Each month, a ton of new spiritual and self-help books hit the market. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or miss out on some new releases.
I created Elevated Existence Monthly Book Picks to help narrow down your search, and make sure you don’t miss some great options!
Here are the picks for August 2018. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Click on each title to go directly to Amazon and find out more about the book.
“Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence — The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice,” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.
From New York Times bestselling author, Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., introduces readers to his pioneering, science-based meditation practice in this new book, providing practical instruction for mastering the Wheel of Awareness, a life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence, and peace in one’s day-to-day life.
An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation’s effectiveness, this book teaches readers how to harness the power of the principle “Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows.” Siegel reveals how developing a Wheel of Awareness practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life.
No matter what level of experience you have with meditation or mindfulness, this book is a hands-on guide to becoming more focused and present, as well as more energized and emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges life throws your way.
“The 5 Essential Principles of Think & Grow Rich: The Practical Steps to Transforming Your Desires into Riches,” by Napoleon Hill
Drawn from the modern-day classic, “Think and Grow Rich” ― this new edition dives deeper into the 5 core secrets that have shown the greatest success. With these 5 lessons, you have the power to change your life and set you upon the path of learning and self-development. Originally published in 1937, Napoleon Hill draws on stories from Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and more than 500 other men of great wealth to demonstrate his moneymaking philosophies. With simple and practical techniques, Hill teaches that great and lasting success is possible with nothing but thoughts, ideas, and organized plans.
“The Five Hurdles to Happiness: And the Mindful Path to Overcoming Them,” by Mitch Abblett
A practical approach to becoming aware of the “five hindrances” or negative qualities that inhibit living an awakened life, and how to break free of them in order to live more mindfully, effectively and compassionately, author Mitch Abblett draws from Buddhist traditions to offer a modern, secular interpretation to identify the hurdles blocking contentment — desire, hostility, sluggishness, worry, and doubt and how you can take your first steps to overcoming them.
Combining traditional wisdom with contemporary psychology and using examples from his psychotherapy practice, Abblett uses the hurdles as a frame for engaging you in a process of contemplating your own life and learning to lean into your experience rather than merely repeating bad habits. By doing this, you can break free from the hurdles and live more mindfully, effectively, and compassionately.
“Hack Your Anxiety: How to Make Anxiety Work for You in Life, Love and All That You Do,” by Alicia H. Clark, PsyD
What if the way we’re thinking about anxiety is off base? What if there’s something about anxiety that can be used for you instead of against you?
In this revolutionary new book, Dr. Alicia H. Clark recognizes anxiety as an unsung hero in the path to success and wellbeing. Anxiety is a powerful motivating force that can be harnessed to create a better you, if you’ve got the right tools. This book provides a road map to approach anxiety in a new ― and empowering ― light.
Weaving together modern neuroscience, case studies, interviews, and personal anecdotes, Clark demonstrates how anxiety can be reclaimed as a potent force for living our best lives.
“How to Be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute,” by K.J. Dell’Antonia
An encouraging guide to helping parents find more happiness in their day-to-day family life, from the former lead editor of the New York Times Motherlode blog, KJ Dell’Antonia.
In this optimistic, solution-packed book, Dell’Antonia asks: How can we change our family life so that it is full of the joy we’d always hoped for? Drawing from the latest research and interviews with families, KJ discovers it’s possible to do more by doing less, and make our family life a refuge and pleasure, rather than another stress point in a hectic day.
She focuses on nine common problem spots that cause parents the most grief, explores why they are hard, and offers small, doable, sometimes surprising steps you can take to make them better. Whether it’s getting everyone out the door on time in the morning or making sure chores and homework get done without another battle, this book show having a family isn’t just about raising great kids and churning them out at destination: success. It’s about experiencing joy — real joy, the kind you look back on, look forward to, and live for — along the way.
“Journey to the Afterlife: Comforting Messages & Lessons from Loved Ones in Spirit,” by Kristy Robinett
Revealing the true nature of heaven, hell, and the in-between from spirits who are there, Kristy Robinett shares soul-stirring messages from her many years of practice as a professional psychic medium. This book answers the most persistent questions about the afterlife, showing what kinds of lessons are learned as spirits evolve and grow in light and peace. Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? Or how a child’s experience of the afterlife is different than an adult’s? Is there such a thing as hell or purgatory?
With dozens of moving case studies and remarkable examples, the book shows how our loved ones are given the opportunity to grow and find happiness on the other side. These messages are a great comfort to Kristy’s clients, and they will touch your heart while helping you move forward on your own personal journey.
“The Pomodoro Technique: The Acclaimed Time-Management System That Has Transformed How We Work,” by Francesco Cirillo
Francesco Cirillo developed his famed system for improving productivity as a college student thirty years ago. Using a kitchen timer shaped like a pomodoro (Italian for tomato), Cirillo divided the time he spent working on a project into 25-minute intervals, with 5-minute breaks in between, in order to get more done, without interruptions. By grouping a number of pomodoros together, users can tackle a project of any length, and drastically improve their productivity, enhance their focus, and better achieve their goals.
Originally self-published, and shared virally online, this new publication of “The Pomodoro Technique” includes several new chapters on how teams can use the method to save time and increase productivity. The process underlying Cirillo’s technique includes five stages: planning the day’s tasks, tracking your efforts, recording your daily activities, processing what you have done, and visualizing areas for improvement. With this tried and tested method, readers can simplify their work, find out how much time and effort a task really requires, and improve their focus so they can get more done in the same amount of time each day.
“The Practice of Pure Awareness: Somatic Meditation for Awakening the Sacred,” by Reginald A. Ray
A respected teacher, Reginald A. Ray presents the core and essential wisdom of Tibet and shows us the possibilities of “enlightenment in this present life” through the meditative and somatic practice of Pure Awareness — a unique kind of meditation thoroughly grounded in the body and in ordinary experience. This fundamentally transformative practice offers the possibility of enlightenment in this present life and invites us into the immensely powerful journey that Tibetan tantric spirituality has to offer. Includes a link to a free download of audio meditations.