Books for Transformation

Undoing Depression by Dr. Richard O'Connor, Ph.D, presents a "program" for depression, explaining how in five key elements of our personality--feelings, thoughts, behavior, relationships, and the self--depression has taught us certain skills which have come to feel natural, a part of who we are. But in fact we have to unlearn those skills and replace them with new habits--which are explained in detail--for real recovery to take place. Practicing the exercises in this book can be a way for people with depression to live a vital, rich existence again. There is good advice on the web site and the full Introduction to the book.
A second and new book by Dr. O'Connor, Undoing Perpetual Stress explains how the continual stress of living in the 21st century is felt and experienced by many people as depression and anxiety, as physical symptoms, as motivations for addictions, as dysfunctional relationships, and as empty, unhappy lives. He shows in this book that we do however have the power to heal that damage by making deliberate choices about how we live. He explains how we can get the mind, brain, and body all working together in synchrony, to help us recover from what ails us now and to protect us from future stress.
"Quantum Psychology - How brain software programs you and your world" by Robert Anton Wilson. Weaves a coherent thesis out of such diverse topics as semantics, psychology, quantum physics and neuroscience. His subtle humor makes clear better than anything out there just how much our perceptions and behavior are influenced by embedded language biases. Quantum Psychology opens a whole new way of thinking and perceiving This is not a discovery you can be 'told' - you must experience it through the exercises in this book. (Or from Amazon-UK.)
"Quantum Consciousness: The Guide to Experiencing Quantum Psychology" by Steven Wolinsky. We are often living somewhere else other than the present time. We do this by distracting ourselves with ideas and concepts about what we should be, what things mean, judgments and interpretations that we have made about people, places, things and situations. This point of view creates our internal states and we forget that we are the authors of these states in the first place. With over fifty exercises to explore and experience the quantum approach to problem resolution, this approach takes us to a new frontier and pushes the envelope of even the most far-reaching current psychological thought. (Or from Amazon-UK.)
"Hearts on Fire: The Tao of Meditation" by Steven Wolinsky. According to Quantum Psychology, the mind - which can be observed as any ideas, concepts, feelings, sensations that we hold about ourselves - cannot be us. We are beyond those things even if we don't realize it. The trick is to learn how to observe and put some distance between whom we think we are and become aware of a deeper self. The format is a brief explanation of a subject (the mind, emotions, etc.), then a meditation process to experience what is being presented. This is followed by comments from workshop participants and Wolinsky's responses, all serving to shed further light on the experience. (Or from Amazon-UK.)
Shadow, Self, Spirit - Essays in Transpersonal Psychology by Michael Daniels. Transpersonal Psychology concerns the study of those states and processes in which people experience a deeper sense of who they are, or a greater sense of connectedness to nature, or the spiritual dimension. Michael Daniels teaches the subject as part of the psychology curriculum, and this book brings together the fruits of his studies. It will be of special value to students, and its accessible style will appeal also to all who are interested in the spiritual dimension of human experience.
"Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl. This is among the most influential works of psychiatric literature since Freud. Freud believed that sexual instincts and urges were the driving force of humanity's life; Frankl, by contrast, believes that man's deepest desire is to search for meaning and purpose. Dr. Frankl describes his experiences in the concentration camp at Auschwitz and discusses how people found meaning to life in these conditions, or a reason to live, which was essential to surviving the camp.
"The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind" by Julian Jaynes. Analyzes myth and development of early culture and religon to see where and how a schizm developed in right and left brain thinking. Fourteen years after its original publication this book remains as astounding and controversial as ever. At the heart of this book is the revolutionary idea that human consciousness did not begin far back in animal evolution, but came into being as recently as 3,000 years ago. The implications extend into every aspect if human life.
"The Right Brain and the Unconscious : Discovering the Stranger Within" by Dr R. Joseph. A most lucid and expansive explanation of how the left-right brain split is at the root of human psychodynamics.
"The Right Mind: Making Sense of the Hemispheres" by Robert Ornstein. Beginning in the 1970s, popular interest in the differences between the human brain's right and left hemispheres led to conflicting ideas, widespread misconceptions, misapplications by educators, and oversimplifications by social reformers. Twenty-five years after his bestselling The Psychology of Consciousness, Robert Ornstein gives new insight into how the brain really works, making sense of the right brain/left brain controversy.
"Introduction to Neuro-Linguistic Programming" by Joseph O'Connor & Ian McDermott. Perhaps the most helpful and accessible explanation of NLP principles. (Or from Amazon-UK.)
"Bioenergetics" by Alexander Lowen. Building on the work of Wilhelm Reich, Lowen brilliantly describes the human body-mind and how to unleash our locked-up life energies. (Or from Amazon-UK.)
"A New Guide To Rational Living" by Albert Ellis. A classic book on psychology and self help which demonstrates that many psychological problems are caused by irrational thinking. (Or from Amazon-UK.)
"Motivational Styles in Everyday Life: a Guide to Reversal Theory" by Michael J. Apter. Offers a revolutionary new understanding of the motivations that underlie human behavior.
"Evolution of the Brain - Creation of the Self" by John C. Eccles. Describes how the evolution of the brain - from ape to modern man - has gradually increased the capacity for conscious and objective thinking. (Or from Amazon-UK.)
"Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" by Dr. Robert Cialdini. Explains the six psychological principles that drive our powerful impulse to comply to the pressures of others and shows how we can defend ourselves against manipulation. 'Influence' guarantees readers will never say yes again when they really mean no.
"Thoughts & Feelings - the Art of Cognitive Stress Intervention" by Mathew McKay, Ph.D. Martha Davis, Ph.D. Patrick Fanning. Chronic anger, anxiety, or depression can result from a group of negative thoughts which exclude other, more beneficial thoughts. This helpful manual presents a series of time-proven techniques for stopping the negative thoughts that profoundly impact many common mood-based problems. (Or from Amazon-UK.)
"I'm OK - You're OK" by Thomas A. Harris, MD. One of the most extraordinary self-help bestsellers of all time featuring Transactional Analysis. This may be taught to students earning a psychology degree online. Harris has helped millions find the freedom to change, liberate their adult effectiveness, and achieve joyful intimacy with others.

ALL THE RESOURCES YOU NEED FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Psychology