We are going through exceptionally hard times due to the pandemic and the drastic measures taken to flatten the curve. Most of the countries, at least in the Western hemisphere, have forced a strict lockdown restricting people’s mobility and confining them to their homes. This new reality has definitely had an emotional, social, and psychological tool on people. As a result, in the United States for instance “Federal agencies and experts warn that a historic wave of mental-health problems is approaching: depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide” (The Washington Post).
We hope that things would getter better and that we get back to our ‘old’ sense of normal; however, it appears that this ‘new’ normal will linger for few more months till they finally develop a vaccine. To boost our moral and avoid any psychological trauma, we need to develop mental toughness, be optimistic and care for each other. To this end, we have handpicked for you this collection of books featuring some excellent reads from leading self development speakers, psychologists, and authors. These are books that will teach you how to master your mind, control your thoughts, and develop resilience and grit in the face of looming adversities.
A side note: for those of you doing or planning to start their PhD, Eva O. L. Lantsoght’s popular book “The A-Z of the PhD Trajectory” is now free for download in PDF format. I highly recommend it.
Please note, the links below are Amazon affiliate links enabling me to earn from your purchases.
1- Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds Kindle Edition, by David Goggins
“For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare — poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world’s top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events.”
2- Old School Grit: Times May Change, But the Rules for Success Never Do, by Darrin Donnelly
“Psychologists tell us that the secret to a successful and happy life, more than anything else, is something called GRIT. Defined as the willpower to persevere with passion and a sense of purpose, research shows that grit is what matters most in whether a person succeeds or fails.”
3- Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial, by Tony Robbins
“The acknowledged expert in the psychology of change, Anthony Robbins provides a step-by-step program teaching the fundamental lessons of self-mastery that will enable you to discover your true purpose, take control of your life, and harness the forces that shape your destiny.”
4- The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, by Ryan Holiday
“The book draws its inspiration from stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy of enduring pain or adversity with perseverance and resilience. Stoics focus on the things they can control, let go of everything else, and turn every new obstacle into an opportunity to get better, stronger, tougher. As Marcus Aurelius put it nearly 2000 years ago: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” “
5- Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell
“In this stunning book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of “outliers”–the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. “
