Collection: Self-Development

The New York Activity Book will entertain children on a visit to
the vibrant city known as the Big Apple.

Complete the Empire State Building, design your own advertising billboard in Times Square or doodle zoo animals in Central Park. Draw an iconic landmark statue or a favourite painting in a gallery. Complete and personalise the eight perforated postcards and send them to friends and family. These are just a few of the many activities you'll find that are all centred around the sights of New York, alongside fun facts and questions to engage. On
the reverse of the pages you'll find more fun activity suggestions plus plenty
of space for drawing.

Fun and educational, New York Activity Book will help
children to develop a wide range of skills, including observational,
conversational and motor skills, and will make sure they get the most out of
their visit to New York.

The New Yorker's Best Book of 2023

"sorrowful, tender...beautiful." - The New York Times Book Review

"...arresting and memorable....Masud both finds a way to comprehend her own story and establishes a strong voice that confirms her as a significant chronicler of personal and national experience." - Financial Times

"Sharply, subtly, and very movingly, Masud thinks with places, seeking as she does to find a way back into, and then out of, the traumas of her early life." - Robert Macfarlane, author of Underland: A Deep Time Journey

A surprising and lyrical journey--part memoir, part nature book--meditating on the meaning of "flatness" and its literary tradition to find ways to understand ourselves and our trauma in one of nature's most undervalued wonders.

For readers of Dr. Gabor Maté's The Myth of Normal, Robert Macfarlane, G. Sebald's Rings of Saturn, Amy Liptrot's The Outrun, and Richard Mabey's Nature Cure

Does the concept of "flat" have an undeservedly bad rap? There are centuries' worth of adoration for rolling hills and dramatic, mountainous landscapes. In contrast, flat landscapes are forgettable and seemingly unworthy of poetic or artistic attention.

Noreen Masud suffers from complex post-traumatic stress disorder: the product of a profoundly disrupted and unstable childhood. It flattens her emotions, blanks out parts of her memory, and colours her world with anxiety. Undertaking a pilgrimage around Britain's flatlands, seeking solace and belonging, she weaves her impressions of the natural world with poetry, folklore and history, and with recollections of her own early life.

Masud's British-Pakistani heritage makes her a partial outsider in these landscapes: both coloniser and colonised, inheritor and dispossessed. Here violence lies beneath the fantasy of pastoral innocence, and histories of harm are interwoven with nature's power to heal. Here, as in her own family history, are many stories that resist the telling. She pursues these paradoxes fearlessly across the flat, haunted spaces she loves, offering a startlingly strange, vivid and intimate account of the land beneath her feet.

Masud combines memoir, nature writing, and literary reflection to explore what can be drawn from these powerful places, and to understand her own experience of complex trauma and post-traumatic stress, as well as grief and loss. A Flat Place is a book that drives to the heart of what it means to experience place -- bodily and psychologically -- and the healing properties of literature and landscape.

"An important and profoundly edifying book. . . . Perhaps the most important tarot text that will define this decade." -- Benebell Wen, author of Holistic Tarot

Tarot for the Hard Work is a provocative exploration of the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana that re envisions these archetypes as beacons that illuminate the various ways racism takes root both in ourselves and in the world. Author Maria Minnis, with compassion and wisdom, shows us how these insights can be turned into self-awareness, self-love, and positive social action.

"Tarot for the Hard Workis a tool for passionately demolishing structural oppression. It is a map that we can take with us on a voyage as we discover our personal, subliminal views on race and how we're impacted. Each card of the Major Arcana serves as a waypoint that challenges us to rethink our views on racial equity." --Rashunda Tramble, from the foreword

Tarot has always been a powerful guide for introspection and inner work, so what better tool to use when we're ready to do the really hard work? Minnis provides actionable exercises in this tarot workbook, giving readers a unique, personal understanding of what systemic racism is--and what steps we can take to begin to dismantle it. This is a book for anyone who has been overwhelmed, outraged, or frustrated and asked, "But what can I do?" It is a book for anyone ready to look within and do the uncomfortable inner work necessary to demolish everyday racism. This book says tarot can be a tool for action, one that may offer great satisfaction as well as great difficulty, all while pushing you out of your comfort zone.

"This book should be on everyone's bookshelf, not just tarot readers. EVERYONE. In Tarot for the Hard Work, author Maria Minnis helps awaken us to our truest, bravest, most compassionate selves. It's a luminous work of love. Minnis shines a torch illuminating our path toward justice." --Amanda Yates Garcia, author of Initiated and host of the Between the Worlds podcast

In Tarot for the Hard Work you'll explore the Major Arcana to uncover how each card highlights both benevolent and shadow aspects of each archetype in relation to the different ways that racism shows up in our lives. With exercises and thought-provoking recommended reading and resources, you will be guided how to use those themes to dismantle internalized racism, racism in your relationships, and racism in your communities. Journal prompts are provided to help you create your own antiracism tool kit. As you move from the Fool to the World card, you'll discover that everything we do ripples beyond us and that there are practical ways to use tarot energy to change our actions and our world.

"Minnis is the real deal. From transformative perspectives on tarot archetypes to clever action items for every kind of reader and activist, Tarot for the Hard Work doesn't apologize for being exactly what it is: a brilliant primer and essential guide for utilizing tarot's truth in personal and collective antiracism work." --Meg Jones Wall, author of Finding the Fool

Do you freak the fuck out at the weirdest possible times? Are there some normal life things that you just don't do or places you just don't go? Do you sometimes feel like you're living in an airless box with an arsenal of anti-everyone weapons on a hair trigger? You could be having a trauma reaction gone on autopilot that's taken over your life. Microcosm Publishing bestseller Dr. Faith walks you through it: first, all the different things trauma can be (pro tip, traumatic events aren't necessarily always huge and dramatic), how it affects your life, and how to use neuroscience to work your way through it and out the other side. Whether you're looking to heal from the past and move on or just want to understand more about how the brains of the people around you might work, this zine is practical and science-based and profane.

Polyamory can be fun, sweet and even liberating. But ethical nonmonogamy can also take work. In A Polyamory Devotional, relationship coach Evita "Lavitaloca" Sawyers streamlines the vast abstractions of "working on yourself" into a guided tour of rigorous self-reflection. Building upon her wealth of experience in fostering the journey from monogamy to nonmonogamy, Sawyers invites you to ask yourself the big questions. Can compersion and jealousy coexist? How do we hold space for hurt we didn't cause?

Through 365 daily prompts, you are encouraged to develop the tools of emotional diligence that will serve you for a lifetime. For those eager to love authentically but overwhelmed by the emotional process of polyamory, this is your reminder that you don't have to do it alone.

A selection of writings from some of the most iconic Stoics to guide and inspire a more mindful perspective

How can we cope when life's events seem beyond our control? These words of consolation and inspiration from the three great Stoic philosophers - Epictetus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius - offer ancient wisdom on how to face life's adversities and live well in the world.

Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives--and upended them. Now Penguin brings you a new set of the acclaimed Great Ideas, a curated library of selections from the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

The New York Times Classic Crossword Puzzles is the perfect gift for any crossword lover! This deluxe collection is a sturdy hardcover volume with high-quality paper and removable cover band.

From the top names in crosswords, The New York Times Classic Crossword Puzzles features 100 easy-to-hard brainteasers edited by NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzlemaster and Times puzzle editor Will Shortz.

This unique book includes a cloth ribbon marker and removable cover band, leaving a discreet and sophisticated hardcover book with charming crossword grid pattern, so you can solve puzzles in style wherever you go.

"An indispensable resource for women of all ages, this is a guide to help us better connect to ourselves, to value ourselves, to love ourselves, and ultimately, to be ourselves."
--Chelsea Clinton

Positive body image isn't believing your body looks good; it is knowing your body is good, regardless of how it looks.

• How do you feel about your body?
• Have you ever stayed home from a social activity or other opportunity because of concern about how you looked?
• Have you ever passed judgment on someone because of how they looked or dressed?
• Have you ever had difficulty concentrating on a task because you were self-conscious about your appearance?

Our beauty-obsessed world perpetuates the idea that happiness, health, and ability to be loved are dependent on how we look, but authors Lindsay and Lexie Kite offer an alternative vision. With insights drawn from their extensive body image research, Lindsay and Lexie--PhDs and founders of the nonprofit Beauty Redefined (and also twin sisters!)--lay out an action plan that arms you with the skills you need to reconnect with your whole self and free yourself from the constraints of self-objectification.

From media consumption to health and fitness to self-reflection and self-compassion, Lindsay and Lexie share powerful and practical advice that goes beyond "body positivity" to help readers develop body image resilience--all while cutting through the empty promises sold by media, advertisers, and the beauty and weight-loss industries. In the process, they show how facing your feelings of body shame or embarrassment can become a catalyst for personal growth.

Bestselling author and renowned Buddhist teacher Noah Levine adapts the Buddha's Four Noble Truths and Eight Fold Path into a proven and systematic approach to recovery from alcohol and drug addiction--an indispensable alternative to the 12-step program.

While many desperately need the help of the 12-step recovery program, the traditional AA model's focus on an external higher power can alienate people who don't connect with its religious tenets. Refuge Recovery is a systematic method based on Buddhist principles, which integrates scientific, non-theistic, and psychological insight.

Viewing addiction as cravings in the mind and body, Levine shows how a path of meditative awareness can alleviate those desires and ease suffering. Refuge Recovery includes daily meditation practices, written investigations that explore the causes and conditions of our addictions, and advice and inspiration for finding or creating a community to help you heal and awaken.

Practical yet compassionate, Levine's successful Refuge Recovery system is designed for anyone interested in a non-theistic approach to recovery and requires no previous experience or knowledge of Buddhism or meditation.

"In all my years studying personal growth, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is one of the most useful tools I've ever come across, and in this book, Dr. Hayes describes it with more depth and clarity than ever before."-Mark Manson, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Life is not a problem to be solved. ACT shows how we can live full and meaningful lives by embracing our vulnerability and turning toward what hurts.

In this landmark book, the originator and pioneering researcher into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) lays out the psychological flexibility skills that make it one of the most powerful approaches research has yet to offer. These skills have been shown to help even where other approaches have failed. Science shows that they are useful in virtually every area--mental health (anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, PTSD); physical health (chronic pain, dealing with diabetes, facing cancer); social processes (relationship issues, prejudice, stigma, domestic violence); and performance (sports, business, diet, exercise).

How does psychological flexibility help? We struggle because the problem-solving mind tells us to run from what causes us fear and hurt. But we hurt where we care. If we run from a sense of vulnerability, we must also run from what we care about. By learning how to liberate ourselves, we can live with meaning and purpose, along with our pain when there is pain.

Although that is a simple idea, it resists our instincts and programming. The flexibility skills counter those ingrained tendencies. They include noticing our thoughts with curiosity, opening to our emotions, attending to what is in the present, learning the art of perspective taking, discovering our deepest values, and building habits based around what we deeply want.

Beginning with the epiphany Steven Hayes had during a panic attack, this book is a powerful narrative of scientific discovery filled with moving stories as well as advice for how we can put flexibility skills to work immediately. Hayes shows how allowing ourselves to feel fully and think freely moves us toward commitment to what truly matters to us. Finally, we can live lives that reflect the qualities we choose.

The Enneagram-a universal symbol of human purpose and possibility-is an excellent tool for doing the hardest part of consciousness work: realizing, owning, and accepting your strengths and weaknesses. In this comprehensive handbook, Beatrice Chestnut, PhD, traces the development of the personality as it relates to the nine types of the Enneagram, the three different subtype forms each type can take, and the path each of us can take toward liberation. With her guidance, readers will learn to observe themselves, face their fears and disowned Shadow aspects, and work to manifest their highest potential.

Based on the New York Times bestseller The Body Is Not an Apology, this is an action guide to help readers practice the art of radical self-love both for themselves and to transform our society.

Readers of The Body Is Not an Apology have been clamoring for guidance on how to do the work of radical self-love. After crowdsourcing her community, Sonya Renee Taylor found her readers wanted more concrete ideas on how to apply this work in their everyday lives. Your Body Is Not an Apology Workbook is the action guide that gives them tools and structured frameworks they can begin using immediately to deepen their radical self-love journey--such as Taylor's four pillars of practice, which help readers dismantle body shame and give them access to a lifestyle rooted in love. Taylor guides readers to move beyond theory and into doing and being radical self-love change agents in the world.

"In this book, you will be asked to draw, color, doodle, talk to friends, take risks, and perhaps step outside of what feels like your natural gifts and talents," Taylor writes. "I encourage you to release the need to be 'good' at what you are doing and instead strive to be authentic. Perfection is the enemy of radical self-love because it is an impossible illusion. When the voice of perfectionism chimes in, take a deep breath, remember that the work is about the process, not about the product, and give yourself permission to be fabulously unapologetically imperfect.

If you think sexual and spiritual bliss can't be found in today's fast-paced world, you haven't experienced Urban Tantra. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Urban Tantra, acclaimed sex educator Barbara Carrellas radically updates the ancient practice of Tantra for modern sexual explorers desiring to discover new frontiers. With a juicy mix of erotic how-to and heart-centered spiritual wisdom, this updated edition includes a brand-new introduction, up-to-date references and resources, a new take on the possibilities and responsibilities of Tantra in today's world, plus new and cutting-edge information to reach an expanded community--added information on multi-partner play, more intersections for Tantra and BDSM, practices for asexuals and aromantics, expanded practices for trans and gender nonconforming people, and more.

With more than one hundred easy-to-follow techniques for expanded orgasmic states and solo and partner play (as well as more adventurous practices), this in-depth guide reveals the delicious worlds of ecstasy available to all, no matter one's gender, sexual preference, or erotic tastes. Urban Tantra expands the notions of pleasure and opens new heights of intimacy and sexual fulfillment.

Calm the mind and begin the path to finding peace with these simple mindfulness meditations

Mindfulness is an evidence-based method for reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing resilience, and maintaining mental well-being. Even short meditations can turn a bad day around, ground us in the present moment, and help us approach life with gratitude and kindness. Practicing Mindfulness was created by the founder of One Mind Dharma. He developed these 75 essential exercises to offer practical guidance for anyone who wants to realize the benefits of mindful meditation.

This book includes:

• EVIDENCE-BASED ADVICE: Find expert advice on dealing with distorted or wandering thoughts and how to handle mental blocks.
• MEDITATIONS THAT GROW WITH YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL: Early meditations in Practicing Mindfulness take just 5 minutes and are highly accessible. As they progress, exercises grow with the reader, building on previous lessons to develop a transformative mindfulness practice.
• MEDITATIONS TO HELP IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS: With meditations designed for specific situations or emotions, even experienced practitioners who have trained their mind will have a continuing resource for mindfulness at every moment.

Begin a journey of peace and patience today on the path to a calmer, more balanced life with Practicing Mindfulness.

Young readers will find all kinds of faces under the flaps of Baby Faces Peekaboo! Happy babies, sad babies, and many others are all waiting to say hello!

We've been thinking about sex all wrong. Mainstream media, movies, and porn have taught us that sex = penis + vagina, and everything else is just secondary. Standard penetration is how men most reliably achieve orgasm. The problem is, women don't orgasm this way. We've separated our most reliable route to orgasm--clitoral stimulation--from how we feel we should orgasm--penetration. As a result, we've created a pleasure gap between women and men:

• 50% of 18-35-year-old women say they have trouble reaching orgasm with a partner
• 64% of women vs 91% of men said they had an orgasm at their last sexual encounter
• 55% of men vs. 4% of women say they usually reach orgasm during first-time hookup sex

In Becoming Cliterate, psychology professor and human sexuality expert Dr. Laurie Mintz exposes the broader cultural problem that's perpetuating this gap, and what we can do about it. Pulling together evidence from biology, sociology, linguistics, and sex therapy into one comprehensive, accessible, and prescriptive book, Becoming Cliterate features:

• Cultural & historical analysis of female orgasm (spoiler: the problem's been going on for ages)
• An anatomy section (it's all custom under the hood)
• Proven techniques for cliterate sex (it starts with training the sex organ between your ears)
• A comprehensive final chapter for men (because you don't have to have a clitoris to be cliterate)

By dispelling the lies, misunderstandings, and myths that have been holding us back, Becoming Cliterate tackles both personal and political problems and replaces them with updated outlooks and practical skills needed to change our collective perspective on sex. It's time to finally inform women and men on how to have satisfying experiences in bed that benefit both parties.

The revolution is cuming--and Becoming Cliterate offers a radical, simple solution to progress and pleasure for all.