Natura Book Club Vol. 2
What are the therapy-ish books that speak to me? Here are more selections that have been speaking to me recently.
The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
Wiking, Meik. Book Cover. The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living, by Meik Wiking, William Morrow & Company, 2017, https://www.hyggelife.com/products/the-little-book-of-hygge?srsltid=AfmBOoqdvKzibQa7XKMly2ynkCeJnxgeYItf4YYNVQtaVtuvSfqBcYGW
Yes, it’s hot and it’s summer. But Hygge season is right around the corner. Admittedly, I didn’t know much of the specifics around Hygge, but I think it speaks to an intuitive warmth and comfort that we all have experienced at some points in our lives. It scratches an emotional itch in the most comforting way. And there’s something about these "“grab-n-go” types of books that I find really appealing; they’re quick reads, don’t compete with the large novels you might be reading, and you can pick something up by randomly opening it to almost any page at any time.
2. When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté.
Maté, Gabor. Book Cover. When the Body Says No, by Gabor Maté, Trade Paper Press, 2011, https://drgabormate.com/book/when-the-body-says-no/
Really, anything by Dr. Maté is worth reading, but something about this book speaks to me on a deeper level. So often can we find ourselves wondering about the link between mind and body, as if they were separate vessels speaking their own languages. This book dives right into the opaque space between medicine and psychology, and puts Maté in the company of greats like Bessel van der Kolk, Stephen Porges, and Peter Levine.
3. How to Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price.
Price, Catherine. Book Cover. How to Break Up With Your Phone, by Catherine Price, Ten Speed Press, 2018, https://catherineprice.com/screenlifebalance
I’m not here to judge anyone or tell them how they should be in a relationship with their phone, however, it may be something everyone should at least think about or talk to their therapist about, if so inclined. For me, I know my phone can be not only a “time suck,” but a de-railer of sorts, as oftentimes it completely influences my next actions after using it, without even me being aware of it. Catherine Price does a fantastic job intertwining readability with ideas for almost anyone who is wondering “where time seems to go” while knowing their phone is close by.
These books are works that I find meaningful, and that speak to me as a counselor, and are not intended to serve as therapy or be prescriptive in nature.
