The best psychology books combine scientific rigour with accessible writing. We turned to some of the most eminent psychologists working today for their book recommendations. Psychology may not have all the answers, but it can help you have a better understanding of yourself and others; what motivates thoughts, feelings, and actions. Using the distilled knowledge of psychology presented in these books can empower you to make better decisions, control habits, be more motivated and productive, maybe even be a little happier.
Our experts include Daniel Goleman, author of the ultra-bestselling book Emotional Intelligence; Professor Carol Dweck, whose book Mindset, on motivation, success and forming a 'growth mindset,' has sold more than a million copies; Dr Andrew Lees, one of the most cited neurologists in the world; and Harvard professor, linguist and cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker (author of hit popular psychology books including The Language Instinct and The Blank Slate). In total more than 80 experts have helped make these lists.
We already have reading lists outlining the best books on mindfulness, consciousness, depression, teenage mental health, child psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
The best books on Behavioral Science, recommended by Nicholas Epley
What can we draw from behavioral science to help us better understand each other? Nicholas Epley, Professor of Behavioral Science and Faculty Director of the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, recommends the five best books for learning about an interdisciplinary field that draws from psychology, sociology, economics and anthropology.
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The Triple Focus: A New Approach to Education
by Daniel Goleman and Peter Senge -
2
Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning: Research and Practice
by ed. Durlak et al -
3
The Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science
by ed. Seppälä et al -
4
Emotional Alchemy: How the Mind Can Heal the Heart
by Tara Bennett-Goleman -
5
Marrow: Love, Loss, and What Matters Most
by Elizabeth Lesser
The best books on Emotional Intelligence, recommended by Daniel Goleman
The best books on Emotional Intelligence, recommended by Daniel Goleman
We are taught to value intelligence and academic ability, but raw mental firepower does not always translate into success at work or a life of contentment. Just as important are the skills that make up ’emotional intelligence,’ says Daniel Goleman, whose bestselling book popularised the concept. Here he chooses five emotional intelligence books that explore its practical applications.
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The Marshmallow Test: Why Self-Control Is the Engine of Success
by Walter Mischel -
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A Curious Mind: The Secret To a Bigger Life
by Brian Grazer -
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Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
by Carol Dweck -
4
Popular: The Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World
by Mitch Prinstein -
5
Path to Purpose
by William Damon
The best books on Character Development, recommended by Angela Duckworth
The best books on Character Development, recommended by Angela Duckworth
Can we cultivate qualities like grit, tenacity and kindness? How about habits of the successful—hard work, perseverance and productivity? Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit and founder of the Character Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, recommends five books, including a title that graces every CEO’s shelf.
The best books on Mindset and Success, recommended by Carol Dweck
If you’ve stepped inside a school recently, you’ve probably heard teachers talking about the importance of a ‘growth mindset.’ Here psychologist Carol Dweck, who pioneered research into this key concept, explains what it’s all about and recommends books—other than her own—that shed light on it.
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The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World
by Oona Hathaway & Scott Shapiro -
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Homicide
by Martin Daly and Margo Wilson -
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Statistics of Deadly Quarrels
by Lewis F Richardson -
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Violent Land
by David Courtwright -
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The Remnants of War
by John Mueller -
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Evil: Inside Human Violence and Cruelty
by Roy Baumeister
The best books on The Decline of Violence, recommended by Steven Pinker
The best books on The Decline of Violence, recommended by Steven Pinker
Our TV screens may be full of news about war and crime, but this masks a fall in historical terms in the number of violent deaths that’s nothing short of astonishing, says Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker. He tells us how and why this happened. (This interview was updated 17 December, 2020, to include books that have come out since it was published in 2011)
The best books on Cruelty and Evil, recommended by Paul Bloom
How do evil-doers justify their behaviour? A common view of evil sees dehumanisation as fundamental. Yale psychologist Paul Bloom argues, however, that the picture may not be so simple. The most callous acts of cruelty and evil involve recognising the human feelings of the victim, their ability to feel shame and humiliation.
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The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload
by Daniel J Levitin -
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BrainChains: Your Thinking Brain Explained in Simple Terms
by Theo Compernolle -
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The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right
by Atul Gawande -
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The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future
by Kevin Kelly -
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The Antidote
by Oliver Burkeman
The best books on Productivity, recommended by David Allen
The best books on Productivity, recommended by David Allen
If you feel like you lose whole days to procrastination or indecision—or simply have too much to do!—you probably want advice on how improve your productivity. We spoke to David Allen, creator of the perennial bestseller Getting Things Done, about the best books on the subject: why we waste time, and what we can change to be more productive.
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The Wisdom Pattern: Order, Disorder, Reorder
by Richard Rohr -
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Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times: Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm, Clarity, and Courage
by Philip Goldberg -
3
How to Be a Failure and Still Live Well: A Philosophy
by Beverley Clack -
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The Passion Economy: The New Rules for Thriving in the Twenty-First Century
by Adam Davidson -
5
The New Corner Office: How the Most Successful People Work From Home
The Best Self Help Books of 2020, recommended by Oliver Burkeman
The Best Self Help Books of 2020, recommended by Oliver Burkeman
We asked Oliver Burkeman, the Guardian writer and author of The Antidote, to select the best self help books published in 2020. His recommended titles include spiritual guidance for the age of doomscrolling, a philosophy of failure, and practical advice for those working from home for the first time.
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Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
by Shunryu Suzuki -
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The Life of Milarepa
Translated by Lobsang P Lhalungpa -
3
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
by Chogyam Trungpa -
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The Bodhicaryāvatāra
by Śāntideva -
5
One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryōkan
by Ryōkan
Meditation Books, recommended by Andy Puddicombe
Meditation Books, recommended by Andy Puddicombe
Two decades ago Andy Puddicombe was ordained as a Buddhist monk. Now back in lay life, he tries to teach the benefits of meditation to the rest of us—most notably through the Headspace app, but also by writing books. Here he chooses some of the books that inspired him, from Japanese poetry to Tibetan philosophy. Not all are meditation books but they are his “old favorites.”
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Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World
by Mark Williams. Danny Penman -
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Into the Heart of Mindfulness: Finding Our Path to Well-Being
by Ed Halliwell -
3
A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled
by Ruby Wax -
4
The Mindful Brain: Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being
by Daniel Siegel -
5
Mindfulness in Action: Making Friends with Yourself through Meditation and Everyday Awareness
by Chogyam Trungpa
The best books on Mindfulness, recommended by Tessa Watt
The best books on Mindfulness, recommended by Tessa Watt
In a world where many people feel frazzled by the pace of life, can mindfulness help? What’s the best way of practising it? Or is it just a fad? Philosopher Nigel Warburton talks to mindfulness expert, Tessa Watt, about the best books on mindfulness.
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The Book of Human Emotions: An Encyclopedia of Feeling from Anger to Wanderlust
by Tiffany Watt Smith -
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Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides -
3
Principles of Psychology
by William James -
4
Emotional Success: The Power of Gratitude, Compassion and Pride
by David DeSteno -
5
Stumbling on Happiness
by Daniel Gilbert
The Best Books on Emotions, recommended by Lisa Feldman Barrett
The Best Books on Emotions, recommended by Lisa Feldman Barrett
Not every culture has a word for ‘fear.’ Smiling was an invention of the Middle Ages. There’s a lot that will surprise you about the way we process emotions, says the neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett. Here she picks five books that illustrate our understanding of how emotions work.
The best books on Burnout, recommended by Josh Cohen
Overwhelmed, exhausted, yet unable to relax when you have the chance? You are not alone. Josh Cohen, psychoanalyst and author of Not Working: Why We Have to Stop, discusses the symptoms and causes of burnout—and why relentless activity is at the source.
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The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy
by Irvin D Yalom -
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Introduction to Cognitive Analytic Therapy: Principles and Practice
by Anthony Ryle & Ian B Kerr -
3
Managing Your Mind: The Mental Fitness Guide
by Gillian Butler, Tony Hope & Nick Grey -
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What Works for Whom: A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research
by Anthony Roth & Peter Fonagy -
5
Why Don't I Feel Good Enough?: Using Attachment Theory to Find a Solution
by Helen Dent
The best books on Clinical Psychology, recommended by Susan Llewelyn
The best books on Clinical Psychology, recommended by Susan Llewelyn
Clinical psychologists look at how we feel, how that affects how we behave, and whether we can change. Here, the Oxford academic and clinician Susan Llewelyn discusses five key books in the field of clinical psychology, why clinicians must keep their minds open to new approaches, and why aspiring psychologists should read as many novels as they can.
The best books on High Performance Psychology, recommended by Michael Gervais
To reach your full potential you must put as much effort into building mental resilience as you do into work or training, advises high-performance psychologist Dr Michael Gervais. Here, he selects five titles to help you find the right mindset—whether you dream of sporting stardom, artistic achievement or business success.
The best books on Cognitive Neuroscience, recommended by Dick Passingham
Neuroscience has banished the problem of dualism—the ‘ghost in the machine’ mulled over by philosophists since the time of Descartes, says the renowned cognitive neuroscientist Professor Dick Passingham. Here, he chooses five books that signified major breakthroughs in this fast-advancing field.
The Best Psychology Books for Teens, recommended by Jessica Flitter, Laura Brandt & Nancy Fenton
Three award-winning US high school psychology teachers—authors of the website Books for Psychology Class—share their recommendations of the best psychology books for teenagers, students and their teachers—and reflect on why storytelling is a key aspect of the art of teaching.
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Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate: A User Guide to an Asperger Life
by Cynthia Kim -
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The Real Experts: Readings for Parents of Autistic Children
by Michelle Sutton (editor) -
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Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism
by Barry Prizant and Tom Fields-Meyer -
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Autism Adulthood: Strategies and Insights for a Fulfilling Life
by Susan Senator -
5
The Eagle Tree
by Ned Hayes
The Best Autism Books, recommended by Steve Silberman
The Best Autism Books, recommended by Steve Silberman
Writing about autism has undergone an important shift, finally giving a voice to people with autism, says Steve Silberman, the winner of the 2015 Baillie Gifford Prize for his book tracing the history of autism, NeuroTribes. He picks the best new books on autism.
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Forensic Psychology for Dummies
by David Canter -
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The Criminal
by Havelock Ellis -
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Inside the Criminal Mind
by Stanton Samenow -
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The Psychology of Criminal Conduct: Theory, Research and Practice
by Ronald Blackburn -
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Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Research and Application
Curtis & Anne Bartol
The best books on Forensic Psychology, recommended by David Canter
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The Inner Game of Tennis
by W. Timothy Gallwey -
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Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect
by Bob Rotella -
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Zen Putting: Mastering the Mental Game on the Greens
by Joseph Parent -
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Heads-Up Baseball: Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time
by Ken Ravizza & Tom Hanson -
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The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, And Thrive
by Jim Afremow
The best books on Sports Psychology, recommended by Bill Cole
The best books on Sports Psychology, recommended by Bill Cole
What do you think about when you’re training at the gym, or on the tennis court? And what should you think about, if your goal is maximizing performance and results? Seasoned sports psychologist Bill Cole, coach for numerous Olympic teams and top-level international athletes, reveals that the number one road block to athletic performance often isn’t physical—it’s overthinking.
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Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
by Lori Gottlieb -
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Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It
by David Zahl -
3
The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life
by David Brooks -
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In Search of Silence
by Poorna Bell -
5
This Life: Secular Faith and Spiritual Freedom
by Martin Hägglund
The Best Self-Help Books of 2019, recommended by Oliver Burkeman
The Best Self-Help Books of 2019, recommended by Oliver Burkeman
The self-help genre is sometimes dismissed as simplistic or over-earnest. But, at their best, self-help books offer powerful insights into how to live. Oliver Burkeman, the Guardian columnist and author of The Antidote, recommends five of the best self-help books published in 2019.
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Consciousness Explained
by Daniel C Dennett -
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Principles of Psychology
by William James -
3
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
by Julian Jaynes -
4
The Mind's I: Fantasies And Reflections On Self & Soul
by Douglas R Hofstadter & Daniel C Dennett -
5
Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life
by Peter Godfrey-Smith
The best books on Consciousness, recommended by Susan Blackmore
The best books on Consciousness, recommended by Susan Blackmore
The ‘hard problem’ of consciousness – of how the physical matter of the brain produces the psychological phenomenon of consciousness – has dogged psychologists and neuroscientists for decades. But what if we’ve been posing the question incorrectly all this time? The psychologist Susan Blackmore discusses five key texts that tackle this quicksilver concept.
The best books on Neuroscience as a Career, recommended by Andrew Lees
Are you considering a career in neuroscience? Neurologist Andrew Lees, one of the world’s leading authorities on Parkinson’s and author of Mentored by a Madman: The William Burroughs Experiment, talks about the books that continue to inspire him in his work.
The Best Self-Help Novels, recommended by Beth Blum
Since the publication of Samuel Smiles’ Self-Help (1859) in Victorian Britain, self-help has become a billion dollar industry—and its influence is even felt in the contemporary novel, says Harvard literary scholar Beth Blum, author of The Self-Help Compulsion, a new history of the rise of self-help narratives in modern literature.
The best books on Minimalism, recommended by Kyle Chayka
In times of political or personal turmoil, there’s a tendency to seek solace in stripping back life to its bare essentials. Minimalist thought is threaded through Stoicism and Zen Buddhism; absence and space became major preoccupations of 1960s US art. Kyle Chayka, the art critic and author of The Longing for Less, recommends five books on the philosophy that underpins the present fad for minimalist self-help.
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Grief is the Thing with Feathers
by Max Porter -
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Broken Hierarchies: Poems 1952-2012
by Geoffrey Hill -
3
Late Fragments: Everything I Want To Tell You (About This Magnificent Life)
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With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial
by Kathryn Mannix -
5
I Capture The Castle
by Dodie Smith
The best books on Grief, recommended by Sophie Ratcliffe
The best books on Grief, recommended by Sophie Ratcliffe
We often think of bereavement in terms of deep melancholy or gentle sadness, but “grief behaves badly and grief is risk-taking”, says Sophie Ratcliffe, Oxford literary critic and author of the memoir The Lost Properties of Love. Here, she recommends five books that may act as a balm for those who have lost someone, and says that the act of reading—any book, any poem—can be consoling.
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A Lab of One’s Own: Science and Suffrage in the First World War
by Patricia Fara -
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Eve to Evolution: Darwin, Science, and Women's Rights in Gilded Age America
by Kimberly Hamlin -
3
Wally Funk's Race for Space: The Extraordinary Story of a Female Aviation Pioneer
by Sue Nelson -
4
The Woman That Never Evolved
by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy -
5
The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal
by Desmond Morris
The best books on Scientific Differences between Women and Men, recommended by Angela Saini
The best books on Scientific Differences between Women and Men, recommended by Angela Saini
Consideration of differences between men and women has been obscured by centuries of biological essentialism, argues Angela Saini – author of Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong. Here she discusses five books that examine or demonstrate the misogynistic lens through which female capability has been viewed.
The best books on Personality Types, recommended by Merve Emre
Since its birth in the early twentieth century, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) has become the most popular personality test in the world. Here, Merve Emre, author of the new book The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing, recommends five books that reveal how the language of ‘type’ has seeped into the marrow of American civic institutions and social life—from Fortune 500 companies to Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
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Pricing the Priceless Child: The Changing Social Value of Children
by Viviana A Zelizer -
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Social Development
by H. Rudolph Schaffer -
3
The Roads of Chinese Childhood
by Charles Stafford -
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The Child in the City
by Colin Ward -
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The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger
by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett
The best books on Children, recommended by Jo Boyden
The best books on Children, recommended by Jo Boyden
We all know how children should be brought up, and rarely question the cultural norms that underly that certainty. But what does that mean for the policies we try to impose on the developing world? Jo Boyden, professor of international development at Oxford University and director of its Young Lives study, picks books that question our assumptions about how to successfully raise a child.
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Homo Aestheticus: Where Art Comes From and Why
by Ellen Dissanayake -
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Inner Vision: An Exploration of Art and the Brain
by Semir Zeki -
3
The Neurobiology of Painting
by F Clifford Rose -
4
Feeling Beauty: The Neuroscience of Aesthetic Experience
by G Gabrielle Starr -
5
Art, Aesthetics, and the Brain
by Ed. Huston & Nadal et al
The best books on The Neuroscience of Aesthetics, recommended by Anjan Chatterjee
The best books on The Neuroscience of Aesthetics, recommended by Anjan Chatterjee
Why is it that following a certain kind of brain damage, some artists’ work changes for the better? Neurologist and cognitive neuroscientist Anjan Chatterjee speaks to Five Books about how we can deconstruct the way the brain processes aesthetic experiences. He recommends the best books on neuroaesthetics
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A Materialist Theory of the Mind
by D M Armstrong -
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Consciousness Explained
by Daniel C Dennett -
3
Varieties of Meaning: The 2002 Jean Nicod Lectures
by Ruth Garrett Millikan -
4
The Architecture of the Mind
by Peter Carruthers -
5
Supersizing the Mind: Embodiment, Action, and Cognitive Extension
by Andy Clark
The best books on Philosophy of Mind, recommended by Keith Frankish
The best books on Philosophy of Mind, recommended by Keith Frankish
The experimental investigation of the mind is now the province of psychology and neuroscience – but many conceptual and metaphysical questions remain. Philosophy of mind deals with these fundamental questions, says Keith Frankish, as he selects five of the best books in the field.
The best books on Teenage Mental Health, recommended by Rae Earl
Every generation has its own minefield to negotiate in order to reach adulthood. Rae Earl discusses five books that explore a range of mental health issues that some teenagers may face, and many adults have faced, while on this difficult journey.
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The Hungry Soul: Eating and the Perfecting of Our Nature
by Leon R Kass -
2
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
by Michael Pollan -
3
The Food Police: A Well-Fed Manifesto About the Politics of Your Plate
by Jayson Lusk -
4
The Primal Cheeseburger: A Generous Helping of Food History Served On a Bun
by Elizabeth Rozin -
5
Taste Matters: Why We Like the Foods We Do
by John Prescott
The best books on Food Psychology, recommended by Paul Rozin
The best books on Food Psychology, recommended by Paul Rozin
Food is an affirmation of who we are. Paul Rozin, food psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, deconstructs the cheeseburger and busts myths about food consumption: not only is our food budget controlling what we eat, but also the expensive organic foods we’re pressured to buy may not even be healthier—let alone better-tasting—than their alternatives.
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The Varieties of Religious Experience
by William James -
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Moksha: Aldous Huxley's Classic Writings on Psychedelics and the Visionary Experience
by Aldous Huxley -
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Authors of the Impossible: The Paranormal and the Sacred
by Jeffrey J Kripal -
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When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God
by Tanya Luhrmann -
5
Centuries of Meditations
by Thomas Traherne
The best books on Ecstatic Experiences, recommended by Jules Evans
The best books on Ecstatic Experiences, recommended by Jules Evans
States of ecstasy (from the ancient Greek ekstasis, meaning ‘standing outside’) are moments when you lose your ordinary sense of self and feel connected to something greater than you. It can be euphoric, but it can also be terrifying, says the philosopher Jules Evans. Here he selects five books that explore the significance and power of these surprisingly common experiences.
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Studies in Hysteria
by Josef Breuer & Sigmund Freud -
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Medical Muses: Hysteria in Nineteenth-Century Paris
by Asti Hustvedt -
3
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
by Oliver Sacks -
4
Into the Silent Land: Travels in Neuropsychology
by Paul Broks -
5
The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves
by Stephen Grosz
The best books on Psychosomatic Illness, recommended by Suzanne O'Sullivan
The best books on Psychosomatic Illness, recommended by Suzanne O'Sullivan
We still understand very little about the workings of the brain, and yet we dismiss the tricks it can play on us as undeserving of the same sympathy as physical illness. Neurologist and author Suzanne O’Sullivan recommends the best books on psychosomatic illness.
The best books on Streams of Consciousness, recommended by Charles Fernyhough
Is it possible to describe or study our inner experience, and – if so – how might one go about it? Charles Fernyhough, professor of psychology and author of The Voices Within chooses five of the best books that employ or examine streams of consciousness.
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Connectome
by Sebastian Seung -
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The Feeling of What Happens
by Antonio Damasio -
3
Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human
by Richard Wrangham -
4
The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease
by Daniel Lieberman -
5
The Secret of Our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution
by Joseph Henrich
The best books on The Human Brain, recommended by Suzana Herculano-Houzel
The best books on The Human Brain, recommended by Suzana Herculano-Houzel
The human brain contains 86 billion neurons and burns a quarter of our energy intake. But it is by no means extraordinary, says Suzana Herculano-Houzel. Here, the Brazilian neuroscientist chooses five of the best books for understanding the complexities and connectivity of our most enigmatic organ.
The best books on Moral Character, recommended by Christian B Miller
Why do apparently ‘good’ people sometimes behave deplorably? Christian B Miller, professor of philosophy at Wake Forest University, selects five books that explore the subject of moral character and warns us to be cautious of making inferences about the underlying motives of others – and ourselves.
The best books on Depression, recommended by Bryony Gordon
Writing about her life in memoirs and a newspaper column allowed the author Bryony Gordon to “join the dots” to see the true face of her own mental illness. Here, she chooses five books to help with depression, books in which she has found solace and a sense of community among those who suffer from depression.
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War and the Soul
by Edward Tick -
2
The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma
by Bessel van der Kolk -
3
The Theatre of War
by Bryan Doerries -
4
Waking From Sleep
by Steve Taylor -
5
True Hallucinations: Being an Account of the Author's Extraordinary Adventures in the Devil's Paradise
by Terence McKenna
The best books on Psychological Trauma, recommended by Matthew Green
The best books on Psychological Trauma, recommended by Matthew Green
The way we deal with psychological trauma is outdated and overly focused on the individual. Matthew Green, author of Aftershock, picks books that could help us, as a society, heal soldiers and others who have been through more than they can cope with.