Skip to content

Non-Fiction

10 Days to Faster Reading (by Abby Marks Beale)

As you might have guessed by now, I love reading. It’s never enough; I only stop reading because I must do something else, not because I’m tired of it. I mainly read non-fiction because I’m curious about the world and have an insatiable appetite to learn. I read every day, but the more I read the more I want to read. So, I looked for something that could help me read faster without compromising comprehension. Based on my research, this book came up as the… Read More »10 Days to Faster Reading (by Abby Marks Beale)

Heal Thy Self (by Saki Santorelli)

As someone who has been interested in mindfulness for a few years now, I was excited to read this book and learn more about how mindfulness can be applied in the context of illness and medicine in general. The book follows the structure of the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in the 1970s by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I found the book less useful than I had hoped because I struggled to follow the format. There was little… Read More »Heal Thy Self (by Saki Santorelli)

As a Man Thinketh (by James Allen)

It’s probably taking me longer to write this review than to read the book, but despite being a short read, it’s packed with powerful concepts that are still relevant today. For example, the metaphor of the mind as a garden that must be cultivated, or the notion that our minds become calm in proportion to our understanding of ourselves as thought-evolved beings. The central idea of the book is that our thoughts shape our lives. A person is limited only by the thoughts that he… Read More »As a Man Thinketh (by James Allen)

A Room of One’s Own (by Virginia Woolf)

There is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind. A classic work of feminist literature, this book explores the issue of women’s place in society. Specifically, that they have faced a scarcity of opportunities – this book raises the question of what women could achieve if they were given the same opportunities as their male colleagues. Woolf argues that centuries of financial and educational disadvantages have inhibited women’s creativity. She uses vivid storytelling to paint a… Read More »A Room of One’s Own (by Virginia Woolf)

Women Who Think Too Much (by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema)

I was hooked on this book from the first page as it got straight to the point.  The first part explained the concept of overthinking and provided potential explanations for why women tend to overthink.  The second part offered practical steps to overcome overthinking in three phases: 1) breaking free of its grip, 2) moving to higher ground and gaining a new perspective, and 3) avoiding future traps. I found the author’s use of the quicksand analogy to be spot-on and effective.  The third part of the… Read More »Women Who Think Too Much (by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema)

Eat, Drink, Run (by Bryony Gordon)

Bryony’s honesty and vulnerability in discussing her own struggles with mental health and body image make this a powerful read. Her courageous decision to open up about her experiences is inspiring and serves as a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles and that it’s normal to have low feelings. The book is incredibly fun to read. From the first page, I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. It’s also easily accessible, yet it packs a punch in terms of its message… Read More »Eat, Drink, Run (by Bryony Gordon)

How Fear Works (by Frank Furedi)

Interesting and informative, this book smartly explores the various ways in which fear is used and manipulated in our society, from politics to media. Specifically, Frank Furedi, originally Hungarian and emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, presents a compelling theory that we live in a culture of fear, different to the culture of courage and self-reliance of a century ago. In fact, nowadays, our values are centred around safety and risk aversion. Through thought-provoking reasoning, the author also encourages the reader to… Read More »How Fear Works (by Frank Furedi)

Predictably Irrational (by Dan Ariely)

What an absolutely fascinating read! The author conducts a series of experiments that are both surprising and illuminating, and he presents the findings in a way that is easy to understand and engage with. He explains how our behaviour is often irrational (even and above all when we think we’re making a rational decision) and how it is influenced by a variety of factors such as our emotions and the way information is presented to us. The book is full of insights and examples that… Read More »Predictably Irrational (by Dan Ariely)

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? (by Julie Smith)

This book! I had an instant connection with it, it felt like the author was speaking directly to me. She educates us about how our mind works and how it can affect our moods and emotions. She also provides us with useful and practical tools we need to manage our mental health. Julie Smith is a therapist so the content of the book is not that mumbo-jumbo spiritual stuff that you find on the internet. All those self-help books that told the world to just… Read More »Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? (by Julie Smith)

What to Say When You Talk to Yourself (by Shad Helmstetter)

The title of this book was intriguing, but when I chose to read it, I wasn’t expecting much. I had picked it up simply because, during my 1982-2022 book challenge, I was desperately looking for a book originally published in 1986 and this fit the criteria. I was positively surprised by this book. I guess that sometimes when you don’t have expectations, good things can seem even better. This book is not about making you feel better, but rather about helping you achieve your goals… Read More »What to Say When You Talk to Yourself (by Shad Helmstetter)