For this week’s newsletter, the clinicians at The Better Institute want to share what we’ve been reading! Check out the list below to see what book each clinician recommends adding to your reading list:
Jody Bechtold ~ From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C Brooks ~ The roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age. Learn how to go from one strength to another strength.
Rob Bumbaco ~ The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer by Steven Kotler ~ Bestselling author, peak performance expert and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, Steven Kotler decodes the secrets of those elite performers—athletes, artists, scientists, CEOs and more—who have changed our definition of the possible, teaching us how we too can stretch far beyond our capabilities, making impossible dreams much more attainable for all of us.
April Condemi ~ The Rescuer: One Firefighter’s Story of Courage, Darkness, and the Relentless Love that Saved Him by Jason Sautel with D.R. Jacobsen ~ This book “The Rescuer: One Firefighter’s Story” is a gripping and candid memoir that follows the journey of a dedicated firefighter. Through adrenaline-fueled accounts, it highlights the emotional toll of the profession, the camaraderie among firefighters, and the unwavering dedication to saving lives, offering a profound insight into the sacrifices and purpose that drive first responders.
Evan Dean ~ No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz, PhD ~ Dr. Schwartz lays out the Internal Family System model in layman’s terms and teaches us how to relate to the many psychological parts of our mind. I really love that this approach is grounded in mindfulness and compassion and teaches us how to listen to ourselves rather than just react to thoughts and feelings, which can be thought of as parts. This model is also highly practical because through dialogue with parts we can learn their motives, function, history, and more. In my opinion, this approach gives a structural model to the practice of self-compassion.
Doug Hoesch ~ The Courage to Feel by Andrew Seubert, LPC ~ The Courage to Feel delivers a pragmatic, creative and inspiring four-step path to emotional mastery and freedom that explores the hidden wealth of guidance and wisdom available through our emotions. He provided interesting allegories, anecdotes, applications, and exercises in the writing. Woven in is a wonderful story of Simon the Turtle who must leave his shell to follow his heart. I often refer to it for client emotional awareness and resilience.
Matt Missar ~ Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ~ Discover the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of the legendary basketball coach, John Wooden, through the heartfelt tribute penned by his star player and lifelong friend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “Coach Wooden” unveils an insightful collection of life lessons and leadership principles, showcasing the wisdom of one of the greatest coaches in sports history.
Robin Witt ~ The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah ~ An emotionally gripping story that brings to life The Great Depression and the American Dream through the eyes of one woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.