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Non-Fiction Book Recommendations
The Woman Who Changed Her Brain
by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young
If you’re into learning about the brain and the idea of neuroplasticity, this book is a great read. Barbara Arrowsmith-Young had serious learning difficulties as a child. But after learning about the brain and its ability to change, she created a series of exercises that helped her address her problems. She went on to create the Arrowsmith School where she helps students with learning difficulties. This book is her story, along with several incredible stories of other similar brain triumphs. You can listen to my interview with Barbara Arrowsmith-Young for more information.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence
by Michael Pollan
Psychedelics have played a huge role in my own recovery from depression, so it’s great to see as world-class writers like Michael Pollan dive into the subject. He starts the book off as a skeptic as to the powers of psychedelics. But, as the book progresses and he dives deeper into the subject, he begins to see their potential. The book includes some history of psychedelics, stories of their impact on others and of course, details on Pollan’s personal experimentation with them.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
Outgrowing Addiction: With Common Sense Instead of “Disease” Therapy
by Dr. Stanton Peele and Zach Rhoads
In this book, Dr. Peele and Zach Rhoads make the case that the disease model of addiction therapy is completely wrong and that it is not the best way to help the most people. They provide real life examples of people disproving the idea that addiction is a disease, in addition to detailing larger scale studies that support this point. Dr. Peele and Zach also provide alternatives to this approach in this heterodox take on a controversial (and important) subject. You can watch this Outgrowing Addiction summary animation for more details.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
by Sam Harris
“Waking Up” is an excellent (and quick) read for anyone interested in learning more about meditation. Harris uses his background in neuroscience to detail the effects of a meditation practice on one’s mind, and pulls from his own experiences with meditation (and psychedelics) to further illustrate the mystery and wonder of the brain. I’m generally not big on self-help or spirituality books, but I enjoyed “Waking Up”. It has a great balance of the esoteric and the scientific, making it one of my favorite book recommendations. Sam Harris also has an excellent meditation app called “Waking Up” that I use regularly, and also recommend.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
The creation of the nuclear bomb is one of the most pivotal moments in history. In many ways, the history of the bomb has shaped the world we live in today. The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the leader of the team which created the first bomb, is entwined with that history. “American Prometheus” examines the life of Oppenheimer, from his early childhood up to his death. It is a story of science, determination and ultimately, betrayal.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
by John Perkins
This incredible book is a true story that reads like a spy novel. It details the experience of John Perkins as an “economic hit man” and his role in perpetrating global economic treachery from the Middle East to South America. From coups to assassinations, this book is exhilarating. In addition to these dark storylines, the book also covers how Perkins reformed himself and started his work to right the wrongs he had been a part of.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
Radical: My Journey Out of Islamist Extremism
by Maajid Nawaz
Maajid Nawaz shares his incredible journey as a youth in London, looking for community and finding it in an extremist Islamist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir. The story covers his rise through the organization’s ranks and how he changed his views while imprisoned following the 9/11 attacks.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
The Bomb: Presidents, Generals and the Secret History of Nuclear War
by Fred Kaplan
One of the most interesting (and confusing) details about nuclear weapons is the twisted logic that has defined their use since 1945. In “The Bomb”, Fred Kaplan looks at this logic and how it has captured even the best intentioned presidents, from Truman to Trump.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
The Brain’s Way of Healing
by Norman Doidge
It was through this book that I discovered Barbara Arrowsmith-Young (recommended at the top of this list for her book “The Woman Who Changed Her Brain”) and also Dr. Edward Taub (interviewed here). Each chapter in “The Brain’s Way of Healing” focuses on a unique story of neuroplasticity, a concept that for much of history was believed to be impossible. The stories presented and investigated here by Norman Doidge are truly incredible and prove that what we know about the brain is only a fraction of the actual truth. This book is equal parts inspiring, informative and irresistible.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell into Tyranny
by Dr. Edward Watts
Dr. Edward Watts is the Chair of the History Department at UCSD (at the time of this writing) and the author of a number of books on antiquity. His specialty is Ancient Rome. “Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell into Tyranny” is a book about the pivotal events that led Rome to go from Republic to Empire. It’s a story about the political violence that influenced citizens to be willing to give up their freedoms and rights in exchange for protection and safety. And it’s an extremely timely read for the current state of American politics and Western society. Check out this interview with Dr. Edward Watts for a look at how he thinks about Rome and how he thinks about its fall in relation to our current moment.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
Fiction Book Recommendations
Red Rising Series
by Pierce Brown
This series stole my imagination like only a few books have done before (Harry Potter, for example). It takes place in a future where humans have colonized the solar system. The story follows a young man who is born into the lowest class of Martian society and his unlikely rise to the elite… and beyond. The writing style can take some time to get used to, but once you do, you won’t be able to put this down.
Buy Book 1 on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
Star Wars Thrawn Trilogy
by Timothy Zahn
The Thrawn Trilogy is one of the best stories in the whole Star Wars universe… that I’m aware of at least. It takes place after the events of Return of the Jedi and introduces a new villain to the mix: Grand Admiral Thrawn. Thrawn is a tactical genius and his schemes make these books excellent. He’s a very close second to Vader, honestly. The trilogy includes: 1. Heir to the Empire 2. Dark Force Rising and 3. The Last Command. Anyone into Star Wars will love these books.
Buy Book 1 on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
The Brothers Karamazov
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
“The Brothers Karamazov” is Dostoevsky’s final novel, and in my opinion, one his best. It takes place in 19th century Russia and follows the story of three brothers. It revolves around the murder of their father and is carried by the distinct and nuanced personalities of each character. Like other Dostoevsky novels, “The Brothers Karamazov” is a philosophical and psychological masterpiece.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
This is perhaps Dostoevsky’s most famous novel… and for good reason. It centers around the story of a young man who commits a murder for what he believes are morally-sound reasons. Later, he finds that he is unable to cope with the mental stress of his crime and we watch as he completely unravels under the weight of his conscience.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
On the Beach
by Nevil Shute
This fiction novel is a classic nuclear age tale. The story takes place in Australia, following a planet-ending nuclear exchange by countries in the northern hemisphere. An Australian and American crew board a nuclear submarine to visit the shores of other countries to see if they can find any survivors or unaffected lands. And the whole time, radioactivity draws closer and closer to Australia, threatening to snuff out all of human life. I didn’t expect this before reading it, but “On the Beach” is as much a love story as it is a post-apocalyptic fiction.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.
Welcome to the Monkey House
by Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most legendary American writers. And “Welcome to the Monkey House” is an excellent collection of some of his best short stories. It includes 25 short stories from Vonnegut, like the classic “Harrison Bergeron”, “Welcome to the Monkey House” (the short story), and “The Euphio Question”. If you like science fiction or just well written ‘drama’, then this is a collection of short stories definitely worth tapping into.
Buy on BetterWorldBooks. Buy on Amazon.