My favorite books about self-realization, curiosity, exploration, struggle, and the magic of success

This book helped me find hope and a path away from anxious thoughts and self-defeating beliefs. And, it helped me focus on academic studies which lead to a valued career as a clinical psychologist. The exercise of control is a model which asserts that daily thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are in the control of each person. The model of learning deemphasizes human pathology. In the Exercise of Control, I found specific strategies helpful to excise doubt, confusion, and fear. With his tools, public speaking became desirable rather than something dreaded. The book lays a foundation for the discovery of self-knowledge. He is recognized as one of the greatest psychologists of all time.

Saint Joan is a story of youthful self-realization. I liked the description of its characters, the folly of leadership, and the theme of determined assertion to be recognized. The dialogue of its characters resonates with the words of Bernard Shaw. She was ‘the girl’ whose confrontations with the powerful led to an early death. I entered the pages to find Saint Joan an appealing and cautious tale of personal vanity, overconfidence, and confrontation with power. The curious will have to decide what lessons can be learned from this story. She’s an upstart who lectured, talked down, and overruled statesmen and prelates.

The book concerns the protest of an individual against the threat of power. Joan “Yes, they told me you were fools (speaking to inquisitors). You promised me my life, but you lied…I still hear the wind in the trees, the larks…angel voices floating to me. But without these things I cannot live; and by your wanting to take them away from me, or from any human creature, I know that your counsel is that of the devil, and that mine is of God." Joan is a historical figure who emerges with courage against powers that want to diminish her thinking, beliefs, and way of life.  

Irving Stone aimed high when telling us the story of Michelangelo. Emergence in all seasons is not restricted to time, person, psychology, or philosophy. Michelangelo said “Life is to be enjoyed. Life is to be worked. Dawn, Day, Dusk and Night.” Irving “His sculpture, David, had been young, knowing he could conquer everything he set out after; Moses was ripe in years, but with the inner strength to move mountains. He always wanted his figures to represent something important. Michelangelo wanted his marble to emerge with emotion as he had emerged in art, mind, and life.

This book lets readers in on a closely held source of power. Medicine established the existence of a brain. Psychiatry and psychology present models of the mind. Religion focuses on spirit. One function of the mind is its capability to observe thinking as it unfolds. Meditation practices have known this for thousands of years. If an action can be modified by observing the intention of the mind, there may be fewer impulsive and destructive acts. There may also be heightened creative acts. Dr. Deikman wrote, "I have written The Observing Self not only for the mental health professional, but also for the general reader interested in a clear understanding of both psychotherapy and mysticism." The Library Journal wrote, "An extremely interesting, thoughtful, and challenging book, highly recommended." 

The Power of Concentration is a practical guide for developing concentration. I liked this book because it helped me through graduate school when stress was high. The book contributes to a discussion of positive psychology. Concentration is placed within the grasp of each person. The author links concentration to the development of desirable habits while overcoming bad habits." Theron Q. Dumont noted, "Concentration is paying attention to a chosen thought." His work is relevant today given distractions from many corners of life.