Depression Forums
General => The Lounge => Topic started by: Zaf on June 23, 2012, 06:35:20 PM
-
Thought it might be worth opening a thread for people to recommend books, perhaps with a short description what they're about if its not obvious
One I refer to regularly is Eckhart Tolle's Practicing the Power of Now which, apart from other things, helps my mind from going into washing machine mode and Ancient Wisdom, Modern World - the Dalai Lama, I find the perspective it gives to dwelling on things and considering others' feelings very useful
-
Great idea for a thread Zaf "!+
I Second you on Eckhart Tolle, 'The Power of Now', and would add his 'A New Earth,' which I'm reading now. Tolle draws on buddhism, gnosticism and psychology to put forward a spiritual approach to life's experiences - very comforting stuff.
Also, 'Is there life after death?' by Anthony Peake. He covers theories about holographic universes, many worlds etc, puts it in the context of mental health and the physiology of the mind and postulates his own theory of what happens when we die.
-
I've read Peake's book and found it very thought provoking; as a real life example of reincarnation I found Soul Survivor an interesting read especially as he father of the child involved did his damndest to disprove what was hapening to his son
-
I think this is a great idea. Sometimes I take forever in bookshops trying to figure out what would be helpful. I haven't read in a while but do have a few books to recommend......another time!
-
Look forward to your recommendations Cat :)
-
I am curious about this Tolle fellow. I have looked into him a bit but it did seem a bit he just says a lot without concluding anything. I may be wrong of course, but what does he say that loads of other mystic/spiritualists haven't said before? Does he just jump on the fact that neuroscience can't fully explain the functioning of the brain so it must be something mysterious? Just interested.
-
Initially I began reading his books as a felolw depression sufferer said they helped him; I started with The Power of Now and found it helped with my ruminations, mild OCD and 'what ifs', looking deeper to me they seem to explain certain aspects of spirituality without the religious attachments and in a less complicated way.
-
Would it not be possible to have a sticky for book recommendations?
-
Funnily enough just had the devil within and the curse of the strong delivered!
-
I gave up on Paul Gilbert overcoming depression but perhaps im not ready to get over it yet? i dont like books with diagrams or charts. Perhaps i just need to read about people in similar situations or more so having similar thought patterns. Unless you are here in the moment you wont understand! Also tried F##K it but that did my head in reading the f word in every sentence.
-
Would it not be possible to have a sticky for book recommendations?
Will dee what I can do :)
-
There are a couples of books I have read out and feel satisfied.I dont know the name of books right now.But one I can is
You can win - Shiv Khera
Its very simple and assembled almost all things we require !!
Dix
-
I am fascinated by Buddhist philosophy and I even go to meditate in the temples, but I have to say I think Tolles 'Power of Now' is one of the worst books I've ever read. Much of what he says is completly unfounded and some of it he appears to have made up entirely on his own.
Ironically, the act of spending years of your life thinking about how you view the world and then putting it into a world best selling book whilst setting yourself up as a completely enlightened spiritual master, is just about one of the most egocentric things a person could do (talk about being a megalomaniac!!) - and it is completely at odds with the eastern concepts of dissolving the ego which he speaks of. As an individual I find his psychology disturbing.
Other parts of the book are taken from other concepts that are already well established, I am not critising him for this because he is disseminating some useful mindful techniques - but most of this work is discussed in the various Buddhist philosophies, especially zen and it isn't attributable to him - although to be fair to him he didn't claim that it is his.
His comment about human evolution was so completely misinformed that I don't even know where to begin to say why it was wrong. He shouldn't write about things that he doesn't understand.
Commenting on what Beetzart said.... he does suggest that science cannot study some of the things which he discusses and so it can only be explained by mysticism. This is a complete disregard of all the years of published research and academic study that has been done (that combined covers thousands of years) and he clearly has no comprehension of any of it. His opinion on this matter is based not upon knowledge, not upon wisdom, but upon a complete lack of understanding of several entire fields of research. He falls just sort of attacking science outright, and I suspect that his publishers told him to back off if he didn't wan't to find himself in a trouble.
If you really do want a good western interpretation and dissemination of Eastern philosophies such as Zen then try the works of Allan watts - but be warned it can be heavy going.
Despite all I've said, I would recommend this book to some people. Many people have found his work very useful and it has helped them in their lives. Helping people to over come pain and anxiety is a noble cause, and if people have found his book life saving then some good has come from it. If this book has helped you that is a good thing, and I would not want to put people off something if it can help them with anxiety and depression.
-
..........Also....I am very interested in reading books by authors who have written about their experiences with depression and other mental illness. Has anyone got any good recommendations?
Steve XX
-
I actually find the book has helped me immensely, my faith is one of the mystic faiths and a lot of what he says mirrors those teachings but without the same emphasis on belief and faith
-
The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart
-
i would like to suggest
the purpose driven life
-
For the ladies, 'The story of O', I kid :) - it's an unusual read hahaha!
-
The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart
That's a great book , ^%$ read it years ago, very funny. I can only recommend Terry Pratchett The Discworld novels, he is funny, rude, saucy and a good giggle, with the odd Wizard and dragon thrown in, pure escapism, I love Terry's books, in fact I am a bit of a Pratchett geek!. ( Met him a few times , lovely man ) $%$
-
Think Hubby's recommended Dice Man.... ooo actually it's just said "I recommended it before I knew what you like reading, actually I don't think you would like it" haahah!
I am currently reading The Old Man Who Read Love Stories, recommended by my friend. Beautifully written actually, very much in the style of "The Old Man and the Sea".
Think there is a sad ending which I am going to hate as I always end up in tears!!!
-
Caitlin Moran's two books 'How to be a Woman' and 'Moranthology' - two genuinely hilarious reads
x
-
Oh yes, I have read extracts of the first one in the Sunday Times Magazine and it sounded very funny!
-
Big bad wolf by James Patterson.
I'm a big Patterson fan
-
Ah yes, Patterson, a lot of people seem to love him!
-
only found him 2 years ago when we moved house i ended up reading his book (big bad wolf) and was hooked, i could not put it down, now I have a shelf full of his stuff.
He has made me more interested in reading, ended up buying 7 books a few weeks ago, now started on his newest one NYPD Red which looks to be pretty good.
-
Oh wow, an author who makes you want to read more hey, fab!!!
I re-read "the Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe today to put myself in a Halloween mood. Very short but I enjoyed it!!
I have just finished watching "Cuckoo" on BBC Iplayer, episode 6 and not the best but enjoyable watch still (episode 4 and 5 made me laugh out loud on my own!!!)
-
It's not very often I read non fiction books but I'm reading Once Was An Addict by Barry Woodward and completely hooked. He is a Christian now but he is so down to earth about having been an addict.
-
Sounds good!
What fiction do you like Pip?
-
I like a variety such as Stephen King, James Herbert, Tolkien, C S Lewis, Ruth Rendell .... I read most styles of writing except for Mills and Boons. When we used to see one of my sister in laws regularly she would pass on her Mills and Boons ::) which I would politely accept then pass on to a charity shop. Suspense thrillers, fantasy and murder mysteries are my favourites though.
-
I know what you are saying about Mills and Boons hehe!!
Have you read the Stieg Larson books? Ooh I loved the Girl with a Dragon Tatoo!!
Ruth Rendell, I enjoyed "A Judgement in Stone", Stephen King: hubby did a PHD on his works. I have read a few, must read the Stand next as hubby keeps going on about it!!
-
I loved the film tho, never read the book.
I may suggest MERRY CHRISTMAS ALEX CROSS - James Patterson
Yeah another installment of Alex Cross (btw my fav fantasy detective)
Downloaded it on2 my brand spanking new kindle and already more than half way through it, and I must admit I love it, its sorta two stories into one book one he deals with a hostage situation on xmas eve through xmas day and on xmas day he has to deal with a terrorist at union station.
honestly james pattersons books are so easy to read .
-
thanks for the ideas :)
I love patricia cornwell and almost all detective thrillers. also love a bit of romance but nothing to slushy (likes mills and boon)