Coach’s Bookshelf

Atomic Habits blew my mind by articulating how simple the seemingly impossible task of establishing and maintaining new habits can be when we work with our brains’ unique operating system. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to become a master at establishing or breaking habits. There’s also an accompanying workbook that’s worth checking out!

Do you know how to breathe? Because apparently I did not! Breath is a fascinating blend of science, history, sociology, and mysticism, all shared in a humorous and straightforward style. This book changed how I breathe and sleep, and I feel so much better. Who knew??

We like to believe our brains know the difference between fact and fiction, but this isn’t actually how brains work. Our brains are wired to believe whatever we tell ourselves. Are you telling yourself you’re stupid, ugly, or unsuccessful? Your brain believes you. But if you tell yourself you’re smart, funny, kind, and happy, your brain will believe that, too. Fascinating! This book explores how to change your reality by changing how you think.

The title might speak for itself, but I didn’t realize how badly I needed this book until I finished the first chapter. The essential premise is that we all have a limited amount of f*cks we can summon at any given time, so we need to use them mindfully on what really matters to us. Let everything else go!

Have you ever wanted to do something but then immediately talked yourself out of it? Told yourself it’s not the right time, it’s a silly idea, you need to think it through first? Sometimes those things are true. Other times, your brain is trying to protect you from something new or unknown, but it is standing in the way of you and something great. The 5 Second Rule is everything you need to launch yourself into action with a simple 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

This is a book written by an author with ADHD for readers with ADHD, and personally, I found it to be a breath of fresh air. Jessica McCabe candidly shares her journey to understand her ADHD diagnosis and what it means for her life, but the book is primarily designed as a toolkit for ADHD brains (or for their loved ones). McCabe also has a popular YouTube Channel by the same title.

On the surface, The High 5 Habit looks like a 250+ page book about high-fiving yourself in the mirror every morning to boost your mood, but this is so much more than that. Yes, the mirror high-five is a key premise, and yes, I have started doing it myself (and am getting something from it!), but it is also a powerful manual about leveraging brain science to erase cruel and damaging things we think about ourselves.