10 Books To Help You Thrive
Books have been a great source of hope, joy, growth, learning and escape for many of us at Thrive. If you’re looking for something new to read, here’s ten inspiring books to read
Necessary Endings. Dr. Henry Cloud (2011)
“Sometimes we need to go through pruning in order for there to be growth and newness. This book is an annual read for me – it reminds me of the importance of letting go of the old.” — Leanne Kennedy, CEO
Screen Relations: The Limits of Computer-Mediated Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Gillian Russell (2015)
“This book has been immensely helpful in trying to understand the psychology of online calls, online psychological therapy and doing work online. She explores how power relations are negotiated and the seriousness with which we take online interactions, like how we dress, whether we eat, and how much we actually listen to what is going on.” — Graham Fawcett, Director of Psychosocial Services
Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. David Kessler (2019)
“Kessler builds on Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’ iconic ‘Five Stages of Grief’ by adding a sixth: meaning. Through the death of his twenty-one year old son, he journeyed the path of grief himself (being a grief psychologist he knew the theory well). He’d be the first to say that ‘meaning’ isn’t something that surfaces in the immediate aftermath of a crisis, but he shows that it’s a possibility for all people to find meaning as they endure the hard work of grief.” — Ben Porter, Staff Care
Churchill: Walking with Destiny. Andrew Roberts (2018)
“It’s interesting to read about the last time we faced a crisis of such a scale – World War II. It’s helped me reflect on what sort of leadership is helpful and unhelpful at times like these. I also found it moving to read about the resilience of British people. They were really determined to overcome the evil of Nazism whatever the personal cost. It puts our current lockdown restrictions into proportion.” — Alison Coulter, Director of Health Services
It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way. Lyse Terkeurst (2018)
“Terkeurst describes how her life turned out to be very different from what she expected. It’s about learning to trust God through times like these. 2020 was a difficult year for me – as it was for so many others. We need tools to navigate the unknowns and unexpected situations in our life, and this book is helping me to do just that”. — Caroline Mungai, Medical Doctor
Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Grief. Pauline Boss (2000)
“It’s about the kind of loss that is abstract – when it’s hard to know what exactly has been lost. She really helps the reader become aware of this mind-mending circumstance and provides space for reflection and insight. Although we might currently be dealing with concrete losses like the death of a loved one, we are also experiencing vague losses such as safety, security and predictability, which has a different psychological impact. She shows that it’s quite normal to feel sad and anxious right now – it would be abnormal if we weren’t.” — Nanci Hogan, Coach and Thought Leader
The Art of Gathering. Priya Parker (2018)
“In 2020, how we gather together as people changed fundamentally – from face-to-face to virtual. And yet, why we gather did not. This book has challenged me to consider the intention behind any gathering I organise. And it’s helped me to invigorate and transform the time that I set aside with friends, family or colleagues.” — Leanne Kennedy, CEO
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Maya Angelou (1984)
“It tells, in fictional form, the early years of Angelou’s childhood in the United States during the depression and World War II. It highlights the experiences black Americans still face decades later. To me, racial inequality is the second pandemic we are facing. But this book is a beautiful example of how art can help us transcend our own lives in the midst of suffering and help us to find meaning and purpose. And it points to the importance of justice being served.” — Nanci Hogan, Thrive Coach and Thought Leader
Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization. Scott Barry Kaurman (2020)
“It takes a positive approach as to how we can grow as human beings more broadly and how human beings are created to have meaning and purpose. Throughout the last year, I have been constantly challenged as to how I personally can eventually find meaning and purpose and grow through my experiences of loss this year.” — Nanci Hogan, Thrive Coach and Thought Leader
Munich. Robert Harris (2017)
“There’s nothing like a good story. And I think we need them now more than ever. During the last twelve months, I’ve found novels to be a great way to help me get into a different world. This is simply a fantastic page-turning adventure.” — Ted Lankester, Thrive President & Physician