PhilosophersNotes (71)

• 

  White Fragility

  Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

  by Robin DiAngelo, PhD

  I got this book as part of my commitment to getting a deeper understanding of the systemic racism and inequality that plagues our country and our world. Robin DiAngelo is an academic, educator, and author working in the fields of critical discourse analysis and whiteness studies. In this book, she distills her decades of experience into a powerful message to her fellow white progressives: We’re too fragile when it comes to discussing racism (and our role in it) and, critically, that fragility and unwillingness to engage in uncomfortable discussions along with equally uncomfortable self- and cultural-analysis is exacerbating the problem. The solution? As she says many times throughout the book: We need to build our racial stamina. Recognizing our fragility is the first step. As you’d expect, the book is a deliberately confronting read. It's equally humbling and ultimately inspiring.

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  Female Author Racism Social Justice

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• 

  Character Strengths Matter

  How to Live a Full Life (Positive Psychology News)

  by Shannon M. Polly, MAPP, ACC, Kathryn Britton, MAPP

  This is a great introduction to the science of why character strengths matter along with some practical tools on how to go about using those strengths in service to our families and communities so we can experience a deeper sense of joyful flourishing. In this book, Shannon Polly and Kathryn Britton walk us through each of the 24 character strengths identified by the VIA Institute on Character that was created by Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson. In our Note, we take a quick look at all 24 virtues and explore some practical ways to apply them to our lives TODAY.

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  Positive Psychology

  Best of Optimize Female Author positive-psychology

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• 

  The Telomere Effect

  A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer

  by Elizabeth Blackburn, Ph.D., Elissa Epel, Ph.D.

  Elizabeth Blackburn won the Nobel Prize for her discovery of telemorase—“the enzyme that replenishes telomeres, which protect our genetic heritage.” Elissa Epel is one of the world’s leading health psychology researchers. Together, they have created a great book that walks us through the best of what we know about telomeres, why they’re so important and what we can do to Optimize them. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about telomeres, THIS is the book to read. Big Ideas we explore include why telomeres are the secret sauce to aging well, the fact that your cells are listening to your thoughts (#1 tip? Shift from a threat response to a challenge response!), how to mind your telomeres (move from negative thinking to resilient thinking), how to eat, move, sleep your way to happy telomeres, and a challenging question: What will YOUR cellular legacy be?

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  Habits & Positive Psychology

  confidence Energy Female Author positive-psychology Telomeres

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  Designed to Move

  The Science-Backed Program to Fight Sitting Disease and Enjoy Lifelong Health

  by Dr. Joan Vernikos

  Joan Vernikos studied the effects of weightlessness on health and served as Life Sciences Director at the NASA Ames Research Center. We featured another one of her earlier books: Sitting Kills, Moving Heals. This book is kinda like Part 2 of that book. The theme is the same: Sit too much and you’re going to experience the same types of negative effects that astronauts experience in the microgravity of outer space. Big Ideas we explore include the fact that gravity is our friend, why we don’t want to be active AND sedentary (are you?), some stats on the health problems caused by sitting (did you know it can be as bad as smoking or drinking heavily?), and the keys to Optimizing.

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  Conquering Cancer & Movement & Productivity

  Energy Female Author Modern Classic

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• 

  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

  by J. K. Rowling

  Welcome to Harry Potter #5: The Order of the Phoenix. We get to hang out with the Order at their secret headquarters at Twelve Grimauld Place and, among many other adventures, get to deal with the atrocious new Headmistress appointed by the Ministry of Magic, Professor Umbridge. Big Ideas we explore include the difference between producing a Protinus in the bright lights of a classroom vis-a-vis the darkness of a dementor attack, what’s worse than death (+ Voldemort’s greatest weakness), Harry’s greatest strength, perfection and humility, and the ultimate power (LOVE!).

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  Hero Training & Optimal Living

  courage Female Author Fiction Harry Potter

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• 

  Getting Grit

  The Evidence-Based Approach to Cultivating Passion, Perseverance, and Purpose

  by Caroline Adams Miller

  Caroline Miller is an executive coach who has a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania where she studied with Martin Seligman and his colleagues, including Angela Duckworth who pioneered the science of grit. In fact, Angela says: “I don’t know anybody who has thought more than Caroline Miller about how to apply the scientific research on grit and achievement to our own lives.” Big Ideas we explore include the definition of authentic grit, how to get your grit on (it starts with a dream!), the importance of happiness (it comes first), why risk-taking is so important and how to persevere by struggling well.

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  Goals & Positive Psychology

  Antifragile Female Author Grit positive-psychology

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• 

  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

  by J. K. Rowling

  Welcome to Harry Potter #4. It’s time for the Quidditch World Cup, the Goblet of Fire, and the Triwizard Tournament. And... Voldemort’s back. Emerson and I had fun hammering through this 752-page tome a little every night. Even just picking up the book and asking him how we’d get through it was a lesson in breaking down big goals into bite-sized small wins! Big Ideas we explore include: The commitment with which you need to enter your name into the Goblet of Fire, two quick tips on how to win a battle with a dragon, how to deal with critics, the magic of the Pensieve (and the fact you already have a magic wand), embracing our complexity Dumbledore style and the power of courageously confronting reality.

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  Peak Performance

  courage Female Author Fiction Harry Potter

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• 

  Bright Line Eating

  The Science of Living Happy, Thin & Free

  by Susan Peirce Thompson

  Susan Peirce Thompson is a Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester. She’s an expert in the psychology of eating and creator of Bright Line Eating Solutions, “a company dedicated to helping people achieve long-term, sustainable weight loss.” Plus... She used to be obese and, as she says, addicted to *everything.* She integrates her background in neuroscience with her personal experience conquering her diet and other addiction issues in this super popular book. Big Ideas we explore include why bright lines are where it’s at, the susceptibility quiz, the saboteur, self-perception theory, and the four bright lines of eating.

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  Nutrition

  Female Author Nutrition willpower

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  Braving the Wilderness

  The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

  by Brené Brown

  Brené Brown is one of the world’s most beloved teachers. We’ve covered two of her other #1 NY Times bestselling books: Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection. This book is all about helping us navigate our quests for true belonging—that sense of connection to yourself and to others that’s authentic, vulnerable, and courageous. First step: We need to know that it requires a trip into the hero’s forest of the unknown. Which demands “braving the wilderness.” Big Ideas we explore include deepening our understanding of that quest to true belonging, embracing paradox, the 4 practices of true belonging, how to deal with life’s challenges, and writing yourself a permission slip to be YOU.

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  Connection

  connection courage Female Author Vulnerability

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• 

  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

  by J. K. Rowling

  Harry Potter. Number 3. This time we get to meet the prisoner of Azkaban. None other than Harry’s wrongfully-imprisoned Godfather with the coolest name ever: Sirius Black. We also get to hang out with Professor Lupin, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher (and werewolf!) and a Hippogriff named Buckbeak. Good times! :) Big Ideas we explore include: how to recover from an encounter with a dementor, how to deal with a boggart (Riddikulus!), the only thing to fear, how to deal with a dementor (Expecto Patronus!), how to do something super hard (hint: do it before).

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  courage Female Author Fiction Harry Potter

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• 

  The Happiness Track

  How to Apply the Science of Happiness to Accelerate Your Success

  by Emma Seppälä

  Emma Seppälä is the science director of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. She also has a popular blog called Fulfillment Daily. In this great little book, she walks us through the latest scientific research on everything from resilience, willpower and compassion to positive stress, creativity, and mindfulness. Big Ideas we explore include how to find fulfillment (hint: it’s in this moment—right now!), how to skillfully surf stress waves, the most powerful lever to optimize your mind (hint: your breath), how to succeed in failure Jack Ma style, and the science of compassion.

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  Breathing & Positive Psychology

  Breathing Compassion connection creativity Female Author Happiness positive-psychology

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  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

  by J. K. Rowling

  Harry Potter Year 2. I’m having fun reading the epic series to Emerson and in this Note we have fun looking at a handful of my favorite Big Ideas including Burning Days (phoenixes burn then rise from their ashes—so do we!), opening your eyes to reality (always a good idea!), eating your words (gotta do it at times or else you might become a hobgoblin), and what wins in the choices vs. abilities game (hint: CHOICES!!).

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  Confidence & Hero Training

  Best of Optimize courage Female Author Fiction Harry Potter Hero

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• 

  The Progress Principle

  Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work

  by Teresa Amabile, Steven Kramer

  Teresa Amabile is the Director of Research at Harvard Business School. It’s pretty much impossible to read a book on business, creativity, or happiness at work and not run into her research. She wrote this book with her husband, leading developmental psychologist Steven Kramer. In it, we learn the secret of joy, engagement and creativity at work. Hint: Small wins! On (important distinction) meaningful stuff. Big Ideas we explore include the power of our “inner work life,” the 3 key influences to optimizing it (progress, catalysts, nourishers) and how to get on the progress loop and stay on it!

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  Business & Modern Hērō & Productivity

  business Female Author productivity Small Wins

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  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

  by J. K. Rowling

  Harry Potter. You might have heard of him. He’s one of the world’s coolest wizards. And, his story is one of the most epic and epically well-told hero stories ever. I loved reading the books as they came out years ago and now I get to relive the magic as I read them to my son, Emerson. I figured we could have some fun looking at the wonderful wisdom packed into the equally wonderful wizard tales. Big Ideas we explore include: The Mirror of Erised (and how it relates to modern science), the well-organized mind and its attitude on death (and how it relates to ancient Stoicism), the power of naming your fear (Voldemort! Not “You-Know-Who”!), and how to get the Philosopher’s Stone.

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  Hero Training & Optimal Living

  Best of Optimize courage Death Female Author Fiction Harry Potter Mindset

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  The Artist's Way

  25th Anniversary Edition

  by Julia Cameron

  This is the 25th Anniversary Edition of the classic book that has inspired millions of creative people around the world. It’s essentially a 12-week course in helping us “discover” and “recover” our creative selves. It’s *packed* with exercises and questions to help us connect with the “Great Creator” within as we free up our latent creative potential. Big Ideas we explore include: the spiral path, morning pages, artist dates, gain disguised as loss, and the magic, grace and power of action.

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  Creativity & Habits

  Female Author Modern Classic soul Spirit

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  The Healing Power of the Breath

  Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Enhance Concentration, and Balance Your Emotions

  by Richard P. Brown, Patricia L. Gerbarg

  Richard Brown and Patricia Gerbarg are medical doctors, clinical psychiatrists and university professors. They also happen to be two of the world’s leading breath experts—integrating Western science and ancient breath techniques derived from yoga, qigong, Coherent Breathing, and Open-Focus meditation. Big Ideas we explore: Pill or 20 minutes?, Breath = portal to mind-body systems, Coherent Breathing, Resistance Breathing and turning off your worry centers via vagus nerves.

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  Breathing

  Energy Female Author Modern Classic

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  Breathe

  The Simple, Revolutionary 14-Day Program to Improve Your Mental and Physical Health

  by Belisa Vranich

  Breathing. It’s obviously important. And... I’m beginning to realize *just* how important it is. In fact, breathing properly is quickly becoming my #1 fundamental. Belisa Vranich is a clinical psychologist and one of the world’s leading experts on how to breathe right. In this Note, we take a quick peek at why breathing is so important, learn how to measure your Vital Lung Capacity, observe the difference between Clark Kent and Superman and get to work on training the most important and underappreciated muscle in your body (hint: your diaphragm).

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  The Brain Warrior's Way

  Ignite Your Energy and Focus, Attack Illness and Aging, Transform Pain into Purpose

  by Daniel G. Amen, M.D., Tana Amen

  Daniel Amen is a ten-time New York Times bestselling author and the Washington Post has described him as the most popular psychiatrist in America. Tana is also a New York Times best-selling author (The Omni Diet) and a leading fitness expert who holds black belts in both Tae Kwon Do and Kempo Karate. Together, they’ve written a passionate, inspiring book on how we can, as the sub-title suggests, ignite our energy and focus, attack illness and aging, and transform pain into purpose. Big Ideas we explore include why to become a brain warrior, a check in to see if positive thinking is killing you, the #1 strategy to live long, top 10 nutrition tips, why cheat days are not smart, and the power of community to Optimize.

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  Love 2.0

  Finding Happiness and Health in Moments of Connection

  by Barbara Fredrickson

  Ready to upgrade your vision of love? Then you’re in for a treat with this fantastic book by Barbara Fredrickson. Barbara is one of the world’s leading positive psychologists. The book is incredibly well-written, deeply inspiring and incredibly practical as well. In fact, I just told Alexandra that this book might be the one that most positively impacts my life. Big Ideas we explore include: Love 1.0 vs. Love 2.0, taking a trip to Vagus, identifying our prevailing desire, #1 tip: create 3 loving moments today, exiting our cocoon of self-absorption via loving-kindness meditation, and Love 2.0 x 2: compassionate + celebratory love.

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  The Myths of Happiness

  What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn't, What Shouldn't Make You Happy, but Does

  by Sonja Lyubomirsky

  Sonja Lyubomirsky is one of the world’s leading positive psychology researchers. Her award-winning and very well-funded research is on “the possibility of permanently increasing happiness.” <— How cool is that? This book focuses on, you guessed it, the myths of happiness—those things we *think* will make us happy (or devastated) but don’t. The book has over 700 (!) scholarly references. I always love connecting ancient wisdom and fun self-help with SOLID research so this book was a great treat. Big Ideas: hedonic adaptation, #1 way to boost optimism (kinda surprising), the ultradian dip, affluenza virus, frequency > intensity and how to set goals.

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