Julie's Recommended Book List

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel Amen

This book highlights the latest scientific findings on our amazing brains using illustrations from SPECT scans (actual 3-D pictures of the brain). The book gives “brain prescriptions” on making positive changes in thought patterns and functioning of the brain in such areas as depression, anxiety, anger, impulsiveness and more. Great information!

The Mindful Brain: Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well- Being by Daniel J. Siegel

This book is a practical review of the concept of mindfulness and how a practice of mindful awareness can positively affect our brain health and everyday lives.

Keep Your Brain Alive: 83 Neurobic Exercises by Lawrence Katz and Manning Rubin

Learn how to add new brain pathways and connections and have fun in the process!

This book lists exercises to help you experience the world from a new point of view. A practical fitness program for our Brains

My Stroke of Insight” by Jill Bolte-Taylor, Ph.D.

I recently read an amazing book entitled “My Stroke of Insight” by Jill Bolte-Taylor, Ph.D. Over a couple of weeks, several colleagues and friends kept recommending this book to me Because so many were recommending it, I grabbed a copy. The book chronicles the experiences of a highly respected brain scientist who herself suffers a massive stroke affecting most of the left side of her brain. Even as the author’s capacity for language, her sense of self (ego) is slipping away, and her brain injury (stroke) progresses, she is able to become an inside observer of all she had spent her life and career to study. Despite the gravity of her physical condition, she finds herself in a blissful, peaceful and expansive “right brain” place. Her description is a spiritual journey which teaches her (and us) about being human.

This book should be read by all for its’ journey of hope and resiliency. It should also be read to teach and recognize (and act!) on the signs of a stroke:

S = SPEECH, or any problems with language

T = TINGLING, or any numbness in the body

R = REMEMBER, or any problems with memory

O = OFF BALANCE, problems with coordination

K = KILLER HEADACHE

E = EYES, or any problem with vision

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow (New York: Hyperion Books, 2008).

Here is an amazing book about living your dreams, overcoming obstacles and savoring all that is life! It is written by a professor at Carnegie Mellon who was one of several professors asked to give a "Last Lecture", a presentation which highlights life wisdom that they would like to share with their students. For Pausch it truly was a "Last Lecture" as he had discovered he had terminal cancer.
Far from being a tear jerker, it is a celebration of love and a life well-lived. I highly recommend it!

Marriage and Family

Beautiful Boy - a father's journey through his son's addiction by David Sheff (New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008).
This book is a heart wrenching, moving story of a father as he recounts his son's journey of drug addiction and his own parallel journey of grief, fear and love. A powerful book I highly recommend.

Why Marriages Succeed Or Fail…And How You Can Make Yours Last by John Gottman (New York: Simon and Shuster Paperbacks, 1994).

This book is written by a well-known psychologist who has done extensive research on marriage. It includes practical information on how to recognize attitudes and behavior patterns that can destroy a marriage, but more importantly provides practical information, quizzes and techniques that will help you to highlight the strengths of your marriage and make the most of your relationship.

Step-by Step-Parenting A Guide to Successful Living with a Blended Family by James D. Eckler (Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1993).

Gives tips and guidance to help navigate the oftentimes challenging waters of stepparenthood and blending families, and begin to nurture and sustain and grow your new family.

Give Them Wings- Preparing for the Time Your Teens Leave Home by Carol Kuykendall (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994)

A great book for parents that are in the process of sending their children off to college and into their first college year.

For Each Other- Sharing Sexual Intimacy by Lonnie Barnach ( New York, New York: Anchor Books, 2001

An instructional book offering suggestions for increasing communication, and establishing a more satisfying and fulfilling intimate relationship with your partner.

General Wellness

Emotional Intelligence- Why it Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman ( New York, New York :Bantam Dell, 1995

A best-seller based on grounding breaking work in brain and behavioral research, it shows how there are many factors at work that are as important to our well-being besides IQ. Strengthening our EQ including factors such as self-awareness, self-discipline and empathy can lead to healthier lives, relationships and work.

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