THE ART OF POSSIBILITY
by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
I first heard about this book listening to Tim Ferris interview Seth Godin on a podcast episode. One of the questions Ferris always asks his interviewees is about the books that they would recommend and this was one that Godin said he loved. So, I got it to check out and I was not disappointed.
This book is written by the Zander couple. Rosamund is a psychotherapist and Benjamin is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. Together, they describe a new way of looking at life and relationships; a way that opens possibility and in so doing creates brand new and often surprising outcomes.
Using stories from her counseling practice and his teaching and conducting experience they show the reader what the art of possibility is and how to practice it.
ADDICTIVE THINKING: UNDERSTANDING SELF-DECEPTION
by Abraham J. Twerski M.D.
The very first task that anyone coming into addiction recovery is faced with is the task of breaking through denial and distorted thinking about the addiction. This slim little book, published by Hazeldon, is packed with helpful insights about the way in which addiction leads to distorted thinking and self-deception.
One of the things we know about recovery is that if the distorted thinking stays intact, so will the acting out behaviors. The distorted thinking can also be thought of as self-manipulation defenses. These defenses exist to protect the addicted individual from coming into full awareness about the scope of their problem, the negative consequences of their problem, and their need for help to arrest the problem. The distorted thinking also protects the addicted individual from feeling their shame about their behaviors and confronting the reality of who they have become as the addiction has taken up more and more space in their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life.
Whether you are in early recovery or have been in recovery for many years, this book provides a self-examination tool to help you learn more about the way in which the ‘cunning, baffling, powerful’ aspects of addiction function.