Book Reviews

Book reviews

We hadn't intended to have a Book Review theme, but in beta testing we discovered that several of you had gone hunting for it. With our whizbang new site it was quick work for us to make the changes so that you can now easily find both fresh and archived reviews.

Newcomers will find a number of reports on books relating to Positive Psychology, which remains an abiding interest of ours at Professionelle. We cover wider territory, too: women in governance, advice on redundancy and finance, and (Sarah's favourite) an anthology of essays on Pride & Prejudice. That review, you'll find, is liberally illustrated with images of Colin Firth. 'Cos we all need a little fluff sometimes...

Latest articles

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  • 24 April 2011 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 1
    Stress Less by Thea Singer - a Book Review

    Stress Less is based on ground breaking research into the links between human stress and the ageing in our cells. This fascinating read is about the science of stress and the ways we can slow - perhaps even reverse - that ageing process.

  • 07 April 2011 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 2
    Two Mindsets - Which is Yours?

    Do you think your abilities and intelligence are largely fixed? Or do you believe people have the potential to get better and better, with practice and training, even if they're not blessed with talent? Sarah reviews a book that explores how our beliefs about improvement impact on our achievements and happiness - and coaches us to a 'growth' mindset.

  • 22 February 2011 By Galia BarHava-Monteith Comments: 2
    Mistakes were Made (But Not by ME!)

    This book is all about cognitive dissonance. That's the almost physical discomfort we feel when we find ourselves holding a belief that conflicts with our behaviour. It leads to self justification and selective blindness about the fairness and wisdom of our actions.

  • 11 February 2011 By Rachel Fanshawe Comments: 3
    Bounce: How Champions Are Made

    Matthew Syed's book dispels the ‘talent myth’ with high profile examples across music, sport and business and challenges the widely held view that natural talent is the determinant of success and failure.

  • 29 December 2010 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 0
    Stumbling On Happiness - a Book Review

    Humans are pretty hopeless at predicting what will make them happy in the future. But the errors we all make are fascinatingly systematic and regular and that's because they reflect how our brains work. In a highly readable and often very funny way, Daniel Gilbert explains what's going on in our heads when we use our imagination to choose which future to steer for.

  • 08 December 2010 By Galia-BarHava-Monteith Comments: 2
    The Time Paradox by Philip Zimbardo and John Boyd

    Are you someone that can’t seem to let the past go? Or are you a person that is always living in their minds, forever planning the future? Our psychological time orientation is unconscious, yet influences just about everything we do. If this sounds intriguing, we strongly recommend Galia Barhava-Monteith’s review of Professor Zimbardo’s book – The Time Paradox. You’ll never view time in the same way again!

  • 24 November 2010 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 0
    '59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot'

    59 seconds: less than a minute to make research-backed changes that can improve your wellbeing. All quick and some quirky, the tips in this book cover ten topics ranging from happiness to creativity. A highly enjoyable read.

  • 23 November 2010 By Angelique Jurd Comments: 0
    'Always Looking Up' by Michael J Fox

    Michael J Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the young age of 30. This autobigraphy follows the decade since his retirement from the hit series Spin City. Angelique found his reflections on faith, family and politics a thought provoking, often moving, and sometimes laugh-out-loud-funny read.

  • 21 July 2010 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 3
    The Monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma

    Drawn by the intriguing title and with repeated sightings in airport bookshops of promotions for this 'self-help/spirituality' book, Sarah finally sat down with it. Looking past its clunky prose, she was mildly surprised to find precepts that closely echoed tools and techniques of Positive Psychology.

  • 08 June 2010 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 1
    Bird on a Wire by Theresa Gattung

    A few months ago, Theresa Gattung published her autobiography of her life to date (she's still in her forties, let's not forget!). She remains a unique figure in the New Zealand business landscape, as the only woman so far to head an NZX Top 10 listed company. It will come as no surprise to Professionelle readers that we were keen to read her book and to review it here for you.