The best books on resilience and overcoming setbacks

I’ve done extensive writing about the Holistic Wealth mindset that I developed, and about women who embody this mindset including Michelle Obama.

Her story of becoming the first African American first lady on the life experiences that shaped her journey from the south side of Chicago to the White House. Michelle titled her book Becoming because she is constantly evolving, “becoming” the woman she aspires to be, which is part and parcel of the Holistic Wealth mindset.

It’s a great book on resilience and overcoming setbacks. Michelle stated in an interview with Oprah Winfrey: “My journey is the journey of always, continually evolving, that there is never a point where you arrive at a thing. And if you do, that’s kind of sad, you know?” said Obama.

“If you think there is a point in your life when you stop growing or stop learning, that’s kind of sad, because what else is left?"

I’ve often said that the most resilient ones among us have perfected the art of recovery from disruption.

The art of recovery from disruption is the premise of my book. An entire Chapter in that book is dedicated to Oprah Winfrey. As the authors state in the introduction to this book – “This book is for anyone with a mother, father or child who has experienced trauma.”

The narrative in the book of the unique adaptability of our brains is very insightful and Oprah sharing her personal experiences as a child and how she came through it is just amazing. The role of trauma in our physical, mental, financial, and spiritual health – and thereby our holistic wealth – cannot be understated.

This book is a must-read for anyone wanting to explore these topics in-depth. 

Mindfulness is a critical part of building resilience and overcoming setbacks. It’s part of the Art of Recovery from disruption that I outlined in my book.

Professor Ellen Langer is now called the “Mother of Mindfulness” for a good reason, her book and over four decades of ground-breaking research has been applied to a wide number of fields, including health, business, aging, social justice, and learning.

I loved her applications of mindfulness throughout the book and this quote on mindfulness: “the more we realize that most of our views of ourselves, of others, and of presumed limits regarding our talents, our health, and our happiness were mindlessly accepted by us at an earlier time in our lives, the more we open up to the realization that these too can change. And all we need do to begin the process is to be mindful.”

I’ve always believed in the “Law of Reciprocity” and how it can drive resilience and holistic wealth.

The dynamics of collaboration, giving of ourselves, even when we are in a time of grief or facing a setback is important when looking at how the most successful people bounce back. Resilience also stems from how we interact with people and our relationships.

Adam Grant explores so many different facets in this book that can help to build resilience. Adam also spells out how not to be a “door mat” so if you are always a giver and always engaging in self-sacrifice then it can really compromise resilience.

Organizational culture is also important in building resilience – and it's one of the great tragedies of some organizational cultures where successful “takers” are still the most successful. The book is a great primer for individual and organizational resilience. 

As Martha Beck says in her book, “Integrity is the cure for psychological suffering. Period.”

I honestly believe that living in integrity is the first truth about being resilient. It’s so much harder to be resilient when we are living out of sync with our values and our most authentic selves. Living a lie causes stress and anxiety and leads to chronic illnesses.

I like how Martha spells out living purposefully and intentionally. I started reading The Way of Integrity to prepare for an interview with Martha on the Holistic Wealth podcast. In The Way of Integrity, Martha outlines a four-stage process that anyone can use to find integrity, and with it, a sense of purpose, emotional healing, and a life free of mental suffering.

Much of what plagues us—people pleasing, worry and anxiety, negative habits—all point to what happens when we are out of touch with what truly makes us feel whole. The book was also an Oprah Winfrey Book Club Pick.