Collection: Self-Development

The tenth-anniversary edition of Michael Clune's classic memoir of addiction and recovery: "Dreamily exact . . . sensual and hilarious . . . One of the year's best books" (The New Yorker).

How do you describe an addiction in which your drug of choice creates a hole in your memory, a "white out," so that every time you use it is the first time--new, fascinating, vivid? Michael W. Clune's story takes us straight inside such an addiction--what he calls "the memory disease."

With dark humor, and in crystalline prose, Clune's account of life inside the heroin underground reads like no other. Whisking us between the halves of his precarious double life--between the streets of Baltimore and the college classroom, where Clune is a graduate student teaching literature--we spiral along with him as he approaches rock bottom: from nodding off in a row house with a one-armed junkie and a murderous religious freak to having his life threatened in a Chicago jail while facing a felony possession charge.

After his descent into addiction, we follow Clune through detox, treatment, and finally into recovery as he returns to his childhood home, where the memory disease and his heroin-induced white out begin to fade. White Out is more than a memoir. It is a rigorous investigation that offers clarity, hope, and even beauty to anyone who wants to understand the disease or its cure. This tenth anniversary edition includes a new preface by the author.

A beginner friendly guide to making stained glass art using the most popular and accessible method, copper foil.

The traditional art form of stained glass has become extremely popular again and this collection has everything you need to know to get started on this exciting craft. The effect of sunlight streaming through colourful stained glass is visually stunning and this collection brings the craft right up to date with techniques and projects for a new audience.

There are step-step-instructions and photographs for all the main techniques including creating patterns, glass cutting, polishing, using foils and soldering. Artist and stained glass expert, Noor Springael, also explains how to prepare your workspace, how to work with templates, framing and display techniques and important safety information.

Noor shares all her tips and tricks for making beautiful projects including colour palette, using glass overlays and composition. There are 17 projects ranging from wall hangings, sun catchers, decorative windows, glass floral bouquets, jewellery, candle holders, frames and mirrors. Full sized templates are included for all of the projects.

The ninth coloring book from Sweden's coloring book sensation, Hanna Karlzon.

In Hanna Karlzon's newest coloring book, you have been invited to a magical kingdom in a forest full of all sorts of beautiful plants and animals. Tales from the Forest Kingdom boasts 64 pages of elaborate flowers and trees and whimsical animals and their abodes. Drawn in her highly regarded detailed style, coloring book enthusiasts will love getting lost in Hanna's magical illustrations.

An inviting and highly readable new translation of Aristotle's complete Poetics--the first and best introduction to the art of writing and understanding stories

Aristotle's Poetics is the most important book ever written for writers and readers of stories--whether novels, short fiction, plays, screenplays, or nonfiction. Aristotle was the first to identify the keys to plot, character, audience perception, tragic pleasure, and dozens of other critical points of good storytelling. Despite being written more than 2,000 years ago, the Poetics remains essential reading for anyone who wants to learn how to write a captivating story--or understand how such stories work and achieve their psychological effects. Yet for all its influence, the Poetics is too little read because it comes down to us in a form that is often difficult to follow, and even the best translations are geared more to specialists than to general readers who simply want to grasp Aristotle's profound and practical insights. In How to Tell a Story, Philip Freeman presents the most readable translation of the Poetics yet produced, making this indispensable handbook more accessible, engaging, and useful than ever before.

In addition to its inviting and reliable translation, a commentary on each section, and the original Greek on facing pages, this edition of the Poetics features unique bullet points, chapter headings, and section numbers to help guide readers through Aristotle's unmatched introduction to the art of writing and reading stories.

The New York Times bestselling author and a central figure in the field of meditation, Sharon Salzberg, uses ancient Buddhist wisdom to redefine love and experience it in a more profound way.

We all yearn for connection, yet often feel trapped by our sense of isolation, anger, envy, and other forms of aversion. Ultimately, our minds get in the way of this yearning, as we spin stories and assumptions around in our heads that keep us feeling alienated from one another. However, in Real Love, bestselling author and meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg will teach you to redefine and open up the limited definitions of "love" and experience it in a more essential way.

This book provides a pathway towards a more sustainable and authentic model of love by offering a creative toolkit of mindfulness exercises, meditation techniques, and interactive applications that will guide readers through the process of stripping away layers of habit to find a truer meaning of love, to "real love."

The book is divided into four sections, each addressing a distinct experience of "real love" love for the self, love for another individual, love for all beings, and love for life itself

Working from the inside out, the first step on the journey is to learn to love yourself; only then will you be able to share your love with the rest of the world. As you work through each layer you will become more present and adapt to things as they actually are. And it is only when we are truly engaged with present experiences that we not only are able to feel more connected to our own core selves, but also to those around us.

Understanding people this way is like having x-ray vision!

This bestselling book marks a major advance in the psychology of personality. Suddenly, you can see what's going on inside people: you can see what motivates and matters to them and how to influence and communicate with them successfully. Finally, you have a simple, clear, true-to-life map of personality that gives you the key to understanding people and interacting with them successfully. The 5 Personality Patterns is a book that can change your life.

"This is one of the most useful popular psychology books I have ever seen. . . . It should become a classic."

--- Stephen M. Johnson, author of Character Styles and Characterological Transformation

Much of our human suffering is not necessary. It is created by old safety strategies that helped us survive our childhood traumas, but then got stuck in our bodies. Reinforced by the power of habit, they continue to shape our actions and personality even today. They have become an invisible prison. We live our lives trapped in that prison, repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

As we attempt to understand the psychology of success and become successful ourselves, studying the habits of successful people is not enough. To create real self transformation, we must dissolve the obstacles to success buried within us. To reclaim our power and regain control of our lives, we must uncover the old safety strategies and patterns that still run our lives so that we can heal and transform them.

Often, these patterns have shaped us so deeply that we think that's who we are. But in fact, they cover up our true self and prevent it from shining out into the world. Finally, we have a map of these patterns, a map that will help you:

- Discover how you got stuck and how to get free

- Heal your core wounds

- Learn the skills you missed

- Communicate effectively with others

- Develop emotional maturity

Many readers seeking self improvement have discovered that this map of personality is even more helpful to them than the Enneagram and Myers-Briggs personality types, because those maps focus on the surface of the body, on your behaviors, while this map starts with the core of the body and how the flow of your life energy got distorted. And that distortion of the flow of life energy through the body is at the root of much of the suffering and conflict we experience in interpersonal relationships. Understanding those differences will dramatically increase your empathy, compassion, and people skills. Understanding how to bridge those differences will dramatically increase your interpersonal communication skills.

EIHWAZ the yew, URUZ the wild ox, KENAZ the hearth fire. Created by the Nordic and Germanic tribes of northern Europe, the runes began as a magickal system of pictographs representing the forces and objects in nature.

With over 200,000 sold, this guidebook will help you discover the oracular nature of the runes and how to use them as a magickal tool for insight, protection, and luck. Practical and concise, this book includes:

• Complete descriptions of the twenty-four runes of the Elder Futhark, plus WYRD, the blank rune
• The differences between bindrunes and runescripts
• Four rune layouts and detailed rune interpretations, including reversed position meanings
• How to carve runes and create talismans
• Meanings and uses of the runes in magick

Written by the creators of the popular website, this rigorously fact-checked, accessible, and fully illustrated guide is essential for anyone with a pussy.

If the clitoris and penis are the same size on average, why is the word "small" in the definition of clitoris but strangely missing from the definition of penis? Sex probably doesn't cause yeast infections? But racism probably does cause BV? Why is masturbating so awesome? How hairy are butt cracks . . . generally? Why is labiaplasty on a global astronomical rise? Does egg freezing really work? Should I stick an egg-shaped rock up there or nah?

There is still a shocking lack of accurate, accessible information about pussies and many esteemed medical sources seem to contradict each other. Pussypedia solves that with extensive reviews of peer-reviewed science that address old myths, confusing inconsistencies, and the influence of gender narratives on scientific research--always in simple, joyful language.

Through over 30 chapters, Pussypedia not only gives the reader information, but teaches them how to read science, how to consider information in its context, and how to accept what we don't know rather than search for conclusions. It also weaves in personal anecdotes from the authors and their friends--sometimes funny, sometimes sad, often cringe-worthy, and always extremely personal--to do away with shame and encourage curiosity, exploration, and agency.

A gift for your shy niece, your angsty teenager, your confused boyfriend, or yourself. Our generation's Our Bodies, Ourselves, with a healthy dose of fun.

Recipes, DIY projects, and inspiration for a beautiful and low-waste life, from the creator of @simply.living.well on Instagram

In this timely and motivational guide, author Julia Watkins shares rituals, recipes, and projects for living simply and sustainably at home. For every area of your household--kitchen, cleaning, wellness, bath, and garden--Julia shows you how to eliminate wasteful packaging, harmful ingredients, and disposable items. Practical checklists outline easy swaps (instead of disposable sponges, opt for biodegradable sponges or Swedish dishcloths; choose a bamboo toothbrush over a plastic one) and sustainable upgrades for common household tools and products. Projects include scrap apple cider vinegar, wool dryer balls, kitchen bowl covers and cloth produce bags, non-toxic dryer sheets, all-purpose citrus cleaner, herbal tinctures and balms, and more, plus recipes for package-free essentials like homemade nut milk, hummus, ketchup, salad dressings, and veggie stock.

"Finally: an engaging, evidence-based book about how to battle biases, champion diversity and inclusion, and advocate for those who lack power and privilege. Dolly Chugh makes a convincing case that being an ally isn't about being a good person--it's about constantly striving to be a better person." --Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg

Foreword by Laszlo Bock, the bestselling author of Work Rules! and former Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google

An inspiring guide from Dolly Chugh, an award-winning social psychologist at the New York University Stern School of Business, on how to confront difficult issues including sexism, racism, inequality, and injustice so that you can make the world (and yourself) better.

Many of us believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion. But how do we stand up for those values in our turbulent world? The Person You Mean to Be is the smart, "semi-bold" person's guide to fighting for what you believe in.

Dolly reveals the surprising causes of inequality, grounded in the "psychology of good people". Using her research findings in unconscious bias as well as work across psychology, sociology, economics, political science, and other disciplines, she offers practical tools to respectfully and effectively talk politics with family, to be a better colleague to people who don't look like you, and to avoid being a well-intentioned barrier to equality. Being the person we mean to be starts with a look at ourselves.

She argues that the only way to be on the right side of history is to be a good-ish-- rather than good--person. Good-ish people are always growing. Second, she helps you find your "ordinary privilege"--the part of your everyday identity you take for granted, such as race for a white person, sexual orientation for a straight person, gender for a man, or education for a college graduate. This part of your identity may bring blind spots, but it is your best tool for influencing change. Third, Dolly introduces the psychological reasons that make it hard for us to see the bias in and around us. She leads you from willful ignorance to willful awareness. Finally, she guides you on how, when, and whom, to engage (and not engage) in your workplaces, homes, and communities. Her science-based approach is a method any of us can put to use in all parts of our life.

Whether you are a long-time activist or new to the fight, you can start from where you are. Through the compelling stories Dolly shares and the surprising science she reports, Dolly guides each of us closer to being the person we mean to be.

Sew starry quilt blocks

Inspired by painted and wood quilt blocks that adorn barns, author Shelley Cavanna shares 20 blocks and seven quilt designs destined to pass the test of time. The Barn Star Sampler quilt, quite possibly the star of the show, incorporates 20 different block designs spanning 4" to 24" in a fresh and modern sampler-quilt layout. Combine patchwork blocks to create a table runner, a wall quilt, a lap quilt, and full-size bed quilt designs. With so many block sizes, star variations, and layouts, the sky's the limit!

• Sew fan-favorite star blocks like the Carpenter Star, Sawtooth Star, Christmas Star, Pinwheel Star, Peony Star, and more!

• Make charming projects for the home, including lap quilts, wall hangings, and even a table runner designed to use up leftover triangle trimmings.

• Find helpful tutorials for blocks frequently used in the book with guidance on the stitch-and-flip assembly method.

2018 Best Book Award Winner

"Compassionate. Comforting. Readers will see themselves on every page." - Paul Casale, Licensed Professional Counselor, Marriage & Family Therapist

Loss is painful. Separation hurts. We need comfort.

Oblivious to our suffering, the world around us speeds on as if nothing happened. Stunned, shocked, sad, confused, and angry, we blink in disbelief. The pain can be immense.

We look for comfort. We long for it. Grieving hearts need it to survive.

Multiple award-winning author, hospice chaplain, and grief counselor Gary Roe has become a trusted voice to many hurting, grieving hearts. Written with heartfelt compassion, this easy-to-read, warm, and practical book reads like a caring conversation with a friend and is destined to become a classic for those looking for hope and encouragement in times of loss.

Whether you've lost a spouse, child, parent, sibling, relative, or friend, Gary's desire is to meet you in your grief and walk with you there. Composed of brief chapters, Comfort for Grieving Hearts is designed to be read one chapter per day, giving you bite-sized bits of comfort, encouragement, and healing over a period of time. You do not have to read it this way, of course. We all grieve differently. Read in the way that is most natural for you.

In Comfort for Grieving Hearts, you will find peace and comfort in...

• Processing complicated grief emotions (sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, guilt, anxiety, depression, feeling overwhelmed, etc).
• Navigating feeling alone, misunderstood, and even rejected by those around you.
• Handling the increased stress and uncertainty that heavy loss can bring.
• Dealing with physical and mental health issues, illnesses, and new symptoms that often arise.
• Taking care of yourself through diet, hydration, fitness, and rest.
• Thinking through the challenging spiritual and faith questions that frequently surface.
• Relating well to the people around you - those who are helpful and those who aren't.
• Overcoming the tendency to run from emotional pain with unhealthy habits or compulsive behaviors.
• Finding the support you need for survival, recovery, and healing (safe people, fellow grievers, counseling, etc.).
• Developing a simple, realistic plan for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.
• Using your grief for good - for yourself, your family, and others.
• Allowing this loss to give you greater perspective and motivate you to live more effectively than ever before.
• Making your life count, one day, one moment at a time.

Please don't grieve alone. Let Comfort for Grieving Hearts join you on this arduous, tasking journey. Be kind to yourself. Take your heart seriously.

Death has invaded, but it doesn't have to win. Read on. Comfort awaits you in these pages of this book.

Kumon Middle School Math workbooks introduce math subjects with explanations of topics, definitions of terms, and practice problems designed to improve your child's math skills. Using Kumon's step-by-step method your child will advance through algebra, geometry, and word problems topics without feeling frustrated or overwhelmed when faced with new problems. These workbooks will help your child develop confidence in his or her math abilities.

The ultimate practical guide to MBSR--with more than 115,000 copies sold--is now available in a fully revised and updated second edition.

Stress and pain are nearly unavoidable in our daily lives; they are part of the human condition. This stress can often leave us feeling irritable, tense, overwhelmed, and burned-out. The key to maintaining balance is responding to stress not with frustration and self-criticism, but with mindful, nonjudgmental awareness of our bodies and minds. Impossible? Actually, it's easier than it seems.

In just weeks, you can learn mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a clinically proven program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living. MBSR is effective in alleviating stress, anxiety, panic, depression, chronic pain, and a wide range of medical conditions. Taught in classes and clinics worldwide, this powerful approach shows you how to focus on the present moment and permanently change the way you handle stress.

As you work through A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook, you'll learn how to replace stress-promoting habits with mindful ones--a skill that will last a lifetime. This groundbreaking, proven-effective program will help you relieve the symptoms of stress and identify its causes.

This fully revised and updated second edition includes new audio downloads, new meditations, and extensive chapter revisions to help you manage stress and start living a healthier, happier life.

You hear and read a lot about ways to improve your relationship. But if you've tried these without much success, you're not alone. Many highly reactive couples--pairs that are quick to argue, anger, and blame--need more than just the run-of-the-mill relationship advice to solve their problems in love. When destructive emotions are at the heart of problems in your relationship, no amount of effective communication or intimacy building will fix what ails it. If you're part of a "high-conflict" couple, you need to get control of your emotions first, to stop making things worse, and only then work on building a better relationship.

The High-Conflict Couple adapts the powerful techniques of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) into skills you can use to tame out-of-control emotions that flare up in your relationship. Using mindfulness and distress tolerance techniques, you'll learn how to deescalate angry situations before they have a chance to explode into destructive fights. Other approaches will help you disclose your fears, longings, and other vulnerabilities to your partner and validate his or her experiences in return. You'll discover ways to manage problems with negotiation, not conflict, and to find true acceptance and closeness with the person you love the most.

This book has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit -- an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

This special hardcover edition of 100 Endgames You Must Know celebrates the sale of more than 25,000 copies of this modern chess classic. The book's success since its first publication in English in 2008 can be explained by its simplicity, its accessibility and its great instructive value. If you've never read an endgame book before, this is the one you should start with, said book reviewer GM Matthew Sadler. 'De la Villa does a truly wonderful job of explaining useful endgames in a calm and measured manner that is clear enough for any strength of player to understand while still being interesting for stronger players.' Lots of chess players agree. On Amazon, more than 500 readers left a book review, and 84% awarded the book a maximum of five stars. The book contains only those endgames that: - show up frequently - are easy to learn - contain ideas that are useful in more difficult positions Your performance will improve dramatically because this book offers you simple rules with detailed and lively explanations. De la Villa has since written two other endgame manuals, expanding his teachings of the original '100 Endgames'. For further study, you can now use The 100 Endgames You Must Know Workbook and 100 Endgame Patterns You Must Know.