like I had to. It freed up a lot of time and enegry for myself.

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ScribblyGum · 09/03/2018 17:32

After reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande I had a good think about holistic assessment of older people, changed my clinical assessment skills and now routinely examine all my patients' feet. It’s not changed my life much but by doing so I've changed the life of plenty of my patients.

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ScribblyGum · 09/03/2018 17:35

I appreciate that might not be a life changing suggestion for you OP, unless you have the inclination to start checking people's feet. The rest of the book is excellent as well for thinking about how society treats older people and end of life choices.

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Timefortea99 · 09/03/2018 17:39

Following , interesting thread.

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frankenburger · 09/03/2018 17:45

The untethered soul - sounds hippy dippy but this changed the way I think and I'm way less anxious and in the moment.

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Sadik · 09/03/2018 18:30

Scribbly - I thought Being Mortal was a fantastic book as well, I have recommended it to lots of people I know (I'm of the age that me / many of my friends have elderly / frail parents).

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Sadik · 09/03/2018 18:31

I was trying to keep to one, but Non-Violent Communication by MB Rosenberg has definitely helped me to think more constructively about the way I relate to other people (much more widely than just communication)

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Oblomov18 · 09/03/2018 18:33

Making notes!

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flowertoday · 09/03/2018 18:34

The women's room by Marilyn French. I read it first when I was 13 as I used to help myself from my mum's bookshelf after school when I was home alone (latch key kid). I still think it is an amazing book, and stands as a window onto a really important time for women.

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ScribblyGum · 09/03/2018 18:44

Sadik I give it to my students as a leaving gift and have recommended it to lots of my friends too. Gawande's Reith lectures are also well worth a listen to where he covers similar subjects. He's a very wise man.

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mrsBeverleyGoldberg · 09/03/2018 18:52

Toxic Parents by Susan Forward
Will I Ever Be Good Enough by Karyn McBride
Complex PTSD by Pete Walker
Saved my life and very validating.

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SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 09/03/2018 18:53

Love this thread Smile

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Sevendown · 09/03/2018 18:56

Baby Hunger by Sylvia Ann Hewlett

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sievebrains · 09/03/2018 19:02

The little prince

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